This page describes tricks and shortcuts for individual Stars in Super Mario Galaxy 2. These tricks can be done with both Mario and Luigi unless otherwise specified. Note also that most mentions of "infinite fluttering" or just "fluttering" refer to Sideways Infinite Flutter.

World 1

Sky Station

1. Peewee Piranha's Temper Tantrum
   • If the introduction to the level can be skipped (for example, when collecting Green Stars or when doing individual-level runs), the dialogue with the first Luma can be skipped by jumping away as soon as you gain control. Because ending the intro as soon as possible causes a delay in when you gain control, you may need to wait about a second before ending the fly-in scene.
   • On the first planet, stand still after talking to the Luma on top of Yoshi's house. This will shorten the pause that occurs when the Launch Star appears by about half a second.
   • On the second planet, approach the tower leading to the Launch Star from the left, and reach the top with a backflip and a wall-jump off the left side of the structure. This will cause the Luma to reach the top of the tower sooner. Video
   • On the second planet, the next group of small planets can be reached by doing a homing ground-pound off of the Luma as it reaches the top of the tower. If the previous time-saver is used, the Luma will transform before you can set up the ground-pound unless you do a spin and then jump to make the Luma stop for a second. This is a risky trick that saves only about 10 or 15 frames, so it's mostly appropriate for individual-level runs. Video
   • Peewee Piranha's shell can be broken with a single ground-pound instead of 2 spins.
2. Storming the Sky Fleet
   • There is no landing stun at the beginning of this stage--avoid attempting a land-cancel.
   • On the first planet, the Chomp Pup holding the key can be reached by long-jumping down-right over the fence from the starting point.
3. Peewee Piranha's Speed Run
   • There is no landing stun at the beginning of this stage--avoid attempting a land-cancel.
   • Peewee Piranha's shell can be broken with a single ground-pound instead of 2 spins.

Yoshi Star

1. Saddle Up with Yoshi
   • Infinite flutter can be used to travel from the first planet to the third. There are a few ways to do this:
     1. If the Comet Medal is obtained, start an infinite flutter by bouncing off the small berry facing the third planet by tapping the B button before jumping on to it. This will allow you to reach the third planet in a single flutter. Video Alternatively, flutter to the group of small berries near the Smeech or the large berry at the end of the first planet, and then start another flutter towards the third planet.
     2. If the Comet Medal is not obtained, start infinite fluttering from the Yoshi Egg. The third planet can be reached in a single flutter by bouncing off the Smeech or the nearby berries. If the bounce is missed, another infinite flutter will need to be started. Video
   • On the last planet, you can get the elevator to descend earlier by infinite fluttering up to it from the landing point. Video
2. Spiny Control
   • Infinite flutter can be used to travel from the first Yoshi Egg to the boss planet. Video Doing a spin before you start the flutters can help you reach the boss planet more consistently.
   • Normally, when you hit the boss, Giga Lakitu, with a Spiny, all other Spinies disappear except for any in Yoshi's mouth. By storing a Spiny in Yoshi's mouth, you can get the last 2 hits against Giga Lakitu quickly. There are 2 methods to set up a storage of a Spiny:
     1. After 2 Spinies land on the ground, hit both of them once each with Yoshi's tongue to get the Spinies to retract into their shells. After spitting one towards the boss, quickly swallow the other Spiny before the first one hits. Video
     2. When Giga Lakitu throws 2 Spinies, swallow the first one while it's airborne, spit it back to the boss, and quickly swallow the second Spiny before it lands. Video
3. Spiny Rainbow Romp
   • When hitting a Spiny with the Rainbow Star, try to hit a Spiny on its edge because hitting it near the middle will cause you to briefly stop.
   • Another subtle problem with this Star is that running through shallow water will slow you down a bit.

Spin-Dig

1. Digga-Leg's Planet
   • The Drill on the first planet can be skipped by triple-jumping to the first Launch Star. To get enough height, be sure to position the triple-jump slightly above the base of the tower.
   • On the second planet, drilling at the base of a pillar will sometimes push you into the pillar. Video This is most consistently done by jumping backwards against a pillar before drilling.
   • On the Toad Brigade's ship, the dialogue with the Captain can be skipped by entering first-person view upon landing, shooting Star Bits at the Captain, and then running away while the Captain is stunned.
   • Digga-Leg's hopping phase can be shortened by taking damage on the first hop.
     • If Digga-Leg hops towards and on top of you, it will jump off the planet and land somewhere else. This is slightly faster than letting Digga-Leg complete its hopping phase.

     • If Digga-Leg hops away from you but you still manage to take damage on the first hop, Digga-Leg will immediately start hopping in the opposite direction and make 1 less hop. In the best case, Digga-Leg will hop only 3 times.

       If you simply run against Digga-Leg's leg as it starts hopping, you might not be able to get close enough to take damage if Digga-Leg hops away from you. Counter-intuitively, releasing the analog stick shortly after Digga-Leg hops can improve your chances of getting hit. This might be because Mario slightly sticks his leg out to stop running.

   • Digga-Leg will not deploy any Diggas if the previous ones are still alive. Avoid destroying Diggas as much as possible, but also note that Digga-Leg can destroy the Diggas during its hopping phase, which is luck-dependent.
2. Silver Stars Down Deep
3. Digga-Leg's Daredevil Run
   • As in the first Star, Digga-Leg will not deploy any Diggas if the previous ones are still alive.

Fluffy Bluff

1. Search for the Toad Brigade Captain
   • Get the Cloud Flower and then reach the cloud above the large tree. From here, use long-jumps and clouds to jump to the last planet. Video With a couple of clouds, it's possible to land near the fountains.
2. The Chimp's Stomp Challenge
3. Every Planet Has Its Price

Rightside Down

1. Breaking the Laws of Gravity
   • The first gravity lever can be skipped by long-jumping to a Question Block and then jumping down to the area below the large Piranha Plant. Video
   • The second gravity lever can be skipped by jumping down to the second elevator when it's at its lowest point.
   • The Thwomps near the end of the stage can be bypassed by simply jumping onto the surrounding walls from the area where the gravity is pointing away from the camera.
2. The Great Crate Incinerator
   • After swinging off the flower, release the analog stick and jump as soon as you land to maintain forward momentum. This will let you reach the pipe directly.

Flip-Swap

• Long-jumping off of a platform as it's flipping upwards will boost the height of the long-jump and let you skip portions of the stage. Video A subtlety with this game's physics is that long-jumps over empty space will get a speed boost. To take advantage of this, try to angle long-jumps away from platforms.

Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla

1. Gobblegut's Aching Belly
   • The small planet over the castle walls can be skipped by jumping onto the castle walls and then proceeding to the far-right corner of the structure. From here, jump towards the boss planet to enter its gravitational field. Video
2. Fiery Flotilla Speed Run

World 2

Puzzle Plank

1. The Puzzling Picture Block
   • On the second planet, the Launch Star can be reached with a backflip and a spin.
   • On the third planet, the high wall can be scaled with a triple-jump instead of waiting for the saws to carve out the middle piece. Video
   • On the last planet, it's possible to hit each puzzle piece two or three times with a single ground-pound. The exact method for doing this is unknown. Video
2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
3. Bugaboom's Back

Hightail Falls

1. Hot-Stepping Dash Pepper
   • On the second planet, it's a little faster to dash up the left path.
   • If getting the Comet Medal, infinite flutter from the third planet to the last planet instead of taking the Launch Star. Start the infinite flutter from the right of the Launch Star and land by the Dash Pepper below the Medal. A faster method is to jump off the second-to-last falling platform soon after it starts dropping. Jump off the platform while running up-right, and then shift up-left during the flutter. [Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwZ6avTePo4&t=1m7s]
   • After landing onto the last planet, the Star can be reached directly by eating the first Dash Pepper, running up to the top edge of the wall, and jumping just as Yoshi runs off the edge at a slightly up-right angle. Video A consistent method is to jump straight upwards, shake the Wiimote, and then flutter backwards onto the platform under the Star. The Star can then be reached with a sideflip and dismount off Yoshi.
   • An alternative method for reaching the Star is to eat the Dash Pepper under the Grapple Flowers, run up-left on the concave ramp (or "vert ramp"), and then dismount. The momentum of Yoshi's dash will fling you up to the Star.
2. Hightail Falls Speed Run
   • All of the time-savers for the first Star are applicable to this Star as well.
3. Silver Stars in Hightail Falls

Boulder Bowl

1. Rock and Rollodillo
   • The third planet can be reached from the first planet in a few ways:
     1. With the Rock Mushroom, after dropping the bridge, roll into a rock and immediately jump to reach max speed. Jump again and shake the Wiimote just before landing onto the ramp to start a midair spin, which will prevent the ramp from activating. Once on the ramp, roll left and jump off the ramp. [Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VraMgJjMcOY&t=45s]
     2. With or without the Rock Mushroom, go to the top-left corner of the ramp past the Pinheads, long-jump straight left, and spin. Video
     3. With the Rock Mushroom, go to where the Pinheads are. Start rolling towards the third planet, jump, and then do at least one midair jump.
   • On the second planet, you can skip breaking the large crystal by jumping over it with a few midair Rock Mushroom jumps.
   • Rollodillo can be prevented from starting its rolling attack by rolling away from it and then looping around to hit its back. Video
2. Rolling Crabber Romp
   • It can be helpful to know that rolling in rock form can be cancelled by jumping and tapping Z in midair. This technique is especially useful towards the end when there are only a few Crabbers left.
3. C'mere, Goomba
   • As in the first Star, the third planet can be directly reached from the first.

Cosmic Cove

1. Twin Falls Hideaway
2. Exploring the Cosmic Cavern
   • On the last planet, the platform under the Star can be reached with a triple-jump + spin. This skips filling the planet with water. Video
3. Catch That Star Bunny
   • The Star Bunny can be captured without freezing the planet. Shoot the Bunny with a Star Bit before you start to chase it, and the Bunny should start hopping towards you. You can then just run up to the Bunny to catch it.

Wild Glide

Honeybloom

1. Bumble Beginnings
   • The first set of clouds can be climbed without the Bee Mushroom by triple-jumping up to the highest spinning flower, doing an instant sideflip off of it, and then quickly jumping off the highest cloud and spinning backwards. Video
2. The Secret Wall Jump

Bowser's Lava Lair

• The fastest known method for getting the Comet Medal is to use a stored triple-jump off the lava. When you reach the first Whomp, double-jump into the lava. Lava-hop to where the Comet Medal is and press A as soon as you can jump out of the damage animation to triple-jump up to the Medal. Video
• A large portion of the last planet can be skipped with a couple of methods:
  1. The faster method requires getting the Life Mushroom on the third planet and having at least 4 units of health. At the second checkpoint flag, run to the right. At the edge of the lava, long-jump + spin towards the 3 Bowser statues leading to Bowser's gate. By holding forward on the analog stick as you hop across the lava, you should bounce onto the first and second statues. As soon as you land on the second Bowser statue, start long-jumping. Video
  2. The other method does not require the Life Mushroom but does require 3 units of health. At the second checkpoint flag, run to the right. At the edge of the lava, long-jump + spin towards the final Snake Block. From this Snake Block, long-jump across the top of the Bowser statues. Video

• Two of the locks on Bowser's gate can be destroyed with a single meteorite if you ground-pound the meteorite at a precise spot.

World 3

Tall Trunk

1. The Flotacious Blimp Fruit
   • The tree can be climbed without Yoshi and the Blimp Fruit by using a combination of triple-jumps, backflips/sideflips, and wall-jumps. Video
   • The Comet Medal can be obtained quickly by getting Yoshi at the first egg on the second planet, and then dropping to the floor below. Run off the edge to the left, and then start infinite fluttering backwards towards the Medal. Doing a spin at the beginning of the flutter will give you a significant speed boost.
2. Tall Trunk's Big Slide
   • The tree can be climbed without the trapezes by using triple-jumps, backflips/sideflips, and wall-jumps. Video
   • The slide can be entered from the side with a long-jump + spin. Video
3. Tall Trunk's Purple Coin Slide
   • As in the second Star, the slide can be entered from the side with a long-jump + spin.

Cloudy Court

1. Head in the Clouds
   • From the small square platforms early in the level, the drums can be reached directly with cloud-boosted long-jumps.
   • As Mario, when bouncing up to the last drum, Mario might often make a small extra bounce before making a full bounce. To avoid the extra bounce, hold up on the analog stick instead of up-right while approaching the drum.
   • The first Launch Star can be skipped. From the cymbals, both Mario and Luigi can directly reach the next Launch Star with long-jumps and clouds. For Mario, however, it's faster to go to the windmill and get the Cloud Flower there first.
   • On the last planet, after ascending over the first wall, you can jump over the next wall with a couple of cloud-boosted long-jumps. Video
   • There are a few ways to get the Comet Medal and reach the top of the crushers before they close. Here are a few examples: Video 1 Video 2 Video 3
2. The Shadow Lining
3. Silver Stars in the Purple Pond

Haunty Halls

1. A Glimmer of Bulb Berry
   • In a full game run, rotate the camera left twice on the initial landing into the Galaxy. This will manipulate the timing of the platform after the first checkpoint flag such that this platform can be easily reached without waiting. Video
   • After passing the first checkpoint and crossing the red path, it's possible to long-jump from the beginning of the green path to the next platform. So far, this has been done only with Luigi. Video
   • The last part of the level can be skipped by infinite fluttering to the Star as soon as you get Yoshi.
2. Sneaking Down the Creepy Corridor
3. Spooky Cosmic Clone Chase

Freezy Flake

1. Bowser on Ice
   • The slide can be entered by clipping through the left wall. Video
2. Sorbetti's Chilly Reception
   • With several consecutive midair Rock Mushroom jumps, the boss planet can be reached directly from the starting planet. Video This is currently a TAS-only trick.
   • With several consecutive midair Rock Mushroom jumps, the boss planet can be reached directly from the starting planet. Non-TAS IL TAS
3. The Chimp's Skating Challenge

Rolling Masterpiece

• The Flipswitches can be skipped by jumping at full-speed towards the next launcher.

Beat Block

1. Step to the Beep
2. Silver Stars in Double Time
   • You can skip directly to the end of this level by getting Yoshi in the third crystal and infinite fluttering to the Silver Stars.

Bowser Jr.'s Fearsome Fleet

1. Bowser Jr.'s Mighty Megahammer
   • Infinite flutter can be used to skip most of the level before the boss. The optimal route is to flutter to the asteroid on the right, flutter to a Question Block above one of Bowser's airships (which doesn't appear in this route), and then flutter to the Launch Star. Video
     • If getting the Comet Medal, face slightly down-right before starting the flutter from the Question Block--this way, you can flutter through the Medal and then flutter under the gap at the bottom-center of the barrier before the Launch Star. Video
   • During the last phase of the fight against Megahammer, Bowser Jr.'s cockpit can be hit before Megahammer attacks by doing a sideflip and one full flutter before spitting out a Bullet Bill.
   • During the Megahammer fight, Yoshi can keep a Bullet Bill in his mouth during a cutscene if another Bullet Bill is nearby before the cutscene starts. This allows for an earlier hit on Megahammer in the last phase of the fight. Video
2. Megahammer's Daredevil Bash
   • The Megahammer strats of the first Star work the same in the Comet Star.

World 4

Supermassive

• On the first planet, by long-jumping off a pipe as it's rising, you can reach the block between the 2 giant Thwomps. To actually land on top of the block, you'll need to spin and then do a wall-jump off of the side of the block. You can rotate the camera as you long-jump towards the block to make it easier to time the spin.
• On the giant yellow elevators just before the third Launch Star, doing a long-jump off of the last elevator as it's rising can give you enough distance to reach the last planet. This can be done only with Luigi. Video

Flipsville

1. Flip-Flopping in Flipsville
   • The boss planet or the Toad Brigade ship can be reached from the second planet. Video To set up this shortcut, it's required to reach the second planet without using the Launch Star because using the Launch Star causes a kill plane to spawn between the second planet and the Toad Brigade ship.
   • The Launch Star at the top of the first planet can be reached with a couple of consecutive wall-jumps off of the perpendicular walls. Video (See: sideways wall-jump) Alternatively, from the bottom side of the planet, the center pit can be entered with a backflip and a wall-jump.
   • It's possible to long-jump from the first planet to the third. Video The timing of the spin needs to be rather early to avoid hitting a kill plane.
2. Flipsville's New Digs
   • The Drill on the first planet can be skipped by jumping around the walls or by jumping on top of the walls with a triple-jump and a wall-jump.
   • The Drill on the second planet can be skipped by reaching the pipe with a couple of wall-jumps. Video
3. Purple Coin Spin Speed Run
   • The hitbox for collecting coins is significantly larger when spinning with the Drill. An example use of this is to collect all of the coins in the upper-right chamber with a single spin.

Honeyhop

1. The Sweetest Silver Stars
   • To skip the Bee Mushroom at the beginning of the level, do a sideways wall-jump towards the platform next to the first trapeze, then wall-jump off the side of this platform to land onto it. Video
   • To skip the Bee Mushroom at the start of the 2D section, jump off the trapeze, spin, and wall-jump off the wall to the left of the Bee Mushroom. After the wall-jump, spin, and start falling to the right and slightly towards the camera. With correct positioning, Mario/Luigi will get pulled into the 2D section to the right of the Bee Mushroom. Video The remaining section can be completed with triple-jumps, backflips/sideflips, and wall-jumps.
   • The second planet can be reached without a Floaty Fluff by doing a backflip onto the cloud under the first Floaty Fluff and jumping towards the nearby bee. Once you're close enough to the bee, do a homing ground-pound off of it to approach the second planet. Once you're close to the second planet, spin and do a wall-jump off of the planet's side.
   • Normally, the Queen Bee talks to you as soon as you land at the top of the second planet. There are 2 ways to avoid this dialogue:
     1. Approach the Queen Bee from the side: This can be done by jumping up to the tree trunk to the right and long-jumping up-left. Video
     2. Jump as soon as you touch the ground: There is a slight delay between when you land within range of the Queen Bee and when she starts talking to you. As long as you jump during this delay, the dialogue will not trigger. You can reach underneath or behind the Queen Bee by backflipping up to the top of the planet, and then doing a series of well-timed backflips towards the Queen Bee or bouncing backwards off an Octoguy. Video
2. The Chimp's Score Challenge
3. Green Star 1
4. Green Star 2
   • This Star can be reached without the Bee Suit by backflipping onto the Queen Bee's stinger, jumping off of the stinger, and then wall-jumping off the Queen Bee's abdomen. The jump off the stinger needs to be quick to avoid falling off of it.

Starshine Beach

1. Surf, Sand, and Silver Stars
   • The cabana that houses the closest Silver Star can be reached from the first Yoshi Egg with a few infinite flutters. You can also grab one of the Crabbers around the Egg before the flutters.
   • The top of the tall tower can be reached by infinite fluttering from the cabana. This skips using the Blimp Fruit.

   • The Silver Star over the rotating buoy can be obtained without exposing the trampoline. The fastest method is to dash towards the buoy with the Dash Pepper, and then dismount shortly after Yoshi runs onto the buoy. The spherical shape of the buoy will angle your dismount upwards and slightly forward.

     Alternatively, you can reach this Silver Star by doing a sideflip, a single flutter, and then dismounting. Without Yoshi, the Star can be reached by backflipping off the first elevated platform and spinning.

2. Climbing the Cloudy Tower
   • There are a couple of ways to climb the tower under the Star without the Cloud Flower:
     1. Do a triple-jump off of one of the bottom clouds > spin > wall-jump off the tower > spin to land on one of the highest clouds. Quickly do a regular jump off of the top cloud, and then spin to land on top of the tower. Video Alternatively, immediately spin when the top cloud disappears, fall backwards towards the tower, and do another wall-jump + spin to reach the top.
     2. Get thrown towards the tower by a nearby Chuckster and then do a spin a little after reaching your peak height. This will let you land on top of one of the highest clouds if the cloud is on the same side of the tower as you. You can manipulate the timing of the cloud by rotating the camera as you approach the Chuckster. Video
3. Purple Coin Beach Dash
   • You can cut the corner around the large structure and still collect enough coins to earn the Star. Video

Chompworks

1. Where the Chomps are Made of Gold

   • There are several ways to reach the lever on the first planet. The fastest method is to run up the very edge of the ramp--staying on the edge will let you run up the ramp and do a single or double jump to the top. Video

     Another method is to triple-jump onto the ramp and then jump as soon as you land onto the ramp so you land high enough to reach the top.

     Still another method is to long-jump + spin towards the neighboring wall, and then wall-jump + spin to the top.

   • Long-jump into the first Launch Star to completely prevent a landing stun on the 2nd planet. Video

   • On the 3rd planet, briefly land on the left side of the seesaw while on your way to the lever. This will lower the left side of the seesaw to let the first Chomp pass.Video

2. Spring into the Chompworks
   • The Spring Mushroom on the first planet can be skipped by reaching the top of the ramp with the same methods used in the first Star.
   • The Spring Mushroom on the second planet can be skipped by simply jumping over/around the rolling Chomps and climbing to the Launch Star with triple-jumps or wall-jumps.
   • While it's possible to climb the last planet without the Spring Mushroom, it's faster to use the Spring Mushroom as intended.
3. Cosmic Clones in the Chompworks
4. Green Star 1
5. Green Star 2
   • This Star can be reached by doing a boosted long-jump off of the reversible platforms. Video
6. Green Star 3
   • This Star can be reached by squeezing between a rotating peg and the tower on the right with the Spring Mushroom. Video

Sweet Mystery

1. Bulb Berry's Mysterious Glow

   • The Flipswitches can be skipped by infinite fluttering to the last planet.

     The optimal infinite flutter route involves bouncing off Bulb Berries (while tapping B) or Smeeches to maintain the infinite flutter from the beginning to the Star. [1] If getting the Comet Medal, the flutter can be aligned with a couple Bulb Berries to flutter continuously from the Medal to the Star. Video

2. Bulb Berry's Purple Coin Glow

Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet

• From the first Life Mushroom, a damage boost off a lava wall can be used to reach the other side of the stage. There are a couple ways to do this:
  1. Get the Life Mushroom, and then damage off the lava wall to the right. Immediately turn right and keep bouncing off the lava until enough speed has been built up to reach the upside-down gravity on the other side of the level and land on the platform with the Whomps . Video
  2. There is a thin strip of lava wall along the bottom of the platform where the Life Mushroom is. Starting the damage boost off this lava wall can allow you to land ahead of the Whomps. [2]

• "Behind the castle" Video - This skips the first 2D section and can be an alternative to the above lava boost if getting the Comet Medal. Get the Life Mushroom and then jump on top of the Question Block before the first checkpoint. Get on top of the tower with the spiky dome by either long-jumping or backflipping towards the tower and then doing a wall-jump. If you maintain traction after landing on the dome, run to the other side of the structure. If you start slipping, you can slowly make your way to the other side by sliding off the dome and then spinning back on to the dome repeatedly.

  Once you're behind the structure, hop across the lava to the right. Be warned that if you are too far away from the camera, you will fall off the stage, while being too close to the camera will cause you to get stuck and die.

  Possible consistency methods:

  1. To prevent slipping on top of the dome, try to land on one of the spikes. Alternatively, it looks like landing as close to the base of the dome as possible can also prevent slipping.
  2. To avoid dying while lava hopping, start by being as close to the wall as possible and then hold straight right. When you pass behind the Comet Medal, hold up-right for as long as it takes Mario/Luigi to cross the length of one floor tile, and then hold right again.
• "Double Lock" - Two of the locks on Bowser's gate can be destroyed with a single meteorite if you ground-pound the meteorite at a precise spot. While Double Lock can be done in any of the Bowser Galaxies, it is easiest in Gravity Gauntlet because the Launch Star lines you up almost perfectly. Hold directly up while approaching the meteorite and position the ground pound slightly below the center of the white blast mark for a decent chance of hitting 2 locks.
• When Bowser summons the first set of meteorites, wait until the last second to ground-pound a meteorite in order to cancel Bowser's next punching attack.

World 5

Space Storm

1. Follow Me, Bob-omb
   • After luring the Bob-omb to break the glass dome, you can long-jump down into the Launch Star to skip running around the planet.
2. To the Top of Topman's Tower
   • Video reference for this Star.
   • After landing on the main planet, jump on top of the wall to the left with a backflip/sideflip and a wall-jump. Run up along the top of this wall to reach the next level of the tower.
   • The rapidly rotating blocks near the top of the tower can be climbed without the Time Switch by backflipping off of a Thwomp as it's rising, and then wall-jumping off of the tower to land on one of the blocks in the bottom row. Without pressing the Time Switch, you'll need well-timed jumps or backflips to get through the blocks. Alternatively, you can reach the Time Switch above the Thwomps with a backflip off a Thwomp.
   • The Star can be reached with a triple-jump + spin rather than defeating the Topmen.
3. C'mere, Topman

Slipsand

1. Squizzard's Sandy Sinkhole
   • On the sand slide, you can get pushed along by a Rhomp (the rolling cylinders) if you position yourself exactly on its edge.
   • With the quick fireballs trick, you can simply stand in-place during the boss fight. Video
2. Sailing the Sandy Seas
   • After entering the pipe, you can reach the exit directly with a backflip and a wall-jump. Video
3. Squizzard's Daredevil Run
   • As in the first Star, the quick fireballs trick can simplify this fight.

Shiverburn

1. Prince Pikante's Peppery Mood
   • After getting the first Cloud Flower, the second planet can be reached from the starting point with long-jumps and a couple of clouds. This will place you near the second Launch Star and let you skip most of the first 2 planets. Video
   • You can skip defeating the 5 large Octopuses by long-jumping to the ice platforms behind them. Video
   • Prince Pikante has an attack where he shoots a volley of fireballs and a couple of coconuts into the air. While Pikante is shooting upwards, triple-jump up to his snout and continuously shake the Wiimote. With correct timing, your spin will hit one of the coconuts and hit Pikante. Video
     • The above strategy is not completely consistent. The next best alternative is to skip the first coconut and attack with the second. This will cancel Prince Pikante's attack of firing upwards, which takes a lot of time.
2. Octo-Army Icy Rainbow Romp
   • Running at full speed with the Rainbow Star moves just as fast as ice skating, but running lets you make sharper turns. Video
3. The Chimp's Ultimate Skating Challenge
   • The pipe leading to The Chimp can be reached from the first Cloud Flower with long-jumps and clouds.

Boo Moon

1. Silver Stars Pop-Up
   • On the second planet, a portion of the Snake Block section can be skipped. On the second Snake Block (the one after the checkpoint), long-jump off of it to reach the next Snake Block as soon as possible. Make the planet fold, and then long-jump back to the previous Snake Block. Stand on the left edge of this Snake Block as it rises upwards. When the gravity changes, Mario should be standing on the left side of the Snake Block. Long-jump upward + spin to reach the Launch Star. Video
2. Haunting the Howling Tower
3. The Star in the Sinking Swamp
   • The Hidden Star can be reached with a long-jump + spin soon after the fast Snake Block starts moving.

Upside Dizzy

1. A Walk on the Weird Side
   • The Gravity Switch at the end of the first room can be skipped by doing a backflip, wall-jumping off the left-hand wall, bouncing off a Paragoomba, and spinning up to the pipe. Video
2. Burning Upside Dizzy

Fleet Glide

Bowser Jr.'s Boom Bunker

1. Bowser Jr.'s Boomsday Machine
   • The first cannon shot can be aimed at the left-hand Boomerang Bro.'s head. Video This will defeat the Boomerang Bro. and land you on the planet.
   • The second cannon shot can be aimed just a bit above the top of the next planet. Video
2. Boomsday Machine Daredevil Run
   • As in the first Star, the first cannon shot can be aimed at the left-hand Boomerang Bro.'s head.

World 6

Melty Monster

1. The Magnificent Magma Sea
   • Most portions of the second planet can be skipped by long-jumping down the middle of the area. When bypassing the poles, long-jump into the Life Mushroom and hop across the lava to the next set of platforms.
   • Most of the whirlwinds at the end of the second planet can be skipped. Instead of entering the first whirlwind, you can backflip + spin up to the next level, and then lava hop to the third whirlwind. The third whirlwind can give you enough height to reach the trapeze.
2. A Stroll Down Rolling Lane
   • On the "reverse-C" shaped platform, you can hop across the innermost gap by jumping at the very edge of the platform. Video
   • You can cut across the zig-zag near the end of the level with a few well timed jumps. Video
3. The Chimp's Bowling Challenge
4. Green Star 1
5. Green Star 2
6. Green Star 3
   • This Star can be reached with several midair Rock Mushroom jumps. Video

Clockwork Ruins

1. Time for Adventure
   • On the second planet, the gravity switch can be reached by backflipping out of the planet and wall-jumping off of the walls facing the camera. Video After hitting the gravity switch, you can jump out of the planet again with a backflip and a wall-jump, and then easily reach the switch that frees the Luma.
   • On the last planet, you can skip the spikes with a backflip and wall-jump. After climbing the pegs, the ground-pound block can be skipped with another backflip and wall-jump. Video
   • The last ground-pound switch can be skipped by backflipping off the lift just before it reaches the top and then using a series of sideways wall-jumps to reach the top of the block that deploys the millstones. Video
2. The Adventure of the Purple Coins
3. The Ledge Hammer Trap
   • Almost the entire hammer planet can be skipped by triple-jumping and then wall-jumping up to the Star. Video

Throwback

1. Return of the Whomp King
   • You can use the Whomp glitch at the top of the stage to clip through the floor and enter the boss area. Video
2. Silver Stars in the Whomp Fortress
3. Whomp Silver Star Speed Run

Battle Belt

• It's possible to triple jump from the Urchin planet to the Crabber planet Video. It's also possible to bounce off a Crabber with a homing ground pound to reach the Starshroom Video. However, using the Fire Flower can still be faster if you can defeat all 3 Jack O' Goombas on the Pumpkin Planet while staying near the landing point.
  • For an RTA, probably the most viable option is to triple jump off the Urchin planet while getting the Fire Flower, and use fireballs to defeat the Crabbers.

1. Mini-Planet Mega-Run
   • It's possible to get the Star under the glass cage without defeating the Silver Chomps. Jump on top of the cage and repeatedly spin while mashing Z and slowly moving around. It can sometimes take a while to get the Star, but it seems best to move back and forth over the keyhole.

Flash Black

1. Jumping Around in the Dark
   • With Luigi, the first planet can be climbed without Yoshi and the Blimp Fruit. Video
2. Dark Octo-Army Romp
   • Yoshi is hidden in one of the crystals near the end of the stage. Try to use Yoshi's ability to eat multiple enemies at once.

Slimy Spring

Bowser's Galaxy Generator

• In a full-game run, after unlocking the 70-Star node on the World Map, use the pointer to select Galaxy Generator to skip the cutscene that normally plays as you approach the Galaxy. Video
• You can skip defeating the Hammer Bros. near the beginning of the level by long-jumping into the pit of lava below and hitting the closest wall of lava. By hitting the wall, you will bounce off of it with enough speed to carry you to the Drill. Video
• You can skip most parts of the planet with the Banzai Bills by jumping on top of the first Banzai Bill Blaster and then long-jumping towards the Launch Star. Video

• The last section of the level can be skipped with infinite flutter. Video After getting Yoshi, flutter onto the right-hand wall of the large structure. Run to the far edge of the wall, and then start fluttering towards Bowser's gate. Once you're past the third spire, dismount to land near the pole. A well aimed infinite flutter and a properly timed dismount can place you at the top of the pole.

  Take care not to gain too much height during this flutter, or else you will get caught by the gravitational field of the previous planet. If this happens, you will likely get stuck and will need to exit the level.

• Two of the locks on Bowser's gate can be destroyed with a single meteorite if you ground-pound the meteorite at a precise spot.
• When Bowser summons the first set of meteorites, wait until the last second to ground-pound a meteorite in order to cancel Bowser's next punching attack.

World S

Mario Squared

Rolling Coaster

Twisty Trials

Stone Cyclone

• From the starting point, a long-jump to the right will let you skip the first section of the level. Alternatively, from the starting point, run straight forward and then long-jump to the moving bar-shaped blocks near the Comet Medal.
• Most of the path leading to the Star can be skipped. At the first bend in this path, long-jump towards the platform under the Star. When you get close to the platform, spin and wall-jump off of the side of the platform. Video

Boss Blitz

Flip-Out

• After the first pipe, a Mega Sideflip can be used to reach the blocks above. Video

• After the second checkpoint, approach the next set of blue blocks while they're popped out. Video While you're next to one of them, do a sideflip/backflip towards the back wall, spin, wall-jump, and then spin again to land on top of the blue block. If you land on the left-hand block, long-jump to the one on the right.

  From the blue block on the right, do another sideflip/backflip towards the back wall, spin, wall-jump, and spin again to land on top of the wall. From here, travel to the right with a series of backflips and wall-jumps to reach the chamber containing the Star. You can enter the chamber by long-jumping down-right and then spinning backwards.

Grandmaster

• In the section with the Pull Stars, you can go under the electrical wires by falling for a bit and then pulling yourself back up with a Pull Star ahead of you. Before you reach the Pull Star, release the A button to float upwards for a bit and then grab the next Pull Star to pass over the next set of electrical wires and obstacles. Video