Super Mario Odyssey's Level 5, the Wooded Kingdom, is a lush and vibrant world filled with challenges, secrets, and numerous Power Moons to collect. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the main objectives, reveal hidden secrets, and provide strategies to help you conquer this captivating level.
Main Objectives

The Wooded Kingdom has two primary objectives that you must complete to progress in the game:
Flower Thieves of Sky Garden
Your first task is to defeat the Broodals who have stolen the kingdom's flowers. This multi-moon objective rewards you with three Power Moons upon completion[1].
Defend the Secret Flower Field
After clearing the first objective, you'll need to protect the Secret Flower Field from invaders. This challenging task also rewards you with a multi-moon, granting three Power Moons[1].
Navigation and Exploration
The Wooded Kingdom is a vast area with multiple levels and hidden pathways. Here are some tips to help you navigate effectively:
1. Use the map: Press '-' to access the map and locate checkpoints, which serve as fast travel points[1].
2. Look for tall light pillars: These multi-colored beams indicate your next story objective[1].
3. Utilize Cappy: Throw your cap at objects and enemies to reveal hidden coins or pathways.
4. Master the long jump: Combine running, crouching, and jumping to cover large distances quickly[4].
Power Moon Hunting
There are 76 Power Moons to collect in the Wooded Kingdom[3]. Here are some strategies to help you find them:
1. Talk to Talkatoo: This hat-wearing bird provides three Power Moon hints per kingdom[1].
2. Use the Hint Toad: Located near the Odyssey, he can reveal a Power Moon location for 50 coins[1].
3. Look for glowing spots: These indicate buried Power Moons.
4. Check for hidden rooms: Look for doors with hat symbols, which lead to challenge rooms with two Power Moons each[1].
5. Complete side quests: Talk to NPCs to unlock additional Power Moon opportunities.
Capturing Techniques
The Wooded Kingdom introduces several unique captures that are crucial for progression and exploration:
Uproot
This onion-like creature can extend its stem to reach high places and push up platforms[6].
- Use Uproot to access elevated areas and collect hard-to-reach items.
- Extend fully to push up certain platforms and create new pathways.
Glydon
This flying lizard allows Mario to glide long distances.
- Use Glydon to reach far-off platforms and explore vast areas.
- Master the technique of shaking the controller while gliding to gain extra height[8].
Pokio
This bird-like creature can stick its beak into walls and objects.
- Use Pokio to climb walls and reach otherwise inaccessible areas.
- Utilize its beak attack to defeat enemies and break certain objects.
Advanced Techniques
Mastering these advanced moves will help you navigate the Wooded Kingdom more efficiently:
1. Cap throw and dive: Throw Cappy and dive towards him to cover large distances quickly.
2. Wall jump: Use this technique to scale vertical surfaces and reach high areas.
3. Ground pound jump: Perform a ground pound and quickly press the jump button to gain extra height[1].
4. Roll: This is the fastest way to move around the kingdom[4].
Challenging Sections
The Wooded Kingdom features several difficult areas that may require multiple attempts to clear:
Moving Platforms and Hedgehogs
In this section, you'll need to navigate moving platforms while avoiding spike-covered enemies[6].
- Time your jumps carefully and use Uproot's extending ability to push up platforms.
- Eliminate hedgehogs by ground pounding or using Cappy.
Swinging Boards with Pokio
This challenging area requires precise timing and control of the Pokio capture[8].
- Use Pokio's beak to stick to the swinging boards.
- Time your movements carefully to avoid falling into the abyss below.
Secret Areas
The Wooded Kingdom is home to several hidden areas that contain valuable rewards:
1. Deep Woods: This secret area can be accessed by falling through a specific hole. It contains several Power Moons and Purple Coins.
2. Secret Flower Field: This area becomes accessible after completing the main objectives and contains additional challenges and Power Moons.
3. Hidden 8-bit sections: Look for warp pipes that transport Mario into retro-style 2D platforming segments.
Boss Battles
The Wooded Kingdom features two main boss encounters:
Spewart (Broodal)
This poison-spewing Broodal is encountered during the "Flower Thieves of Sky Garden" objective.
- Avoid his poison attacks and wait for an opening to hit him with Cappy.
- Use the Uproot capture to reach higher ground and gain an advantage.
Torkdrift
This mechanical boss guards the Secret Flower Field.
- Capture a Pokio to attack the boss's weak points.
- Dodge its spinning attacks and use the surrounding terrain to your advantage.
Coin Farming
Collecting coins is essential for purchasing Power Moons and costumes. Here are some effective coin farming methods in the Wooded Kingdom:
1. Repeatedly clear challenge rooms, which often contain a good number of coins.
2. Use Pokio to break crates and pots scattered throughout the kingdom.
3. Look for coin-producing plants and repeatedly harvest them.
4. Complete the kingdom's racing challenges for coin rewards.
Purple Coins
The Wooded Kingdom contains 100 Purple Coins, which are shaped like nuts[5]. These are used to purchase kingdom-specific items and outfits. Here are some tips for collecting them:
1. Explore thoroughly: Purple Coins are often hidden in less obvious locations.
2. Use Cappy to reveal hidden coins in trees and bushes.
3. Check high locations using Uproot and Glydon captures.
4. Look for Purple Coins in 8-bit sections and challenge rooms.
Costumes and Souvenirs
The Wooded Kingdom offers unique costumes and souvenirs that can be purchased with regular and Purple Coins:
1. Explorer Outfit: Perfect for the adventurous spirit of the Wooded Kingdom.
2. Flower Pot: A decorative item for the Odyssey.
3. Wooded Kingdom Sticker: Commemorate your visit with this collectable.
Post-Game Content
After completing the main story, additional content becomes available in the Wooded Kingdom:
1. New Power Moons: More challenging moons appear throughout the kingdom.
2. Harder enemies: Tougher versions of existing enemies spawn in certain areas.
3. Kingdom-specific challenges: New tasks and objectives become available from NPCs.
Speedrunning Strategies
For those looking to clear the Wooded Kingdom quickly:
1. Master the cap throw and dive technique to move quickly between objectives.
2. Use shortcuts and glitches to skip certain sections, like the Glydon trick to bypass multiple stages in the Darker Side challenge[8].
3. Prioritize only the necessary Power Moons to progress the story.
4. Memorize enemy and obstacle patterns to minimize mistakes.
Conclusion
The Wooded Kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey offers a diverse and challenging experience for players. By mastering the unique captures, uncovering hidden areas, and collecting Power Moons, you'll be well-equipped to conquer this level and progress in your journey to save Princess Peach. Remember to explore thoroughly, experiment with different techniques, and most importantly, enjoy the lush and imaginative world that Nintendo has created in this captivating kingdom.
Citations:
[1] https://www.eurogamer.net/super-mario-odyssey-guide-walkthrough-tips-4847
[2] https://www.ign.com/wikis/super-mario-odyssey/walkthrough
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTbhL39aHUU
[4] https://www.reddit.com/r/SuperMarioOdyssey/comments/cwr2rp/im_getting_this_game_in_5_days_any_beginner_tips/
[5] https://www.ign.com/wikis/super-mario-odyssey/
[6] https://www.gamesradar.com/super-mario-odyssey-darker-side-challenge-guide/
[7] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnNIJFK07Vg
[8] https://www.reddit.com/r/SuperMarioOdyssey/comments/7bu0he/spoiler_super_mario_odysseys_hardest_and_absolute/