Super Mario Odyssey is basically a giant scavenger hunt disguised as a masterpiece. If you've spent any time in Mount Volbono, you know exactly what I mean. The Luncheon Kingdom purple coins—those little tomato-shaped regional currencies—are some of the most frustratingly placed collectibles in the entire game. Honestly, some of them are just mean. Nintendo’s level designers clearly had a blast hiding these things behind pillars, under lava flows, and inside walls that you’d never think to check.
You need 100 of them. That's the magic number to clear out the Crazy Cap shop and get that sweet, sweet Chef’s outfit or the rolling pin souvenir for the Odyssey. If you're stuck at 97 or 98, don't worry. We’ve all been there, staring at the screen and wondering if the game just glitched out. It didn't. You probably just missed the three hiding behind a giant head of cabbage.
Why the Luncheon Kingdom Purple Coins are a Different Beast
Most kingdoms in Odyssey have a pretty logical flow. In the Sand Kingdom, you look on top of ruins. In the Wooded Kingdom, you look deep in the forest. But the Luncheon Kingdom? It’s a vertical nightmare made of food. The terrain is jagged, the "water" is actually instant-death lava (unless you're a Peronza), and the bright pink and yellow color palette makes spotting small purple objects surprisingly difficult.
The verticality is what gets people. You'll be jumping from a giant floating piece of meat to a cliffside, and if you aren't rotating your camera 360 degrees every five seconds, you're going to miss a cluster. It’s not just about walking; it’s about capturing the right enemies.
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The Peronza Problem and Lava Navigation
You cannot get all the coins as Mario. It’s literally impossible. You have to embrace the flicker of the Peronza—those little pink lava bubbles with the chef hats. Capturing them is the only way to navigate the neon-pink "soup" that surrounds the central volcano.
Many players make the mistake of staying on the platforms. Big mistake. A huge chunk of the Luncheon Kingdom purple coins are tucked under the overhangs of the floating islands. You have to jump into the lava as a Peronza, swim under the ledge you were just standing on, and look up. There's almost always a group of three or four hanging out there, just out of sight from the main path.
Think about the area near the Path to the Meat Plateau. There’s a section where you have to flick yourself up a series of juice-filled slopes. Most people focus on not falling. But if you look to the sides, especially behind the pillars supporting the ramps, you'll find coins tucked away in alcoves that are only accessible if you intentionally veer off the "correct" path.
The Secret Spots Everyone Misses
Okay, let's get specific. There are a few spots that act as the "final boss" for coin hunters.
First, look at the starting area near the Odyssey. Most people run straight toward the town. Don't do that. Spin around. There are coins tucked behind the ship and along the very edge of the map. It’s a classic Nintendo trick—hiding things right behind where you spawn because they know you're looking forward, not backward.
Behind the Veggies
The "Plaza" area is a mess of giant vegetables. You'd think they're just set dressing. They aren't. There are at least two spots where coins are hidden directly behind giant tomatoes or inside crates that look like they're just part of the scenery. If you haven't ground-pounded or smashed every wooden box in the central town, you haven't finished the kingdom.
The Volcano Rim
This is the one that usually breaks people. Once you reach the top of the volcano (after the big boss fight with the bird), you'll feel like you're done. You aren't. You need to walk the entire circumference of the rim. There are coins floating just off the edge that require a risky leap-and-cap-throw or a very precise Peronza jump.
Corner Hiding Spots
- The Salt Piles: In the area with the shifting blue platforms, there are piles of "salt" (white blocks). Smash them. All of them.
- The Grates: Look for metal grates on the sides of the floating islands. Sometimes, you can capture a spark pylon to move through wires, and the coins are placed along the wire path, but you have to jump off the wire at the exact right moment to grab them.
- The Hidden Tunnel: Near the "Remote Island in the Lava," there’s a small opening at the base of the cliff. It's almost invisible unless the camera angle is perfect.
Tools of the Trade: Using Amiibo
If you’re genuinely losing your mind, there is a "cheat" built into the game. If you have the Bowser Amiibo (the Wedding version is the most common), you can scan it, and it will actually show you the location of regional coins on your map.
It’s not perfect. It doesn't tell you how to get them, just where they are. But if you’re at 97/100, seeing that little purple icon on the map is a lifesaver. It beats running around the entire kingdom for the tenth time hoping to hear that little "ching" sound.
Dealing with the "Internal" Areas
Don't forget that the Luncheon Kingdom has several "sub-rooms"—those warp pipes that lead to self-contained challenges. While most of these are for Moons, many contain purple coins that are hidden away from the main path of the challenge.
For example, in the room with the moving green platforms and the fire bros, there’s a set of coins tucked underneath the starting platform. You have to drop down and Cappy-dive to get back up. It’s high-risk, but that’s where they hide the goods.
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Why Bother? The Rewards
You might be wondering if it's worth the headache. Honestly, the Luncheon Kingdom has some of the best shop items. The Chef's Suit is iconic, and if you want that 100% completion file, you need every single one of those 100 coins.
Plus, the Luncheon Kingdom's unique "cooking" theme makes its souvenirs some of the most detailed in the game. The salt and pepper shakers and the little Volbono statues look great on the Odyssey’s shelves.
Actionable Strategy for the Final Stretch
If you're currently hunting, here is exactly what you should do to finish your collection:
- Capture a Peronza and do a full lap of the "lava" perimeter. Don't look at the islands; look at the walls of the kingdom itself. There are often alcoves carved into the outer boundary.
- Check the "Meat" Path. Go back to where the giant piece of meat was sitting. Check the underside of the salt platforms leading up to it.
- Climb the tallest peaks. Use the capture-able "flick" poles to reach the very top of the highest pillars. Developers love putting three coins at the highest possible point just to reward the climb.
- Look for the "8-bit" sections. There are several 2D Mario sections on the walls. If you didn't take the "alternate" path or jump at the very top of a pipe in those sections, you probably missed a cluster.
- Use the camera. Seriously. Stand on a high point, go into Snapshot Mode, and zoom out. The purple glow of the coins is often easier to spot from a distance than when you're standing right next to them.
Finding all the Luncheon Kingdom purple coins is a test of patience more than skill. It’s about being thorough and assuming that every single "empty" corner actually has something hidden in it. Once you find that last cluster of three, the relief is huge. Go buy that chef hat. You've earned it.