The requirement
John Elsewhere is awarded for completing both Chapter 1 (Levels 0–16) and Chapter 2 (Levels 17–24) in a single sitting without dying once. A single death invalidates the run.
Routing principles
- Stamina is your most depletable resource. The Metal Lungs gamepass extends the sprint envelope meaningfully.
- The Olympic Runner gamepass is required for L6 and strongly recommended for L14 Stalker kiting.
- Sixth Sense gives predictive UI warnings before line-of-sight exposure — essential for L8 and L10.
- The Advanced Camera is non-negotiable for L13, L22, and L23.
Highest-risk segments
- L14 (Electrical Station). Stalker is lethal. Never cut blind without flipped levers + 2+ lives.
- L21 (Graveyard). Total-blackout mandatory. One active light source = server wipe.
- L23 (Hospital, Right Path). Cruelest is the fastest terrestrial entity. Binary-light mechanics must be respected during blackout phases.
Pacing
A clean John Elsewhere run averages 90–120 minutes. Plan your stamina, audio discipline, and party communication accordingly. Use the Speedrun Split Tracker to maintain pace against the WR benchmark.