I have quite a lot of knowledge when it comes to this game's RNG. To begin with, RNG values change based on certain sound effects ex) double/triple jumps and hitting coin blocks. I do not believe individual coins effect RNG but someone may want to look into that for me. I will make a video showing my jump route but the coin block count seems to be the most important. Hitting 2 blocks will almost always give you a red block. It's like 90%, however it seems that the red block will usually drop the fire flower if you hit 2 blocks. If you hit 3 coin blocks the red block is a bit less consistent but it appears that the blue shell will usually spawn if you do get the block.

These results are nothing official but seem to be giving me MUCH better results than ever before. It also does not appear the in game clock manipulates RNG. Variance in RNG may be due to when you start your game, because of this I always reset my game and immediately mash A and have file 1 be my run file.

Hopes this helps and makes any% more bearable.

Video:

I'll try that. I love you.

Yeah I get it every 3-5 attempts now. It's pretty powerful.

The item you get from the box isn't RNG. It quickly cycles through the powerups starting from when it gets loaded. Think of it like the box in the red toad houses, but you can't see which item it's currently on. This is why my consistent 1-2 shell strat is consistent. In the original post, I mentioned that there is only one variable the player controls with my strat- when you jump. The reason it's consistent is that since you hold right and b the whole time, mario falls down the pit, loads the box, gets up, and runs to the right in exactly the same number of frames every time, then the only timing you need is the jump.

Hmm... I'll test with the 2 block strat then if that's true. I just find it odd that I rarely get it with the 2 block and I usually get it with the 3 block.

I just tested with a save state. It does not cycle. It's consistent based on the priorly determined RNG. Even when I jumped a whole bunch I still had the same RNG.

Hmm. I'll have to test some also.

Using a specific setup in 1-1 like you said, then using my strat for the shell in 1-2, I just got shell from a fresh save file three or four times in a row... holy crap. I'll have to make a video too and show my exact setup. Great job on this koffing, maybe you can find something that's 100% consistent.

Edit: I've gotten it so many times that I've lost count. This is insane.

Welp I've fulfilled my life's purpose. Any% is officially a good category now.

Video?

I'll get it up in a sec.

I might make a video too after a bit more testing. We can compare strats and stuff

Adding to original post

Thanks for making any% a good category (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ¤:･ﾟ✧

I'm so glad to be able to help :)

Something I want to note to anyone who is intimidated from running any% because of RNG and this new RNG manipulation:

The other way of getting the blue shell, getting it from the red toad house, is 100% consistent at getting the shell and only loses 10-15 seconds. So unless you're going for a really good time, there's no reason the reset if you don't get the RNG, or even worry about getting it at all.

That is really cool to know.

The toad house strat, if anyone wants to know: -Hold run and right -when mario is on the darker brick in the middle, hold left and jump You may have to work on the timing a bit, but I can't even remember the last time I didnt get the shell. Super easy and super consistent.

I'm sorry to destroy your guys information, but the place you actually want to have the red RNG block is in 1-Tower, as grabbing the shell in 1-2 is significantly slower compared to losing only a couple frames in 1-Tower.

Also, it's pretty consistent grabbing the star in 1-2 for the best time.

Actually, using a star with a shell saves no time at all, in fact it loses another 1 to 2 IRT seconds for just grabbing it. and doing the jump trick won't work with a shell and star either, as you'll be at normal full running speed at best.

This is why I recommend that for now on, the future world record runs should grab the shell in 1-Tower, it's about a 10 second IGT save overall.

You're right about it being faster, but it's too rare for us to use it RTA. Even with the new RNG manipulation I don't think it would be consistent enough.