You’re standing in front of the Crank-a-kai. It’s quiet. The woods around the Sacred Tree are still, but your heart is racing because you know that what comes out of that machine could either be a total dud or the S-Rank powerhouse that carries your entire team through the post-game. If you've played any amount of this 3DS classic, you know the struggle of the "junk" pull. But the 5 star coin Yokai Watch 2 gives you, is basically a cheat code without actually cheating. It’s that rare glimmer of hope in a game that otherwise loves to make you grind for your dinner.
Honestly, the Crank-a-kai is a gamble. Most coins—red, yellow, orange—are weighted heavily toward items or lower-tier Yo-kai. You’ll get a handful of Stinging Souls or some bitter medicine before you ever see a Crank-a-kai exclusive. The 5-star coin flips the script. It has the highest possible probability of spitting out an S-Rank or a Rare Yo-kai. We aren't just talking about "strong" monsters; we are talking about the heavy hitters like Count Cavity, Shadow Venoct, or the elusive Damona.
The actual math behind the 5 star coin Yokai Watch 2 drop rates
People often think these coins are a guaranteed S-Rank. They aren't. Let’s be real for a second. While the 5 star coin Yokai Watch 2 uses is powerful, it still operates on a seed-based RNG system. In Yokai Watch 2, your Crank-a-kai results are actually predetermined the moment you start your save file.
Wait, what?
Yeah. It's a bit of a bummer. Unlike the first game where you could save-scum (save, spin, reset if it's bad), the second game locked those results in. If your 10th coin is destined to be a Small Exporb, it’s going to be a Small Exporb whether you use a Red Coin or a 5-Star Coin. However, the 5-star coin pulls from a significantly better prize pool. So, while you can't change the "luck" of the slot, you are significantly upgrading the "quality" of the potential reward. Level-5 designed this to keep players from just resetting for ten hours, but it also means that when you finally get your hands on one of these gold-rimmed beauties, you have to use it wisely.
How to actually get them without losing your mind
Most players stumble upon their first one via the post office. There’s a lady at the counter in Uptown Springdale who handles "Download Content" and "Passwords."
- Talk to her.
- Select the QR code option.
- Point your 3DS camera at one of the dozens of legitimate QR codes archived online by the community.
But here’s the kicker: back when the game launched in 2014 (Japan) and 2016 (US/EU), these were distributed through physical merch. You’d buy a plastic medal, flip it over, and scan it. Nowadays? You just find a high-res image of the "Special Coin" or "5-Star Coin" QR codes on a fan wiki. It feels a bit like stealing fire from the gods, but it's the only way to play in 2026.
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Why everyone wants the S-Rank exclusives
Why do we care so much? Because the difficulty spike in the Infinite Inferno and the Divine Paradise is absolutely brutal. You cannot roll into those boss fights with a team of B-ranks and hope for the best. You'll get wiped.
The 5 star coin Yokai Watch 2 enthusiasts hunt for specifically targets the "Crank-a-kai Exclusives." These are Yo-kai you cannot find in the wild. You can't just go to a back alley in Shopper’s Row and throw a choice tuna at them.
Think about Shadow Venoct. He’s a Slippery-tribe powerhouse who heals while he attacks. He’s essentially a self-sustaining tank. Or Damona, the Charming-tribe ice queen who can freeze an entire enemy frontline before they even get an Inspirit off. These aren't just cool designs; they are mechanical necessities for anyone trying to take down Kat Kraydel.
The "Glitch" and the Save-File Truth
Let's address the elephant in the room. Some "experts" claim you can manipulate the 5 star coin Yokai Watch 2 results by changing your system clock.
Don't do it. Gargaros will find you. No, seriously. The game has a built-in anti-cheat mechanism. If you change your 3DS clock to try and reset the Crank-a-kai daily limit or "force" a better seed, the game will lock you out of all time-based events for 24 to 48 hours. You’ll get a stern talking-to from a giant red demon, and you’ll lose your daily spins entirely. It’s just not worth the hassle.
Instead, the real strategy is "Coin-Stiffing." If you have a 5-star coin and a bunch of regular colored coins, use the regular ones first. See what the "slot" is giving you. If you get an S-Rank on a regular Red Coin (which is rare but possible), that means your "seed" is currently hitting a high-value mark. Save your 5-star coin for when the machine feels "cold," or better yet, just burn through them immediately. Since the results are fixed to the slot number, there’s no use hoarding them like a dragon. Use 'em or lose 'em.
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Maximize your haul: A few specifics
There are actually multiple versions of these high-end coins. While the standard 5-star coin is the most famous, you also have Special Coins. These are often purple or gold and function similarly but have slightly different pools.
If you're playing Bony Spirits or Fleshy Souls, your pool is one thing. If you upgraded to Psychic Specters, the pool expanded. Psychic Specters is widely considered the "definitive" way to use your coins because the game balance is slightly more refined, and there are more opportunities to get these coins through the "Oni Crank-a-kai" in the Blasters mode.
The Blasters Connection
If you’ve ignored the Blasters mini-game, you’re missing out on a goldmine. While QR codes are finite, playing the Blasters mode (especially the Psychometropolis levels) can occasionally net you high-tier coins as rewards. It’s a grind. It’s hard. But it’s the only way to "farm" the 5 star coin Yokai Watch 2 experience once you’ve scanned every QR code on the internet.
Common misconceptions that ruin your odds
I've seen so many forum posts from 2017 that are still misleading people today. Let's clear the air.
- Location doesn't matter: Spinning the Crank-a-kai in the past (Old Springdale) versus the present doesn't change what the 5-star coin gives you. The "past" machine just has a different set of regular coins (like the Select-a-Coin+). The 5-star coin draws from a global S-rank pool.
- The "Luck" Stat: Giving your lead Yo-kai a "Greed" soul or using a Yo-kai like Cynake does NOT affect the Crank-a-kai. Those abilities only affect item drops after a battle. The machine is a cold, unfeeling robot. It doesn't care who is in your party.
- Weather Effects: Some people swear that spinning during a thunderstorm improves the rates. It’s a myth. It makes for a cool atmosphere, but the code doesn't support it.
The psychological toll of the "Junk" pull
We’ve all been there. You scan the code. You get the 5-star coin. You walk up to the tree. You see the gold capsule. Your eyes light up.
And it’s a Holy Exporb.
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It hurts. It feels like the game is mocking you. But even a Holy Exporb is worth about 20,000 EXP. In the early game, that can take a level 5 Jibanyan and rocket him straight into the mid-20s. Is it as cool as a Frostail? No. Is it useful? Absolutely. The 5 star coin Yokai Watch 2 provides is never truly "wasted," even if you don't get the monster you were praying for.
Actionable steps for your next session
If you’re sitting there with a 3DS and a copy of the game, here is exactly how you should handle your next ten minutes of gameplay.
First, go to the Yokai Watch World or similar community archives and grab the 5-star QR codes. Don't just scan one; scan all of them. There are roughly 10-15 "unique" 5-star codes available for the Western release.
Next, travel to the Sacred Tree in Mt. Wildwood. Save your game before you spin. Not because you can change the result, but because if your power dies or the game crashes mid-save after a good pull, you’ll lose that Yo-kai forever. The game saves automatically when you use a coin, but a manual "backup" save never hurts.
Finally, check your Medallium. If you get a duplicate S-rank, don't get mad. You can trade that to other players (if you can find them online) or, more importantly, use them for "Soulcery" later in the game. An S-rank soul is significantly more powerful than a generic one.
The 5 star coin Yokai Watch 2 experience is the peak of the game's "just one more turn" loop. It’s the thrill of the gamble without the sting of losing real money. Whether you’re trying to finish the Medallium or just want to stomp the main story, these coins are your best friend. Get out there, scan those codes, and pray to the RNG gods.
To get started right now, head to the post office, talk to the furthest lady on the left, and start scanning. Once you have the coins, head straight to the tree. Don't overthink the timing—just pull the lever. Even if you don't get your "dream" Yo-kai on the first try, the items you get will significantly cut down the grinding time for your current team's levels.