ABOVE Speedrun Guide: Fastest Routes & Strategies

Understanding Speedrun Categories in ABOVE

Speedrunning ABOVE requires a deep understanding of the game's mechanics and the different categories available. The main categories include Any% (complete the main story as fast as possible), 100% (unlock all upgrades and rescue all climbers), and Glitchless (no exploits or sequence breaks). Each category demands a unique approach to resource management and route planning.

Before starting a speedrun attempt, ensure you have a solid grasp of basic gameplay. Our beginner guide covers essential mechanics that speedrunners must master.

Optimal Starting Strategy for Speedruns

The first 10 minutes of any ABOVE speedrun are critical. Your initial decisions set the pace for the entire run. Prioritize building the Basic Shelter and the Small Kitchen immediately. These two structures provide the necessary warmth and food to keep your first climbers alive without wasting resources on unnecessary upgrades.

Follow this step-by-step opening sequence:

1. Assign your first worker

   Immediately assign your starting worker to gather wood. Do not waste time exploring the map.

2. Build the Basic Shelter

   As soon as you have 10 wood, build the Basic Shelter. This unlocks the ability to house your first climber.

3. Construct the Small Kitchen

   Gather 5 more wood and build the Small Kitchen. This allows you to cook basic meals, keeping morale high.

4. Rescue the first climber

   Send your worker to the nearest marked location to rescue the first climber. Bring them back to the shelter immediately.

This sequence can be completed in under 3 minutes with practice. For more details on early-game efficiency, check our beginner tips guide.

Route Planning and Map Knowledge

Knowing the map layout is essential for any speedrunner. ABOVE's mountain has several pre-set routes, but the fastest path to the summit is not always the most obvious. Memorize the locations of key resources like hidden caches, shortcut trails, and climber spawn points.

Use the following table to prioritize your routes:

Priority	Route Name	Resources Found	Time Saved
1	East Ridge Trail	Wood, Rope, Food Cache	2 minutes
2	Glacier Pass	Advanced Tools, Warm Clothing	3 minutes
3	Summit Direct	Final Story Trigger	4 minutes

Advanced Techniques: Skipping and Sequence Breaking

Experienced speedrunners can save significant time by using advanced techniques. One popular method is the "Rope Skip": by standing at a specific angle near a cliff edge and pressing the interaction button twice rapidly, you can bypass the need to build a rope bridge. This trick saves roughly 30 seconds per skip.

Another technique involves worker stacking. If you assign multiple workers to the same task and then immediately cancel it, they will sometimes drop their carried resources at your feet instead of at the designated storage. This allows for faster resource gathering without running back and forth.

For a complete list of known glitches and their applications, refer to our secrets guide.

Resource Management for Speed

In a speedrun, every resource counts. You must balance wood, food, and warmth with the need to progress quickly. The key is to never overbuild. Construct only the minimum number of facilities required to unlock the next story beat.

Here is a checklist of essential upgrades for Any%:

• Basic Shelter
• Small Kitchen
• Rope Workshop (Level 1)
• Climbing Gear Station
• Summit Flag

Do not invest in cosmetic upgrades, furniture, or extra beds. These are time sinks that do not contribute to finishing the game faster. For a deeper dive into efficient upgrades, see our upgrades guide.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many speedrunners lose time due to preventable errors. The most common mistake is over-managing. In ABOVE, your workers are automated once assigned. Constantly reassigning them wastes seconds that add up over a run. Trust your initial assignments and only intervene when absolutely necessary.

Another frequent error is ignoring the weather forecast. A sudden blizzard can kill your climbers and force a restart. Always check the in-game clock and plan your movements to avoid being caught outside during a storm.

Q: What is the best way to handle climber deaths?
A: In a speedrun, it is often faster to let a climber die and rescue a new one than to waste resources healing them. Only heal climbers that are essential for unlocking the next area.

Q: Should I use controller or keyboard for speedrunning?
A: Most top speedrunners prefer keyboard due to faster input precision, especially for the Rope Skip technique. However, controller is viable for beginners.

Q: How do I practice effectively?
A: Break the run into segments. Practice the first 10 minutes repeatedly until you can do it without thinking. Then move on to the mid-game section. Use our walkthrough guide as a reference for each segment.