Megabonk Walkthrough

TL;DR

  1. Hold Down Forward (W)
  2. (Optional) Hold down crouch to keep momentum going if the next jump timing slips
  3. Press & Hold a Strafe Key (A or D) toward the curve you want
  4. Jump
  5. In the air, gently turn your camera toward your strafe direction
  6. Loop back to Step 2, jumping right after you touch down

The Problem(s)

"The Final Swarm is coming but I have yet to explore half the map!"

"I want to run characters like CL4NK & Ogre, but I keep getting flattened in the early game"

"Why do these Challenges outscale me so quickly?"

"I wish Megachad was even faster"

- Common Megabonker Problems

Handling resources and routes are core parts of Megabonk. They can decide if you build up strong just two minutes in, or get swarmed and taken out early. It's so crucial that the game rewards speed-focused setups with gear like Turbo Socks, Gold Sneakers, Turbo Skates, and picks like Calcium. But here's the thing: you don't actually need those items. There's a steady trick out there for covering the map quicker and dodging enemies better.

Let me introduce:

The Bunny Hop

Bunny Hopping is a way to move by linking up a nonstop series of Strafe Jumps to go faster than the game's physics are meant to allow. It's not exclusive to Megabonk—it's been around since the mid-90s, when Quake's speedrunners came up with it to cut down their completion times. Quake's physics math ended up shaping a lot of today's game engines, so Bunny Hopping turned into a key move for any experienced player.

What is it?

For a solid deep dive on Bunny Hopping, this video covers the history and how it's changed over time, plus it shows the vector math that creates the speed gains:

How do I learn it?

Bunny Hopping needs a steady beat to work right, and that only comes with repetition. It won't click right away, so take it step by step, adding parts as you get the hang of it.

Back when I picked it up, I stuck to left strafing because it felt easiest to start with. That helped me nail the basic flow. But once I hit situations needing right strafes or switching between them, I saw how limited I was. Those slip-ups weren't dead ends—they were chances to test it out in real spots.

Along those lines, push yourself to try it anytime it fits. You might nail it early in a run, picking up speed and grabbing a couple shrines fast. But what about the first bosses or swarms? Can you weave through fights with Bunny Hopping like you do just jogging around? Will you keep the jump timing in the chaos? Will it even cross your mind when things get intense? These are the hurdles you have to mess up on to get better quick.

How do I do it?

Strafe Jumps

The base piece of Bunny Hopping, Strafe Jumps are what build up speed. Practice them solo to feel out the mouse work needed.

  • While pressing forward and one strafe key (A/D), ease your camera sideways in that strafe's direction
  • For example, on a right strafe jump, hold W & D and slowly move your mouse right
  • From what I've seen, the turn needed for speed is pretty gentle
  • You ought to feel a small but clear speedup in your character's motion during the jump
  • This boost lines up with the camera turn. Go smooth for max speed; jerky moves kill it
  • Try varying your turn speeds. Figure out how the speed changes tie to your camera angle versus forward direction

Bunny Hops

With a way to create speed and keep it going, now you have to hold onto it and steer how it builds for the path you want.

  • After a Strafe Jump, get ready for the next one and trigger it the second you land
  • Build the timing on flat ground to sense your character's jump rhythm
  • Off jumps can wipe out your speed

*Power Slides

Maybe you botched a jump, or you're still linking them up, or you just need a breather on the ground. You can hold onto most of your speed by sliding while crouched with the built-up push.

  • Crouch-hold during Bunny Hopping for a buffer against losing speed
  • Straight-ahead slides drop the least speed
  • Sharp turns in a slide eat speed fast
  • Dropping down a hill into a Bunny Hop is a top way to ramp up speed

In Practice

Strafe Jumps to gain speed

Chained Bunny Hops (Strafe Jumps) to grow or hold speed

Power Slides to keep speed

Master these three bits, and you'll tap into what your runs can really do. Zipping across the map smoother and faster means your setup grows way quicker, letting you pull ahead of the mobs rolling in. Rather than letting luck pick your next upgrade, grab the resources on your terms and shape your own path.