Vex 3 isn't just a platformer; it's a religion. Since its release, players have been dissecting every pixel of its ten acts, looking for ways to shave milliseconds off their times. It’s a game that rewards flow, precision, and a deep understanding of its physics engine. If you’re struggling to get that elusive Gold medal on Act 9, or if you just want to understand how the top players move so fast, this guide is for you.
Before we dive into act-specific strategies, we need to talk about the core mechanics. Vex 3 is all about momentum conservation. Most players make the mistake of treating it like Mario—stopping before a jump, lining it up, and then moving. In Vex, stopping is death. You need to be thinking three moves ahead.
The Holy Trinity of Movement
There are three advanced techniques that separate the casuals from the speedrunners: the Slide-Jump, the Corner-Boost, and the Water-Cancel.
1. The Slide-Jump: This is your bread and butter. Sliding (down arrow) reduces your hitbox, allowing you to pass under obstacles. But if you jump immediately after initiating a slide, you carry that momentum into the air. This results in a long, flat jump that covers more horizontal distance than a standard sprint jump. Use this to clear wide gaps without needing a running start.
2. The Corner-Boost: The game’s collision detection is slightly forgiving on corners. If you hit the very edge of a platform while moving upward, the game will sometimes "pop" you up to the surface instantly. Speedrunners abuse this by aiming for the corners of walls during wall-jumps. It’s risky—miss by a pixel and you fall—but it saves frames on every climb.
3. The Water-Cancel: Swimming is slow. You want to be in the water for as little time as possible. When entering a pool, try to enter with a downward dash (down arrow in air). When exiting, jump the frame you break the surface. If timed correctly, you skip the "floating" animation and launch directly into the air.
Act 1-3: The Basics
The early acts are about learning the rhythm. In Act 1, focus on the wall jumps. You don't need to wait for the character to slide down before jumping again; rapid taps will get you up vertical shafts faster. In Act 2, the spinning blades are introduced. The key here is not to wait. The cycles are timed so that if you run full speed from the start, you will just miss the blades. Trust the level design.
Act 4-6: The Difficulty Spike
Act 4 introduces the purple blocks. These are fragile and fall after you touch them. The speedrun strat here is to use them as wall-jump surfaces rather than platforms. By bouncing off the side, you maintain upward momentum without waiting for the block to fall. Act 5 is the "maze" level. Memorization is key here. There is a specific path through the dark rooms that requires zero stops. Watch a replay of a top run and memorize the inputs; it’s a rhythm game, not a maze.
Act 9: The Widowmaker
This is where runs go to die. Act 9 is long, grueling, and filled with moving saws. The hardest section is the vertical climb with the oscillating lasers. The trick here is patience—ironic for a speedrun, I know. Attempting to rush the lasers usually results in a death, which costs more time than waiting. However, there is a shortcut. About halfway up, there is a small ledge on the right that looks decorative. It's not. You can stand on it to bypass the third laser cycle entirely.
The Vexation Mode
Once you’ve mastered the standard acts, "Vexation" mode awaits. This remixes the levels into a single, continuous marathon. The only advice here is: manage your stress. Vexation is an endurance test. If you panic after a death, you will make more mistakes. Practice deep breathing. Reset your hands on the keyboard. It’s better to lose 2 seconds composing yourself than to lose 20 seconds to a rage-induced spiral.
Vex 3 is a masterpiece of browser gaming because it is fair. Every death is your fault. Every victory is earned. By mastering these techniques, you aren't just playing the game; you're breaking it. Now get out there and earn that Gold.