Axom Speedrun Guide: Tips and Strategies for Fast Times

Understanding the Speedrun Landscape in Axom

Speedrunning in Axom presents a unique challenge due to its procedural generation and Roguelite elements. Unlike static games, each run offers a different map layout, enemy spawn patterns, and upgrade opportunities. This variability means that while a perfect route is impossible, mastering core principles and adaptable strategies is key. Your primary goal is to minimize the time to defeat the final boss, which requires balancing aggressive expansion with efficient defense. The game's physics-driven enemies add another layer, as their movement can be manipulated for faster clears. For newcomers, understanding the basic mechanics is crucial; our beginner guide covers the essentials.

Optimal Starting Strategy and Early Game

The first few minutes of a speedrun are critical. Your initial build order must prioritize resource gathering and immediate defense. Start by placing a few basic turrets near your core to handle the first wave, then immediately send your builder to explore the immediate vicinity for resource nodes. Focus on collecting metal and energy as a priority. A common mistake in speedruns is over-building defenses early; instead, build only what is necessary to survive and invest the rest in expansion. You should aim to unlock your first major upgrade within the first two minutes. For a deeper look at effective early-game tactics, check our beginner tips guide. Remember, time spent idle is time lost.

Core Speedrun Routes and Build Orders

There are two primary speedrun routes in Axom: the "Aggressive Expansion" route and the "Tech Rush" route. The Aggressive route focuses on quickly building multiple resource extractors and a large army of cheap units to swarm the map. The Tech Rush route prioritizes researching high-level upgrades and advanced turrets early, relying on a smaller, more powerful force. Your choice depends on the map generation and your personal playstyle. For a consistent run, the Tech Rush is often safer, but the Aggressive route can yield faster times if executed perfectly. Below is a sample build order for the Tech Rush route:

1. First 30 Seconds

   Build 2 basic turrets. Deploy your builder to scout for a high-yield metal node.

2. Minutes 1-2

   Build a second builder. Construct an energy collector on the metal node. Research "Advanced Targeting" for your turrets.

3. Minutes 3-5

   Expand to a second resource cluster. Build a shield generator. Start researching "Plasma Turrets".

4. Minutes 5-10

   Upgrade your core to level 2. Build 3-4 Plasma Turrets. Begin clearing the first "Corrupted Zone" to gain bonus resources.

5. Minutes 10+

   Focus on the main boss path. Use your builder to lure enemies into kill zones. Prioritize upgrades that increase damage output.

Advanced Techniques and Exploits

To achieve top-tier speedrun times, you need to master several advanced techniques. One key technique is "enemy pathing manipulation." By placing a single, cheap wall in a specific location, you can force a large group of enemies to take a longer route, giving your turrets more time to fire. Another technique is "builder juggling," where you rapidly switch a builder between constructing multiple buildings to slightly speed up overall build time. While not a major time save individually, these small optimizations add up over a full run. For more on manipulating the game's systems, see our mechanics guide.

Key Upgrades and Unlock Order for Speed

Efficient upgrade selection is paramount. Not all upgrades are created equal for speedrunning. You should prioritize upgrades that provide immediate, multiplicative benefits to your damage or resource generation. Avoid upgrades that offer percentage-based increases early on, as your base stats are too low to benefit significantly. The ideal unlock order focuses on: 1) Damage upgrades for your primary turret type, 2) Resource generation rate, and 3) Builder speed. A full breakdown of optimal choices can be found in our upgrades guide. Below is a checklist of essential upgrades to prioritize in the first half of a speedrun.

Dealing with RNG and Map Rerolls

Procedural generation is the biggest variable in an Axom speedrun. You may get a map with sparse resources or one that funnels enemies directly to your core. Top speedrunners use a "reset culture," where they will restart the run if the first 30 seconds of scouting reveal a poor layout. A good map for speedrunning has at least two resource clusters close to the start, a clear path to the boss arena, and natural chokepoints. While you cannot control the RNG, you can learn to quickly assess a map's potential. If a map is not ideal, it is often faster to restart than to struggle through a slow run. Learn more about game modes and their impact on speed in our gameplay overview guide.