The Impossible Stick: How One Gamer Conquered Tears of the Kingdom with a Glitch, Grit, and 1,000 Bans
For years, PointCrow has been a legend in the Zelda speedrunning and challenge-run community. He’s known for pushing Tears of the Kingdom (and Breath of the Wild before it) to its absolute limits – beating the game with only bombs, surviving without stamina, and undertaking feats that seem, frankly, impossible. His latest endeavor? Completing Tears of the Kingdom using only a single, incredibly fragile stick.
Sounds ludicrous, right? It is. But PointCrow didn’t just stumble into success.He leveraged a deep understanding of the game’s code, a mastery of its glitches, and a level of dedication that resulted in over 1,000 viewers being temporarily exiled from his Twitch chat. Here’s a breakdown of how he pulled off this seemingly impossible feat.
The Problem with Sticks (and Durability)
Tears of the Kingdom‘s weapon durability system is notorious. Even the most powerful swords shatter after extended use. A simple stick? It’s practically disposable. Adding to the challenge, the game forces you to use the Master Sword at the very beginning, promptly presenting an obstacle to a true stick-only run. If that stick breaks, the run is over.
So, how did PointCrow circumvent these hurdles? The answer lies in a technique pioneered by speedrunner pannenkoek2012 with his groundbreaking Super Mario 64 runs - manipulating save data to effectively exist in parallel universes.
Parallel Universes and Save File Shenanigans
This isn’t just about finding a clever exploit; it’s about exploiting the very architecture of Tears of the Kingdom’s save system. PointCrow created two distinct save files:
* The “Setup” Save: This file progressed normally, allowing Link to acquire maximum stamina and hearts, and crucially, complete the initial tutorial island.
* The “Stick” Save: This file remained limited, representing the core challenge of the run.
The magic happens when PointCrow initiates a cutscene in the setup save, then pauses it mid-way and instructs the game to load an auto-save from the stick save. This creates a third save file - a hybrid that combines the stats of the setup save (high stamina, hearts) with the limitations of the stick save (no shrine access, and the crucial, unbreakable stick).
Addressing the Glitch’s Fallout & A Pre-Release Advantage
This process wasn’t without its complications. the fused save file initially lacked the ability to enter shrines. PointCrow solved this by utilizing an unstable, pre-release version of the game (version 1.0), updating it mid-run to stabilize functionality while retaining the glitch’s benefits.
Here’s where a key detail emerges: the prologue version of Link is coded to be unable to break weapons. this is a safeguard to prevent players from getting stuck at the very beginning. PointCrow cleverly exploits this, pulling the “unbreakable” prologue Link into his main run, effectively bypassing the durability issue.
Beyond the Glitch: Skill, Consumables, and Clipping
While the save glitch is the foundation, it doesn’t guarantee victory. The stick remains a woefully inadequate weapon. PointCrow supplemented his strategy with:
* Duplication Glitches: To amass a stockpile of attack-boosting consumables and revival fairies.
* World Clipping: Utilizing glitches to move through solid objects,bypassing arduous sections or gaining strategic advantages.
These techniques are often debated within the speedrunning community, with some arguing they invalidate the run. Though,PointCrow’s approach demonstrates remarkable resourcefulness and a willingness to explore the boundaries of the game. He even implemented a unique penalty – banning a viewer from his Twitch chat for every fairy used – to discourage over-reliance on these crutches.
The Long Battles and a Technicality
The battles were grueling. Queen Gibdo took a staggering 23 hours to defeat. The final showdown with Ganondorf, where Link’s hearts are steadily depleted, was a nail-biting spectacle. PointCrow’s YouTube videos wisely edit out the full length of these encounters, sparing viewers the monotony.
And there’s a final, crucial technicality. The game forces the player to use the Master Sword for the final blow against Ganon. Therefore, it’s not technically a 10
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