You're running around Tostarena, your boots are full of sand, and you're staring at a shop window looking at that skeleton suit or the cactus plant for the Odyssey. But you're short. You're always short. In Super Mario Odyssey, the purple coins Sand Kingdom hides from you aren't just collectibles; they are the currency of the desert, and Nintendo was surprisingly mean about where they put them.
Honestly, it's the sheer scale that gets people. Most kingdoms in this game are compact, but the Sand Kingdom is a sprawling, open-world mess of dunes, ruins, and freezing nights. There are 100 regional coins here—the highest count in the game alongside the Metro and Bowser Kingdoms. If you’re stuck at 97 or 98, don’t feel bad. It’s usually because of one specific hidden alcove behind a pillar or a pixel-perfect jump on a 2D mural that you just didn't see.
Why the Purple Coins Sand Kingdom Layout is So Frustrating
The Tostarena regional coins—those little inverted pyramids—don't behave like regular gold coins. They don't respawn. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. This makes tracking them a nightmare if you aren't using a systematic approach. Most players grab about 60 of them just by playing the story, beating Knucklotec, and wandering around. But those last 40? They are tucked away in sub-areas and behind literal "smoke and mirrors" geometry.
Think about the 2D sections. You know, the ones where Mario flattens against the wall like a piece of paper? There are coins hidden behind the visible camera angle in those segments. If you don't walk "off-screen" into a hidden nook, you'll never see them.
It’s also about the Capture mechanic. You’ve got to use the Moe-Eye. You know, that stone statue with the cool sunglasses? Without those shades, you can't see the invisible platforms. There are clusters of three or four purple coins sitting on glass-clear walkways over lethal poison or bottomless pits. If you're trying to parkour your way through the desert without the right "lenses," you're going to miss a huge chunk of your total count.
The Most Commonly Missed Clusters
Let’s get specific.
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First, check the Tostarena Ruins. Everyone looks on top of the pillars. Not everyone looks inside the walls. There is a specific spot near the Round Tower where you have to drop down onto a tiny ledge that isn't visible from the main path. It feels like you're falling to your death, but you land right on a cluster of three.
Then there's the Moe-Eye Habitat. People usually grab the ones on the visible islands. But if you put the sunglasses on and look toward the edge of the poison swamp, there are platforms leading out to a remote pillar. It’s a classic Nintendo trick. They put the coins just far enough away that they don't render clearly unless you're looking for them.
What about the Jaxi Ruins? You're usually screaming across the sand at 60 miles per hour on the back of a stone jaguar, trying not to fall off. You aren't looking at the ceiling. There are coins tucked into the alcoves above the poison water in the underground section. To get them, you actually have to stop, get off the Jaxi, and do some precise platforming. Most people just want to get to the Power Moon at the end and completely ignore the purple glint in the rafters.
Dealing with the 2D Murals
The 2D segments in the Sand Kingdom are some of the best in the game, but they're also coin traps.
- The Round Tower: As you're ascending the exterior of the tower in 2D mode, there's a point where the path branches. If you just go up, you finish the segment. If you go left into the "dark" part of the wall, there's a hidden room.
- The Border across the Chasm: When you're heading toward the inverted pyramid, there are murals on the stone walls. Check the corners. Developers love putting coins just past the "exit" pipe.
It's also worth noting that the Inverted Pyramid itself changes after you beat the boss. The interior layout is weird. You might find yourself searching for coins that were only accessible during a specific phase of the gravity flip. Actually, wait—let me clarify that. Most coins are still accessible, but the way you reach them changes based on whether the pyramid is floating or grounded.
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The "Secret" Sub-Areas
You can't find all 100 coins in the main desert map. You have to go into the pipes.
The Bullet Bill maze is a prime example. While you're busy trying not to explode, you need to steer your captured Bullet Bill into the side paths. There's a cluster of purple coins tucked behind a breakable block that you can only hit if you have perfect timing. If you're too slow, you explode. If you're too fast, you miss the turn.
Then there's the Ice Cave. When the Sand Kingdom is frozen over early in the game, the cave is a mandatory stop. But even after the sun comes out and the town celebrates, you can go back down there. Many players forget that the geometry of these caves often hides coins behind the "entry" camera angle. Basically, as soon as you enter a pipe, pull back on the stick. Look behind the entrance. You'd be surprised how often a group of three coins is sitting right behind your head.
What the Sand Kingdom Coins Actually Buy You
You aren't just doing this for 100% completion stats. The Crazy Cap shop in Tostarena has some of the best regional gear.
- The Poncho and Sombrero: Classic. Essential for that one Power Moon where you need to perform for the local Tostarenan.
- The Cowboy Outfit: Because why not?
- The Skeleton Suit: This is the big one. It costs a lot of purple coins, and it’s arguably one of the coolest "costumes" in the entire game, especially when you’re running through darker kingdoms later on.
- Stickers and Souvenirs: You need these to decorate the Odyssey. If you want the "Globe-Trotter" achievements and a fully decked-out ship, you need every single coin.
Honestly, the stickers are kind of a flex. When you land in a new kingdom and your ship is covered in Tostarena memorabilia, it shows you actually put in the work.
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Pro Tips for the Final Stretch
If you're stuck at 99 coins, it's probably the one floating under the Great Jaxi Ruins bridge. It’s a nightmare to see. You have to hang off the ledge or use a Capture to fly under and grab it.
Another "forgotten" spot? The very top of the Inverted Pyramid. Not just the flat part, but the very edges of the ornate carvings. Sometimes the coins are tucked into the "teeth" of the pyramid's design.
Don't forget the Lakitu. When you capture the Lakitu to go fishing in the oasis, take a second to fly around the perimeter of the water. Sometimes coins are tucked just under the surface or behind the palm trees where the camera doesn't naturally rotate.
Actionable Steps to Finish Your Collection
Stop wandering aimlessly. It wastes time. Use this workflow instead:
- Capture a Lakitu or a Bullet Bill to get a bird's eye view of the outskirts. The desert is huge, and sometimes clusters are just sitting on a random dune in the middle of nowhere.
- Re-visit every 2D mural. Every single one. Walk against every wall. Jump into every ceiling.
- Check the Moe-Eye Habitat with the glasses ON. Do a full 360-degree sweep of the poison lake.
- Enter every pipe again. Even the ones you think you cleared. Check the "blind spots" near the entrance and exit pipes.
- Talk to Talkatoo. He won't give you coin locations directly (he's a Moon guy), but often the coins are placed on the path to the Moons he hints at.
Once you hit 100, head straight to the Crazy Cap shop. Buy the Skeleton Suit first. It’s the best reward for the grind. Then, grab the Tostarena sticker for the Odyssey. You've earned the right to show off that you survived the most tedious scavenger hunt in the desert.
The Sand Kingdom is massive, but it’s fair. If you see a weird shadow or a platform that seems to lead nowhere, follow it. Nine times out of ten, there’s a purple coin waiting there to reward your curiosity. Now get back out there and find that last cluster behind the cactus.