Pokémon Sword Any% w/ DLC F.A.Q.

Pokémon Sword Any% w/ DLC F.A.Q.

Q: What are you trying to do?
A: I am trying to complete Pokémon Sword as fast as possible using any content available in the game or the DLCs

Q: What is your best time?
A: My best time is 4:03:18

Q: What is the World Record?
A: The World Record time is 4:01:11 by Wh0misDS

Q: That's not you!
A: I know :(

Q: Where can you save time?
A: A lot of time can be saved in the DLC section, and then small timesaves everywhere else

Q: What separates this category from just Any%? Do you have to beat the DLC too?
A: No, we just have to beat the game, but we're allowed to go to the DLC areas if we want; normal Any% does not allow for accessing the DLCs at all

Q: What Pokémon do you use in the run?
A: I start with Sobble, which I use until we can access the Crown Tundra. Once we go to Crown Tundra, we search for a new main in the Dynamax Adventures and then use that until the end of the game. Sometimes, we switch to Eternatus for the final fight, but it's not required

Q: ...what?
A: So the way that this run looks is basically this:
	- Blitz through the early game
	- After getting the Corviknight Taxi, go back to Wedgehurst and access the Crown Tundra
	- Die to Peony at the entrance, because it's allowed (and also he's 60 levels higher than you are)
	- Head to the Max Lair and start a Dynamax Adventure
		- There are over 200 Pokémon available in the Dynamax Adventures, and which ones appear are random. This means most runs are going to be different than the last. To see a list of all available Pokémon, look here: https://serebii.net/swordshield/dynamaxadventurespokemon.shtml
	- With your new Level 65+ main, wreck the game

Q: Do you have every Pokémon routed?
A: Nope! Pretty much all of my runs will be figured out on the fly. I have resources to help me route as I'm playing, but for the most part nothing will be planned

Q: What are the best Pokémon to get?
A: I don't have a ton of experience with the category, so aside from a couple of well known S/A tier Pokémon (Krookodile, Starmie, Mr. Mime, Galvantula, Raichu-Alola, etc), I don't have a great handle on it. In general though, we're looking for the following stuff in a main Pokémon:
	- An ability that doesn't hinder the Pokémon speedwise (e.g. Intimidate or Pressure)
		- These abilities are slow as they proc every battle
	- A spread move (e.g. Surf, Dazzling Gleam, Earthquake)
		- There are a number of double fights, especially late in the game, so having a move that hits both opponents is huge
	- Good coverage and STAB moves
		- A lot of the run you can just spam your best move over and over, but there are a few places late game that require tighter move choices, so having a nice variety is nice

Q: Can you do this run on Shield!?
A: You can! I did it once and got a 4:11:00 with Alolan Sandslash. That's the World Record over there

Q: What Pokémon is used in the WR and your PB?
A: Raichu-Alola is used in the WR and Swampert is used in my PB. Here's my personal leaderboard (all runs on Sword unless otherwise noted); it shouldn't be used as a list of which Pokémon are better than others, as there are factors outside of just the Pokémon used to consider:
	*. Dragonite - 4:03:00
	1. Tyrantrum - 4:03:18
	2. Swampert - 4:05:33
	3. Wigglytuff - 4:06:25
	4. Dugtrio - 4:09:15
	5. Hitmonlee - 4:09:18
	6. Basculin-Red - 4:10:18
	7. Sandslash-Alola - 4:11:00 (Shield)
	8. Suicune - 4:11:04
	9. Marowak - 4:14:29
	10. Crawdaunt - 4:15:14
	11. Druddigon - 4:18:13

* - My Dragonite run had a mishap that caused my capture to go out for a few seconds near the end of the run. I don't think anyone would believe the run to be cheated, however for the sake of professionalism, I prefer to have my Tyrantrum time as the "best" time so far

Q: Which game is faster?
A: Currently, Sword is faster

Q: What are the differences between the two games for the speedrun?
A: The 4th and 6th Gyms are different between the two games, with Sword getting Fighting/Rock while Shield gets Ghost/Ice. The typings aren't too important for this category, but there are a few trouble Pokémon in Shield that make the category better in Sword:
	- The Ghost Gym has 3 trainers with 3, 1, and 2 Pokémon respectively. The Fighting Gym has 3 trainers with 2, 1, and 2 Pokémon. Barring all other differences, there is one more Pokémon that is required to beat in Shield over Sword
	- The Ghost Gym has a Mimikyu, which has the Disguise ability that will almost always waste a turn
	- The Ice Gym has an Eiscue, which has the Ice Face ability that will waste a turn for Physical attackers
	- The Ice Gym has a Lapras, which is incredibly bulky for the time of the game that it shows up

Q: Is sub 4 possible?
A: Sure

Q: What is your goal time?
A: Better than my PB