RTA Guide/16 Star

The goal of the 16 Star category is to beat the game as quickly as possible using MIPS clipping to skip the 30 star door. Any form of BLJ (or technique other than MIPS clipping) to pass the 30 star door is not allowed. It's a great category for beginners as it is not very long and doesn't involve any tricks that are overly difficult.

Rules

• Using any form of BLJ to skip the 30 star door is banned. (e.g. Side BLJ)
• LBLJ is allowed
• MIPS Clip is allowed

Notes

This guide is made for players with at least some sort of knowledge about the game’s mechanics. If you have just started running this game, I recommend watching both of Simply’s movement tutorials and Sean Raider's movement guide.

Easy Route

This is the most basic version of the "No LBLJ" 16 star route. It skips Bowser in the Dark World Reds, however it is strongly recommend to start practicing and implementing this in your runs sooner than later.

1. Lakitu Skip
2. Bob-omb Battlefield
   • Behind Chain Chomp's Gate
3. Whomp's Fortress
   • Blast Away the Wall
   • Shoot into the Wild Blue
   • Fall onto the Caged Island *If you're using the owl, move this star to after To the Top of the Fortress
   • Chip off Whomp's Block
   • To the Top of the Fortress
4. Cool Cool Mountain
   • Li'l Penguin Lost
   • Wall Kicks Will Work
5. Bowser in the Dark World (No Reds)
6. Shifting Sand Land
   • In the Talons of the Big Bird
   • Shining atop the Pyramid
7. Lethal Lava Land
   • 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces
8. Hazy Maze Cave
   • A-maze-ing Emergency Exit
   • HMC Toad
   • Watch for Rolling Rocks
   • Swimming Beast in the Cavern
9. MIPS Clip
10. Dire, Dire Docks
    • Board Bowser's Sub
11. Bowser in the Fire Sea (No Reds)
12. BLJ's
13. Bowser in the Sky (No Reds)

Medium Route

This route is potentially ~8 seconds faster than the Easy Route

1. Bob-omb Battlefield
   • Behind Chain Chomp's Gate
2. Whomp's Fortress
   • Blast Away the Wall
   • Shoot into the Wild Blue
   • Fall onto the Caged Island
   • Chip off Whomp's Block
   • To the Top of the Fortress
3. Cool Cool Mountain
   • Li'l Penguin Lost
   • Wall Kicks Will Work
4. Bowser in the Dark World (Reds)
5. Shifting Sand Land
   • In the Talons of the Big Bird
   • Shining atop the Pyramid
6. Lethal Lava Land
   • 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces
7. HMC Toad
8. Hazy Maze Cave
   • A-maze-ing Emergency Exit
   • Watch for Rolling Rocks
9. MIPS Clip
10. Dire, Dire Docks
    • Board Bowser's Sub
11. Bowser in the Fire Sea (No Reds)
12. BLJ's
13. Bowser in the Sky (No Reds)

Hard Route #1 (LBLJ)

This route is potentially ~30 seconds faster than the Medium Route. It is not recommended for new players

1. Lobby Backwards Long Jump
2. Bowser in the Dark World (Reds)
3. Whomp's Fortress
   • Blast Away the Wall
   • Fall onto the Caged Island
   • Shoot into the Wild Blue
4. Shifting Sand Land
   • In the Talons of the Big Bird
   • Shining atop the Pyramid
5. Lethal Lava Land
   • 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces
   • Red-Hot Log Rolling (No Wing Cap)
   • Boil the Big Bully
   • Choose one of the following two stars:
     • Hot-Foot-It into the Volcano (~1.2s faster using optimal strats)
     • Elevator Tour in the Volcano (recommended unless proficient at optimal lavaboost)
6. Haze Maze Cave
   • A-maze-ing Emergency Exit
   • HMC Toad
   • Watch for Rolling Rocks
   • Swimming Beast in the Cavern
7. MIPS Clip
8. Dire, Dire Docks
   • Board Bowser's Sub
9. Bowser in the Fire Sea (No Reds)
10. BLJ's
11. Bowser in the Sky (No Reds)

Hard Route #2 (LBLJ)

This route is potentially ~5 seconds faster than Hard Route #1 (LBLJ), but only if you do Pillarless.

1. Lobby Backwards Long Jump
2. Bowser in the Dark World (Reds)
3. Whomp's Fortress
   • Blast Away the Wall
   • Fall onto the Caged Island
   • Shoot into the Wild Blue
4. Shifting Sand Land
   • Inside the Ancient Pyramid (Pillarless)
   • In the Talons of the Big Bird
   • Shining atop the Pyramid
5. Lethal Lava Land
   • 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces
   • Red-Hot Log Rolling (No Wing Cap)
   • Boil the Big Bully
   • Elevator Tour in the Volcano
6. Haze Maze Cave
   • A-maze-ing Emergency Exit
   • HMC Toad
   • Watch for Rolling Rocks
   • Swimming Beast in the Cavern
7. MIPS Clip
8. Dire, Dire Docks
   • Board Bowser's Sub
9. Bowser in the Fire Sea (No Reds)
10. BLJ's
11. Bowser in the Sky (No Reds)