You're standing in front of the Crank-a-kai, sweating. You’ve got one shot. Maybe two if you’re lucky. We’ve all been there, staring at that colorful machine in Mt. Wildwood (or the BBQ equivalent) hoping for a miracle. In the world of Yo-kai Watch 3, the yo kai watch 3 5 star coin is basically the Holy Grail of inventory items. It’s that shimmering purple-and-gold disc that promises the moon but sometimes hands you a Mega Exporb instead. Honestly, it’s frustrating. But if you want those S-Rank legends like Snartle, Swelterrier, or the elusive Peppillon, you need these coins.
The game is massive. Like, really huge. Because Level-5 decided to smash together the Japan and USA (BBQ) settings, the loot pools are more diluted than ever. Getting a high-tier Yo-kai isn't just about luck; it’s about knowing exactly where the game hides its best rewards. Most players just scan a couple of QR codes they found on a dead Reddit thread and call it a day. That’s a mistake. You’re leaving high-rank potential on the table.
Why the Yo Kai Watch 3 5 Star Coin Is So Rare
Let’s be real for a second. The drop rates in this game can be brutal. The yo kai watch 3 5 star coin is designed to be a premium item, usually reserved for special distributions or very specific milestones. Unlike the standard Red or Yellow coins that give you a specific tribe, the 5-star variant pulls from a "best of" pool across all tribes. It’s the shotgun approach to team building. You might get a Brave tribe powerhouse or a slippery Slippery tribe healer.
The complexity of Yo-kai Watch 3 makes this even weirder. Since you’re managing two different inventories for a large chunk of the game—Nate in BBQ and Hailey Anne in Springdale—where you spend that coin matters. If you use it on the wrong protagonist, you might end up with a top-tier attacker on a team that desperately needs a tank. It’s a tactical nightmare if you don't plan ahead.
The QR Code Reality Check
Everyone looks for QR codes. It’s the first thing people do. You go to the Piggleston Bank or the BBQ post office and start scanning like a maniac. It works, sure. There are archives online, like the massive community spreadsheets on platforms like Gurenburai, that host hundreds of these codes.
But here’s the kicker: many of the "infinite" QR codes from the Japanese version (Sushi/Tempura/Sukiyaki) were patched or region-locked in the localized Western release. You can't just grab a 2016 Japanese magazine scan and expect it to work on your 2019 English cartridge. You need the specific Western-encoded images. When you scan a legitimate yo kai watch 3 5 star coin QR code, the game validates it against a local database. If it’s a duplicate or from the wrong region, you get nothing but a "System Error" message.
Scouring the Game for Natural Drops
If you’ve exhausted the "easy" way, you have to play the game. Imagine that.
One of the most overlooked ways to snag high-end coins is through the Blasters T mode. This is the dungeon-crawling spin-off tucked inside the main game. It’s chaotic. It’s grindy. But the Clu-T-Fact rewards are insane. If you run the higher-level Enigma dungeons, the chests have a non-zero chance of dropping high-rank coins, including the 5-star variety.
Check the Treasure Map quests too. Level-5 loved hiding items behind obscure NPC dialogue. Sometimes, talking to a specific person in St. Peanutsburg after completing Chapter 6 triggers a flag that rewards a rare coin. It’s not consistent, but for completionists, it’s the only way to fill the Medallium.
Does the Crank-a-kai Location Matter?
This is a point of contention among the fan base. Some players swear that the Crank-a-kai in the Dream World has better "seed" luck than the one in the real world. Technically, the game determines your "pull" the moment the coin is generated in your inventory, not when you turn the dial. This is called "Seed Predetermination."
Basically, if you save your game, use a yo kai watch 3 5 star coin, get a bad item, and then reload your save... you’re still going to get that bad item. The result is baked into your save file’s RNG seed. The only way to change the outcome is to use different types of coins to "advance" the seed.
- Use a cheap 1-star or colored coin.
- Check the result.
- Use the 5-star coin after the "bad" luck has been cleared out.
It sounds like superstition. It’s actually just how the game’s logic handles random generation. It prevents "save scumming," which is Level-5’s way of keeping the stakes high.
Maximizing Your S-Rank Odds
You want the big guys. You want the Yo-kai that can carry you through the Zenlightener fight. When you finally use your yo kai watch 3 5 star coin, pay attention to the "Crank-a-kai" luck of the day. Every in-game day, your luck changes. You can check this by talking to certain NPCs or just observing the messages that pop up.
If the game tells you it's a "Great Luck" day, that is the only time you should be dropping your 5-star coins. While it doesn't guarantee an S-Rank, it shifts the percentage brackets significantly. It’s the difference between a 2% chance and a 10% chance. In a game this long, those margins matter.
The Forgotten Passwords
Remember the post office? Beyond QR codes, there are literal text passwords. For years, the community has hunted these down from promotional materials and Hasbro toy inserts. Some of these passwords specifically unlock "Special" or "5-Star" coins.
Try entering strings related to the anime or the movie releases. While many were time-limited for the Japanese "Yo-kai Medaland" service, a handful remain hardcoded into the Western version for players who bother to look. They are usually simple, like "WDSWRE88" (just an example, don't quote me on the exact string), and they provide a one-time injection of rare currency.
Dealing with Disappointment
Look, you might use the yo kai watch 3 5 star coin and get a "Great Exporb." It happens. It feels like a slap in the face. But in Yo-kai Watch 3, even a "fail" pull isn't totally useless. The game’s leveling curve is steep once you hit the post-game. That Exporb might be what you need to get your Shogunyan from level 40 to 60 so you can actually survive the Tower of Zen.
Also, keep in mind that many S-Rank Yo-kai found in 5-star coins can also be befriended through the Forbidden Fruit. If you’re getting frustrated with the Crank-a-kai, pivot to Blasters T. The Forbidden Fruit is a 100% befriend rate item. Sometimes it’s faster to grind for the fruit than it is to hunt for another 5-star coin.
👉 See also: How to Finally Unlock the Aiding the Enemy Trophy in Modern Warfare 2
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Session
Don't just wander around. If you're serious about getting and using these coins effectively, follow this sequence:
- Clear the Western QR Backlog: Go to a reputable site like the Yo-kai Watch World forum or the dedicated Wiki. Scan every verified 5-star and Special Coin QR code available for the English version. Do this at the bank in Springdale or the post office in BBQ.
- Inventory Management: Check which protagonist has the coins. If Nate has them all but Hailey needs a better team, use the "Pocket Mirapo" or the box to transfer items once that feature unlocks.
- Check the Daily Luck: Go to the Mt. Wildwood shrine. If your luck is "Bad" or "Average," go sleep in your bed until the next in-game day. Repeat until you hit "Great Luck."
- The "Seed" Burn: Use three or four common colored coins first. This clears any low-tier "prizes" that might be sitting at the top of your RNG stack.
- The Big Drop: Use your yo kai watch 3 5 star coin. Cross your fingers.
If you don't get what you want, don't delete your save. Just head into the Blasters T ruins. The Clu-T-Fact system is much more generous with rare Yo-kai than the Crank-a-kai ever was. The coin is a shortcut, but the dungeon is a guarantee if you have the patience. Stop relying on the machine and start building your team through gameplay; the coins should just be the icing on the cake.