You know that feeling when you're staring at a world map in a Mario game and there’s just one path that won't open? It's usually because of a stage like Layer Cake Desert 4. Honestly, "Spike’s Spouting Sands" is one of those levels that feels straightforward until you realize you’ve finished it with zero Star Coins and no clue how to reach that secret snowy path.
Getting all the Layer Cake Desert 4 Star Coins isn't just about platforming skill. It's about knowing where the developers hid the stuff that makes no sense. We're talking invisible pipes, tiny mushrooms, and walls that aren't actually walls. If you're trying to 100% New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, this level is your first real gatekeeper.
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The First Star Coin: Don't Overthink the Spike
Most people run right past the first coin because they're too busy dodging the Spike enemies throwing giant spiked rollers. Big mistake.
About a third of the way into the level, you’ll see a Star Coin sitting right under a stone platform. It looks like it’s floating over a pit of quicksand, but it's actually guarded by a couple of Spikes.
The trick is simple:
Wait for the sand geyser to subside. You can either jump off the blocks the Spikes are standing on or just time a dash under the platform. If you're playing as Nabbit, you can literally just walk through the enemies, but for everyone else, just bop the Spike first. It makes life easier.
The Beanstalk Mystery (Star Coin 2)
This is where things get "kinda" annoying. The second Star Coin is nowhere to be seen on the main path.
After you grab the first coin, keep heading right until you find a Spike standing on a sand geyser. You've gotta take him out. Once he's gone, jump around in the empty space where he was standing. You’ll hit a hidden block.
Inside? A beanstalk.
Climb that thing. It takes you to a sub-area filled with blocks and, more importantly, the second Star Coin. You don't need any special power-ups for this one, just the knowledge that Nintendo loves putting invisible blocks in the most inconvenient places.
The Layer Cake Desert 4 Star Coins Secret: The Mini Mushroom
Okay, let's talk about the third coin. This is the one that stops everyone.
You cannot get the third Star Coin in "Spike’s Spouting Sands" if you are big. Period. You need a Mini Mushroom.
Near the end of the level, you’ll see a signpost with an arrow pointing up and to the right. To the left of this platform, there are three sand geysers. Most players just jump over them and head to the flagpole. Don’t do that.
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- Step 1: Drop down into the gap under the platform with the arrow sign.
- Step 2: There’s a hidden pipe down there.
- Step 3: Inside, you’ll find a Mini Mushroom. Grab it.
- Step 4: Now, as Mini Mario, head back out and run across the water/sand to the right.
Because you’re tiny, you can run across the surface of the water and reach a small pipe on the far right that leads directly to the third Star Coin.
How to Find the Secret Exit (The Red Flag)
If you're looking for the Layer Cake Desert 4 Star Coins, you're probably also looking for the secret exit that unlocks the "Piranha Plants on Ice" level.
The secret exit is located in the exact same area as the third Star Coin. Once you have the Mini Mushroom, look for a tiny gap at the bottom of the final area. If you stay low and run into the wall near the geysers, you'll find a hidden pipe that bypasses the normal flagpole and takes you to the red Bowser flag.
This is the only way to reach World 2-A. If you miss it, you're basically stuck taking the long way around Morton's Castle.
Pro Tips for 100% Completion
Look, the desert world is tricky because of the physics. The sand geysers in this level move on a very specific rhythm. If you're struggling with the timing, try using the Super Acorn. The glide ability gives you just enough air time to wait out a geyser that’s about to pop up and ruin your run.
Also, if you're playing Deluxe on the Switch, Toadette (Peachette) makes the wall-jumping sections for these coins trivial. Her double jump is basically a cheat code for the hidden areas.
What to do next:
- Make sure you have at least one Mini Mushroom in your inventory before entering the level to save time.
- Once you hit the secret exit, head into Piranha Plants on Ice to unlock the shortcut to Soda Jungle.
- Double-check your map; if the path to the ice level isn't blue, you used the normal exit by mistake.