Dash Jumping - The Most Important Mechanic For Winning Races

This guide covers Dash Jumping which is a mechanic that allows a player to conserve dash while maintaining top speed. Learning how to use this mechanic is essential for those players looking to consistantly win races.

Introduction

Dash Jumping is a mechanic that allows players to maintain top speed while conserving their dash bar. If you have been wondering how certain players are consistently beating you and why they are always jumping it is because they are dash jumping. If you want to be able to compete on an even playing field with these other players it is necessary to learn how to dash jump.

Though it should be known that to dash jump effectively a good amount of practice will be required since the degree of which dash is conserved is directly related to how precisely you can time your button presses. This aspect is what makes dash jumping arguably the chief expression of skill in Tales Runner as there is a huge difference between a player who can dash jump seven times before running out of dash and one who can dash jump fifty times.

How To Dash Jump (In General)

Dash jumping uses a mechanic that prevents a character from losing speed when the dash key is released if the character is either in the second jump phase of a double jump, or is on the descending part of single jump.

1. Gain maximum speed using the dash key, dash pad or another method.
   
2. Press and hold the dash key.
   
3. Press the jump key.
   
4. Press the jump key again to double jump. The time between these two presses affects dash usage and also the distance the jump will cover.
   
5. Release the dash key (the character will not slow down because it is in the second jump of the double jump).
   
6. Shortly before touching the ground, hold the dash key to not lose speed upon contact with the ground.
   
7. Repeat from point 3.

For a detailed video demonstration of this technique please see Atsutane's Dash Jumping Tutorial which is embedded below and is hosted on YouTube.

Dash Jump Variations

Each of these variants incorporate the same process that is described above but differ in when the buttons are pressed and released. If a player masters all three variants they will be able to switch between them to handle any situation the game may confront them with.

High Dash Jump

High dash jumping uses the least amount of dash of the four variants covered but also covers very little distance per jump.

1. Gain maximum speed using the dash key, dash pad or another method.
   
2. Press and hold the dash key.
   
3. Press the jump key.
   
4. Immediately press the jump key again to double jump.
   
5. Release the dash key.
   
6. Shortly before touching the ground, hold the dash key to not lose speed upon contact with the ground.
   
7. Repeat from point 3.

Mid Dash Jump

Mid dash jumping uses more dash and covers more distance per jump than high dash jumping, but uses and covers less than low dash jumping.

1. Gain maximum speed using the dash key, dash pad or another method.
   
2. Press and hold the dash key.
   
3. Press the jump key.
   
4. Release the dash key once your character begins to fall.
   
5. Press the jump key again to double jump.
   
6. Shortly before touching the ground, hold the dash key to not lose speed upon contact with the ground.
   
7. Repeat from point 3.

Low Dash Jump

Low dash jumping uses the most dash of the four variants covered but covers the most distance per jump.

1. Gain maximum speed using the dash key, dash pad or another method.
   
2. Press and hold the dash key.
   
3. Press the jump key.
   
4. Release the dash key once your character begins to fall.
   
5. Just before touching the ground press the jump key again to double jump.
   
6. Shortly before touching the ground, hold the dash key to not lose speed upon contact with the ground.
   
7. Repeat from point 3.

Tap Jump

Tap jumping uses about the same amount of dash as mid dash jumping but covers the least distance of all the variants as it lacks a second jump.

1. Gain maximum speed using the dash key, dash pad or another method.
   
2. Press and hold the dash key.
   
3. Press the jump key.
   
4. Release the dash key once your character begins to fall.
   
5. Shortly before touching the ground, hold the dash key to not lose speed upon contact with the ground.
   
6. Repeat from point 3.

Places to Practice Dash Jumping

There are certain maps that allow for easier practice of all of the different dash jump variants and they are listed below. While these maps are ideal to practice on, all maps will require the player to exercise their dash jumping skills in different ways if they are going to win the race.

Speed

This is by far the easiest map to practice each of the variants in. It is full of dash pads which will instantly bring your character to full speed that will help you commence your dash jump routine. It also lacks obstacles that may get in your way as you practice.

Hurdles

This is a map that will help you learn when to switch between and modify the variations to avoid tripping over the hurdles. It will also help you learn to gauge how far your character will jump depending on when you press the jump key to double jump when dash jumping.

Uncle Lizard's Peril

This is a map that will help you to learn when to switch between and modify the variations to avoid hitting moving obstacles. It has few ground obstacles that will mess up your dash jumping but the many moving obstacles will force you to be precise about where your character is throughout all phases of your dash jumping.

Advanced Dash Jumping: Abusing Elevation to Maximize Dash Conservation

There is another facet of dash jumping that can be used to maximize your dash conservation. This facet is the difference of elevation between different sections of a map and is most relevant when playing fantasy maps.

The basic concept is to abuse the elevation differences between high and low sections of a dash to cause your character to take longer to hit the ground and thus allow more time for your dash to regenerate between jumps. If this facet is properly abused it can allow the player to regenerate enough dash to allow for many more dash jumps than an opponent who does not abuse these elevation differences. One map where this is facet can be abused to great affect is the map Heungbu Nolbu 1 with it's many hills and valleys in the middle portion of the map.

[Nekomi]

I did not know this until now.

[Warau]

Oh.

[TheNiDzA]

BEST GUIDE EVER!!!!

[Gachata]

Great guide for new players.

[Pooks]

Great guide! I used to play this game a long time ago and your explanation is clearer than any I remember reading. (Though I was pretty young.) ~ Thanks for the guide.

[Piron]

Tomorrow i try find something, long time ago i find vrry good movies about dj ;p

[Aylio]

Thank you for finding the guide helpful and the feedback.

About the youtube clip, I agree that the video quality unfortunately is quite bad. Unfortunately the player who made the video no longer plays Tales Runner so the resolution will probably never be improved. But out of all of the video dash jump guides I've seen it does the best at showing the button sequence and timing involved in dash jumping which is why I included it. If I ever find a video that does a better job with a better resolution I'll be sure to replace it.

If you did want to check out another video on the topic with a higher resolution this one by Abbx also does a decent job at showing the button sequence and timing involved: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c9OsrYCNxY

[Piron]

Very nice guide but this movie should be in better resolution if you can change it guide will be perfect... ^.^