You're swimming through Urchin Shoals, the music is upbeat, and suddenly you see it—that shimmering gold outline tucked behind a pillar. Urchin Shoals Star Coins are the bane of every completionist's existence in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Honestly, this level is a bit of a trickster. It lures you in with bright colors and those cute little Bloomps, but then it hides its collectibles in spots that feel genuinely unfair if you aren't looking closely.
Collecting these three 10-flower coins isn't just about the 100% badge. It’s about the rhythm of the level. If you miss one, you have to restart the whole trek, and let’s be real, nobody wants to dodge those prickly sea urchins more than they absolutely have to.
The Shoals are deceptive. Most players breeze through the first half of the Petal Isles, thinking they've got the mechanics down. Then they hit this stage and realize the water physics change everything. You aren't just jumping; you're floating, drifting, and occasionally getting shoved into a spike by a stray current.
The First Star Coin: Look Up, Not Down
Most people miss the first of the Urchin Shoals Star Coins because they're too focused on the urchins patrolling the floor. It’s early in the level. You'll encounter a series of pipes and those balloon-like enemies called Bloomps.
Here is the thing: the coin is sitting high up on a ledge that looks inaccessible.
To grab it, you need to use a Bloomp as a springboard. It feels a bit mean to jump on their heads when they're just minding their business, but that’s Mario logic for you. If you’re playing as Elephant Mario, your hitbox is larger, making this jump slightly easier, though your momentum in the water is heavier. Aim for the center of the Bloomp. If you hit the edge, you might slide off into a pit or, worse, right into an urchin’s spines.
Some players try to wall-kick their way up there. It’s possible, sure. But it’s risky. The floaty physics mean you’ll likely over-rotate and miss the ledge entirely. Stick to the enemies. They are placed there as platforms for a reason.
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Why the Second Coin is a Secret Room Traitor
The second coin is the one that usually leads to Reddit threads filled with frustrated caps lock. It’s not in the main path. In fact, if you’re just swimming toward the goal pole, you’ll never even see it.
About halfway through, you’ll see a glowing spot in the sand near a vertical pipe. Or sometimes, it's hidden behind a breakable block section.
Basically, you need to look for a pipe that isn't blowing bubbles. Most pipes in this level have a current pushing you away, but there is one specific yellow pipe tucked away that you can actually enter.
Once you’re inside the sub-area, the camera shifts. It’s a tight space. You’ve got urchins moving in a circular pattern. The Urchin Shoals Star Coins in these sub-rooms require timing over raw speed. Wait for the gap. Don't rush. The moment you try to "squeeze" through a closing gap is the moment you lose your power-up.
I've seen people try to use the Dolphin Kick badge here. Honestly? It's a double-edged sword. While the extra burst of speed is great for crossing gaps, it makes precision movement a nightmare in small rooms. If you’re struggling with the second coin, swap to the Crouching High Jump or even just the standard Safety Bounce.
The Final Stretch and the Wonder Flower Chaos
The third coin is usually tied to the Wonder Effect in this level. If you haven't triggered the Wonder Flower yet, stop. You've likely passed it.
In Urchin Shoals, the Wonder Effect often involves a perspective shift or a massive change in the environment—sometimes the water level drops, or you're suddenly being chased by something much larger than a standard urchin.
The third of the Urchin Shoals Star Coins usually appears during this sequence. You have to stay ahead of the scrolling screen. If the screen pins you against a wall, you're done.
Look for the coin floating near the top of the screen during the "transformation" phase. It’s often encased in bubbles. You have to pop the bubbles or swim through them while maintaining your forward momentum.
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Why People Fail the 100% Run
- Greed: Trying to grab a coin while small. If you're "Small Mario," your reach is tiny. Stay powered up.
- Badge Mismanagement: Using the Grappling Vine in a water level is... a choice. It doesn't work the way you think it will.
- The "One-Way" Pipe: Some pipes in this stage trap you. If you go forward too far, the screen locks behind you, and that Star Coin is gone until you restart.
Nintendo levels are designed with a specific "flow." If you feel like you're fighting the level, you're probably missing a hidden path. The developers love putting coins in "negative space"—the areas of the screen where your eye naturally avoids because there are no platforms there.
Pro Tips for Perfectionists
If you're hunting Urchin Shoals Star Coins, bring a friend in local co-op. Having a second player act as a "ghost" can save you from a full restart if you touch an urchin.
Also, pay attention to the background. Sometimes the silhouettes of the coins are visible behind semi-transparent foreground elements. It’s a classic Nintendo trick.
Wait for the patterns. The urchins move on a fixed loop. They don't react to you; they just exist to be obstacles. Once you memorize the three-second interval of their movement, the Shoals become significantly less intimidating.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
- Equip the Boost Jump Badge: It gives you that tiny bit of extra height needed for the first coin if you mess up the Bloomp jump.
- Check every pipe: If it doesn't have bubbles coming out of it, try to go down it.
- Don't ignore the glowing spots: Ground pound any shimmering sand or suspicious floor tiles.
- Save your Wonder Flower: Don't trigger it until you are sure you haven't missed the second coin, as the Wonder Effect often changes the map layout permanently for that run.
- Use the "Search" function: If you're really stuck, use the Prince Florian "signal" (if you have that late-game ability) to ping the location of nearby secrets.
Mastering Urchin Shoals is mostly a lesson in patience. The water is your friend, but the urchins are definitely not. Slow down, watch the bubbles, and keep your eyes on the corners of the screen.