General Movement

Backdash Canceling

This movement is a crucial part of every Castlevania game, and Ecclesia is no exception

We have a huge variety too! Traditional jump cancels, rolling backdashes, Scutum Dashing, and most importantly Magnes Dashing

Moonwalkers make this movement even better which we see in No Memory Corruption and Randomizers

This is because it extends your backdash and also provides i-frames, which if timed correctly, can give you permanent i-frames

Magnes Dashing

This is the main form of movement in every run

Magnes + Backdash

Technically, you backdash about 1-2 frames before using Magnes, but if you mash them together it will work

You have no constraint on how fast you can mash, so in some categories, you generally want to go as fast as you can

Keep in mind however that your MP will drain faster at high mashing speeds, so in Glitchless especially it's important to be mindful of your use

It is recommended for controller players to have a keyboard on standby for this technique as it is basically free on keyboard and simultaneous bindings are banned

Weapon Canceling

This is what you're predominantly going to use before you get Magnes

Attack -> Backdash -> Repeat

This is commonly used with Confedere, and you can do the same with Albus' Agartha

For some weapons like Macir, Ascia, and Hasta, you need to alternate which hand you do the initial attack with (X or Y)

To be more technical, you backdash about 2-3 frames after the attack

Other INT based glyphs with longer animations aren't as effective to cancel

Scutum Dash/Shield Dash

Right out of SOTN, we can Shield Dash in Ecclesia as well

Backdash -> Scutum

It's basically just like weapon canceling, but Scutum has no end lag and the animation does not persist, making it the second fastest

This is primarily used as an alternative for controller players in Glitchless or during the randomizer

The added benefit of Scutum is if you hold up at any point during your backdashes, you can use the i-frame Union simultaneously

The MP usage here is very high

Jump Backdash Cancel

The simplest form of backdashing and can be done as soon as the game starts

Turn around -> Backdash -> Short hop at the end -> Turn around -> Repeat

This technique is great for when you're out of MP, going up inclines, or dodging

There are almost always far better options though

Crouch Backdash Cancel

From what I know, this was found by Halgorithmwhen they were experimenting with Dawn of Sorrow

Backdash -> Down -> Up -> Repeat

The above series of input needs to be done quick and at a steady rhythm

This is faster than jump canceling, and is great with Moonwalkers or Albus

It is easy on keyboard, and from what I've seen is possible on controller as well

This method is also very effective with the extended backdash the transformation glyphs have

Damage Boosting

This is a crucial part of Ecclesia movement used in every run

When Shanoa gets hit in the air, she has prolonged i-frames that we can take advantage of with the aforementioned backdash techniques

Basically, you want to purposefully get hit while in the air to knock Shanoa in the direction you're trying to go, and then backdash through enemies in your way with the added i-frames

A good way to do this is to jump over the enemy you want to get hit by, once you cross it, turn around while still airborne and then get hit

Not only will this give you the i-frames, but the knockback will send you in the direction you want to go while also turning Shanoa around, setting her up for backdashes

You can also purposefully backdash shorthop into an enemy if you're close to one

This will knock you forward, but the shorthop shortens that distance and you can take advantage of the i-frames from there

Attack and Union Cancels

As is Castlevania tradition, attack cancels are important for Order of Ecclesia speedruns

Generally, normal attacks are already fast enough with the basic hand swapping, so we usually aren't jump canceling like other IGAvanias

However, jump canceling can still be effective for moving while attacking or slower Glyphs

Short hop -> Attack

You can backdash to cancel attack end lag as well

Attack -> Backdash -> Down

Union Cancels

The main damage dealer, Unions can be canceled with jumps and backdashes like attacks

Every run uses them for quick kills to some degree, so it's important to learn this

First method is with jumps

Attack + Up -> Backdash -> Jump

Since the backdash moves you away from the enemy, I like to hold forward as I do this sequence, or press forward as I am landing

Second method is with crouching

Attack + Up -> Backdash -> Crouch

This is faster than the jump method since you don't have to wait for Shanoa to land

It's a bit more tricky to reposition yourself after a single sequence as incorporating the forward input might be harder

Below are examples of both tricks on different bosses, and the Glitchless run will delve into specifics

Redire Movement

This is crucial for the end of Glitchless and the Randomizer

With Redire and Magnes equipped: Attack + Magnes, and hold Magnes depending on how long you want magentize yourself

For basic horizontal movement, you can essentially just tap Magnes and interchange the attack button being used (X+R) -> (Y+R) -> (repeat)

For vertical movement, you want to hold Magnes as the blade rises and release Magnes at its apex

For going around ledges, you want to throw your blade under the ledge, hold magnes until it wraps around then let go once you're above it

Overall, the duration you hold Magnes varies depending on how far you want to go, the direction, and the fling strength

Important to note that regular Magnes pins take priority, so you can swing into them then fling from there

Below is a sequence vertical, horizontal, ledge movements - The Glitchless guide will show more of this

Redire and Backdash

Pointed out to me by Apple, if you backdash at the start of a Redire throw, Shanoa won't be animation locked and you can freely jump, divekick, or slide during the fling

Redire + Magnes -> Backdash at the very start of the fling to preserve momentum

You generally have to do this while crouching otherwise Shanoa tends to rise from a standing Redire throw, making backdashing tricky

This is useful in Glitchless for changing your direction during the Redire segment and for the Castle entrance zip

Hyperspeed Movement

Also found by Halgorithm, this involves using memory corruption in boss rush to change the physics of Shanoa, making her go absurdly fast

This is easier to explain in a video, but I will try to in text

You need to go into the Map Screen in boss rush -> move the off-screen pin ->
press left to make 5 pins appear -> select and hold the third pin ->
back out of the map screen as you hold -> enter the map screen again -> then move the pin to the correct position

There are two, crucial positions here, both leading to two different hyperspeed physics

Once activated, Shanoa will have altered physics, allowing her to zip to various positions and walk on air

You cannot save with hyperspeed active;You must use a transormation glyph to cancel it

Backdashing, sliding, attacking, and most actions that aren't moving left and right are not affected by Hyperspeed

Dragonblitz has an interview with Halgorithmexplaining this in further detail, and the Any% guide will delve into this trick's uses more

The Any% section will discuss other uses of memory corruption using the pins

Below is a video showing the set up, and pictures for pin positions

Set Up + Demo:

Tristis Pixel:

Normal Speed Pixel:

Boss Rush Pixel:

First Room Movement

Skip the first cutscene

As you move up, hold the jump button just long enough to where Shanoa does not have any added airtime before landing on each platform

Use backdash jumps to move to the center set of platforms and to reach the final door

There are a few frames after the starting text fadeout where you can instantly skip the intro cutscene, but many runners tend to not go for this

ALSO IMPORTANT: do not spam the start button to skip the cutscene, as you can risk looping them or adding extra screens showing Shanoa's death animation

Quick Barlowe Tutorial

After absorbing Confedere, use three single jump slashes to hit Barlowe

After each hit, you can either stop moving or hold back briefly to ensure Barlowe stays infront of you

If he teleports behind you, that means you were too close to him when landing the hit

After the third hit and before the cutscene triggers, slide to move Shanoa closer to the exit, then Confedere Cancel to the upper ledge and perform the Union

Skeleton Room Info

If Shanoa is standing on the left side of this room, the skeletons will always spawn infront of her

Each run has its own method of doing this room, but this detail is crucial to understand for each

You generally want to be killing the first wave of skeletons close to the door, so the game thinks you're standing over a spawn point

I will go into the various methods of doing this room quickly within the respective run guides

Other General Information

Random Movement Quirks

You can negate the end lag from falling by jumping as you land

Sliding off ledges is a good way to maintain speed

Relic Info Screen Skip

You can avoid the info text screen that appears when you get a Relic by leaving the room as the sound effect plays
The video will showcase this better than I can describe, but you want to Open the Chest -> Backdash to the Exit -> Slide Out
Depending on how far the exit is, you maybe need to delay the slide

Rusalka Spike Manip

There's a specific spot where you can crouch infront of her that makes Rusalka always do her hair spike

This spot also allows both of your Confedere hands to hit

The picture will show it clearer, but from the center, I tend to use the tiny rock to the left of her

I crouch in the center of that rock

Wallman

You can one cycle this by standing on the left ledge where the boss door is as shown below

General Techniques

This segment will describe crucial strategies used throughout the runs and show a video of each