Pipes
Dealing with pipes is simple once you learn how to enter and exit them properly in different scenarios.
RTA Pipe Entering
RTA strategies are strategies used to optimize real-time speedruns, so RTA Pipes are the fastest way to deal with pipes. IL pipes and strategies optimize for in-game time, but are slower for real-time.
A pipe can face four directions. For left and right facing pipes, running into them normally is as fast as you’ll get. Keep in mind you need to be on the ground by a pipe entrance for 10 frames (0.16 seconds) before entering that pipe. Meaning, ideally you want to land on the ground about one two blocks before a horizontal pipe to enter it without waiting.
For down-facing pipes, you want to crouch jump into the middle of the pipe. Crouch jumping makes Mario’s hitbox height smaller, thus making the pipe-entering animation shorter. Entering on the left or right edge of the pipe causes Mario to slowly align to the center of the pipe- much slower than Mario’s running speed.
Crouch jumping into 8-Airship’s downward pipe.
Crouching as mini Mario does not change his hitbox, so crouching jumping into pipes isn’t worth it because of the risk of losing speed while crouching on the ground.
For pipes facing up, enter them as close to the middle as possible. Crouching into upwards-facing pipes has no effect.
IL Pipe Entering
Entering pipes when optimizing for ILs is essentially the opposite of optimizing for RTA.
Pipe animations and transitions pause the IGT so you want to enter pipes as soon as possible in ILs. This means no crouch jumping, and entering as far left/right as possible.
Exiting Pipes
The optimal technique for exiting pipes is the same for all run types.
For sideways pipes do a small wallkick off of the pipe. We call these pipekicks. The wallkick you do, the faster you will accelerate. If you have fire, ice, or penguin, shoot fire/ice after you wallkick to get an acceleration boost.
This pipekick in 5-3 is barely possible with a small wallkick.
As mentioned earlier, shooting fire/ice after wallkicking gives you an acceleration boost (4-1).
For down-facing pipes, just fall. If you are high enough up and there is a wall opposite your desired direction, do a small wallkick off that wall as you fall out of the pipe.
Example of a downward facing pipe with an opposite wall (8-Castle).
For upwards-facing pipes, just run off unless there is a wall opposite to your desired direciton. If so, immediately do a small wallkick off the wall after you exit the pipe.
Upwards facing pipe with opposite wall (5-2).
Pipes are the most common way Mario transitions between areas. The next most common are doors. These are pretty easy!