Small Only 15 exit route

Introduction

This tutorial will focus on the basics on the 15 exit route for Small Only, also known as Low%, this route is the fastest to complete the run and it takes a big step up in strats and risks overall.
Unlike the switch palace route tutorial this time we will assume the reader has a better understanding on mechanics and movement in the game, so it will be less detailed and focus more on the options available to the player. In case the information you are looking appears to be missing please check the switch palace route tutorial or the IL pages for the level, either case checking out the ILs is heavily encouraged.

The rules for the category are:

• Time begins the frame Mario appears in the opening cutscene. This is 2.2 seconds after selecting 1 player game.
• Time ends on the frame that Peach appears outside of Bowser's Clown Car.
• No Arbitrary Code Execution.
• No Powerups allowed (Mushroom, Midway Points, Fire Flower, Cape).
• No Yoshi.
• Penalties:
  • If any power-up is obtained, or Yoshi is ridden, die as soon as possible without utilizing it.
  • If a mushroom is gained by taking an item through the goal tape, die as soon as possible.
  • If you grab a checkpoint, take damage as soon as possible, finish the level, and then redo that same exit.

Route

• Yoshi's Island 2
• Yoshi's Island 3
• Yoshi's Island 4
• Iggy's Castle
• Donut Plains 1 secret exit
• Donut Secret 1 normal exit
• Donut Ghost House
• Donut Plains 3
• Donut Plains 4
• Morton's Castle
• Vanilla Dome 1 secret exit
• Vanilla Secret 1 secret exit
• Star World 2 secret exit
• Star World 3 secret exit
• Star World 4 secret exit
• Front Door

Levels

Donut Plains 1 Secret exit

This is the first big obstacle of the run and maybe the first reset point for many, to get the secret exit with small Mario a midair shell jump is required, even when it can be done with wall shell jump it seems to be luck based and overall slower than doing a midair shell jump which is the prefered strat.
To get the shell stomp the second green Koopa on the way, run to the left to get p speed, grab the shell and jump over the blue pipe.
There are various factors that affect if you get a midair shell jump or not, from doing the inputs in the right moment to getting a good sprite interaction frame rule, given the nature of this trick more in depth tutorials will be linked.
Going to Donut Plains 2 is still an option if the shell jump fails.

• Midair shell jump explained

Refer to the flick midair shell jump section of this tutorial, still this is a great resource for different kinds of midair shell jumps.

Video: Midair shell jump tutorial Source: Tjb

Video: Donut Plains 1 secret small over pipe Source: Zapplex

Video: Donut Plains 1 secret small no midair shell jump Source: Zapplex

Donut Secret 1 Normal exit

Swim the level until you get to where the blue blocks are, grab one, swap it for the p switch and swim under the level until the end, beware of the fishes.
You can tap down under the screen right before going above the screen to cut the last corner, take care to avoid the last fish.

Video: Donut Secret 1 Normal Exit - Small Only (No Scroll) Source: Rezephae

Video: Donut Secret 1 Normal Exit - Small Only (Scroll) Source: Rezephae

Donut Ghost House Normal exit

On the second room spin jump once at the bottom of the stairs to make the boo go to the left and a second time near the top to get p speed back faster, spin jump in front of the boo with p speed and bounce on it to lure it to the left.

Video: Donut Ghost House small boo front spin Source: Zapplex

Donut Plains 3

There's a way to finish this level without the initial scroll, but it's essentially the same but harder, probably saving just frames.

Video: Donut Plains 3 small scroll strat Source: Zapplex

Video: Donut Plains 3 small no scroll Source: Zapplex

Donut Plains 4

You can take the yellow shell at the start and use it to kill the third Hammer Bro to advance in the level, at the end you need to delay for a while to let the last Hammer Bro get out of the way for the final jump.

Video: Donut Plains 4 - Small Only (Shell) Source: Rezephae

Morton's Castle

The most efficient way to do Morton room 2 it's to do a full spin jump right into the corner on the ground under the second Thwomp, that way Mario will spin jump on top of it, another way is too do a full jump like the one described in the switch palace route, which is probably just frames slower. To go above the last Thwomp do a regular jump and do a right left to loose enough speed to not collide with it. Hitting the Dry Bones that it's by the door efficiently might save some time, but it's risky and it might hit you.

Video: Morton's Castle small only Source: Zapplex

Vanilla Dome 1 Secret exit

To get the secret exit you have to do a beetle jump, you can do it with a beetle near the location of the key and keyhole.

Video: Vanilla Dome 1 Secret Exit - Small Only (Easy) Source: Rezephae

Vanilla Secret 1 Secret exit

There are 2 ways to get the spring jump to get to the pipe efficiently:

1. Grab the spring and jump from the edge of the middle platform, tap right as little as possible midair so Mario is going to the left but looking to the right, drop (don't kick) the sping before reaching the peak of the jump and move right to get on top of the spring.
2. Grab the spring and throw it up as soon as you walk off the higher platform, jump from the edge of the second platform and catch up with the spring as it's falling.

For both method you might need to adjust Mario's falling speed to get on top of the spring by releasing and repressing jump, remember to press jump to get the bounce off the spring. It's worth to mention the Chuck at the other side of the pipe, it will kick footballs based on global timer, react to the footballs to avoid them.

Video: Vanilla Secret 1 spring jumps Source: Zapplex

Video: Vanilla Secret 1 - Small Only (Spring Jump) Source: Rezephae

Star World 2 Secret exit

Ideally you want to avoid touching the ground when grabbing baby Yoshi, regular swimming up right before grabbing it should give enough vertical speed to got above the screen safely.
Right before getting to the key you can tap down at a visual cue to cut the final corner.

Tapping down when baby Yoshi is crossing that algae in the background can help cut the final corner.

Video: Star World 2 Secret Exit - Small Only Source: Sten

Star World 3 Secret exit

Start the level pressing right and up, once Mario is on top of the second block quickly tap to grab and up throw the block, that block should hit Lakitu and leave the cloud behind. After the up throw press grab and jump at the same time and land on the pilar to the left and finally jump into the cloud, use the block to quickly get the key out of the block on top.
There's a chance that the first block won't hit Lakitu, you can still use the second block you grab as a backup to get the cloud, but it requires fast reactions and waiting for a bit in the block pilar.
If there are too many sprites on screen you won't be able to grab more blocks.

Video: Star World 3 Secret Exit - Small Only Source: Rezephae

Video: Star World 3 Secret Small Only backup Source: Zapplex

Star World 4 Secret exit

The easiest of the ways to get the secret exit without the switch palace blocks it's releasing the key with a shell then doing a shell jump to get to where the key and keyhole are. Since you can't see the key come out you rely on the sound of the key coming out as a sound cue, if you don't hear it try again. Bouncing on the Para Koopa it's not mandatory, but it does make the throw more consisntent.

Video: Star World 4 Secret Exit - Small Only (Paratroopa) Source: Rezephae

Front Door

Door 2: To skip the fence animation grab the fence, press run and quick jump off the fence, if you go too fast or too slow you won't be able to skip the animation. Grab the fence on it's middle or right side so the second fence Koopa it's on the correct spot, too much to the left and it will hit Mario, too much to the right and you might miss it.
Door 7: The bowser statues in this room shoot fire based on the global timer, which makes the fire patter you get somewhat unpredictable, if they shoot around half a second after the room loads then you might have a dangerous pattern, a small delay can put you in a safer position, practice to recognize dangerous patterns is adviced. Left right when jumping in front of the last bowser statue will make the jumping statue before the door be out of the way.

Video: Front Door small only rooms 2 and 7 + Bowser fight Source: Zapplex