Much of the following information (especially about unlocking conditions) is from the Japanese-language Shogakukan guidebook for SMG2. Please note that mistranslations may be possible, and not all of the information has been confirmed for correctness. Route planners are encouraged to test any information that looks out of place.
Comets
- Comets won't appear until you have collected 4 stars from World 3.
- A comet will be unlocked in a galaxy when you've:
- Completed all the normal scenarios (excluding secret scenarios) in that galaxy.
- This means completing all the stars that come before the comet star in the galaxy's star-select screen. The star-select screen always displays normal stars first, then comet stars, then secret stars (see Puzzle Plank Galaxy as an example).
- Collected the comet medal in that galaxy.
- Collected enough comet medals to unlock the comet. (See Worlds section below for requirements specific to each comet.)
- A comet will not be immediately unlocked in a galaxy if:
- You just completed a non-secret star in that galaxy.
- There are already three comets in orbit (unlocked, but not finished) in that particular World. (Up to 3 comets are allowed in orbit per World.)
Banktoad, Star Bits
- The banktoad is unlocked at 7 stars.
- The bank's star-bit storage is shared across all three game files. This means that when you start a new file, and play to the point where you unlock the banktoad, you can withdraw star bits from the bank that you deposited from another file.
- The bank can hold up to 9999 star bits.
- A note about star bits- when starting a new account, the banktoad will have 100 more than the amount you put in on your other account.
Star Bit requirements for each category
- 71-star: 0 star bits are required, strictly speaking; but some Hungry Luma galaxies have short stars, such as Honeybloom's secret star, so it may be worth it to feed some of these Hungry Lumas.
- 120-star: 8500 star bits (300 + 700 + 1000 + 1200 + 1500 + 1800 + 2000) are required to feed all the Hungry Lumas on the World maps.
- For a 242-star run, unlocking the final scenario requires having 9999 star bits in the star bit bank.
- However, it has not been confirmed whether you need 9999 star bits at the point of getting 241 stars, or just at any time during the run.
- If at any time, then this category requires 9999 star bits, as you can just collect and deposit 9999 star bits before feeding any Hungry Lumas.
- If at the moment of getting 241 stars, then this category requires 8500 + 9999 = 18499 star bits.
Mailtoad
- Unlocked at 13 stars.
- Some of the Chimp's challenges (Fluffy Bluff, Honeyhop, Slimy Spring) and Fluzzard races (Wild Glide, Fleet Glide) are unlocked by reading Mailtoad letters. These letters will arrive when certain requirements are met. See the Worlds section for these requirements.
Luigi
- Just like in SMG1, Luigi has faster running speed, longer long jumps, and generally higher and longer jumps than Mario.
- Luigi starts appearing at the beginning of levels when you've collected 3 stars from World 3.
- Despite the fact that Luigi is better than Mario for speedruns (see first point), it is most likely not worth it to switch to Luigi within a level, unless Luigi is required for a very large shortcut. Additionally, Luigi's appearances seem to be random, though this has not been confirmed.
- Luigi won't appear in certain scenarios, such as timed comet stars, daredevil comet stars, and Bowser or Bowser Jr. levels.
- After you clear Star 1 of Bowser's Galaxy Generator, you will be able to switch to Luigi at at any time in Starship Mario, and Luigi will stop appearing at the beginning of levels.
World Maps and Star Requirements
World 1
| Galaxy
|
Star
|
Notes
|
| Sky Station
|
3. Peewee Piranha's Speed Run
|
Needs 5 comet medals
|
| Yoshi Star
|
3. Spiny Rainbow Romp
|
Needs 2 comet medals
|
| Spin-Dig
|
3. Digga-Leg's Daredevil Run
|
Needs 3 comet medals
|
| Fluffy Bluff
|
2. The Chimp's Stomp Challenge
|
Available after a Mailtoad letter, which needs 15 stars
|
| Flip-Swap
|
2. Purple Coin Flip 'n' Sprint
|
Needs 8 comet medals, and need to complete Puzzle Plank - 2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
|
| Bowser Jr.'s Fiery Flotilla
|
2. Fiery Flotilla Speed Run
|
Needs 20 comet medals
|
World 2
| Galaxy
|
Star
|
Notes
|
| Puzzle Plank
|
2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
|
Needs 4 comet medals, and need to complete Cloudy Court - 2. The Shadow Lining
|
| Hightail Falls
|
2. Hightail Falls Speed Run
|
Needs 10 comet medals
|
| Boulder Bowl
|
2. Rolling Crabber Romp
|
Needs 6 comet medals
|
| Boulder Bowl
|
3. C'mere, Goomba
|
Available after a Mailtoad letter, which needs completing Chompworks - 1. Where the Chomps Are Made of Gold and Boulder Bowl - 1. Rock and Rollodillo
|
| Wild Glide
|
2. Jungle Fluzzard Race
|
Available after a Mailtoad letter, which needs completing Beat Block - 1. Step to the Beep
|
| Bowser's Lava Lair
|
2. Lava Lair Speed Run
|
Needs 22 comet medals
|
World 3
| Galaxy
|
Star
|
Notes
|
| Tall Trunk
|
3. Tall Trunk's Purple Coin Slide
|
Needs 9 comet medals, and need to complete Puzzle Plank - 2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
|
| Cloudy Court
|
2. The Shadow Lining
|
Needs 1 comet medal
|
| Haunty Halls
|
3. Spooky Cosmic Clone Chase
|
Needs 12 comet medals, and need to complete Cloudy Court - 2. The Shadow Lining
|
| Rolling Masterpiece
|
2. Masterpiece Speed Run
|
Needs 10 comet medals
|
| Beat Block
|
2. Silver Stars in Double Time
|
Needs 31 comet medals
|
| Bowser Jr.'s Fearsome Fleet
|
2. Megahammer's Daredevil Bash
|
Needs 27 comet medals
|
World 4
| Galaxy
|
Star
|
Notes
|
| Supermassive
|
2. Big Wigglers Speed Run
|
Needs 15 comet medals
|
| Flipsville
|
3. Purple Coin Spin Speed Run
|
Needs 11 comet medals, and need to complete Puzzle Plank - 2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
|
| Starshine Beach
|
3. Purple Coin Beach Dash
|
Needs 28 comet medals, and need to complete Puzzle Plank - 2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
|
| Chompworks
|
3. Cosmic Clones in the Chompworks
|
Needs 18 comet medals, and need to complete Cloudy Court - 2. The Shadow Lining
|
| Sweet Mystery
|
2. Bulb Berry's Purple Coin Glow
|
Needs 14 comet medals, and need to complete Puzzle Plank - 2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
|
| Honeyhop
|
2. The Chimp's Score Challenge
|
Available after a Mailtoad letter, which needs completing Clockwork Ruins - 1. Time for Adventure
|
| Bowser's Gravity Gauntlet
|
2. Gravity Star Speed Run
|
Needs 32 comet medals
|
World 5
| Galaxy
|
Star
|
Notes
|
| Space Storm
|
3. C'mere, Topman
|
Available after a Mailtoad letter, which needs completing Boo Moon - 1. Silver Stars Pop-Up and Space Storm - 2. To the Top of Topman's Tower
|
| Slipsand
|
3. Squizzard's Daredevil Run
|
Needs 19 comet medals
|
| Shiverburn
|
2. Octo-Army Icy Rainbow Romp
|
Needs 16 comet medals
|
| Fleet Glide
|
2. Fastest Feathers in the Galaxy
|
Available after a Mailtoad letter, which needs completing Battle Belt - 1. Mini-Planet Mega-Run
|
| Bowser Jr.'s Boom Bunker
|
2. Boomsday Machine Daredevil Run
|
Needs 34 comet medals
|
World 6
| Galaxy
|
Star
|
Notes
|
| Clockwork Ruins
|
2. The Adventure of the Purple Coins
|
Needs 26 comet medals, and need to complete Puzzle Plank - 2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
|
| Throwback
|
3. Whomp Silver Star Speed Run
|
Needs 24 comet medals
|
| Battle Belt
|
2. Mini-Planet Daredevil Run
|
Needs 30 comet medals
|
| Flash Black
|
2. Dark Octo-Army Romp
|
Needs 23 comet medals
|
| Slimy Spring
|
2. The Chimp's Coin Challenge
|
Available after a Mailtoad letter, which needs completing Bowser's Galaxy Generator - 2. Bowser's Big Bad Speed Run
|
| Bowser's Galaxy Generator
|
2. Bowser's Big Bad Speed Run
|
Needs 36 comet medals
|
World S
| Galaxy
|
Star
|
Notes
|
| Mario Squared
|
2. Luigi's Purple Coin Chaos
|
Needs 38 comet medals, and need to complete Cloudy Court - 2. The Shadow Lining
|
| Rolling Coaster
|
2. Purple Coins on the Rainbow Road
|
Needs 40 comet medals, and need to complete Puzzle Plank - 2. Purple Coin Shadow Vault
|
| Twisty Trials
|
2. Turning Turning Double Time
|
Needs 42 comet medals
|
| Stone Cyclone
|
2. Tox Box Speed Run
|
Needs 46 comet medals
|
| Boss Blitz
|
2. Throwback Throwdown Speed Run
|
Needs 48 comet medals
|
| Flip-Out
|
2. Cosmic Clone Wall Jumpers
|
Needs 44 comet medals, and need to complete Cloudy Court - 2. The Shadow Lining
|
| Grandmaster
|
1. The Ultimate Test
|
Needs 240 stars
|
| Grandmaster
|
2. The Perfect Run
|
Needs 241 stars, and needs 9999 star bits in Banktoad's storage
|
Starship Events
This section summarizes all the post-star Starship events and how they are triggered. There may be some overlap of information with the previous Route Planning sections.
After particular stars
New characters on the Starship
These events place Mario/Luigi at the bottom of the Starship unless otherwise noted.
| After this Star
|
New character(s)
|
| Yoshi Star 1
|
Yoshi (places Mario in front of the helm)
|
| Spin-Dig 1
|
Toad Brigade
|
| Flip-Swap 1
|
Star Bunny
|
| Boulder Bowl S
|
Gearmo
|
| Cosmic Cove 2
|
Penguin
|
| Wild Glide race
|
Jibberjay
|
| Honeybloom S
|
Bee
|
| Tall Trunk 2
|
Whittle
|
| Space Storm S
|
Gearmo
|
| Melty Monster 1
|
Second Lumalee
|
| Throwback 1
|
Bob-omb Buddy
|
New power-ups
These place Mario/Luigi into the engine room unless otherwise noted.
| After this Star
|
New power-up
|
| Spin-Dig 2
|
Spin Drill
|
| Fluffy Bluff 1
|
Cloud Flower
|
| Boulder Bowl 1
|
Rock Mushroom
|
| Starshine Beach 2
|
Usable Cloud Flower (places Mario at the bottom of the Starship)
|
| Chompworks 2
|
Spring Mushroom
|
| Honeyhop 1
|
Bee Mushroom
|
| Upside Dizzy S
|
Fire Flower
|
New Mailtoad letters
Letter-arrival cutscenes place Mario/Luigi by the Mailtoad.
| Star(s) required
|
Letter
|
| Boulder Bowl C
|
Rosalina letter with 50 star bits
|
| Beat Block 1 and Wild Glide 1
|
Jibberjay's letter for Wild Glide 2
|
| Flipsville 1
|
Rosalina letter with 50 star bits
|
| Chompworks 1 and Boulder Bowl 1
|
Gearmo's letter for Boulder Bowl S
|
| Boo Moon 1 and Space Storm 2
|
Gearmo's letter for Space Storm S
|
| Shiverburn 1
|
Rosalina letter with 50 star bits
|
Others
This leaves Mario/Luigi in front of the helm.
| After this Star
|
Event
|
| Sky Station 2 or Yoshi Star 2
|
Lubba mentions co-op mode
|
After a certain number of stars
Unless otherwise noted, the events in this section and the next leave Mario/Luigi in front of the helm.
| Number of Stars
|
Event
|
| 7 Stars
|
Banktoad appears
|
| 13 Stars
|
Mailtoad appears
|
| 15 Stars
|
The Chimp's letter for Fluffy Bluff 2 (places Mario by Mailtoad)
|
| 16 Stars
|
Sign by Starship helm (places Mario at the bottom of the Starship)
|
Others
| Condition
|
Event
|
| First Star in World 2
|
Lubba explains the Grand World Map
|
| First Star in World 3
|
First Lumalee boards Starship
|
| Third Star in World 3
|
Luigi appears (places Mario by the Luigi door)
|
| Fourth Star in World 3
|
Lubba mentions comets
|
