Rings are the lifeblood of Sonic Rush. Not only do they act as your health, protecting you from a single hit, but collecting 100 rings grants you an extra life. Furthermore, a high ring count is a significant factor in achieving S-Ranks and contributes heavily to your overall score. While it might seem counterintuitive to collect rings when speed is paramount, many optimal routes naturally lead you through large clusters of rings. Prioritize collecting rings that are directly in your path or on high-speed routes.
Look for hidden caches of rings, often found by destroying specific blocks with a Spin Dash (Sonic) or by exploring alternate pathways. Some rings are strategically placed to encourage specific maneuvers, like chaining Homing Attacks or Burst Dashes. In Special Stages, collecting rings is the primary objective, so practice your movement and boosting to maximize your haul. Don't be afraid to backtrack slightly if you see a large cluster of rings that won't significantly impact your time. A good balance between speed and ring collection is key to high scores and S-Ranks.