Navigation
City in the Sky
First room LJAs
You can use two LJAs to cross over the first room without using an Ooccoo. For the first LJA just wait until the boomerang is over the void, for the 2nd you can hit the pillar to make the boomerang come back faster and hence be quicker.
Wii alternative to skipping clawshot in the first room.
Boss Key Early
Discovered by Dragonbane
After crossing the first room of the dungeon with 2 LJAs, transform to Wolf and approach the door leading to the main room carefully. If you open it as early as possible (don't rush!), the trigger starting the fan will be skipped and therefore the fan will not spin. Now just clawshot the vine on the side of the pillar, climb up and clawshot up to the room over the fan. From there just proceed with the usual way to the Boss Key (you can just grab it cause the fan is turned off).
This saves around 1:30 for Any% and All Dungeons, 5 seconds in 100%, and some time No S+Q as well.
Safe strat for Boss Key Early
Discovered by sva161620
You cannot hit the trigger for the fan while transforming.
Therefore it is safer to transform right before the door so the animation will bump your backwards and in the correct position. This is slightly slower though.
Kai clip for early boss key after DC
Discovered by PowerGaymerKai
Setup by Gymnast86
This grate clip skips the outside section of the traditional early boss key sequence by doing a skewed clawshot shot through the part of the grate that's missing hit detection, onto a small grate above.
Alternative setup by Glubbers: here
Setupless by bewildebeest: here
Argorok Cutscene Skip
Discovered by LogitechSDAZ
When you open the first small key within City in the Sky, a cutscene trigger is added at the end of the bridge that you came in from, and your savewarp point is changed to start you off next to the small key chest until the cutscene is triggered. This savewarp spot is incredibly convenient because you return to this room immediately after obtaining the Double Clawshots, which saves some backtracking.
After obtaining the first small key, head back outside and cross the bridge. Target the last peahat and sidehop onto the banister on the right on GCN (it will be the last broken chunk before the staircase). Jump to the next banister then head back into the dungeon through the broken grate window, staying clear of the door at the end of the bridge.
Alternately if you don't feel you will make the sidehop before the wind starting blowing you can clawshot onto the last peahat, look towards the window then drop and jump attack to get past the trigger. This is slower however.
Clip into 2nd spinner bridge
Fan room
Instead of going the intended route past the fans, you can go to the right and simply LJA over to the door, this meathod is GCN only
Just roll through the first two fans. Then to get past the last fan, equip the iron boots and quickly sidehop across the falling blocks. This is only used for the Wii version
Block room strategy (GCN only)
Discovered by LogitechSDAZ
Simply use a few Long Jump Attacks to cover the gaps without waiting for the updrafts to disappear.
Block Room Keese LJA (all versions)
Discovered by Chimpas
Since boomerang Long Jumps can't be done on the Wii version, instead throw the boomerang at the keese conveniently located near the gap. As the boomerang starts to return towards you, target the keese in order to do an LJA. Repeat this process to cross the final gaps.
Quick dynalfos fight
Run straight for the center of the platform on the other side of the room, and perform a spin attack. This will knock the two Dynalfos off of the platform. Quickly target the vines with the clawshot, and grapple to them before the cutscene begins.
Ooccoo Jump
It is possible to skip turning on various fans in this room with a well angled jump with an Ooccoo. To do this use the 2nd fan to get atop the broken wall with Ooccoo, then angle yourself towards the ledge and jump. If you just fall down it means you was walking into the wall and if you can't grab the ledge it means you weren't angled enough. Remember you need to drop Ooccoo at the correct timing so you can grab the ledge
Ooccoo Jump target method
Explanation video by Skyreon
Around 2015 it was discovered that if you jump off while holding target, the angle leniency dramatically increases. There's no reason to not do this.
Skydive to Aeralfos
This is slightly faster than picking up the Ooccoo but costs 2 hearts.
LJA after savewarp
An LJA to skip the three clawshottable pillars is possible but very precise.
- Backslice left
- Hold down and mash A for a backflip, then clockwise autospin
- Hold L and down out of the spin to cut off the animation (release when Link starts putting his shield down; x-pos (-14779) to (-14790) will work)
- Throw the boomerang and LJA as soon as possible (to make it more lenient, aim the boomerang upward first without targeting)
Giant Deku Baba room timesaver
Discovered by LogitechSDAZ
Please note there is a faster way to complete CitS by getting the Boss Key Early.
This saves 5 seconds. Stand on the very edge as shown in the video, aim just to the left of the structure and throw the boomerang, if you LJA as soon as possible you will land as shown and be able to clawshot up skipping a clawshot target.
Early peahat cycle
Please note there is a faster way to complete CitS by getting the Boss Key Early.
Once outside after the room with the giant deku baba it is possible to get over the wall without waiting for the Peahat with precise movement. To do this roll 4 times and end on the very edge of the blocks, then aim in line with the wall and throw your boomerang as high as possible and LJA as soon as your sword is out. You can then roll 3 more times and make the cycle without waiting.
You can also LJA over to Heart Piece Number 2 from the very edge by aimming at the spot on the wall.
Fast peahat cycle with poe for 100%
Discovered By Venick
Perform the first part of the early cycle above to get over the first wall, then roll towards the edge north and target the wall and LJA onto the broken wall of the island with the poe, B-Charge the poe from the wall and collect it. If done correctly you should have enough time to clawshot back.
Peahat LJA
It's possible to LJA to the HP chest without using the boomerang. Simply stand near the edge of the block, target the Peahat, and when its in position jumpattack to make it across.
Get to the boss key room quicker
It is possible to skip transforming wolf and going on any ropes in the area before the boss key room. To do this stand next to the door and clawshot the vines, you should barely reach. From here you can stand on the edge and target on the ceiling above the door and LJA across, this works because the boomerang is over the door frame which is higher ground
Skip turning fans on
After getting the boss key you do not have to start the fans to get to the north tower. Instead when you clawshot the very top of the fans from higher up you will grab the ledge and be able to climb on top of them, from here you can use LJAs to cross
Double LJA
Discovered by LogitechSDAZ
Instead of clawshotting to the third fan it is faster to perform a Double LJA from the left side of the second fan to get over. The targets are kinda precise and need to be done fast to save time.
Clawshot alternative (Wii/Glitchless)
Discovered by DeanMachine/Pokemongenius
With precise clawshots, ledgegrabs, and arranging them to aim with the clawshot arm closer to the final fan, it's possible to get across without using LJA's of any kind. This can be marginally faster than turning the fan on, and is much riskier.
Skip turning fans on - video tutorial
An easy-to-follow video tutorial on all methods
Fan tower switches with bomb arrows
Using a bomb arrow to hit the top fan tower switch from the floor can save around 8 seconds over ascending the tower normally. Using two bomb arrows can save even more time but is extremely difficult.
Small Key Skip with Jump Strike
It is possible to CAD the cylinders in the compass room by falling off the chest, then interrupt the CADs with bombs to position the cylinders in precise locations. It is then possible to perform Jump Strike Moon Boots to reach one cylinder, LJA to the next, and finally clawshot to the upper floor, skipping the small key on the west side of the dungeon.
