# Carto Any% Speedrun Strat

## Introduction

These notes detail my current routing for Carto Any%.

I'll use notations for tile placement with cardinal direction, for example 3N1W180 means move 3 tiles North 1 tile West with 180 degree rotation.
Positive rotation means clockwise, negative is counter clockwise.

When I write:
> Place the new tile XXX,

it always means the first tile in your inventory.

---

Here are the global tips for the run:
* English text is faster than Asian languages,
* Mashing A for text is important,
* When you open the map, there is a delay before you can start working. You'll have to feel it, I use the audio clue of the opening map to know when i can move. After that you can basically move as fast as you want.
* Moving in the map menu with the stick is slow, I use the D-Pad.
* You can grab a piece of map without slowing down, you need to time your A button press so Carto doesn't slow down. This is even more important with boots, as running with boots at full speed has a delay.

---

## Chapter 1 Island

Start timer when you press A on Beginning.

Mash B to skip introduction.

Go grab the map.

While in the tutorial, don't Mash A, you can gain some time if you press A once the little "A" icon start to fade in. If you press A too early, there is a timer before you can press A again and you can easily lose a full second here.


* Go to 1N1E and move it 1W-90.


Get the next piece and open the map:
* Finish the tutorial,
* Move the current tile 1N,
* Place the new tile 1S180.


Get the next piece, head South-West and open the map:
* Rotate the current tile 180,
* Place the new tile 1E-90.


Head North-East, get the piece, head North and open the map:
* Place the new tile 1N180.


Get the next piece, head East and open the map:
* Place the new tile 1E180.


Get the next piece and head South-West up to that point:


Open the map:

* Move the current tile 1N-90,
* Place the new tile 1W-90.


Talk to the guy, open the map:
* Move the current tile 2S2E180.


Get the next piece, head South-West up to the plant:


Open the map:

* Go to 1E and move it 1S1W90,
* Go to 2N1E and move it 2S90,
* Go to 3N1W and move it 1S1E-90
* Place the new tile 1S180


Go talk to the kid, get the two pieces from left to right and open the map:
* Place the new tile 1E,
* Place the new tile 1N-90,
* Go to 1S and rotate 180.


Head inside the house, get the piece on the necklace, get out and open the map:
* Place the new tile 2N-90.


Head North, talk to Shianan, go West grab the soil, go back to Shianan and open the map:
* Place the new tile 2N180.


Head North, talk to the right Lady, then to Shianan and end Chapter 1.

---

## Chapter 2 Grassland

Head East, get the piece and open the map:
* Move the current tile to 1N3W180,
* Place the new tile 1E180.


Head East, talk to Mo, head South, get the piece and talk to the sheep.
Head North and talk to Mo again, open the map:
* Move the current tile 1N,
* Place the new tile 1S180,
* Go to 1W and rotate -90.


Head South, Talk to the Aunt, head South-West and get the flower.
Head West and talk to the sheep, then head South-East and talk to the two bottom sheep (top one first) and open the map while on the South tile:
* Move the current tile to 2N1E90.


Head East, talk to Mo and open the map:
* Go to 1W and move it 2S1E-90,
* Go to 1N and move it 1E90.


Head south and talk to the sheep, then head North and talk to Mo again.
Talk to the sheep North-West, get the piece, head North and open the map.

This trick is hard and it only saves 1 or 2 seconds, if you don't want to execute it, read the letter, get the piece, put it 1N and continue.

* Place the new tile 1N180


Head North until you engage the cut scene, get the piece, head South to the plant:


Open the map:

* Rotate the current tile 180,
* Place the new tile 1N,
* Move it 1W,
* Go to 2E and move it 1W.


Head North, get the piece and open the map:
* Rotate the current tile -90,
* Place the new tile 1E90,
* Go to 1S1W and move it 1N2E90.


* Go to 1W and move it 1S1W90,
* Go to 1N2E and move it 1N,
* Go to 1S1E and move it 2W.


Get the next piece on the bridge and open the map:

* Place the new tile 1S2W180,
* Go to 1W and move it 4E,
* Go to 1N1W and move it 1S2E,
* Go to 4W and move it 1N2E,
* Go to 1N1E and move it 1W90.


Head West to the tent, open the map:
* Move the tile 1S1W.


Talk to Monkar, go South, read the book, go North talk to Monkar again, get out of the tent North and open the map:

* Move the tile 1N3W,


Head south, talk to the kid, open the map and close it instantly, go West and talk to Ganga. Go back North-East and talk to Monkar.

After the cutscene, leave the tent North, head South-West close to Ganga and open the map:
* Go to 1N1E and move it 1N4W-90,
* Go to 2S4E and move it 1N90,
* Go to 1S1W and rotate it -90,
* Go to 2E and move it 1W90,


Talk to Ganga, then to Mo, then to the kid, then to the lady and then hide.
After the cutscene, follow the river by the North and open the map close to the bridge.
To prepare for Chapter 4-2, move everything to look like this map:


Some of the pieces placement here are not important, but this position ensure that when you will open the map on Chapter 4-2, you won't have to move anything and every pieces will be connected for end game.

Talk to the plant and end Chapter 2.

---

## Chapter 3 Forest

Grab the plant, head North-West to that point:


Open the map:

* Go to 2E and move it 1S180,
* Go to 1N1W and move it 1E,
* Go to 2W and move it 1E90.


Talk to Chirb, head South to that point:


Open the map:

* Go to 1N1W and move it 1W1S90,
* Go to 1E and rotate it 90,
* Go to 1N1E and rotate it -90,
* Place the new tile 1W.


Head North-West, get the two pieces (order is not important), head North and open the map:
* Place the new tile 1N,
* Place the new tile 1N.


Head North and look for that visual clue which can be West, North or East:


You will have to follow this knot 4 times.
That part is RNG, the best RNG for the first one is straight as you won't have to open the map.
If the knot is East or West, go towards it, open the map and rotate the tile 90 degrees or -90 degrees so it faces North and go North.
For the second one, rotate 90, -90 or 180 degrees so it faces South and go South.
For the third one, you want to cut South-East or South-West through the forest to skip the cutscene:


Choose a direction and look for the knot avoiding the center of the tile. The worst RNG is if you have to do 3/4 of a circle through the forest, but it will still save time compared to engaging the cutscene.
Rotate the map so the knot faces North and for the last one, do the same going South.

You'll want to keep note of how much you rotate the South tile.
* If you did not rotate it: grab the top right piece first,
* If you did rotate 90 degree: grab the bottom right piece first,
* If you did rotate -90 degree: grab the top left piece first,
* If you did rotate 180 degree: grab the bottom left piece first.

*Note: this is just so when you open the map, the first one will be the one to place*

Head East and open the map:
* Place the new tile 1E.


Head East, get the two pieces (top first) and open the map:
* Place the new tile 1E-90,
* Place the new tile 1N180.


Head North-East to that point:


When you see the flying notes around Carto and hear the melody, head South-East and open the map:
* Go to 1N1W and move it 1S1E180

*Note: It's important that you cut through the forest so you skip the cutscene*


Go South-East up to that point:


Open the map:
* Go to 1W and rotate it -90,
* Go to 1E and move it 1N1W.


Go South, grab the two pieces on the way then go East up to that point:


Open the map:

* Place the second new tile 1E.


Get the two pieces from North to South and head South-East in the corner:


Open the map:

* Place the new tile 1S,
* Place the new tile 1E.


Go South enough to get to the new tile, then Go East until you hear the bad melody with the flying question mark. Go back West enough to hear the good melody with the flying notes.

Open the map:

* Move the current tile to 2E-90.


Go West until your hear the melody. Go back East until you hear the melody.

Open the map:

* Move the current tile 2W90.


Head South-East and get the piece. Head East to that point:


Open the map:

* Place the new tile 1E.


Head East and grab the piece. Head North-East to that point:


Open the map:

* Place the new tile 1N90,
* Place the new tile 1N1E,
* Place the new tile 1S-90,
* Move the current tile 1E90,
* Go to 1N1W and move it to 1S-90.


Head North-East and go inside the tree hole.

*Note: There is a clean path in the forest without bumping but it's hard to get.*

Open the map:

* Move the current tile 2W-90,
* Go to 3E and move the tile to 1S2W-90.


Go to that point:

 

You have to be precise, you have to see a little bit of black between Carto's hair and the background rock. Just enough so you are on the middle tile when you open the map.

Open the map:

* Rotate the current tile -90.


You should see Carto out of bound in between the two tiles:


Open the map without moving:

* Rotate the current tile -90.

Move North until Carto clip a little bit, then instantly North-East until you clip in-bound.

[](https://gyazo.com/9dcf81ec1a66af4ad7c144f2f2bc31d2)

*Note: Sometime, if the timing is off, Carto will not be able to clip in-bound, if so, just rotate the tile -90 and you should appear in-bound.*

[](https://gyazo.com/499bfd0c46648905734cfb8316320e3f)

Get out, talk to the owl, talk to Chirb, then enter the second cave.

Open the map:

* Move the current tile 1N,
* Go to 1S1E and move it to 1N4W90,
* Go to 1S1W and move it to 1N3E.


Go in between tiles and line up the right part of Carto's Pony tail on the most left side of the bright part of the branche:

 

This part is kinda tricky because the visual clue is blury.

Open the map:

* Move the current tile 2W180.


Get out, and go East by North-East in the middle of the tree entrance.

Open the map:

* Go to 1S1W and move it 4N,
* Go to 2S1E amd move it 2N-90,
* Go to 3S and rotate it -90,
* Go to 1S and move it 1N1E180,
* Go to 2W and move it 1S1E,
* Go to 1N2W and move it 1S3E180,
* Go to 3W and move it 2N2E180,
* Go to 1W and move it 1S-90,
* Go to 1N1W and move it 2S1E,
* Go 4N and move it 2S2E,
* Go to 2N1W and move it 2S1W,
* Move the current tile 6S4E.


Talk to the Watcher and press A for the next 3 min...

At the end of the cutscene, talk to all messengers starting by Chirb, go counter-clockwise and talk to the old watcher at then end.

After the next cutscene, open the map:

* Move the current tile 3S5E180,
* Go to 3W and move it 1S4E90,
* Go to 3W2N and move it 5E90 *(Note: if you go North first, you will have to do 1N5W which is 1 more movement, because the giant tile offsets you.)*
* Go to 1S8W1N and move it to 1N11E *(Note: Same reason, we go down once to gain 1 movement.)*
* Go to 6W1S and rotate it 90,
* Go to 3S2W and move it to 3N3E-90.


Head North, take the cave and complete Chapter 3.

## Chapter 4-1 Chalet

Open the map:

* Move the current tile 1S2E-90.


Go to the chalet, interact with the book, progress throught the cut scene, then open the map:

* Go to 1W and move the tile 2N,
* Go to 1S and move the tile 1S,
* Go to 1N1E and move the tile 1W.


Go to the left room and interact with the first bookshelf, get the boots and open the map:

* Move the current tile 3N.


Take the left staircase and leave the chalet.
Head West cross the river and intercat with the sign to end Chapter 4-1.

## Chapter 4-2 Grassland

After talking to Ganga, head South to the circle of flower and talk to Mo.

*Note: If you skipped the paper plane cut-scene on Chapter 2, hug the East while you go South on the straight road tile so you don't engage the cut scene.*

Head West and talk to the lady, then to the 3 kis.

Open the map and close it instantly.

Follow this path and collect the 3 plants:


Go talk to Mo and give him the plants. After the cut-scene, open the map:

* Move the current tile 1S5E.


Enter the cave to end Chapter 4-2.

## Chapter 5 Desert

Open the map:

* Go to 1W and move it to 1N,
* Go to 1S1E and move it 1W90,
* Go to 1S and rotate it 90.


Head South, get the two pieces and talk to the young girl.

Open the map:

* Place the new tile 1S1W,
* Place the new tile 1W.


Head West up to that point:


Don't cross the South tile until this point, then head West until you here the melody.
You should cross the South tile so the wind effect stops right when you here the melody, that way you can open the map instantly.
I enter when i'm lined up with the top right cactus.

Then you will have to repeat twice the following:

* Open the map
* Rotate the current tile -90,
* Go to 1E and move the tile 2W,
* Close the map,
* Head West until you hear the melody, huging the North side of the tile,
* Open the map,
* Move the current tile 2E-90,
* Close the map,
* Head West until you hear the melody, huging the North side of the tile.

The last time, don't hug the North side, instead go West by South-West, get the two pieces and open the map:

* Place the new tile 1N1W,
* Place the new tile 1E.


Go North-West interact with chest and open the map.

while holding the current tile, rotate it 90, -180, 270, -270, 90.

Close the map, intercat with the chest to get the gold coin, then interact twice with the burried sign.

Go East up to that point between the two bushes:


Enter the South tiles on that point, and check the footprints on the West tile and the East tile, and do this:

If the East tile footprints make a left turn:

* Go on the West tile and rotate the East tile so the footprints lead West,
* Go on the East tile and rotate the West tile so the footprints lead South,
* Head South-West until you hear the melody,
* Open the map and go to 1E and move it to 1S1W-90,
* Head South until you hear the melody,
* Open the map and move the current tile 1N1E90,
* Head West and get the piece.

If the East tile footprints make a right turn:

* Go on the West tile and rotate the East tile so the footprints lead West,
* Go on the East tile and rotate the West tile so the footprints lead North,
* Head North-West until you hear the melody,
* Open the map and move the current tile 1S,
* Go to 1N1E and move it to 1W90,
* Head North until you hear the melody,
* Open the map and move the current tile 1E-90
* Go to 1S1W and move it 1N,
* Head West and get the piece.

*Note: Those two scenari are similar and end up the same way so it won't affect the next puzzles*

Open the map:

* Go to 1N1W and move it to 1N180
* Place the new piece 1S180.


Head North-West and interact 3 times with the middle palm tree.
Talk to the girl, get the piece and head South-East to the desert tiles again.

Watch the cacti position on the two tiles, when you know where they are, open the map:

* Rotate the West tile so the cacti are South-East,
* Rotate the East tile so the cacti are South-West,
* Place the new tile on the South-West part of the desert,
* Rotate the current tile until you find the right position (should take at max 3 tries.)


* Go to 1E and move it to 1N2W180,
* Depending on where you are on the North-West tile, you can rotate it so you're closer to the South-West


Head West, interact with the monolith and go back East to the desert.

Now Watch the walls position hugging the South side of the North-West desert tile.
If you don't see the South-West desert tile wall, it is South, if you don't see the North-West desert tile wall, it is North, then go more East to check the North-East desert tile wall position.

Depending on what you saw, rearrange the tiles so the walls point toward a center tile:

*Note: Red lines mark walls*

Place the new tile with the girl 2W, reaarange the tiles so Carto is close to it and the desert is back to its normal shape:


Talk to the girl, get the piece and open the map:

* Place the new tile 1N1W.


Head North-West, interact with the well, head East, interact with the camel, go back to the well and interact with it 3 times.
Go back South-East, talk to the girl.

After the cutscene, go East to the desert up to the middle of the North-East tile following this path:


You should see a cutscene, then briefly open/close the map and pay attention to where the circle appeared:


Go to that circle and interact with it. After the cutscene, interact with the dizzy rat, get the artefact, and go back talk to the girl.

Open the map and build this shape:

*Note: It is important that the yellow square is not touching anything, or the water tile will appear somewhere else. This is why i move the girl tile 3S before building the shape.*

After the small cutscene, open the map again and build this shape:

*Note: the order of placement is not important as the result will always be the same. the left tile will be used to get a faster end, and therefore is important.*

After the cutscene, head North-West up to that point:


Open the map and rotate the oasis tile 180.

Go talk to the old lady, then go interact with the exit twice to end Chapter 5.

## Chapter 6-1 Chalet

Open the map:

* Move the current tile to 2N,
* Go to 2S1E and move it to 2N.


Go inside the chalet, after the cut scene, go upstairs and interact with the left bookshelf. Open the map and move the current tile 2N1E.


Go right and talk to Shianan. After the cutscene, go on the left room, open the map and move the current tile 2S1W.


Leave the Chalet and head East and enter the forest cave to end Chapter 6-1.

## Chapter 6-2 Forest

Head straight South from this tree:


Get the piece in the forest, i use the bush as a visual clue to press A:

*Note: This is the only piece in the game where Carto will stop to pick it.*

Head South-East, open the map and place the new tile 1S.


Head South, talk to Chirb.
Head North and interact with the tree.
Head North-East and talk to the bear.
Follow the path and exit the cave.

Open the map and move the current tile 1S1W:


Follow the path and pick up the torch.
Then go back while interacting with the two torches on the way.
Open the map:

* Move the current tile 1N1E,
* Go to 1S1E and move it 1N1E90,
* Go to 1S2W, and move it to 2E180.


Follow the path and interact with all the torches. After the last torch, open the map:

* Go to 1N1W and move it to 1S1W,
* Go to 1N2E and move it 1W,
* Go to 1S1E and move it 1W-90,
* Go to 1W and move it 1S,
* Go to 1N1W and move it 1E.


Follow the path West and exit Chapter 6-2.

## Chapter 7 Volcano

Walk left and after the cutscene, take the ladder.
Go to that point:


Open the map and move the current tile 1E.


Carto will appear out of bound, then hug the right side of the tile and walk North up to that point:


Open the map:

* Move the current tile 1E,
* Go to 1S2W and move it 2E.


Carto will be pushed in bound at the exit of the level. Interact with the minecart to exit Chapter 7.

## Chapter 8-1 Chalet

Open the map and move the current tile 1S.


Head South inside the Chalet. After the cutscene you will have to solve two towers of Hanoi. Here the order of the mats you need to interact with:

*L = left mat, M = middle mat, R = right mat*
* L -> M
* L -> R
* M -> R

*Note: I find it easier to do the puzzle with Carto on the bottom side, I then go on the top side to move the last box on the right mat so I'm closer to the staircase.*
*Note2: Remember that you can move at full speed as long as you don't put the left stick at resting position. I do semicircles to turn 180 degrees without slowing down.*

Then go downstairs, talk to the Storytender and go upstair again to solve the second puzzle:

* L -> M
* L -> R
* M -> R
* L -> M
* R -> L
* R -> M
* L -> M
* L -> R
* M -> R
* M -> L
* R -> L
* M -> R
* L -> M
* L -> R
* M -> R

Then go downstairs, talk to the Storytender and open the map:

* Go to 1S1W and move it 3E,
* Move the current tile 3W.

*Note: You should hear a sound when you put it 3E, then just put it back where it was because it will save a few second on the next cutscene.*

Talk to the Storytender, then go downstairs, then on the left room and interact with the top right bookshelf.

After the cutscene, leave the Chalet, head South-East to the peer and talk to Shianan to end Chapter 8-1.

## Chapter 8-2 Island

Nothing special during the long boat cutscene, just give those answer in order:

* Go southeast,
* Go north,
* Sail toward ELEVEN o'clock!
* All of the above!

After the cutscene, head North-East, talk the Shianan's dad
Head West and talk to the fisherman.
Head South and talk to the lady.
Go back to Shianan at the peer and talk to her.

Open the map and make this shape:


*Note: This is the worse Chapter as there are tiles all over the place and we did not find any way to arrange stuff for the last chapter.*
*Note 2: Be ready for the most RNG part of this run.*

After the cutscene, interact with the lake and get your first fish.
Open the map and make this shape:


Get the second fish, open the map and make this shape:


Get the third fish, open the map and make this shape:


Get the fourth fish, and after the cutscene, open the map and move the current tile 2W.


Go South, talk to the fisherman and after the long cutscene, Chapter 8-2 is finished.

## Chapter 9 Iceberg

*Note: As the tiles on this Chapter are bigger shapes, I will not detail the moves too much as they are influenced by the tiles you cross. You can get the feeling of the movements by practicing.*

Head South-West and hug the North side of the tile. There is a piece that you want to get from the North-West side, else you will engage the conversation with the lady:

[](https://gyazo.com/84bd6a55bfcb6b5d4bd522b76a4a874f)

Open the map and place the new tile 2W.
Go to that position:


I use the shadow of Carto as a visual clue, the top side of the shadow should not appear higher that the sharp angle of the frozen river.

Be sure that Carto is hugging the frozen river, open the map and move the current tile 1S:


If done correctly, Carto will appear on the other side of the river.

Get the piece close to the broken bridge and open the map.

Move the current tile 2E90 and place the new tile like so:


Head North-West and get the piece close to the pool.
Head South, you want to hug the left river until Carto is stuck in that position:


Open the map and move the current tile 2N90.
Place the new tile like so:


Carto will be pushed inside the village. Go get the piece on the mat and open the map.

Move the current tile 1N2W-90 and place the new tile like so:


Head South-West, open the village gate, go South, cross the bridge, go West and talk to the boy.

Go back to the village to the North-East gate, open it and place Carto on the top left part like so:


Open the map and move the current tile 3N180.
Place the new tile like so:


Go South-East and press right only in the windy forest, then up when you arrive close to the backpack to pick it up.
If you go to fast you can miss the backpack and you will have to rotate the tile so you can get it.
Then press down left to exit the forest, cross the bridge and go South to talk to the old man twice.

Open the map and place everything like this:

*Note: You should have only moved the reverse L-shape down, the S-shape 1N1E180 and the T-shape up 180.*

Then move everything like this:


After the little cutscene, open the map and place everything like this:

*Note: you should have moved only the square and the new I-shape.*

Go South, open the village gate and go North-East to the most North-East part of the village tile. Then open the map and move the village tile 1N1E:


Go East and talk to all the people, starting with the old man going clockwise.

After the cutscene, take the paperplane, talk to the lady, then the hunter, then the old man, then the boy, then Shianan and end Chapter 9.

## Chapter 10-1 Chalet

Go North-West inside the Chalet, after the cutscene, go on the left room and interact with the bottom left bookshelf.
Go back to the left room and open the map:

* Move the current tile 1S2W,
* Go to 2N2E and move it to 1N1E,
* Go to 1S and move it 1S1W,
* Go to 1E and move it 1N1W,
* Go to 2E and move it 2S3W,
* Go to 1N3E and move it 1S2W.


Go to the door, after the long cutscene, go down and interact with the lever to end Chapter 10-1.

## Chapter 10-2 Forest

Go up and exit Chapter 10-2

## Chapter 10-3 Treetop

Talk to Shianan on the edge of the branch and after the cutscene, you will have to connect all tiles of all maps.
The only map that is uncomplete is the first one. If you followed everything, the lake should be North, you can connect the lake using the East sea tiles to the main part of the Island like so:


Then you just need to press Y and A as fast as possible to finish Chapter 10-3.

## Chapter 10-4 Clouds

Open the map and move the current tile 3W to end Chapter 10-4 and Carto.


Time ends when the screen is completely white.