How to play the previous patches

Hi speedrunner!

If you want to play Release version of game, or Ancient/Older patches - you need to downpatch the game via Steam.

Please check those guides - both are good:

[How to Downgrade Steam Games](https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-downgrade-steam-games/)

[Steam Community :: Guide :: How to Downgrade Game Version](https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?l=english&id=1086279994)

You can play the downgraded version from ..\STEAM\steamapps\content\.. folder as well.

Check Manifests here:

[Depot 1173221 (Bleak Faith: Forsaken Content) · SteamDB](https://steamdb.info/depot/1173221/manifests/)

**Example:**

Stable Manifest version of "Release" version from 10 March 2024:

[7111073447567088960](https://steamdb.info/depot/1173221/history/?changeid=M:7111073447567088960)

To download it - write this in the Steam Console:

download_depot 1173220 1173221 4958316969592821177

It will be download in ..\STEAM\steamapps\content\.. folder on your PC. Then you can just run the game right in the depot folder.

Good luck!

Update 10 DEC 2024: all patch notes here

[Bleak Faith: Forsaken (App 1173220) · Patches and Updates · SteamDB](https://steamdb.info/app/1173220/patchnotes/)



Patches Categories Explanation

Hi runner!

I want to provide some details about patches: how were they selected to specific categories, why is current shape the best option per my review. This is a long story about game history, speedrun of this game history and partially the guide about speedrunning of this game. Enjoy!

**Part I: Before Release**

If you check STEAMDB, you may notice that there is a lot of patches before release date 10 Mar 2023:

[Depot 1173221 (Bleak Faith: Forsaken Content) · Manifests · SteamDB](https://steamdb.info/depot/1173221/manifests/)

Game had been updating a lot during 2021-2022 to have the release shape; even conception was changed - from cyberpunk survival to very obvious souls-like.

Per my observation, there are no speedruns of those old versions, so at the moment I considered not include them at all.

**Part II: Release**

Game was released 10 Mar 2023. If you see Monastery segment with climbing section - that's it! :)

Movement is not very user-friendly; **important:** after roll The Collector *(here and later - the playable character of the Game)* cant move few frames (like stop) so it's effective to dash, not to roll.

Konrad skip: possible, but not easy. The best idea - to kill Konrad to avoid this skip and double teleportation later, even with pipe.

That's the main difference from Ancient patches, but I was very confident that we need this category - free from any patches and hunting for better patch. This conception was impemented by Shredmachine when he created this board, and I like it.

**Part III: Ancient**

Timing of patches: [11 March 2023](https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/10747261/) - [27 October 2023](https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/12556883/)

Game had been improving during this period a lot. I'm not sure that even creators of this game can remember what was updated every month.

What is similar for those patches so they are in one category?

1. Dash and Rolls. They are long, starting from 12 March patch The Collector can Roll after Roll with no speed lose - it's very effective for speedrun.

2. No invulnerability frames. You need to space attacks or block them.

3. Similar glitches. There are movement glitches (dashing on air), homunculus glitches (to skip Raind district right to Asylum, to skip Vermillion fields etc.), almost all March 2023 patches have Berserker+PowerArmor glitch that is core glitch for Unrestricted route.

4. Fall damage. It's huge, so all routes Restricted/Unrestricted are created with this factor.

5. Balance. As most of patches here has no EXP system to increase level/stats, most of items have stat boosting (strength/intelligence/agility/constitution). Bosses has lower damage than in later patches, and they have lower hp/armor so you can kill them easier even with not very upgraded Collector.

6. Skips. Almost all skips are the same: Konrad skips are bad but the same; Claymore before Konrad - OP; Machinarium skip - two main variants but both are performed with no Dash-ability; Belisarius skip - possible with jump only, in Older patch - with Dash-ability.

7. Ability splinters. Most of earlier patches don't have that much Ability splinter on the way to Machinarium (but there are a lot in Older patches).

8. Taxi in Uranopolis. In Ancient patches it's much easier than in Older patches.

A little conclusion: "Unrestricted" - patches with Berserker+PowerArmor are the best. For restricted runs, any of this patch will be very similar run, with similar speed of movement, similar rings/talisman/stats, with similar fall damage, with similar balance of bosses. Maybe we need to add aditional "NoBerserkerPowerArmor Unrestricted"? Maybe.

**Part IV: Older**

Timing: [15 December 2023](https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/12975610/) - [1 June 2024](https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/14573012/)

There are reasons why these patches are in the same category (compare to Ancient):

1. Tactician's Amulet - core item in run. If you dont use it, you dont have long rolls and dashed that decrease your speed a lot. But if you use it, you dont have invulnerability frames. Of course, you can swap amulet in fights: fights with i-frames feels very friendly to souls-like-fans.

2. Exp system, stats are very similar on this timing of patches.

3. All major skips are the same on this timing of patches (Konrad skip, Machinarium Dash skip, Jumping to Wormlord is bit different than in Ancient Patches, Belisarius skip is different from Ancient - need to use Dash-ability).

4. Balance. Bosses are stronger, hit you harder and have a lot of fat :) Important: in Ancients patches, armor and crystals give you a lot of stats. Now you have hp/damage but not stats (mostly), so stat boosting is rebalanced also.

5. Fall damage are not so big that in the most of Ancient patches so you can jump in places where previusly you cant.

6. In all "Old patches" skip of Rain-District to Asylum is fixed. You need to run throgh Rain district. Also Taxi segment is updated, it's harder a little.

7. Ability splinters. There are 3 ability splinters on the way Konrad->Wormlord - so you can have 2 abilities and swap to 3rd ability if needed.

8. Machinarium skips works well (it's possible to reach the second elevator, so it's impossible (?) in Perfect patch).

9. Homunculus glitches (Hippo-skip and Vermillion Fields skip) work well. Also there is no Claymore before Konrad: you need to fight him with bad weapon or Skip him to get Royal Claymore/Eviscelator/Divine GreatAxe.

10. Number of bosses are almost the same. Only in the 2 last patches of older category there is Revenant boss. I suggest to **ignore this boss in Older Patch category**, so it's mandatory only in Perfect patches. This also helps to prevent glitches where Revenant doesnt spawn even if you have needed item.

A little conclusion: per my observation, all Unrestricted/Restricted runs for patches of this period should be close to same. Balance of damage also is the same, so only you can identify what patch you like to play, based on minor balance update (e.g. earlier Older patches has worse movement but more HP with Faithful perk).

**Part V. Perfect Patch**

Timing: [5 August 2024](https://steamdb.info/patchnotes/15265819/) - today 12 DEC 2024. Actually I do believe we had it till DLC incoming.

These patches are similar to Older, but there are differences:

1. Most of Homunculus skips are fixed. So - you need to run more, Forest.

2. Second elevator in Machinarium are not possible now with old strats.

3. Balance is updated. Bosses are fat, e.g. Konrad is about twice harder to kill than Older patch Konrad.

4. Perfect block. It's really good for speedrun :) But normal block right now dont save you, so it changes fights a lot.

5. Deluge. It feels like water snakes have better vision now, but less HP. To recheck.

6. No ladder to Konrad. You need to run in monastery coridors.

7. Belisarius skip is changed. You need to climb a lot, and now you need to do Levitation skips (there are 2 variants).

8. Few Machinarius skips to area with Ring of Giant are fixed (OOB skip and Jumping skip), but Dash-ability skip still works well.

9. Enemies positions are updated, you need to dodge them another way :)

A little conclusion: per my observation, all Unrestricted/Restricted runs for patches of this period should be close to same. And yes, now we all need to kill Revenant in All Bosses category.

**Part VI. Future**

We dont know what will be fixed in future patch. Maybe DLC will change Any% route? Who knows. But it definitely could change NG+ and All Bosses categories.

If you have any update on this, please share info in this theme:

[Bleak Faith: Forsaken - Forums - Patches Categories Explanation Discussion - Speedrun.com](https://www.speedrun.com/Bleak_faith_forsaken/forums/ki3ym)

If it's significant, maybe we'll change categories.

Have a nice runs!

Restricted Subcategories Rules

Hi speedrunners!

[Bleak Faith: Forsaken - Forums - Questions about Restricted Subcategory - Speedrun.com](https://www.speedrun.com/Bleak_faith_forsaken/forums/f4cz7)

I'm trying to provide full list of what is expected not to do in "Restricted" subcategories of runs.

Game could be fully destroyed on Unrestricted routes: every boss except final (currently) can be skipped, some of them can be killed not on the boss arena and few location can be fully skipped with few glitches.

I'm trying to provide rules that will make restricted run fun, interesting and competetive, but with potential for competition. So only major glitches are banned - at the moment.

So please check the full ruleset (SPOILERS ALERT):

1. Mirage glitches are fully banned. 

2. You should kill bosses on the boss arena, where the boss HP bar is activated and visible.

3. You should perform both recallibrations. Any skip of barier to Anomaly is banned.

4. All location are region-locked by their bosses:

a) You should kill Konrad before you go to Block 6174.

b) You should kill Aberant Knignt if you want to go to Desert through Machinarium.

c) Your should kill Nurgei before you do recalibration of Uranopolis.

d) You should kill Wormlord before you go to Anomaly location.

e) You should kill Belisarius before you go to final location.

5. All Machinarium skips are banned (because developers are trying to fix them for almost 2 years):

a) Dash skip to lower level are banned even with dead Aberant.

b) You should use the allowed lift!

6. Any Berserker + Power Armor glitches are banned.

GOOD LUCK!

Some details with examples:

About 1: Any usage of gomunkulus mirage that can teleport you on the top of location, or on the other side of wall is banned. Per my observation, mostly it's used in rain district and to skip final location. As it's not OK - and it's already fixed in current patch - this staff is banned for Restricted runs. **[Example](https://youtu.be/tB1IX-CiGN8?si=JM-vuYlzSIf6OHVS&t=1533)**

About 4.b): Else - you should go to Desert through Upper Levels location.

About 5.a) **[Example](https://youtu.be/ZE6OHswMEyc?si=CWrl0B9TuCg0mo-5&t=810)** of Dash skip to low leves of Machinarium

About 5.b) Any skip to lift befind the closed door is banned. It was possible to do this with parkour and levitation glitches before fixes **[Example ](https://youtu.be/kxz4WNrw2uU?si=cb3JRXTWUz0ZwZDI&t=741)**

sych

Bleak Faith: Forsaken

Release

patched/ not orginal

Ancient

Perfect

Unrestricted

Restricted

Older

Patches

patched/ not original 

Route

Hi Runners!

I have good news: we are waiting for the new patch in Bleak Faith. There are plans from creators to release new patch with DLC (probably) or some sort of extencions.

Current update of versioning:

1) Release - pure version of game released 10 Mar 2023, broken as hell - for extremals. F

Naam	Auteur
How to play the previous patches	sych 4 months ago
Patches Categories Explanation	sych 4 months ago
Restricted Subcategories Rules	sych 5 months ago