Celeste is renowned for its tight platforming mechanics, intricate level design, and rewarding movement system. While casual players scale Mount Celeste using basic jumps, dashes, and grabs, speedrunners have pushed the game’s mechanics to the limit with advanced techniques that maximize efficiency and speed. This guide breaks down the core speedrunning methods to help you master fast-paced movement and clear the game as quickly as possible.

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Core Mechanics

Madeline’s movement centers around three fundamental actions:

• Jump
• Dash
• Grab

Though simple on their own, these actions can be combined in advanced ways to produce optimized movement. Let’s explore the most essential speedrunning techniques and how to perform them effectively.

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Essential Speedrunning Techniques

1. Super Dash

The Super Dash is performed by dashing while grounded, then jumping immediately afterward. This preserves momentum and propels Madeline farther horizontally.

Variants:

• Extended Super – Delay the jump until Madeline’s hair turns white, allowing for an additional mid-air dash.
• Reverse Super – Jump in the opposite direction of your dash.
• Reverse Extended Super – Combines both variants; often used in tight sequences like the Chapter 5 skip.

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2. Hyper Dash

To perform a Hyper Dash, dash diagonally downward and jump before the dash ends. This technique:

• Moves Madeline faster than a Super Dash.
• Keeps her low to the ground, ideal for maneuvering through tight spaces.

Variants:

• Extended Hyper – Hold the jump button longer to extend the dash duration.
• Reverse Hyper – Jump in the opposite direction of your initial dash for situational utility.

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3. Wave Dash

The Wave Dash is one of the most vital techniques in a speedrunner’s arsenal. To execute it:

• Dash diagonally downward after jumping.
• Just before or as Madeline lands, jump again.

This technique resets Madeline’s dash and provides fluid, sustained movement.

Variants:

• Reverse Wave Dash – Performed in the opposite direction for specialized skips.
• Extended Wave Dash – Delay the second jump to maximize distance.

Tip: Watch Madeline’s hair; when it turns white, her dash has reset.

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4. Demo Dash

The Demo Dash lets Madeline dash while crouching, effectively shrinking her hitbox. This allows her to pass through otherwise inaccessible gaps.

How to Perform:

• In mid-air, dash downward, then quickly release the down input.

The execution window is tight—around 4 frames (0.066 seconds)—making this one of the hardest techniques to master. However, in version 1.4.0.0, the Crouch Dash keybind helps simplify the input.

Use Case:

• In Chapter 3, a well-known Demo Dash skip lets you bypass multiple rooms by slipping past dust creatures.

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Wall-Based Techniques

5. Wall Bounce

To perform a Wall Bounce, dash upward while adjacent to a wall, then jump during the dash. This gives Madeline extra vertical height and is useful for reaching ledges quickly.

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6. Neutral Jump

A Neutral Jump is executed by jumping away from a wall without holding any direction or the grab button. Unlike wall climbing, it doesn’t consume stamina, which makes it ideal for infinite or stamina-efficient wall scaling.

Use Case:

• In Chapter 6, Neutral Jumps help bypass sections where stamina would normally run out.

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7. Spike Jump

The Spike Jump is a Neutral Jump performed from a corner with spikes. Since spikes only hurt Madeline when approached against their direction, this trick lets her safely jump off certain dangerous ledges.

Practice Spot:

• Chapter 4 contains a great area to learn and perfect Spike Jumps.

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Screen Transition Exploits

8. Screen Transition Dash (STA)

Transitions between screens reset Madeline’s dash. By dashing just before transitioning and then dashing again on the new screen, you gain extra height or coverage.

Use Case:

• In Chapter 3, STA is used to quickly reach the room with the entrance key.

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Putting It All Together: Speedrun Applications

Once you’ve practiced the techniques individually, you can begin using them in full runs. Here’s how seasoned runners apply them:

• Chapter 3: Use the Demo Dash skip to bypass multiple rooms.
• Chapter 4: Utilize Spike Jumps to avoid spike-heavy platforming.
• Chapter 5: Apply the Reverse Extended Super to navigate narrow spaces.
• Chapter 6: Chain Neutral Jumps to scale long vertical walls without losing stamina.

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Final Thoughts

Mastering Celeste’s speedrun tech isn’t just about speed—it’s about understanding how the game’s physics can be pushed to their limits. With patience and repetition, these techniques will become second nature and elevate your platforming to a whole new level.

If this guide helped you on your journey, consider sharing it with others interested in speedrunning. Happy climbing!

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