You’re staring at the screen, 97% completion on the level, and that final flower coin is nowhere to be found. It’s frustrating. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is full of these moments, but the Swamp Pipe Crawl purple coins are particularly devious because of how the environment shifts. You aren't just platforming; you are managing physics, tilting pipes, and timing jumps against rising muck.
Most players breeze through the Fungi Mines thinking they’ve seen it all. Then they realize they missed a single 10-flower coin and have to restart the whole trek. It's not just about speed. It’s about knowing exactly where the developers hid those rotating sub-areas.
The First Coin: Don't Jump Too Fast
The first 10-flower coin appears early, but it's easy to overshoot if you’re playing as a faster character like Toad or using the Dash Badge. You’ll see a series of pipes sinking into the swamp. Honestly, the trick here is patience.
Wait for the pipes to settle. You’ll notice a glowing vertical pipe that looks a bit out of place compared to the horizontal ones you’ve been sprinting across. To get the first of the Swamp Pipe Crawl purple coins, you need to let the pipe sink just enough to enter it. It leads to a sub-area. If you stay on top, you miss it. Simple as that. Inside, it’s a quick reactionary puzzle. Grab the coin and get out before the swamp water catches up to your heels.
Why the Physics in Fungi Mines Trip People Up
The Fungi Mines operate on a "weight" mechanic that is different from the rest of the game. In Swamp Pipe Crawl, the pipes aren't static. They tilt based on where you stand. If you stand on the right edge, the right side dips.
This matters for the second coin.
Most people see the second coin floating high up and try to wall jump off a sinking pipe. That’s the hard way. The intended way involves balancing. You have to manipulate the pipe’s angle so it creates a ramp. It feels a bit like those old wooden labyrinth games where you tilt the board to roll the marble. Except here, the marble is a plumber and the stakes are a perfect level score.
The Secret Pipe and the Second Coin
About midway through the level, you’ll encounter a large gap with several tilting pipes. This is where the second of the Swamp Pipe Crawl purple coins lives. Look for the pipe that seems stuck. It isn't.
- Stand on the far left of the middle pipe.
- Let it tilt upward toward the right.
- Sprint and leap.
There is a hidden area tucked into the ceiling. If you’re using the Parachute Cap badge, this is trivial. If you aren’t, your timing has to be frame-perfect. Many players complain about the "floaty" physics in this specific section, but it's actually incredibly consistent once you realize the pipes respond to your exact pixel position.
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The Wonder Flower Chaos
Triggering the Wonder Flower in Swamp Pipe Crawl changes everything. Suddenly, you aren't just a platformer; you’re often transformed or navigating a distorted version of the map where pipes crawl like inchworms. This is where the third coin is hidden.
It’s easy to get distracted by the Wonder Effect. The music changes, the visuals go wild, and you’re just trying to survive. But the third coin is usually tucked behind a crawling pipe segment that requires you to "ride" the movement rather than fighting against it.
I’ve seen people try to speedrun this part. Don’t. The Wonder Effect provides a specific rhythm. If you follow the movement of the crawling pipes, they will literally carry you into the path of the final purple coin. Missing this means you have to replay the entire level since you can't backtrack once the Wonder Effect ends. It’s brutal.
Tips for a Clean Run
If you are struggling, change your Badge. The Add ! Blocks badge is a lifesaver here. It adds extra platforms that can stop you from falling into the swamp while you're trying to line up a jump for a purple coin.
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Another tip: play as Nabbit or Yoshi if you just want the coins without the stress of enemies. They don’t take damage from the creatures, though the swamp will still kill them. This lets you focus entirely on the pipe tilt mechanics without worrying about a stray Goomba ruining your line.
Actually, the best advice is to watch the background. Nintendo loves to hide clues in the scenery. Notice the way the background pipes move; they often mirror the solution to the puzzle you’re currently standing on.
Closing the Loop on Fungi Mines
Totaling your Swamp Pipe Crawl purple coins is the only way to unlock the later Secret World stages. You need these coins to buy Wonder Seeds from the Poplin shops, and skipping them now just means more grinding later.
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Check your map. If the checkmark isn't there, you missed one. Most likely, it was the second one in the ceiling. Go back in, put on the Parachute Cap, and keep your weight on the edges of the pipes. You'll have that 100% completion badge in no time.
To ensure you don't miss these again, always look for pipes that have a different color or a slight shimmer. In Fungi Mines, the developers used "visual weight" to guide you—if a pipe looks heavier or tilted, there is almost always a secret triggered by standing on its lowest point. Focus on the tilt, master the weight, and the coins are yours.