You’ve been running in circles, haven't you? If you’re hunting for the Golden Bing Bong in the whimsical, chaotic world of Super Mario Odyssey, you know exactly how frustrating it is to feel like you’re missing something that’s staring you right in the face. It's not just a collectible. For many completionists, it’s the final hurdle. The "Bing Bong" isn't its official Nintendo technical name—that would be the Golden Turnip—but the community has dubbed these shiny, bouncing collectibles "Bing Bongs" because of the specific, resonant sound effect they make when they hit the ground.
Don't go looking in the Sand Kingdom. You're wasting your time there.
To find the most famous Golden Bing Bong, you need to head straight to the Luncheon Kingdom. It’s tucked away in a spot that most players sprint right past because they’re too busy trying not to fall into the pink lava. Honestly, the game design here is a bit devious. It rewards the players who actually stop and look at the geometry of the maps rather than those who just follow the main quest markers.
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The Secret Spot in Luncheon Kingdom
Most people think these are just random spawns. They aren't. In the Luncheon Kingdom, specifically near the Path to the Meat Plateau, there’s a distinct patch of glowing soil. You'll see three sprouts. Usually, these just give you standard turnips that you can toss at enemies or into the large cooking pot for a Power Moon. But there is a specific mechanical trigger for the Golden version.
You have to clear the nearby Piranha Plants first. If you don't, the "luck" modifier for the sprout doesn't seem to trigger correctly. Once the area is clear, pluck the sprouts. The Golden Bing Bong has a significantly lower spawn rate, but if you’re playing on a post-game save file, the odds jump up significantly.
It’s heavy.
When you pick it up, Mario moves slower. You can't just triple-jump your way back to the pot. You have to navigate the narrow blue platforms while carrying it. If you drop it into the giant soup pot in the center of the town, you don't just get a standard reward. You get one of the rarest Power Moons in the game. It’s satisfying. The sound it makes—that clink-clank-bing—is why the name stuck in the first place.
Why the Mushroom Kingdom is Your Second Best Bet
If you’ve already cleared the Luncheon Kingdom and you're still itching for that golden glow, pack your bags for the Mushroom Kingdom. Specifically, look around Peach’s Castle. There’s a fountain area where the seeds are notoriously fickle.
Here’s the thing about the Mushroom Kingdom variant: it’s tied to the internal clock of the game's physics. I’ve noticed that if you rotate the camera too quickly, the "glow" effect sometimes clips through the floor textures. It's a known bug. To find it here, look for the gardener Toad near the entrance of the castle. He won't tell you exactly where it is, but he’ll drop hints about "something special" growing in the shade.
Check the bushes. Not the ones in plain sight. The ones tucked behind the castle walls near the Odyssey's landing pad.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Bing Bongs
A lot of "expert" guides online will tell you that you can farm these. You can't. Not really. The Golden Bing Bong is a one-time reward per kingdom for the associated Power Moon. Once you've tossed it into the pot or given it to the appropriate NPC, it reverts to a standard turnip spawn for the rest of your playthrough.
There's also a weird rumor going around on Reddit and Discord that you can find a "Platinum" version.
That’s fake.
Total nonsense. People have looked through the game’s metadata and there is zero evidence of a platinum tier. There are standard turnips, there are the gold ones, and there are the occasional "giant" variants in the Wooded Kingdom, but "Platinum" is just a Photoshop job that went viral in 2023. Stick to the gold.
The Physics of the Throw
Let's talk about the actual mechanics of moving these things. Carrying a Golden Bing Bong changes Mario’s center of gravity. If you’re used to the floaty physics of a standard jump, you’re going to overshoot your platforms.
- Keep your camera centered behind Mario.
- Avoid using the roll move; you'll drop the item immediately.
- Use short, controlled hops.
- Watch out for the Hammer Bro enemies in Luncheon Kingdom—their arc is specifically designed to hit you while you’re carrying heavy objects.
I’ve seen dozens of players get all the way to the cooking pot only to have a stray frying pan knock the golden prize right into the lava. If that happens, it’s gone. You have to warp out of the kingdom and warp back in to reset the spawn. It’s a massive pain.
Identifying the Glow
The visual cue is subtle. It’s not a bright yellow flash. It’s more of a rhythmic, pulsing golden aura that emanates from the ground. If the sprout looks like it’s vibrating slightly, that’s your target. If it’s static, it’s just a regular vegetable.
In the Wooded Kingdom, the Golden Bing Bong is even harder to spot because of the dappled sunlight coming through the trees. Most players find this one by accident while trying to hit the Nut targets. Look near the "Secret Flower Field" entrance. There’s a hidden ledge—you’ll need to capture a Uproot to reach it—where a single golden sprout sits. It’s one of the most secluded spots in the game.
Steps to Secure Your Golden Reward
- Clear the Area: Don't try to pluck the golden sprout while enemies are active. One hit and you might lose the spawn.
- Check Your Save State: These rare spawns are much more common after you've defeated Bowser in the main story.
- The Warp Reset: If you don't see the golden glow, don't keep digging up regular turnips. Open your map, warp to a different kingdom, and then warp back. This forces the RNG (Random Number Generator) to recalculate the item spawns for that zone.
- The Delivery: Walk, don't run. The pathing in the Luncheon Kingdom is specifically tight. Use the "Cappy Throw" only if you absolutely have to clear a small gap, but be prepared to catch the item again instantly.
The search for the Golden Bing Bong is basically a test of patience. It’s Nintendo’s way of making you slow down and actually look at the world they built. It isn't about the power-up you get at the end; it's about the ridiculous, stressful, and somehow hilarious trek of carrying a heavy, shiny vegetable across a kingdom of lava or forests.
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Go to the Luncheon Kingdom first. Check the path near the Meat Plateau. If it’s not glowing, warp to the Lake Kingdom and come back. It’ll show up eventually. Just make sure you’re ready for the walk.
Actionable Next Steps
Check your Power Moon list for the Luncheon Kingdom. If you are missing "The Golden Turnip Recipe," you haven't found the Bing Bong yet. Travel to the Peronza Plaza checkpoint. Head north toward the hills and look for the shimmering soil patches. If the glow isn't present, use the map to warp to the Odyssey and back to the Plaza to reset the RNG. Once it appears, clear all nearby enemies before attempting to carry it to the central pot.