Basic Quantum Usage

An introduction to Quantum usage

Introduction to Quantum mapping

Quantum is a way of “breaking” the traditional 3x3 grid: it allows mappers to place notes off the grid's bounds.
If the notes are outside the grid, it's referred to as “Offgrid Quantum” or just “Offgrid”. The further the notes are from the grid's boundaries, the smaller they will look ingame, and the harder they will be to hit.

Details

Originally, it was a mapper known as eipcness99 who found out that if you made notes have decimal values instead of the usual, the notes became out of place, but the rest of the map still worked properly.
This was developed further in early 2020 when HaxagonYT (a.k.a. Haxagon) used this technique on several of their maps like Annoyo Iki no Bassu ni Notte Saraba, including offgrid Quantum jumps throughout the map.
Even though Quantum is common nowadays, it wasn't until SSQE was released that it became accessible to everyone, being its main objective making Quantum mapping easier.

How to create Quantum patterns

Let’s see how you can make Quantum patterns for your maps:

1. Editing certain values on the map data:
   Messing around with the position values for each note in the map's data.
   Not recommended due to how easy it is to break a map, and even lose all your progress.
2. Using any sort of rhythm game converter: For example, the osu!-SS map converter. A guide on how to use a newer version can be found here. If there's notes out of bounds, you can correct them using the Editor.
3. Using the SSQE “Quantum” and "Bézier curve/Nodes" functions (most recommended) To drag notes around the grid, you need to enable Quantum in Options. You should make sure Quantum Grid Lines (in the same menu) is enabled.
   If Snap to Grid is enabled, the notes will snap over the quantum grid lines, which you can adjust using Snapping. Otherwise, the notes will snap with a spacing of 0.01 studs (minimum). This essentially makes note placing unrestricted.

Basic Applications

Normally, Quantum is used to reposition the notes outside the grid lines, but there are some common techniques that are also useful although a bit more complex, such as:

Offgrid

An offgrid note is outside the grid's boundaries, thus making it seem smaller ingame.
This resource can be used to extend jumps past the 2 blocks threshold; more generally, to make patterns harder to hit without raising the BPM.

Some good examples are Haxagon's (LOGIC?) and Iamuss76's Superhero (HARD).

TIP

The opposite of offgrid, which is the classic 3x3 grid without the extension, is known as ongrid.

Quantum slides/Bézier curves

As explained in Editor Assets, there is an option in the Patterns section of the Editor that allows you to place a slide using a series of notes as nodes. It can also be made curve by selecting The spacing between notes on the curve will depend on the input value of Draw Bézier With Divisor. Said value needs to necessarily be a whole number which is greater than 0.

TIP

Bézier curves can also be created off the grid if the nodes are offgrid too.

Some good examples are Haxagon's (LOGIC?) and Azurlexx's Teriqma (HARD).

Meganotes

A term which refers to multiple notes which are positioned closely together, and need to be hit in the same frame. Effectively, this works as an instakill note that will drain a lot of HP if missed.
Plus, depending on the notes' spacing, it can be harder to hit all notes at once.

Some good examples are Cruwev's (BRRR/Tasukete) and

WARNING

For a map to be possible, the notes in a meganote should be no further than 1.14 (1.1375) meters apart! Be aware that decreasing your cursor's hitbox size can make some maps impossible to beat!

Scale/Rotate functions

These functions help create pattern-wise Quantum sections by transforming the selected notes/patterns.

• Scale: Zooms the notes in/out by a percentage.

• • If the input is 100 (default), the notes will stay in place.
• • If the input is less than 100, the notes will get zoomed in.
• • If the input is more than 100, the notes will get zoomed out.

• Rotate: Rotates the notes around the center of the grid (in degrees)