Baldur's Gate 3 - Gale
In a feat that has turned heads in the gaming community, speedrunner Mae completed a run of Baldur's Gate 3 in just 4 minutes and 15 seconds, thanks to a new trick dubbed "Shadowboxing." For the uninitiated, speedrunning is the art of completing a video game in the shortest time possible, often utilizing glitches or tricks. Mae's record-shattering performance is no exception.
In this specific run, Mae chose Gale as the player avatar, a choice that's rooted in previous speedrun strategies. Using level 1 spells like Enhance Leap and Feather Fall, Gale avoids combat and leaps past encounters as if gravity is just a suggestion. Upon entering Act 1, Mae sidesteps all companions and quests, making a beeline for the Mountain Pass.
Where the run becomes truly groundbreaking is the inclusion of Shadowheart, a story-critical character. Runners have found that killing Shadowheart and putting her body in a crate can glitch the game, catapulting the player straight to Act 2's final encounter. This is where "Shadowboxing" comes into play.
But how does a level 1 Gale face off against Act 2's final boss, Ketheric Thorm? Here's the kicker: he doesn't. Using Gale's Karsus Weave chest bomb, Mae triggers a secret bad ending, killing the party but still rolling the credits, which in speedrun rules, counts as a game completion.
While speedruns might not be everyone's cup of tea, there's no denying that the innovative tactics employed in Baldur's Gate 3 runs offer a compelling layer to the game. "Shadowboxing," as it's now known, is likely just the tip of the iceberg, and the gaming community eagerly awaits the next exploit that could shatter existing records.
Source: YouTube