no-hit run
/noʊ hɪt rʌn/
UncommonCompleting a game without taking any damage at all.
Respected as one of the most demanding self-imposed challenges. Getting hit even once by a minor enemy resets the attempt for purists.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | this guy just did a no-hit run of Elden Ring and i can't even beat the first boss | Expressing disbelief at an extremely skilled player's achievement. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | died on the final boss of my no-hit run. 6 hours. i am going to bed | Failed the challenge at the very last moment after a long attempt. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | no-hit runs are the only reason i still watch souls content | No-hit runs make for the most compelling content in that genre. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | attempted a no-hit run and lasted 40 minutes before a random arrow got me | The attempt ended unexpectedly from a minor or overlooked enemy. | reddit, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing an attempt to complete a game without taking any damage.
- Praising someone who completed a game without getting hit.
- Referring to a specific streamer or video documenting such an attempt.
Do not use it when
- You just played well and avoided most damage but still got hit.
- You mean a run where you cannot die but taking damage is fine.Use “permadeath-run” instead.
Variations and related forms
No-hit run vs permadeath run
no-hit run
A no-hit run requires never taking any damage. Death itself might not reset the run if the game allows saving.
VS
permadeath-run
A permadeath run requires not dying. You can take damage as long as you survive.
Origin and context
Emerged from speedrunning and challenge-run communities, particularly in Souls-like and action game communities. Popularized on YouTube and Twitch in the 2010s.
- First seen
- 2010s
- Confidence
- low
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/no-hit-runUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0