Red Line + Any% Strat Theories:

1) Theory: Killing all wingmates in Corneria is faster.

Summary: In order to reduce lag in the Attack Carrier boss fight to mash faster, all wingmates flying around in the background must be dead. This allows for faster mashing and also decreases the cutscene time considerably.

Findings: Killing Peppy is nearly impossible without obtaining the first laser upgrade in the stage. Killing Slippy is simple. Killing Falco should be reserved for "reset runs only" (ie: not marathon safe)

How to perform: Obtain the first laser upgrade by killing the first group of 5 enemies in the stage. Charge shot the 3 on the left, shoot the 2 on the right once they reach center, after they've started flying straight. If you shoot them too early or too late, the laser will spawn behind you. Kill Slippy as he's being tailed. You can leave him to die if he's below ~1/4 health. Kill Peppy right after Falco says "This is horrible", immediately after the gold ring. This is difficult as he only appears on-screen for approximately 3 seconds, hence the laser upgrade. After the checkpoint, shoot Falco to red health. Save him. After the waterfall, he appears on the right side of the screen and says "Time for a little payback", finish him off then. As he dies, barrel roll to the left side of the screen. Shoot him from as far left as you can.

Approximate time save: 12-13 seconds (6-7 seconds in Corneria, 6 seconds in Sector Y). Time saved depends on how many silver ring drops you get from Attack Carrier.

2) Theory: Killing all wingmates in Sector Z is faster.

Summary: In order to reduce lag in the Gorgon boss fight and the Sector Z cutscene, all wingmates flying around in the background must be dead. This reduces lag while waiting for the tentacles to be vulnerable and allows for faster mashing in the final phase of the Gorgon boss fight.

Findings: Works quite well. In order for wingmates to respawn in Venom, they seem to need to be killed in a certain order. An order that works is killing Peppy first, then Slippy, then Falco. They must be killed before the first missile spawns. Lag is greatly reduced in Gorgon boss fight.

How to perform: Zoom out camera at the start of stage. Don't begin shooting Peppy until he is passed the Great Fox. Take out Peppy, then Slippy, then Falco.

Approximate time save: 5 seconds (approximate)

3) Theory: In Sector Z, the time at which Missiles 4, 5, and 6 spawn is dictated by the kill timer for missiles 2 and 3, whose spawn times are dictated by the kill timer for missile 1.

Summary: If you kill the previous missiles more quickly, the last set of missiles will spawn earlier.

Findings: Results are inconclusive at this time, but general research seems to indicate this is a false statement.

How to perform: Kill missiles 1, 2, and 3 quickly.

Approximate time save: ?


UNTESTED:

4) Theory: Blue Line and Any% would be faster in Corneria if Slippy and Peppy were killed.

-While I cannot speak for Slippy, it is more likely that runs would benefit from killing Peppy. This would be easier, as Peppy takes approximately half his health in damage later in the stage, unlike Red Line where he only appears for the 3 second window. Runs would more likely benefit from killing Peppy because I would feel better about myself, he wouldn't cut in front and detonate in the boss fight, and his enemies that he spawns in Meteo do not cause lag unless you are shot by them.

5) Theory: Any% is faster if you go to Sector Y than going to Meteo.

-I haven't tested this with the "failing Sector Y" cutscene, but with the cutscene that plays when you go to Aquas, an optimal Sector Y + Corneria combination is approximately 4 seconds slower than an optimal Corneria + Meteo combination. Findings are inconclusive as I have not tested with the proper cutscene and it may be faster due to that.