Quad Skip: Difference between revisions

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= General Information =
'''Quadraxis Skip''', or '''Quad Skip''' as it's more commonly referred to, is a major trick in [[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]] where the [[Quadraxis]] fight is entirely avoided by navigating outside of the room's boundaries and avoiding the trigger that initiates the fight. This skips having to collect the [[Annihilator Beam]] and allows for the Sanctuary energy to be collected earlier. This is important, as getting the energy is what allows Samus to obtain the [[Light Suit]]. The trick entails wallcrawling in the Dark Aether without the [[Varia Suit]], meaning that Samus will be rapidly losing health. This makes collecting energy tanks a necessity, however how many you need depends on how skilled you are at the wallcrawls.
* You can skip the [[Quadraxis]] fight, and therefore [[Annihilator Beam]], to get Sanctuary's Energy Early.
* The game only checks for Sanctuary's energy when determining whether you should get [[Light Suit]], so this wallcrawl also allows you to get Light Suit early.
* Skipping Annihilator Beam loses time in other parts of the run, but still saves around 2 minutes overall.
* In run conditions, you will be doing this wallcrawl with [[Varia Suit]], meaning you will be losing 6 health per second.
* Normally, you can choose between 3-5 energy tanks depending on your level of comfort. This is further discussed later on.


= The First Half =
The trick is divided into two distinct parts, and the first half has two different routes to choose from. The routes start in two different rooms:
* [[Hive Dynamo Access]]: Slower, but easier to perform
* [[Aerial Training Site]]: More difficult to perform, but saves over a minute
It is generally not recommended to go for the Aerial Training Site route unless you are an experienced player who can reliably perform good [[Scan Dash (Echoes)#Extended Dash|Extended Dashes]]. The ATS route not only requires a good extended dash to get out of bounds, but it requires a well-performed [[Screw Attack]] that entails an obscure visual cue which isn't easy to learn. On the other hand, a well-performed Quad Skip with the ATS route can get by with 2 [[Energy Tank|Energy Tanks]] with some leniency, whereas in the Hive Dynamo Access route, it is considerably more difficult to pull it off with just 2 E-tanks. Therefore, the ATS route is recommended once you have mastered the Hive Dynamo Access route with 3 tanks and are looking for ways to further lower your time.
 
No matter which of the two routes you choose for the first half, the second half stays the same. Because the game refills Samus' health upon collecting the Sanctuary energy, it is immediately possible to perform the [[Secret World]] in [[Hive Energy Controller]] and rush to the light portal in [[Aerial Training Site]]. Because the route uses this portal, activating the bomb slot in [[Watch Station]] is effectively required in either of the routes.
 
==Energy Tanks==
This section mainly concerns the [[Hive Dynamo Access]] route, which is recommended for most players. Depending on how skilled you are, you may need to collect more or less energy tanks heading into the route.
* [[Watch Station Access]] - acquired for 2 tank
* [[Mining Station Access]] - 2 tank
* [[Storage Cavern B]] - 3 tank
* [[Reactor Core (Sanctuary Fortress)]] - 4 tank
TODO: Establish possibilities for 5 tank Quad Skip
 
Naturally, the detours that 5 and 4 tank Quad Skip lose a lot of time, and should only be taken if you aren't good enough at Quad Skip to go lower. The [[Reactor Core (Sanctuary Fortress)|Reactor Core]] E-tank alone loses around a minute to collect.
 
If using the Hive Dynamo Access route, it is recommended to take the [[Watch Station Access]] tank on your second visit to that room. If doing the Aerial Training Site route, get this tank on your first trip.
 
===1 or 0 Tank Quad Skip===
It is theoretically possible to have a 1 tank or even 0 tank Quad Skip, but this is currently considered to be [[Tool-Assisted Speedruns|TAS]]-only. Due to the convenient placement of the [[Watch Station Access]] tank, it may still be faster to do Quad Skip with 1 tank even if 0 tank Quad Skip is possible. The TAS below, which was made before the discovery of [[Scan Dash (Echoes)#Extended Dash|Extended Dashes]], demonstrates a 1 tank Quad Skip.
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC8VMQwz1xs}}
 
==First Half (Hive Dynamo Access Route)==
<table style="float: right; margin: 5px; border: #AAA solid 1px;">
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td><strong>Rooms Traversed</br>In This Wallcrawl</strong></td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td>[[Hive Dynamo Access]] (start)</br>[[Hive Gyro Chamber]]</br>[[Hive Temple Access]]</br>[[Hive Temple]]</br>[[Hive Controller Access]]</br>[[Hive Energy Controller]] (end)</td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
</table>
===Pre-Wallcrawl (Hive Dynamo Works)===
Since this route has you take the portal leading to [[Hive Cache 3]], you need to first navigate your way to Hive Dynamo Access, preferably without losing too much health. Here, you must perform [[Screw Attack]] into the [[Morph Ball]] tunnel. When successful, force your way out of bounds and hit the [[Terminal Fall]] trigger. This will respawn you inside the correct portion of [[Hive Dynamo Works]], allowing you to make your way to Hive Dynamo Access. From here, simply Screw Attack across the gap. This is a good chance to use the Nightbarbs scattered around the [[Grapple Beam|Grapple]] point in order to farm extra ammo or health, if necessary.
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYISNJWaqbQ}}
===Hive Dynamo Access===
===Hive Gyro Chamber===
===Hive Temple Access===
===Hive Temple===
===Hive Controller Access===
Once you are in position, quickly perform a [[Out of Bounds#Ceiling Warp|Ceiling Warp]] into the room, touch the door to transition, and boost to the bomb slot. Wait as late as possible to skip the cutscene in order to save IGT and also heal.
===Hive Energy Controller===
Quickly boost your way into the trigger that initiates the cutscene. If you're here, you have successfully managed to perform the first half of this trick.


== From [[Hive Dynamo Access]] ==
* You will start by doing a [[Bomb Space Jump|3BSJ]] to access the [[Secret World]] in Hive Dynamo Access.
* You will start by doing a [[Bomb Space Jump|3BSJ]] to access the [[Secret World]] in Hive Dynamo Access.
* If you're lucky and the Ing reforms right in the middle of Hive Dynamo Access, you can just jump off of him into the SW.
* If you're lucky and the Ing reforms right in the middle of Hive Dynamo Access, you can just jump off of him into the SW.
Line 21: Line 61:
* Morph once the corner of the square decoration disappears on the top of your screen.
* Morph once the corner of the square decoration disappears on the top of your screen.


== From [[Aerial Training Site]] ==
==First Half (Aerial Training Site Route)==
<table style="float: right; margin: 5px; border: #AAA solid 1px;">
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td><strong>Rooms Traversed</br>In This Wallcrawl</strong></td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td>[[Aerial Training Site]] (start)</br>[[Temple Security Access]]</br>[[Hive Temple]]</br>[[Hive Controller Access]]</br>[[Hive Energy Controller]] (end)</td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
</table>
===Aerial Training Site===
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0lrMR3snYY}}
===Temple Security Access===
===Hive Temple===
This part of the wallcrawl is simply a matter of navigating around the room's box, making sure to have enough height for the ceiling warp to [[Hive Controller Access]]. The room will be loaded by the time you get there, allowing you to gauge where to perform the ceiling warp.
===Hive Controller Access===
Just like in the Hive Dynamo Access route, quickly perform a [[Out of Bounds#Ceiling Warp|Ceiling Warp]] into the room, touch the door to transition, and boost to the bomb slot. Wait as late as possible to skip the cutscene.
===Hive Energy Controller===
Quickly boost your way into the trigger that initiates the cutscene. If you're here, you have successfully managed to perform the first half of this trick.


TODO: <description to barrier, sw, wallcrawl to hive temple, and video>
==Second Half==
<table style="float: right; margin: 5px; border: #AAA solid 1px;">
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td><strong>Rooms Traversed</br>In This Wallcrawl</strong></td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td></td>
    <td>[[Hive Energy Controller]] (start)</br>[[Hive Controller Access]]</br>[[Hive Temple]]</br>[[Temple Security Access]]</br>[[Aerial Training Site]] (end)</td>
    <td></td>
  </tr>
</table>
===Hive Energy Controller===
The second half of Quad Skip begins by performing the [[Secret World]] in this room with [[Screw Attack]]. If successful, the room's geometry in the corner will push Samus out of bounds. From here, turn around to face the door, making sure not to fall down, and jump to the door to transition the room.
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGdf3PdibW0}}
===Hive Controller Access===
===Hive Temple===
===Temple Security Access===
===Aerial Training Site===
You should now be in-bounds. From here, perform a [[Screw Attack]] to the end of the room with the portal, grabbing extra energy if necessary. Since you may be in a low-health situation, beware of the pirates, which can deal high damage to Samus. Once Samus makes it to the portal, you have officially performed Quad Skip.


== Getting Back Inbounds ==
* [[Out of Bounds#Ceiling Warp|Ceiling Warp]] into [[Hive Controller Access]], touch the door, and boost to the Bomb Slot
* Wait as late as possible to skip the cutscene to save IGT and also heal.
* Boost into [[Hive Energy Controller]] and you have completed the first half.
= The Second Half =
* Screw Attack into the SW in Hive Energy Controller
* Screw Attack into the SW in Hive Energy Controller
* [[Dash Jump (Echoes)|Scan Dash]] to the left after transitioning to Hive Controller Access.
* [[Dash Jump (Echoes)|Scan Dash]] to the left after transitioning to Hive Controller Access.
Line 40: Line 115:
* If you failed to open the [[Watch Station]] gate, you will need to instead use the portal in [[Judgment Drop]] to get back.
* If you failed to open the [[Watch Station]] gate, you will need to instead use the portal in [[Judgment Drop]] to get back.


= Energy Tank Variations =
The variations below are ranked in order of difficulty, easiest to hardest.
== 5 Tanks ==
This is a completely different variation from the next two, in that you go to Torvus Bog before Sanctuary Fortress. This should only be used as a Beginner Route for people who want to get [[Grapple Beam]] and not deal with [[Grand Abyss]] (inbounds or out of bounds). You get the exact same 4 energy tanks as you do in the 4 tank route (although in a different order), but you also get the energy tank in Torvus' [[Temple Access (Torvus Bog)|Temple Access]].
== 4 Tanks ==
This variation loses a little under a minute because of the detour for the fourth energy tank. The route diverges in two ways compared to the 3 tank route:
* You collect the energy tank in [[Watch Station Access]] on your first visit
* After returning to Watch Station from Grand Abyss, you go down [[Central Area Transport West]] (open Watch Station's gate if you haven't done so already). Then, you get the energy tank in [[Reactor Core]] and use the portal in [[Hall of Combat Mastery]]. From there, take the elevator up to [[Hive Dynamo Works]] and this is where the variation converges with the 3 tank route.
== 3 Tanks ==
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80qvFw0ldC8||right}}
The lowest reasonable amount of energy tanks is 3. You collect them in the following order:
* Storage Cavern B
* Mining Station Access
* Watch Station Access (on the second visit)
So, after returning to Watch Station from Grand Abyss, you collect the energy tank in Watch Station Access. Then, you go to Dynamo Works and wallcrawl to the portal in Dynamo Storage. From here, you enter the SW in the morph ball tunnel in Hive Dynamo Works and hit terminal fall so you respawn on the other side. The 3 tank route leaves you with a small margin of error, and so it is very helpful to get any health drop. Specifically, you can get no health, 10 health, or 30 health from the canister in Hive Temple Access. However, with good execution, you can complete the wallcrawl regardless of this drop.
== 2 Tanks ==
The lowest realistic amount of energy tanks is 2. Depending on the room you start the wallcrawl in, determines the difficulty of this method. Regardless of the starting locations, the execution for this method is much more difficult than with 3 Tanks.


Starting the wallcrawl from Hive Dynamo Access is more difficult health-wise, as you also need to rely on good health drop luck in the first half. The Secret World, however is quite easy.
==Low% Quad Skip==
Quad Skip differs significantly under Low% conditions due to the need to use [[Cannon Ball]] to negate the damage caused by Dark Aether's atmosphere. This means that the [[Hive Dynamo Access]] route must be done while primarily in [[Morph Ball]].


Starting from Aerial Training Site, on the other hand, is much more difficult in terms of execution, as it requires an [[Dash Jump (Echoes)#Extended Dash|Extended Dash]] as well as Screw Attacking Out of Bounds to the Annihilator Door. But the health requirement is not as strict, and does not rely on drops like the other method.
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZVEcPlj6MI}}


== 0 and 1 Tanks ==
TODO
None of these options are really applicable in a single segment run done by a human. 0 tanks is a TAS-only route that's possible with many precise out of bounds screw attacks, but is slow since you must wait and heal in light bubbles in certain parts. This is eliminated in the 1 tank route, which is also TAS-only and only gets the energy tank in Watch Station Access. You'd get this energy tank since it costs almost no time and it eliminates the aforementioned need to wait in light bubbles. This makes 1-tank the optimal theoretical route, saving around a minute compared to the standard 3 tank route.
{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSHmXVZpkyQ}}

Latest revision as of 18:06, 4 September 2021

Quadraxis Skip, or Quad Skip as it's more commonly referred to, is a major trick in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes where the Quadraxis fight is entirely avoided by navigating outside of the room's boundaries and avoiding the trigger that initiates the fight. This skips having to collect the Annihilator Beam and allows for the Sanctuary energy to be collected earlier. This is important, as getting the energy is what allows Samus to obtain the Light Suit. The trick entails wallcrawling in the Dark Aether without the Varia Suit, meaning that Samus will be rapidly losing health. This makes collecting energy tanks a necessity, however how many you need depends on how skilled you are at the wallcrawls.

The trick is divided into two distinct parts, and the first half has two different routes to choose from. The routes start in two different rooms:

It is generally not recommended to go for the Aerial Training Site route unless you are an experienced player who can reliably perform good Extended Dashes. The ATS route not only requires a good extended dash to get out of bounds, but it requires a well-performed Screw Attack that entails an obscure visual cue which isn't easy to learn. On the other hand, a well-performed Quad Skip with the ATS route can get by with 2 Energy Tanks with some leniency, whereas in the Hive Dynamo Access route, it is considerably more difficult to pull it off with just 2 E-tanks. Therefore, the ATS route is recommended once you have mastered the Hive Dynamo Access route with 3 tanks and are looking for ways to further lower your time.

No matter which of the two routes you choose for the first half, the second half stays the same. Because the game refills Samus' health upon collecting the Sanctuary energy, it is immediately possible to perform the Secret World in Hive Energy Controller and rush to the light portal in Aerial Training Site. Because the route uses this portal, activating the bomb slot in Watch Station is effectively required in either of the routes.

Energy Tanks

This section mainly concerns the Hive Dynamo Access route, which is recommended for most players. Depending on how skilled you are, you may need to collect more or less energy tanks heading into the route.

TODO: Establish possibilities for 5 tank Quad Skip

Naturally, the detours that 5 and 4 tank Quad Skip lose a lot of time, and should only be taken if you aren't good enough at Quad Skip to go lower. The Reactor Core E-tank alone loses around a minute to collect.

If using the Hive Dynamo Access route, it is recommended to take the Watch Station Access tank on your second visit to that room. If doing the Aerial Training Site route, get this tank on your first trip.

1 or 0 Tank Quad Skip

It is theoretically possible to have a 1 tank or even 0 tank Quad Skip, but this is currently considered to be TAS-only. Due to the convenient placement of the Watch Station Access tank, it may still be faster to do Quad Skip with 1 tank even if 0 tank Quad Skip is possible. The TAS below, which was made before the discovery of Extended Dashes, demonstrates a 1 tank Quad Skip.

First Half (Hive Dynamo Access Route)

Rooms Traversed
In This Wallcrawl
Hive Dynamo Access (start)
Hive Gyro Chamber
Hive Temple Access
Hive Temple
Hive Controller Access
Hive Energy Controller (end)

Pre-Wallcrawl (Hive Dynamo Works)

Since this route has you take the portal leading to Hive Cache 3, you need to first navigate your way to Hive Dynamo Access, preferably without losing too much health. Here, you must perform Screw Attack into the Morph Ball tunnel. When successful, force your way out of bounds and hit the Terminal Fall trigger. This will respawn you inside the correct portion of Hive Dynamo Works, allowing you to make your way to Hive Dynamo Access. From here, simply Screw Attack across the gap. This is a good chance to use the Nightbarbs scattered around the Grapple point in order to farm extra ammo or health, if necessary.

Hive Dynamo Access

Hive Gyro Chamber

Hive Temple Access

Hive Temple

Hive Controller Access

Once you are in position, quickly perform a Ceiling Warp into the room, touch the door to transition, and boost to the bomb slot. Wait as late as possible to skip the cutscene in order to save IGT and also heal.

Hive Energy Controller

Quickly boost your way into the trigger that initiates the cutscene. If you're here, you have successfully managed to perform the first half of this trick.

  • You will start by doing a 3BSJ to access the Secret World in Hive Dynamo Access.
  • If you're lucky and the Ing reforms right in the middle of Hive Dynamo Access, you can just jump off of him into the SW.
  • From here, you need to land on right on the edge of the hole you just jumped through to land on a standable spot.
  • Space Jump to another standable spot on the tunnel, jump against the invisible Hive Gyro Chamber, then fall straight down.
  • Jump twice straight up and go slightly forwards at the peak of the jump and let go.
  • Jump over to the edge of the curved area beneath the door, and jump up to the door from there.
  • Wait two seconds, jump back-left off the door into the Aether, and shoot the canisters for a health drop while walking to Hive Temple.
  • Walk left around the Hive Temple door and go right to fall to it.
  • Once you see the dark particles on the left of your screen, it's loaded, so jump back-right and Aether Jump to the skywalk.
  • Once on the skywalk, just walk over to the Annihilator Door while being aligned with the center of it.
  • Morph once the corner of the square decoration disappears on the top of your screen.

First Half (Aerial Training Site Route)

Rooms Traversed
In This Wallcrawl
Aerial Training Site (start)
Temple Security Access
Hive Temple
Hive Controller Access
Hive Energy Controller (end)

Aerial Training Site

Temple Security Access

Hive Temple

This part of the wallcrawl is simply a matter of navigating around the room's box, making sure to have enough height for the ceiling warp to Hive Controller Access. The room will be loaded by the time you get there, allowing you to gauge where to perform the ceiling warp.

Hive Controller Access

Just like in the Hive Dynamo Access route, quickly perform a Ceiling Warp into the room, touch the door to transition, and boost to the bomb slot. Wait as late as possible to skip the cutscene.

Hive Energy Controller

Quickly boost your way into the trigger that initiates the cutscene. If you're here, you have successfully managed to perform the first half of this trick.

Second Half

Rooms Traversed
In This Wallcrawl
Hive Energy Controller (start)
Hive Controller Access
Hive Temple
Temple Security Access
Aerial Training Site (end)

Hive Energy Controller

The second half of Quad Skip begins by performing the Secret World in this room with Screw Attack. If successful, the room's geometry in the corner will push Samus out of bounds. From here, turn around to face the door, making sure not to fall down, and jump to the door to transition the room.

Hive Controller Access

Hive Temple

Temple Security Access

Aerial Training Site

You should now be in-bounds. From here, perform a Screw Attack to the end of the room with the portal, grabbing extra energy if necessary. Since you may be in a low-health situation, beware of the pirates, which can deal high damage to Samus. Once Samus makes it to the portal, you have officially performed Quad Skip.

  • Screw Attack into the SW in Hive Energy Controller
  • Scan Dash to the left after transitioning to Hive Controller Access.
  • The background will turn black once Hive Temple starts to load, so wait in the light bubble for 5-7 seconds after this occurs so you can heal before Hive Temple finishes loading
  • Once ready, Aether Jump on top of the door and jump straight back and then a bit to the right on your Space Jump
  • Keep walking back for a few seconds, turn to the left, and walk diagonally to the right to go past the rocks (use your map to help walk on a good path to the next door).
  • Fall on the door and jump off. Walk to the Aerial Training Site and Aether Jump up above its door before it finishes loading. Alternatively, you can jump back-left off the first door and Aether Jump to the skywalk, and fall into Aerial Training Site before it loads by briefly morphing then unmorphing.
  • Whichever method was used, touch the door once Aerial Training Site finishes loading and Screw Attack over to the portal. Get health drops from the canisters next to the portal if desired.
  • If you failed to open the Watch Station gate, you will need to instead use the portal in Judgment Drop to get back.


Low% Quad Skip

Quad Skip differs significantly under Low% conditions due to the need to use Cannon Ball to negate the damage caused by Dark Aether's atmosphere. This means that the Hive Dynamo Access route must be done while primarily in Morph Ball.

TODO