Pokemon HeartGold Any% Manipless - FAQ
 
This is a speedrun by the way
 
Q: What are you playing on, is it an emulator?
A: I play on Nintendo DS with a capture card installed. I used to play on 3DS, but I prefer to use the DS now that I have one, and can still max out turnframes for Magikarp on DS fairly easily.
 
Q: What's your PB?
A: 2:11:04
 
Q: What is your goal?
A: Just to win the race, not looking for a PB
 
Q: Why HeartGold?
A: Few minor reasons why HG > SS:
The encounters on Route 29 and 30 are more likely to be Lv 2, and can't be Weedle, which helps in the early game because I try to kill a Lv 2 for exp with Cyndaquil. 
As to why I chose to play this game, I just loved playing it when I was younger, and never stopped replaying it. Certainly my favorite pokemon game, and my pick for best pokemon game.
 
Q: What is Any% Manipless?
A: Beating the game (beating Red) using no RNG manipulation (but glitches ARE allowed.)
 
Q: What glitches are in this game?
A: Yes, there is tweaking, which saves a significant portion (1.5 hours, about 45% of glitchless) of the game by cutting out from getting Surf to Tohjo Falls, and the first 7 Kanto gym leaders if you are doing glitched speedruns. There is also another tweak that allows us to get HM07 Waterfall early so that Gyarados can use it.
 
Q: Why do you name yourself and the pokemon you catch one character?
A: Because it's faster to name them one character for text purposes.
 
Q: Why did you choose the girl instead of the boy? Are you that kind of incel gamer?
A: No, the girl is faster by 8ish seconds because Lyra’s cutscene in the catching tutorial is silly.
 
Q: Why do you choose Cyndaquil?
A: I use Cyndaquil because it is the fastest of all starters in the first 2 gyms.
 
Q: What else do you use/catch?
A: I catch a Sentret, the borrowed Spearow (named Kenya), a Lv 50 Magikarp, Geodude/Machop, and Shuckie the Shuckle. 
- Sentret gets Cut and Surf.
- Kenya is used after it is obtained as my main pokemon to get through the 3rd and 4th gyms. Kenya is also used for Fly. 
- Magikarp/Gyarados is the real main of this category. Beats the game with Surf, Waterfall, Strength, and Flail. Any Gyarados is runnable.
- Geodude/Machop found in Mt. Mortar back room (85% rate) is only used for Rock Climb.
- Shuckie is used to beat Red's Pikachu. By widdling it down to 35 HP, Pikachu is guaranteed to Quick Attack on Shuckie, but it is only 1/16 to die. Thus, we can use the move Encore to lock it into QA for 3-7 turns, allowing Gyarados to set up and beat Pikachu.
 
Q: What are the hardest fights in the game?
A: Nothing is really that hard. Falkner, Bugsy, and Rival 2 end a bunch of runs early, Blue, and Red is always the hardest.
 
Q: Where are the biggest timesaves in the run?
A: Not many, the run was a pacer. Can save time from Fairy double, Rival 3, poison strats if I get Poison Point off of Nido trainer, could have tweaked better on Route 8 (lost 15s). And I did high candy route, so there is timesave by forgoing 2 rare candies (Lake of Rage, Violet City)