- Runner Tags mark player-created routes (Dashes) across the city of Glass for online racing.
- Customize your routes by placing Tags in the open world through the easy-to-use creation tool.
- Stars and Chipsets are earned by beating Dash target times, fueling Faith's skill tree.
- Leaderboards let you race ghost lines of top runners worldwide.
- Consistency wins: a clean Flow line beats flashy risky shortcuts.
What Are Runner Tags and Dashes?
Runner Tags are the community-driven backbone of Mirror's Edge Catalyst's endgame. Beyond the 10 main story missions, Glass opens up as a free-roam parkour playground where players create their own race routes — called Dashes — and mark them with Runner Tags placed directly in the open world. Every run on a Dash is timed, scored, and posted to online leaderboards, letting you compete against friends and the world.
Think of Runner Tags as the start point and identity of a player-made time trial. Where developer-crafted Time Trials give you fixed courses with 1–3 star targets, Dashes extend the system infinitely: thousands of community routes cover every district, from the dense rooftops of Downtown to the long glass facades of Anchor.
Video Highlights:
- The official E3 2015 trailer showcases the fluid first-person parkour that Dashes are built around
- Momentum and unbroken Flow are the visual language of Glass
- Faith's traversal kit (wall-runs, coils, MAG Rope) defines what routes can do
Time Trials are developer-made courses with fixed star targets. Dashes are player-created routes anchored by Runner Tags. Both reward Chipsets, but Dashes offer nearly unlimited variety.
How to Customize and Place Your Runner Tag
Creating a Dash is one of the most accessible route editors in the parkour genre. Follow these steps to get your first Runner Tag live:
Unlock Free Roam
Progress through the opening chapters — after "Prison Break" and the early Anchor missions, Glass opens for free roaming and side activities, including Dash creation.
Find Your Start Point
Scout a location with strong parkour potential: rooftop clusters, ziplines, wall-run surfaces, and MAG Rope swing points all make great route anchors.
Place the Runner Tag
Use the in-world placement tool to drop your Tag at the chosen start point. The Tag becomes the visible entry marker other runners interact with.
Set the Route and Target Time
Define the checkpoint line or finish point, then set a challenging but fair target time. Test-run your own route to calibrate it before publishing.
Publish and Compete
Once live, your Dash joins the city's pool of routes. Other players race your ghost line, and their times populate the leaderboard you created.
Avoid routes that force runners to drop to street level. Vertical momentum is faster than re-climbing — the best Dashes keep players on the rooftops with unbroken Flow.
Runner Tag vs. Time Trials: Mode Comparison
Both modes feed the same progression loop, but they play differently. This table breaks down the key differences:
| Feature | Time Trials | Dashes (Runner Tags) |
|---|---|---|
| Creator | Developer-designed | Player-created |
| Quantity | Fixed set per district | Thousands of community routes |
| Star targets | 1–3 stars, fixed times | Set by route creator |
| Rewards | Chipsets, unlock more trials | Chipsets, stars, leaderboard rank |
| Variety | Curated, polished lines | Endless, uneven but creative |
| Best for | Learning clean lines | Endless replay and competition |
Rewards across both modes feed the same economy:
| Activity | Star Rating | Reward Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Time Trials | 1–3 stars | Chipsets + unlock new trials |
| Dashes | Beat target time | Chipsets + stars |
| Billboards | Completion | Chipsets |
| Security Zones | Completion | Chipsets + combat practice |
Chipsets are spent on Upgrade Chips in Faith's skill tree (Traversal, Combat, Gear). Grinding Dashes is one of the fastest routes to a fully upgraded Faith — see our Best Skills Upgrades guide for unlock priorities.
Downtown Routes
- Dense rooftops, tight stair sets
- Slide-jump chains shine here
- Quick 90-degree wall-run turns
Anchor District Routes
- Long glass facades for extended wall-runs
- MAG Rope swings across gaps
- Maintain height between buildings
View District Routes
- Vertical climbing sequences
- Ziplines and launch pads
- Great for chase-style Dashes
Leaderboard Strategy: Beating the Clock
Climbing the leaderboards of Glass is less about raw speed and more about route discipline. These are the techniques that separate top runners from the pack:
- Study ghost replays. Race the ghost lines of the top ranked runners on any Dash to see their exact line choices, coil timings, and wall-run chains.
- Exploit ziplines and launch pads. Free speed is free time — route through them whenever the line allows.
- Use the Quick Turn upgrade. This Traversal skill (an S-tier unlock) lets Faith redirect 180 degrees instantly, saving critical seconds at checkpoint turns.
- Never break Flow. A clean line with no Flow breaks usually beats one flashy risky jump. Consistency is the top strategy on nearly every leaderboard route.
- Learn the intended line first. On Time Trials, complete the course slowly once to understand the developer's suggested path, then shave seconds with coil jumps and wall-run chains.
Earning high star ratings across Dashes and Time Trials is the most reliable Chipset income in the game. Stack easy 3-star Dashes in Anchor before tackling Downtown's technical routes.
| Technique | Difficulty | Time Saved | Best District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coil jump off ledge | Medium | 0.5–1s per jump | All districts |
| Wall-run chain | Medium | 1–2s per gap | Anchor, Downtown |
| Slide-jump chain | Easy | 0.5s per set | Downtown |
| MAG Rope swing | Medium | 2–3s per gap | Anchor |
| Quick Turn redirect | Easy | 1–2s per turn | Downtown |
Runner Tag Completion Checklist
Work through this checklist to master the Dash scene and maximize your Chipset income:
Dash Mastery Milestones:
- Unlock free roam in the Anchor district
- Create and publish your first Runner Tag Dash
- Earn 3 stars on 5 developer Time Trials
- Beat 10 community Dashes in Anchor
- Study a top-10 ghost replay and improve your time
A well-designed Dash gets raced more often, which builds your route's leaderboard community. Test your target time personally — if you can't beat it, no one else will enjoy trying.
FAQ
Q: What is a Runner Tag in Mirror's Edge Catalyst?
A Runner Tag is an in-world marker that anchors a player-created race route, called a Dash. Other players interact with the Tag to start the route, race against ghost lines, and post times to online leaderboards.
Q: Can I customize my own Runner Tag routes?
Yes. Once free roam is unlocked after the early story chapters, you can place Runner Tags in the open world, define the route and target time, test it yourself, and publish it for the community to race.
Q: What do I get for completing Dashes and Time Trials?
Beating target times earns stars and Chipsets. Chipsets are spent on Upgrade Chips in Faith's skill tree across the Traversal, Combat, and Gear branches, making side activities a fast path to a fully upgraded Faith.
Q: What is the best strategy for climbing leaderboards?
Consistency beats risk. Study ghost replays of top runners, exploit ziplines and launch pads, unlock the Quick Turn traversal skill, and keep your Flow unbroken — a clean line almost always beats one flashy shortcut.