[ESA Winter 2022] A Link Between Worlds general notes

In A Link Between Worlds all items needed to complete dungeons are sold in Ravio’s Shop, at the center of the map. These items can be rented at the start. Rented items can be used as normal items, but if you die they return to the shop. Rented item prices are:

Bow: 10 rupees
Tornado Rod and Hammer: 50 rupees, but can be rented at 20 under some conditions
Bombs, Hookshot, Boomerang, Sand Rod: 50 rupees
Ice Rod, Fire Rod: 100 rupees

The Boomerang and Bow are the only items that don’t have a dungeon-exclusive use, but Bow arrows deal damage and go faster, so only the boomerang will be ignored in the run. You can also get a free item if you try to rent your first item without enough rupees, this will be used in the route to save money. After getting Master Sword, the items can be bought permanently, but they’re very expensive, so they won’t be obtained during the run.

This game has no arrows, bombs, or magic, there’s a general stamina meter where every item uses a certain amount of stamina. During the Any% speedrun, this meter is invisible, since it’s never obtained, but it still works the same way.

The stamina meter gradually gets filled up with time, and it takes around 15 seconds to fully recover from 0. You can also refill it instantly if you void out by falling into a hole, lava, or water without Flippers, or by getting a stamina potion in some places.

After the first half of the game, we unlock Quick Equip, which allows you to change items without entering the menu. This will be a very important part of the run, as it saves a lot of time from being able to change items during walking, dashing, or any other action in general. This also means that having only 1 item slot is faster than getting the second one.

There are Weather Vanes all around the map that are used as both save points and warp points. The first one in the game, next to Link’s House, forces you to activate it and save to continue, but the rest are optional. We’ll be getting important ones to warp back to later, but the only safety save (unless I’m feeling brave) will be right before entering Lorule Castle.

The dungeon order has very few restrictions, since items can be rented in any order. In Hyrule, you’re required to beat Eastern Palace first, but then can go to Tower of Hera or House of Gales in any order. After finishing those and entering Lorule, all dungeons can be beat in any order, except Desert Palace, since you need to beat Thieves’ Hideout to unlock the Sand Rod needed for it. That restriction isn’t part of the run, as we can skip the Sand Rod.