Speed-run Checklist: Complete the Cowardly Fate Run

[Matthew]

Collect all three Fate fragments (Cowardly Fate, Deadly Fate, Victorious Fate) and open the door to the Trialmaster as quickly as possible, then pursue the boss with a clear plan for post-fight progression.

Pre-run preparation (5–8 minutes before your session)

Build readiness: Ensure your character has solid sustain (life/mana recovery or regen), reliable damage, and mobility to move quickly between floors. Confirm flasks are ready and your movement skill is available and off cooldown.

Knowledge check: Review the flow of the Trial of Chaos in this patch (which floors/bosses tend to yield Fate fragments and any known drop patterns). If you’ve collected data from your previous runs, use it to fine-tune your rotation.

Team roles (if playing with others): Assign one player to chase Cowardly Fate, another to Deadly Fate, and a third to Victorious Fate, cycling turns each session to maintain consistent progress.

In-run strategy (targeting a sub-20-minute run)

Begin with a fast, planned route: Enter the first floor with a strict kill-or-pass mindset. Clear quickly, skip non-essential side areas unless they directly advance Fate collection.

Prioritize Fate-rich floors: Target floors and bosses known to drop Fate fragments. If a fragment hasn’t dropped after a couple of attempts, switch focus to another Fate while returning later, to avoid stalling the run.

Efficient movement: Use your fastest travel options between zones. Maintain spacing and awareness to dodge AoE mechanics, minimizing time lost to deaths or wasted dodges.

Manage risk vs reward: If a floor becomes excessively dangerous for marginal Fate gain, move on to the next floor to preserve overall time. It’s better to complete more floors quickly than to grind a single problematic one.

Open the door and the Trialmaster encounter

Confirm all fragments: As you near the end of the run, ensure you’ve secured all three Fate fragments. If any are missing, redirect to the closest Fate drop location you’ve tracked.

Tactical entry: Enter the door with a clear plan for the Trialmaster fight. Prioritize boss phase transitions, memorize telegraphs, and save resources for the late phase where the fight often escalates in complexity.

Post-boss plan: Have a lightweight plan for loot distribution, Ascendancy choices, and immediate next steps (whether to push another trial, focus on crafting, or switch to a different endgame activity).

Common time-cost traps to avoid

Overcommitting to a single Fate: This slows overall progress and increases the chance of getting stuck if the Fate is scarce in that session.

Poor routing choices: Loops that add travel time without adding Fate drops waste precious minutes.

Underestimating boss mechanics: A sloppy Trialmaster fight can waste several minutes and derail a well-planned run.

Post-run wrap-up (2–3 minutes)

Quick loot scan: Identify any Soul Cores or high-value drops and decide whether to bank or reinvest immediately.

Debrief for next run: Note which floors yielded Fate fragments and refine your rotation for faster future runs.

Schedule your next session: If 20 minutes is a hard target, decide a plan to optimize your routes for the next attempt.