Pays des Sables : le plus grand royaume d'Odyssey

Sand Kingdom: Odyssey's largest realm

1327 mots | Temps de lecture : 6 minute(s)

Under a scorching sun, between giant cacti and pyramids, the Sand Kingdom (Sand Kingdom in the original version) is the largest kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey. At its heart, the oasis village of Tostarena watches over a gravity-defying pyramid.

Mayan ruins, sunglass-wearing statues, and a Day of the Dead atmosphere: this desert, inspired by Mexico, hides two formidable bosses and one of the game's largest reserves of collectibles. Follow the guide.

Summary

Tostarena, heart of Odyssey's largest kingdom

The Sand Kingdom is the third stop on Mario's journey in Super Mario Odyssey, after the Cap and Cascade Kingdoms. It is also the game's first truly large kingdom—and it remains, quite simply, the largest.

At its center stands Tostarena (Tostarena in the original version), a colorful oasis village. Its vibrant inhabitants, dressed as festive skeletons, are a direct nod to the Mexican Day of the Dead.

However, the initial impression is surprising: the desert is not scorching, it is frozen. A cold wave has covered the entire region with ice pillars, and the great pyramid has fallen into the hands of Bowser's minions. Freeing the kingdom will melt the ice and return the sand to its warmth.

The Inverted Pyramid, echo of Chichén Itzá

The kingdom's emblematic monument is an Inverted Pyramid: a huge hexagonal structure with its point facing downwards, like an inverted version of Chichén Itzá, the famous Mayan site in Yucatán, Mexico.

The entire art direction embraces its Mesoamerican roots: stone ruins, carved glyphs, pottery, and the warm palette of the Day of the Dead. You even encounter Moe-Eye (Moe-Eye), strange statues wearing sunglasses that evoke the moai of Easter Island.

Their purpose is clever: by Cappy-morphing into a Moe-Eye thanks to Cappy, Mario puts on its glasses and reveals invisible platforms, coins, and blocks. Without them, it's impossible to navigate certain transparent labyrinths in the kingdom.

Hariet and Knucklotec: the two guardians of the desert

The Sand Kingdom features two boss battles, one at the very top, the other at the very bottom.

At the summit of the Inverted Pyramid, Hariet awaits, a member of the Broodals, the rabbit gang hired by Bowser to orchestrate his forced marriage to Peach. Adorned with explosive pigtails, she bombards Mario with spiky bombs that she twirls like a lasso. Defeating her yields a Multi-Moon.

Much further down, in a frozen underground temple, slumbers Knucklotec (Knucklotec in VO): a stone colossus with floating hands, directly inspired by the Olmec colossal heads. This guardian pounds the ground with his giant fists; you must turn his own attacks against him to defeat him and claim the kingdom's second Multi-Moon.

Jaxi, Sphynx, and Moe-Eye: a desert full of secrets

The Tostarena desert is a huge playground, and it's full of unique curiosities.

To cross the dunes without getting exhausted, Mario can ride Jaxi, a stone lion statue that speeds across the sand. You also encounter the Sphynx, a traveling sphinx that poses riddles: a correct answer earns you a Power Moon.

Add to this the Moe-Eye's transparent labyrinths, pipes that switch the game to retro 2D style, ruins to climb, and frozen nooks: few kingdoms in Odyssey are as dense with secrets to uncover.

89 Moons and 100 Pyramid Coins: the richest kingdom

When it comes to collectibles, the Sand Kingdom crushes the competition. It boasts 89 distinct Moons: 87 classic Power Moons and 2 Multi-Moons.

A small counting subtlety to know: since each Multi-Moon is worth 3 Moons on the in-game counter, the displayed total climbs to 93. This places this kingdom among the most well-stocked in Odyssey, just behind the Mushroom Kingdom.

In addition to this harvest, there are 100 regional coins in the shape of small purple pyramids, hidden throughout the desert. During the first visit, about sixty Moons and the two Multi-Moons are already within reach; the rest are only unlocked at the end of the game, once new passages are opened.

Sombrero, poncho, and cowboy outfits at Crazy Cap

Pyramid Coins can only be exchanged in the Sand Kingdom. Head to the Crazy Cap shop in Tostarena, where they can buy Western and Mexican-themed outfits not found elsewhere:

  • Sombrero — 5 regional coins
  • Poncho — 10 regional coins
  • Cowboy Hat — 20 regional coins
  • Cowboy Outfit — 25 regional coins

The same shop offers stickers and souvenirs to customize the Odyssey, Mario's hat-shaped airship. You can leave the game's largest desert with a complete look and a decorated ship.

🌵 Want to extend the adventure? Discover our selection of items inspired by the Super Mario Odyssey universe.

The desert also teems with iconic enemies like Pokey.

Sand Kingdom in brief

Name (FR) Pays des Sables
Name (EN) Sand Kingdom
Name (JP) 砂の国 (Suna no Kuni)
Village Tostarena (Tostarena)
Game Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
Boss Hariet, then Knucklotec (Knucklotec)
Power Moons 89 (87 + 2 Multi-Moons, for a total of 93 on the counter)
Regional Coins 100 (pyramid-shaped)

🍄 Want to extend the adventure? Discover our Mario posters in the shop.

FAQ

  • Where is the Sand Kingdom located in Super Mario Odyssey?
    It is the third kingdom visited, after the Cap and Cascade Kingdoms. It is also the largest kingdom in the entire game, centered around the oasis village of Tostarena.
  • Who are the bosses of the Sand Kingdom?
    Two bosses. First Hariet, a Broodal with explosive pigtails, at the top of the Inverted Pyramid. Then Knucklotec (Knucklotec in original version), a stone colossus with floating hands, in the frozen underground temple.
  • How many Power Moons does the kingdom contain?
    89 distinct Moons: 87 Power Moons and 2 Multi-Moons. Since each Multi-Moon is worth 3 Moons on the counter, the displayed total reaches 93, one of the highest in the game.
  • Why is the desert frozen upon arrival?
    A cold wave has covered the region with ice pillars and the Inverted Pyramid is in the hands of Bowser's minions. Freeing the kingdom melts the ice and returns the desert to its warmth.
  • What is the village called and what is it inspired by?
    The oasis village is called Tostarena (Tostarena in the original version). Like the entire kingdom, it is inspired by Mexico and Mesoamerica, with a Day of the Dead atmosphere.
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