History Main / LowLevelRun

* In ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'', several games in the series have a low level run built right into the highest difficulty options with an optional ability known as EXP Zero or No Experience, if playing on Critical mode (Proud in ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'') wasn't hard enough. Nearly every enemy will one or two shot you easily. The amending factor for this is that boss fights or even story battles of significance usually give players stat boosts separately of level ups so the player isn't entirely left out in the dry, combined with Critical Mode actually boosting player damage compared to the usual Hard difficulty of Proud Mode.

*** Lodgings cost gil in exchange for an EXP multiplier, so a traditional Low-Level Run involves sleeping only at havens and free lodgings, thus cashing in as much EXP as possible at ×1.0. By only fighting mandatory battles, making sure that forced stays at lodgings cash in only the EXP that is earned immediately prior, and only clearing main quests until the EndgamePlus, the player will step into the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon with Noctis at Level 35 and his retinue at Level 30; lodgings in [[spoiler:Insomnia]] are entirely optional, and clearing the game does not automatically cash in any EXP, so from that point on no EXP is forcibly cashed in.
*** A free DLC item bestows the Nixperience Band, an accessory that, on being equipped to any member of the party, prevents EXP from being cashed in. By equipping the Nixperience Band before every slumber (and making abundant use of the numerous [[GameBreaker/FinalFantasy lifelines]] the game has), a player can go from the opening to the FinalBoss at Level 1... [[InvertedTrope or]] save the entire game's EXP for the town with lodgings that offer EXP ×3.0

** At least one person has attempted to get as far as they could in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' without using the Crystarium. Turns out you can get to the last boss of Chapter 9 before it becomes (nearly?) impossible to progress.
*** It's now been proven possible to beat not only the normal game, but also 62 of the 64 optional missions without using the Crystarium. With the additional restriction of not upgrading equipment, players have made it as far as the final boss in chapter 11.

*** The most difficult challenge in the game is to beat Hard mode with a level 1 restriction with the [[JokeCharacter Old Axe Armor]]. You can't use any of the items you'd normally be able to use with the main characters and your less powerful than Richter and Maria. Dracula takes forever to beat, but it's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xZgsjfsj14 possible]].

** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' has an extreme example, as the alchemy process was considered a GameBreaker: Because the game was paused when the player stopped to brew potions, a player could brew an INT boosting potion that lasted a short time, drink it, and then immediately brew another potion that provided an even greater bonus (as alchemy stat bonuses were affected by your INT stat), and it would stack to absurd levels until you could create a potion that restored your entire health pool many times over each second for an hour. This then allows the player to wield the Tools of Kagrenac, Keening and Sunder, without Wraithguard, the protective gauntlet needed to use them. (Otherwise, the tools quickly drain the health of the wielder.) By doing this, it's possible to complete the game's main quest in under 10 minutes.

Compare MinimalistRun, where the objective is to finish the game using as little equipment as possible. Compare WeakButSkilled, which is what your character will need to be to get through the game with such comparably low stats and resources.

* ''Franchise/WildArms'' can be done in a LowLevelRun thanks to a severe abuse of [[http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL12AE6450199298EE&feature=view_all Goat Dolls]], an item in the game that allows a character to survive any attack with partially HP. The best part is, you can keep re-equipping more during combat. Experience can be avoided completely after a certain point in this game due to status effect 'forgetfulness', which causes characters not to gain any experience after a fight ends.

* It's impossible to play ''[[NexusWar Nexus Clash]]'' and ''not'' gain XP and levels eventually, but in a setting where people can transform into [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angels]], [[OurDemonsAreDifferent demons]] and [[TheUbermensch superhumans]], there are always some players who choose to play a [[UnfazedEveryman Mortal]] all the way to the level cap. This is usually roleplayed as saying "[[RageAgainstTheHeavens Screw you]]" to the various meddling gods that want people to become the aforementioned superbeings and fight in their wars.

* ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' and ''VideoGame/BravelySecond'' allow the player to turn off the acquisition of experience, job points, or pg at any time. A player with [[InJoke celestial]] patience is free to play either game with no one in their party having double-digit levels. [[note]]In ''Default'', Ringabel joins at level 5 and Edea at level 6. In ''Second'', Edea joins at level 5, Magnolia at level 6, and Tiz at level 7.[[/note]

** [[http://www.youtube.com/user/DD151/videos This guy]] has many videos that demonstrate the next best thing to a Low-Level Run in ''Fire Emblem'': the games are hacked to reduce all stat growths to 0% (stats never increase except from stat boosters and promotion), while usually recruiting all characters, keeping everyone alive, and to really drive the point home, does all of this on the hardest difficulty settings. Suddenly those pre-promotes (and a few unpromoted units as well!) are a whole lot more valuable to your survival when they're the only people you've got with decent stats. Finishing maps quickly also becomes paramount to avoid having to fight strong reinforcements. The only game in which he lets a unit die is ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Shadow Dragon]]'' so that he could revive her and 2HKO the final boss.

** [[http://www.youtube.com/user/DD151/videos This guy]] has many videos that demonstrate the next best thing to a Low-Level Run in ''Fire Emblem'': the games are hacked to reduce all stat growths to 0% (stats never increase except from stat boosters and promotion), while usually recruiting all characters, keeping everyone alive, and to really drive the point home, does all of this on the hardest difficulty settings. Suddenly those pre-promotes are a whole lot more valuable to your survival when they're the only people you've got with decent stats. Finishing maps quickly also becomes paramount to avoid having to fight strong reinforcements. The only game in which he lets units die is ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Shadow Dragon]]'', since the sidequest chapters in that game [[ViolationOfCommonSense require you to let enough people get killed to unlock them]].

Compare MinimalistRun, where the objective is to finish the game using as little equipment as possible.

** It is possible, in the original ''Red and Blue'', to beat the Elite Four with only a level 7 Mew, though the video demonstrating this is no longer available. Of course, the Elite Four gives so much experience to a battler that it's hardly a low-level run by the end.

This challenge is just impossible in some games, but others are well-suited for it. These include games where tactics or reaction time outweighs raw power, as well as games where characters' statistics can be raised to a competitive level without LevelGrinding.

* In ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'', several games in the series have a low level run built right into the highest difficulty options with an optional ability known as EXP Zero or No Experience, if playing on Critical mode (Proud in ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'') wasn't hard enough. Nearly every enemy will one or two shot you easily.

* ''Videogame/{{Undertale}}'' outright ''encourages'' low-level runs, since the only way to gain EXP is through killing monsters, and the game goes out of its way to make you feel horrible about killing monsters (while sparing them is always an option and at least gives the player gold with which to buy healing items and better armor). The GoldenEnding requires the player to not kill a single enemy and go through the whole game at LV 1. [[spoiler: EXP and LV, of course, stand for EXecution Points and Level of Violence.]]

* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games do everything in their power to make a Low-Level Run impossible, with the specter of [[AllDeathsFinal permanent character death]] always looming and untrained characters becoming increasingly (and mathematically) unable to stand up to enemies the more you neglect them. However, each game usually gives you several pre-promoted powerhouse units to recruit that are weaker over the long run, but ensure that you won't become [[UnwinnableByMistake completely stuck]].
** [[http://www.youtube.com/user/DD151/videos This guy]] has many videos that demonstrate the next best thing to a Low-Level Run in ''Fire Emblem'': the games are hacked to reduce all stat growths to 0% (stats never increase except from stat boosters and promotion), while usually recruiting all characters, keeping everyone alive, and to really drive the point home, does all of this on the hardest difficulty settings. Suddenly those pre-promotes are a whole lot more valuable to your survival when they're the only people you've got with decent stats. Finishing maps quickly also becomes paramount to avoid having to fight strong reinforcements. The only game in which he lets units die is ''[[FireEmblemAkaneia Shadow Dragon]]'', since the sidequest chapters in that game [[ViolationOfCommonSense require you to let enough people get killed to unlock them]].

** Of the Franchise/FinalFantasy games, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is most suited to low-level runs. Most of your combat power derives from junctioned Guardian Forces and Magic, not level-grinding, and your enemies' dynamic difficulty is scaled by your level - NOT by what you have junctioned. Thus, a low-level run is actually a GameBreaker, as it is the easiest way to beat the game. Not that it tells you this, of course. YMMV, though -- you ''do'' need to fight monsters to gain Ability Points, otherwise the power given by your [=GFs=] is limited.
*** While conversely, a high-level but no-Junctioning game is the hardest self-imposed challenge in the entire series. It's impossible. Early in the game, by killing a few water monsters and junctioning their items, you can get 60 strength; at maximum level, unjunctioned, you get a max of 50. No items, no magic, no summons, and no card games either, without a junction.
*** Ironically, ''Final Fantasy VIII'' is the only game that makes it ''easy'' to get through the game without earning Experience Points. Bosses don't provide EXP; and most random-encounter monsters can be turned into playing cards using a special ability (don't ask), which likewise averts EXP gain. Using this method, it is possible to beat ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' without earning a single level.

*** Ironically, ''Final Fantasy VIII'' is the only game that makes it ''easy'' to get through the game without earning Experience Points. Bosses don't provide EXP; and random-encounter monsters can be turned into playing cards using a special ability (don't ask), which likewise averts EXP gain. Using this method, it is possible to beat ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' without earning a single level or Experience Point.

* ''Videogame/{{Undertale}}'' outright ''encourages'' low-level runs, since the only way to gain EXP [[note]]Execution Point[[/note]] is through killing monsters, and the game goes out of its way to make you feel horrible about killing monsters (while sparing them is always an option and at least gives the player gold with which to buy healing items and better armor). The GoldenEnding requires the player to not kill a single enemy and go through the whole game at LV 1 [[note]]LV is referred in-universe as LOVE, which stands for Level of Violence.[[/note]].

* Since you only gain a level in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' when you gain 10 points in your major skills and then sleep, it's relatively simple to acquire very high skill levels while remaining at experience level 1. And since the game's [[LevelScaling difficulty scales with your level]], this is arguably easier than gaining levels the traditional way. Your attributes and equipment will suffer, though. In order to beat the main quest, you must complete at least one of the Daedric artifact quests, each of which has a minimum level, although some are as low as two. It's still possible to complete the game at level 1, but this requires killing an NPC who is about as powerful as the game engine will allow, then giving up her InfinityPlusOneSword to short-circuit the quest's level requirement. Alternatively, if you're willing to gain just one level, you can complete the easiest Daedric artifact quest in the game instead.
** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' was even more extreme, as the alchemy process was considered a GameBreaker: Because the game was paused when the player stopped to brew potions, a player could brew an INT boosting potion that lasted a short time, drink it, and then immediately brew another potion that provided an even greater bonus (as alchemy stat bonuses were affected by your INT stat), and it would stack to absurd levels until you could create a potion that restored your entire health pool many times over each second for an hour. This allowed the player to wield the game's InfinityPlusOneSword without worrying about the required protection (the sword would kill the player without a specific gauntlet to protect them). This exploit can be used to beat the game in under 10 minutes. Oblivion capped this by preventing the player from benefiting from most stat bonuses past 100 (the usual limit).

** It's also possible to cut Mario's Max HP from 10 to 5 - but this is used as a legitimate technique called Danger Mario. Once Mario drops to 5 HP or lower, he'll be in "Danger" during a battle; cutting his max HP to 5 ensures that Mario is ''always'' in Danger. There are many badges that increase Mario's stats or make enemies sometimes miss that only work if he's in Danger - and since HP that low makes him a OneHitPointWonder anyway...