Shippu Mahou Daisakusen/Racing - Revision history

Sylvie at 20:55, 12 April 2026

2026-04-12T20:55:50Z

Sylvie: Overall tournament strategy

2026-04-10T04:09:11Z

Overall tournament strategy

Sylvie: Stage 6A, 6B, 6C strategy

2026-04-10T00:21:19Z

Stage 6A, 6B, 6C strategy

Sylvie: Stage 5A and 5B strategy

2026-04-08T15:36:49Z

Stage 5A and 5B strategy

Sylvie: Stage 4A and 4B strategy

2026-04-08T03:41:11Z

Stage 4A and 4B strategy

Sylvie: Stage 3A and 3B strategy

2026-04-07T20:40:13Z

Stage 3A and 3B strategy

Sylvie: Stage 2A and 2B strategy

2026-04-05T15:39:40Z

Stage 2A and 2B strategy

Sylvie: Stage 1 strategy

2026-04-04T23:09:24Z

Stage 1 strategy

Sylvie at 22:47, 3 April 2026

2026-04-03T22:47:06Z

Sylvie: Character section

2026-04-03T22:17:22Z

Character section

@@ Line 208: / Line 208: @@
 However, this mostly comes down to personal preference and your level of comfort with racing.
 You likely won't ''need'' any opening bombs to win the tournaments unless you get extremely unlucky with rival racer behavior, but they can grant extra safety and consistency, at the expense of having fewer bombs for survival.
 === Winning the loop 1 tournament ===

@@ Line 200: / Line 200: @@
 * Velmatic Ocean (92.5%)
 |}
 == Individual stage strategy ==

@@ Line 557: / Line 557: @@
 The bats in this stage shoot aimed bullets when destroyed. When boosting at the start, be careful not to bump into them too much or you'll bump-kill one and likely die. Rival racers can sometimes also bump-kill or shoot the bats, sending a bullet your way.
-TODO (remaining stages)
+=== Kingdom Grandprix (Stage 6A) ===
 == Technical details ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:36, 8 April 2026
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	Pretty similar racing-wise, and most strategies still work, but you might need to work out a new route for the opening section, due to the faster bullets and more durable enemies. Braking to take out the white orb monsters more safely may not work, depending on your character's weapon strength. Particularly, it seems hard to safely take out the two before the boss.		Pretty similar racing-wise, and most strategies still work, but you might need to work out a new route for the opening section, due to the faster bullets and more durable enemies. Braking to take out the white orb monsters more safely may not work, depending on your character's weapon strength. Particularly, it seems hard to safely take out the two before the boss.
		+
		+	=== Strato Storm (Stage 5A) ===
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Racing difficulty:''' Medium<br>
		+	'''Strong characters:''' Nirvana, Bul-Gin, Honest John<br>
		+	'''Weak characters:''' Chitta
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Demonstrations:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/BXS7TqlEgF8 Chitta, loop 1, uses 3 bombs on boss]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/txiRgQW39DA Chitta, loop 1, uses opening bomb and two bombs on boss, no boosting]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/q1rGxRGsrIc Chitta, loop 2, two bombs and one death on boss]<br>
		+	'''Clips from runs:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/0lKTvUZF5VE?t=460 Miyamoto, loop 1, uses two bombs on boss]<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm41146398?from=481 Bornnam, loop 1, uses 3 bombs on boss]<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm32130490?from=1296 Gain, loop 2, 4 bombs and one death, gets 2nd place]
		+	\|}
		+
		+	Due to the high base speed of this stage, boosting doesn't have much of an effect on racing results. The stage seems to be designed so you can win (often by a rather wide margin) without boosting, as long as you maintain full unboosted speed. Boosting is still useful for manipulating enemy positions, as any speed changes in this stage tend to scroll enemies offscreen rapidly.
		+
		+	However, this is one of the more difficult stages to maintain full speed in. The pink shots from the wizards will slow you down, and some enemies try to ram you later in the stage. If you accidentally get slowed, speeding back up can be dangerous due to the wild changes in enemy position that can occur.
		+
		+	Rivals appear to get a burst of speed near the start of the stage, allowing them to possibly overtake you, but then slow down for the rest.
		+
		+	'''Boost Routing'''
		+
		+	'''The wizards''': After taking out the five planes near the start, boost as the first wizards appear. It will scroll the wizards offscreen, and counteract the effect of the pink shots a little. Stop boosting when the second set of wizards appears to take them out.
		+
		+	'''After the wizards:''' Beyond the third set of wizards, there are a number of bulky ships that shoot aimed shots. You can boost through this section, but it requires learning where the bulky ships spawn so you can circle them safely.
		+
		+	Boosting during the section with the ramming ships and the planes is not recommended. The planes are very dangerous if left alive.
		+
		+	'''After the boss:''' More ramming ships appear. It's a bit risky, but you can boost through here. Maintain distance from the ramming ships and lead them around the screen to give yourself space to dodge their downwards shots. If you just stay at the top of the screen and let yourself get bumped around, there's a chance you'll get bumped into some bullets.
		+
		+	'''On Loop 2'''
		+
		+	While you can still win by maintaining full speed throughout the stage, it's much more difficult and risky to do so, due to the tankier enemies and faster-firing wizards. This may be a good place to lose the race and take things slowly.
		+
		+	=== Forest of Dead! (Stage 5B) ===
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Racing difficulty:''' Medium<br>
		+	'''Strong characters:''' Bornnam, Honest John, Miyamoto<br>
		+	'''Weak characters:''' Kickle & Laycle, Bul-Gin, Chitta
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Demonstrations:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/wGPLwLERNmA Kickle & Laycle, loop 1, uses opening bomb]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/pJ1fu55A0mM Chitta, loop 2, uses opening bomb]<br>
		+	'''Clips from runs:'''<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm17800701?from=462 Chitta, loop 1, uses bomb on boss, full speed play but places 2nd]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/0lKTvUZF5VE?t=1281 Miyamoto, loop 2, uses bomb on boss]<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm41146398?from=1256 Bornnam, loop 2, multiple deaths and bombs but places 1st]
		+	\|}
		+
		+	This is another track where if you pull into 1st and maintain full unboosted speed, rivals are unlikely to catch up, but conversely, it's hard to overtake rivals who pull ahead of you. Safe boost opportunities are limited before the coffin section.
		+
		+	Like Cold Corridor and Deeply Dungeon, the scrolling speed increases after you beat the boss, but unlike those two tracks, this doesn't seem particularly useful for catching up with rivals. If you need to catch up, boosting through the boss fight seems to give you more chances.
		+
		+	'''Boost Routing'''
		+
		+	One can carry a boost from the start of the stage to the beginning of the eye section. If you stay at the top of the screen, the gun ghouls won't fire. After the third gun ghoul, move to the bottom to safely dodge the wizard shots.
		+
		+	'''The eye section:''' Boosting here is very risky, but can be done if you're willing to bomb when things go wrong. The idea is to lead the eyes in a circle around the screen, but their random spawn positions and erratic splitting behavior makes this difficult to set up. You also have to contend with the lantern ghosts. Stop boosting after the eye section ends, before the wizard trio shows up.
		+
		+	'''The coffin:''' The movement of the lantern ghosts is static, so you can follow a set path to boost through this section without getting trapped. Start boosting in the graveyard before the coffin shows up, and circle the screen with the right timing to avoid its shots. Alternatively, you can kill the lantern ghosts and open the coffin, then boost and dodge the vampire by circling it.
		+
		+	'''The boss:''' You can boost through the entire fight safely. The enemy section after killing the boss is tricky to boost through due to the lantern ghosts. There's a speed-up after the boss, but you have to slow down to shoot the boss, so whether this is any faster likely depends on how quickly your character can kill the boss, and is probably only relevant for speedrunning.
		+
		+	'''On Loop 2'''
		+
		+	The dynamic of the race is similar to the first loop: once you get ahead, rivals are unlikely to catch up as long as you maintain full unboosted speed. However, the eye section is very difficult and risky to play at full speed due to the random spawn positions of the eyes and their aggressive homing movement. Unless you're comfortable with this section at full speed, this is likely a race you'll want to play slow for safety reasons.
		+
		+	The bats in this stage shoot aimed bullets when destroyed. When boosting at the start, be careful not to bump into them too much or you'll bump-kill one and likely die. Rival racers can sometimes also bump-kill or shoot the bats, sending a bullet your way.

	TODO (remaining stages)		TODO (remaining stages)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:41, 8 April 2026
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	Rivals catch up even faster, and if you play it safe around the turrets, you get fewer opportunities to boost. However, the boss still provides a good opportunity to overtake rivals, so even if you can't get 1st, you can often place reasonably well. The dueling battleships section is very difficult to play at full speed without using at least one bomb, but you get two in the stage.		Rivals catch up even faster, and if you play it safe around the turrets, you get fewer opportunities to boost. However, the boss still provides a good opportunity to overtake rivals, so even if you can't get 1st, you can often place reasonably well. The dueling battleships section is very difficult to play at full speed without using at least one bomb, but you get two in the stage.
		+
		+	=== Deeply Dungeon (Stage 4A) ===
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Racing difficulty:''' Medium<br>
		+	'''Strong characters:''' Bornnam, Kickle & Laycle<br>
		+	'''Weak characters:''' Gain, Honest John, Bul-Gin, Nirvana
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Demonstrations:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/QJ5Jl3bTX1I Gain, loop 1, spinbomb racing to boost through entire stage except boss]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/Xg8cWc4QJUs Chitta, loop 2, uses bomb on boss]<br>
		+	'''Clips from runs:'''<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm41146398?from=344, Bornnam, loop 1]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/CDuYfqrDRYU?t=338 Miyamoto, loop 1, catches up from 3rd to 1st after boss]<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm32130490?from=368 Gain, loop 1, catches up from 7th to 2nd after boss]
		+	\|}
		+
		+	This is an odd stage to race in. Opportunities to boost are limited at the start, and rivals will sometimes overtake you in the mid-to-late portions, or during the boss. However, rivals seem to move slower in the section after the boss, and you can often climb many places by boosting there. Though there's always an element of luck in overtaking rivals, it seems to be easier at the end of Deeply Dungeon compared to most other stages.
		+
		+	Since this is a slow stage, the speed increase from boosting has a wider variance between characters, so the difficulty of placing well in the race also varies quite a bit. Weak characters may struggle even with an opening bomb.
		+
		+	'''Boost Routing'''
		+
		+	It is possible to boost through the entire stage using [[Shippu_Mahou_Daisakusen/Techniques#Spinbomb_glitch\|spinbomb racing]]. However, the opening section is very difficult due to the crushing walls and many enemies, and requires a precise route. The route will differ slightly between characters due to differences in boosting scroll speed.
		+
		+	The more standard, safer places to boost are:
		+	* After the opening section, when the worms come out of the pipes. Finding a consistent pattern to misdirect the worms may take some practice, and will depend somewhat on your character's boost speed. Carry the boost until enemies show up, after the first rush of water.
		+	* After the first rush of water, take out the enemies, then boost past the eels that suck you towards them. The boost can be carried to up the boss. After the second rush of water, stay in the lower corner of the screen to avoid the shots from the eye enemies. For some characters, a worm will spawn from the pipes before the boss, but faster characters can avoid this.
		+	* After killing the boss, you can boost through the entire enemy rush. The main threat is the small squid enemies, who will shoot aimed bullets at you; try to stay on the opposite side of the screen so you can react to their shots.
		+
		+	You can maintain boost after the first rush of water and try to sneak past the group of enemies, but it's a bit risky.
		+
		+	'''On Loop 2'''
		+
		+	The spinbomb racing strategy no longer works due to increased enemy health. The other boost strategies work, and in particular, you can still gain a lot of ground by boosting during the post-boss enemy rush. However, the boss is one of the most dangerous in the game, and racing in this stage runs the risk of having rivals catch up to you during the fight and cause chaos.
		+
		+	If your goal is to win the loop 2 tournament, it's probably better to pick Cold Corridor as your Stage 2-4.
		+
		+	=== Cold Corridor (Stage 4B) ===
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Racing difficulty:''' Low<br>
		+	'''Strong characters:''' Chitta, Honest John, Bul-Gin<br>
		+	'''Weak characters:''' Nirvana, Miyamoto
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Demonstrations:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/GgntegQQoUU Nirvana, loop 1, boosting through entire stage except boss]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/VloaY59Mkw8 Nirvana, loop 1, uses opening bomb, safer play]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/yA0m741LNvM Chitta, loop 2]<br>
		+	'''Clips from runs:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/o8Rjw-73Sbc?t=359 Miyamoto, loop 1, uses bomb on boss]<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm41146398?from=1150 Bornnam, loop 2, uses two bombs on boss]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/CDuYfqrDRYU?si=HALoD2MNQpDbAMJ1&t=1203 Miyamoto, loop 2, uses one bomb during stage, two on boss]
		+	\|}
		+
		+	In this stage, once you get ahead of your rivals, they're unlikely to catch up. The opposite is also true, though - if rivals pull ahead, you'll likely only get a few opportunities to overtake them. Still, the race here is on the easier side as long as you're comfortable boosting through the opening section. Even if you don't use an opening bomb, rivals will often get taken out by enemy bullets at the start.
		+
		+	The white orb monsters that spin and shoot a circular spread are the most dangerous part of the stage. Three appear at the start of the stage, and two appear shortly before the boss. You may want to '''intentionally slow down''' to deal with some of them. Boosting past them requires either good dodging reflexes or character-specific routing, since safespots are likely to depend on character boost speed.
		+
		+	'''Boost Routing'''
		+
		+	The key to winning this stage is boosting through the '''opening section''', up until the scrolling speed-up ends and the ice golems appear, at which point you can play it safe and start shooting if you're in 1st. You will need to find a route that deals with the white orb monsters in the opening section safely, which may differ depending on which character you play.
		+
		+	Boosting through the entire section will work, but it's a bit risky. A slightly safer strategy is to boost past the first orb, then wall-brake to slow down before the next two orbs and kill them, then immediately resume boosting. If you start the race with an opening bomb, this brief slowdown probably won't be enough for rivals to catch up.
		+
		+	You can carry your opening boost all the way up to the boss, if you want. Stay at the top of the screen during the section with the ice golems and rock-spitting monsters. The top right is recommended over the top left, as it's easier to safely sneak past the enemies during the transition to the zombie section. The white orb monsters are once again the main threat; you may want to brake to take out the two near the end of the stage.
		+
		+	Killing '''the boss''' is recommended over boosting through it. The speed-up after killing the boss seems to make it significantly easier to overtake rivals.
		+
		+	During the post-boss enemy rush, you are generally safe boosting in the top left corner. However, in rare cases, your boost might go off just as an ice golem is spawning and change its acceleration, which may allow it to snipe you.
		+
		+	'''On Loop 2'''
		+
		+	Pretty similar racing-wise, and most strategies still work, but you might need to work out a new route for the opening section, due to the faster bullets and more durable enemies. Braking to take out the white orb monsters more safely may not work, depending on your character's weapon strength. Particularly, it seems hard to safely take out the two before the boss.

	TODO (remaining stages)		TODO (remaining stages)

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:40, 7 April 2026
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	As with many bosses on the second loop, the arm-swinging attack now features a mix of destructible and normal bullets, so shooting through it no longer works. Instead, dodge it by flying close to the boss and staying directly centered under him. This is much harder, but on the plus side, it allows you to stay boosted for the entire fight.		As with many bosses on the second loop, the arm-swinging attack now features a mix of destructible and normal bullets, so shooting through it no longer works. Instead, dodge it by flying close to the boss and staying directly centered under him. This is much harder, but on the plus side, it allows you to stay boosted for the entire fight.
		+
		+	=== Outcast Castle (Stage 3A) ===
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Racing difficulty:''' Low<br>
		+	'''Strong characters:''' Miyamoto, Bornnam, Honest John<br>
		+	'''Weak characters:''' Bul-Gin, Kickle & Laycle, Chitta, Gain
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Demonstrations:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/-r9G61OLiGE Bul-Gin, loop 1, uses bomb in worm section]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/nqnnAnbSocQ Chitta, loop 2]<br>
		+	'''Clips from runs:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/J7AMjtvKSW8?t=210 Miyamoto, loop 1, uses opening bomb]
		+	\|}
		+
		+	This is perhaps the easiest race to place well in consistently, due to the closing gates near the start of the level. Once you pass these gates, any rival racers that are behind you will be unable to catch up until the boss fight starts. If you can make it through the gates without anyone passing you, you can play the rest of the level (up to the boss) as slowly and safely as you want.
		+
		+	If someone passes you at the start and you cross the gates in 2nd place or worse, you can attempt boost strategies to catch up, but you're probably better off using an opening bomb to avoid this altogether. You will only get a few chances to overtake rivals, and boosting through the worm section is very risky.
		+
		+	'''Boost Routing'''
		+
		+	Learning how to boost through the '''opening section''' is worthwhile, as it can save you an opening bomb if you're lucky. You will need to find a pattern that lets you dodge the coffins and their aimed shots consistently. The behavior of the coffins is slightly influenced by scroll speed, so the easiest route might differ slightly per character.
		+
		+	If you get past the gates in 1st, you don't need to boost for the remainder of the course, and can play it at whatever speed you're most comfortable with. Knowing how to boost through the course might be useful for catching up to rivals on unlucky runs, or for speedrunning.
		+
		+	'''After the gates:''' You can just stay at the top of the screen and boost, but there's a risk that one of the purple enemies decides to shoot you from close range. There's seemingly not much you can do to mitigate this risk, other than trying to overlap them as they spawn to seal their bullets.
		+
		+	'''The spinning buzzsaw:''' Boost down the right path, then stay at the top of the screen. On the first loop, the shots from the zombies generally don't go far enough up the screen to hit you, and if one does, they're slow enough to dodge easily.
		+
		+	'''The worm section:''' Boosting through here is dangerous. Be ready to bomb if needed. The idea is to stay in the upper right or upper left corner, and dodge the aimed shots from the coffins by moving up and down. Sometimes a worm will grab you, but they don't slow you down as much if boosting, so you can often pull away.
		+
		+	'''On Loop 2'''
		+
		+	The gates still work the same way, so you can easily place 1st as long as you don't get passed at the start. Boost strategies are similar, except the zombie hallway is slightly more dangerous, and the worm section is a lot more dangerous. Cross Fire is probably a better pick for Stage 2-3 though, even if the race there is harder to win.
		+
		+	=== Cross Fire (Stage 3B) ===
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Racing difficulty:''' High<br>
		+	'''Strong characters:''' Gain, Bul-Gin, Chitta, Kickle & Laycle<br>
		+	'''Weak characters:''' Miyamoto, Nirvana
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Demonstrations:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/wT1cB2rnFps Miyamoto, loop 1, uses two bombs to hinder rivals]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/9fIy8_emw7o Chitta, loop 2]<br>
		+	'''Clips from runs:'''<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm41146398?from=1028 Bornnam, loop 2, uses one bomb, gets 2nd place]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/SV2om9pB9b4?t=985 Chitta, loop 2, uses two bombs, gets 2nd place]<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm32130490?from=1065 Gain, loop 2, uses two bombs, gets 3rd place]
		+	\|}
		+
		+	Winning this stage often comes down to luck, even with an opening bomb. It's difficult to find places to boost in the section where the battleships are firing from both sides, and as a result, rivals tend to catch up near the end of that section.
		+
		+	Fortunately, you can easily boost through the entire boss fight, but sometimes that's not enough to get past anyone who overtook you. If you do manage to make it to the boss in 1st place with no rivals onscreen, you're usually in the clear.
		+
		+	If anyone overtakes you at the start, you'll likely get very few chances to pass them until you reach the boss.
		+
		+	'''Boost Routing'''
		+
		+	The safest places to get in boosts are:
		+	* At the start, until enemies show up.
		+	* After the first set of turrets, until the second set. The enemies that appear in between are static and fire straight downwards, so they are easy to avoid.
		+	* After destroying the first wing, until more turrets show up.
		+	* After destroying the second wing, through the boss, to the end of the stage.
		+	You can extend the starting boost for longer (all the way up until the second set of turrets) by doing some risky dodges around the flying enemies at the start, and then streaming the shots from the first set of turrets.
		+
		+	The boss is mostly harmless if you stay at the top of the screen and boost, although he has one attack where he backs up to do a charge, which can crush you. Try to move back and forth so that you're always in the opposite corner from the boss.
		+
		+	'''On Loop 2'''
		+
		+	Rivals catch up even faster, and if you play it safe around the turrets, you get fewer opportunities to boost. However, the boss still provides a good opportunity to overtake rivals, so even if you can't get 1st, you can often place reasonably well. The dueling battleships section is very difficult to play at full speed without using at least one bomb, but you get two in the stage.

	TODO (remaining stages)		TODO (remaining stages)

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:39, 5 April 2026
Line 246:		Line 246:

	The behavior of rival racers is similar, so the race is still fairly easy to win, but boosting for the whole stage becomes more dangerous. It's harder to react to shots from the purple tanks, and the boss can corner you if the turrets use their fast-firing pattern. You may want to unboost and reboost before the boss to do the [[Shippu_Mahou_Daisakusen/Techniques#Manipulate_enemies_through_screen_scoll\|screen scrolling manipulation strategy]] for extra safety.		The behavior of rival racers is similar, so the race is still fairly easy to win, but boosting for the whole stage becomes more dangerous. It's harder to react to shots from the purple tanks, and the boss can corner you if the turrets use their fast-firing pattern. You may want to unboost and reboost before the boss to do the [[Shippu_Mahou_Daisakusen/Techniques#Manipulate_enemies_through_screen_scoll\|screen scrolling manipulation strategy]] for extra safety.
		+
		+	=== Air Circus (Stage 2A) ===
		+
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Racing difficulty:''' High<br>
		+	'''Strong characters:''' Gain, Kickle & Laycle, Honest John<br>
		+	'''Weak characters:''' Bornnam, Chitta, Bul-Gin
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Demonstrations:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/EhGERTmTMsU Chitta, loop 1, kills boss]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/JW2ZZQdrZbI Bornnam, loop 1, uses opening bomb, times out boss]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/1RD9iSqlou4 Chitta, loop 2, uses 3 bombs]<br>
		+	'''Clips from runs:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/CDuYfqrDRYU?t=91 Miyamoto, loop 1, uses opening bomb]<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm32130490?from=950 Gain, loop 2, gets 3rd place]
		+	\|}
		+
		+	This race can be tough to win. Once the scrolling slows down for the boss fight, rivals will start to catch up to you and there's not much you can do if they pass you.
		+	Boost aggressively to put distance between you and the rivals before the boss starts. Weak characters have a particularly hard time getting 1st, and might need to get a little lucky with enemy bullets taking out rival racers at the end.
		+
		+	Depending on your overall tournament routing, this may be a good stage to not worry about your placement and try to make up the points elsewhere.
		+
		+	'''Boost Routing'''
		+
		+	The safest places to boost are:
		+	* From the start until enemies appear.
		+	* Through the gem hallway near the start.
		+	* Through the stop signs before the open-air section.
		+	* At the end of the open-air section, up until the boss.
		+	* After killing the boss, until enemies start spawning.
		+	However, these are short boosts that may not be enough to get 1st place.
		+
		+	Less obviously, you can safely '''maintain boost through the entire open-air section'''. Sit in the top left corner; the wizards will circle you but rarely fire. When the turtles appear, their first volley of shots will contain one aimed directly at you, which you can tap-dodge downwards, then get back in position. You will need to dodge two shots from the turtles. After the second one, get out of the corner before the stage wall pushes you downwards.
		+
		+	There is a movement pattern (see demonstration videos) that allows you to maintain boost from the start of the stage, past the gem hallway, and up to the large formation of green wizards (where it's recommended you stop boosting and shoot the wizards for safety). After killing the last of the green wizards, you can boost again and carry it through the stop signs and open-air section, up to the boss.
		+
		+	There are two approaches to '''the boss''':
		+	* Maintain boost as much as possible until the boss times out. You'll need to briefly unboost and shoot when it fires the spread of destructible bullets.
		+	* Kill the boss quickly, then try to find safe places to boost during the enemy rush afterwards.
		+	In the enemy rush, the sections without any blue wizards are generally safe to boost in, since the turrets on the walls just shoot aimed bullets that can be misdirected. In the final section with the mix of green and blue wizards, it's reasonably safe just to stay still and let them fire around you. Even if you get bumped by something, it'll often happen after the end-of-stage invincibility has activated.
		+
		+	'''On Loop 2'''
		+
		+	Rivals catch up faster, and the boost strategy for the open-air section no longer works due to changes in wizard behavior. The boss is a nightmare and will probably force you to dump multiple bombs. Incidentally, dumping multiple bombs is the only real way to fend off rivals when they catch up at the end. It's probably a bad idea to play this stage in the second loop anyways.
		+
		+	=== Velmatic Ocean (Stage 2B) ===
		+	{\| class="wikitable"
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Racing difficulty:''' Low<br>
		+	'''Strong characters:''' Chitta, Nirvana<br>
		+	'''Weak characters:''' Honest John, Kickle & Laycle, Bornnam
		+	\|-
		+	\|
		+	'''Demonstrations:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/fs4MJ1i4C0c Honest John, loop 1, uses opening bomb]<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/hIrbtnXnuQg Chitta, loop 2]<br>
		+	'''Clips from runs:'''<br>
		+	[https://youtu.be/0lKTvUZF5VE?t=926 Miyamoto, loop 2, uses opening bomb]<br>
		+	[https://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm41146398?from=910 Bornnam, loop 2]
		+	\|}
		+
		+	A relatively easy race to win. Rivals will steadily catch up to you if you aren't boosting, but the pirate ship section provides an easy boosting opportunity. Even weak characters can typically win the race as long as nobody pulls ahead at the start, which can be guaranteed with a successful opening bomb.
		+
		+	'''Boost Routing'''
		+
		+	'''The pirate ship:''' The easiest and most important boost strategy for this stage. Around the middle, a pirate ship appears. As long as it is not fully destroyed, it will remain onscreen until the boss. Destroy all but one or two turrets, then boost while dodging the occasional aimed bullets. This alone is often enough to win the race.
		+
		+	'''Through the cliff section:''' This is a little trickier. Start boosting after you pass the huts on the beach, and move to the top left corner. It remains safe here for a while, up until the two large black ships switch sides and the green tanks start coming from the cliffs. At this point, move downwards and start shooting (or bomb for safer passage).
		+
		+	'''The boss:''' It's safe to boost for most of the fight, except for the arm-swinging attack that shoots a wide spread of destructible bullets. Switch to shooting when you see him wind up for it.
		+
		+	'''On Loop 2'''
		+
		+	The stage is harder, but the race is still fairly easy. Rivals are a bit faster, and tend to catch up around the start of the pirate ship section if you don't boost before then, but that's exactly the point where you can start boosting safely.
		+
		+	As with many bosses on the second loop, the arm-swinging attack now features a mix of destructible and normal bullets, so shooting through it no longer works. Instead, dodge it by flying close to the boss and staying directly centered under him. This is much harder, but on the plus side, it allows you to stay boosted for the entire fight.

	TODO (remaining stages)		TODO (remaining stages)

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Despite this, it's possible to consistently win the first loop tournament by a pretty wide margin. Races in the second loop tournament are more difficult, but you can often scrape together enough points to win with some luck and risky play.
-Your main tools for winning races are '''boosting''' and '''bombing'''.
+Your main tools for winning races are '''boosting''' and '''bombing'''. It's also vital to '''manage your acceleration''' so that you remain at top speed when not boosting.
 === Boosting ===
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 Since bombs are also very useful for survival, you may want to try to win races with boosting only at first, and save your bombs for if you start falling behind in points due to bad luck. On the other hand, you may prefer to build up a buffer of points by using bombs to guarantee wins on the easier courses.
 === Bumping ===
-[[Shippu_Mahou_Daisakusen/Techniques#Manual_rival_knockbacks|Bumping rival racers]] is also sometimes useful, though not especially reliable. Ensure you are boosting while you bump rivals so you don't lose speed from the bumping.
+[[Shippu_Mahou_Daisakusen/Techniques#Manual_rival_knockbacks|Bumping rival racers]] is sometimes useful, though not especially reliable. Ensure you are boosting while you bump rivals so you don't lose speed from the bumping.
 At the start of each race, boost and bump the second-place racer downwards. If you're lucky, they'll fall behind and place poorly. This isn't really useful for winning individual races, but is helpful for winning the tournament, as it spreads out rival point gains.

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 == Character strengths and weaknesses ==
-TODO
+When not boosting, all characters share the same maximum speed, defined by which section of the current stage you're in. However, the maximum speed while boosting varies based on both the stage and character. Each character has stages they're "strong" at (good boost speed) and stages they're "weak" at (bad boost speed).
 == Individual stage strategy ==