Sand Kingdom: Odyssey's largest realm

LocationSand KingdomSuper Mario Odyssey

An inverted pyramid floating above the desert. Suna no Kuni in Japan, the Sand Kingdom is the largest kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey, built around the oasis town of Tostarena. This guide covers its pyramid inspired by Chichén Itzá, its two guardians — Hariet, then Knucklotec — and its secrets, from Jaxi to the Sphynx.

Under a blazing sun, among 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 town of Tostarena stands watch at the foot of a pyramid that defies gravity.

Mayan ruins, statues in sunglasses and the atmosphere of the Day of the Dead: this desert inspired by Mexico hides two fearsome bosses and one of the biggest hoards of collectibles in the game. Follow the guide.

Contents

• Tostarena, heart of Odyssey's biggest kingdom
• The Inverted Pyramid, an echo of Chichén Itzá
• Hariet and Knucklotec: the desert's two guardians
• Jaxi, Sphynx and Moe-Eyes: a desert packed with secrets
• 89 moons and 100 pyramid coins: the richest kingdom
• Sombrero, poncho and cowboy outfits at Crazy Cap
• Quick facts
• FAQ

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Tostarena, heart of Odyssey's biggest kingdom

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

At its center stands Tostarena (Tostarena in the original version), a colorful oasis town. Its residents, flamboyant and dressed as festive skeletons, are a direct nod to the Day of the Dead in Mexico.

But the first impression throws you off: the desert isn't scorching, it's frozen. A cold snap has bristled the whole region with ice pillars, and the great pyramid has fallen into the hands of the minions of Bowser. Freeing the kingdom will melt the ice and give the sand its heat back.

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The Inverted Pyramid, an echo of Chichén Itzá

The kingdom's landmark monument is an Inverted Pyramid: a huge hexagonal structure balanced point-down, like an upside-down version of Chichén Itzá, the famous Mayan site in the Yucatán, in Mexico.

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

Their gimmick is clever: by capturing a Moe-Eye with Cappy, Mario puts on its sunglasses and reveals invisible platforms, coins and blocks. Without them, some of the kingdom's transparent mazes are impossible to cross.

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Hariet and Knucklotec: the desert's two guardians

The Sand Kingdom throws two boss fights at you, one at the very top, the other at the very bottom.

At the top of the Inverted Pyramid waits Hariet, a member of the Broodals, the gang of rabbits hired by Bowser to stage his forced wedding with Peach. Sporting explosive pigtails, she pelts Mario with spike-covered bombs that she swings around like a lasso. Beating her earns a Multi Moon.

Far below, in a frozen underground temple, slumbers Knucklotec (Knucklotec in the original version): a stone colossus with floating hands, directly inspired by the colossal Olmec heads. This guardian hammers the ground with its giant fists; you have to turn its own blows against it to bring it down and pocket the second Multi Moon of the kingdom.

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Jaxi, Sphynx and Moe-Eyes: a desert packed with secrets

The Tostarena desert is a giant playground, and it's brimming with one-of-a-kind curiosities.

To cross the dunes without wearing himself out, Mario can ride Jaxi, a stone lion statue launched at full speed that skims just above the sand. You also meet the Sphynx, a traveling sphinx who asks riddles: answer correctly and it hands over a Power Moon.

Add to that the Moe-Eyes' transparent mazes, pipes that flip the game into retro-style 2D, ruins to climb and frozen nooks: few Odyssey kingdoms are this packed with secrets to uncover.

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89 moons and 100 pyramid coins: the richest kingdom

It's on the collectibles front that the Sand Kingdom crushes the competition. It holds 89 distinct moons: 87 standard Power Moons and 2 Multi Moons.

One counting quirk worth knowing: since each Multi Moon counts as 3 moons on the game's tally, the displayed total climbs to 93. Enough to place this kingdom among the best stocked in Odyssey, just behind the Mushroom Kingdom.

On top of that haul come 100 regional coins shaped like little purple pyramids, hidden all over the desert. On your first visit, about sixty moons and both Multi Moons are already within reach; the rest only unlocks in the endgame, once new passages have opened.

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Sombrero, poncho and cowboy outfits at Crazy Cap

The pyramid coins can only be spent in the Sand Kingdom. Head to the Crazy Cap shop in Tostarena, where they buy western- and Mexican-themed outfits found nowhere else:

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

The same shop sells stickers and souvenirs to customize the Odyssey, Mario's hat-shaped airship. So you leave the game's biggest desert with a complete look and a decorated ship.

🌵 Want to keep the adventure going? Discover our selection of items inspired by the world of Super Mario Odyssey.

The desert also teems with iconic enemies like the Pokey.

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The Sand Kingdom at a glance

Name (FR)	Pays des Sables
Name (EN)	Sand Kingdom
Name (JP)	砂の国 (Suna no Kuni)
Town	Tostarena
Game	Super Mario Odyssey (2017)
Bosses	Hariet, then Knucklotec
Power Moons	89 (87 + 2 Multi Moons, i.e. 93 on the counter)
Regional coins	100 (pyramid-shaped)

🍄 Want to keep the adventure going? Check out our Mario posters in the shop.

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FAQ

• Where does the Sand Kingdom fit into Super Mario Odyssey?
  It's the third kingdom you visit, after the Cap and Cascade Kingdoms. It's also the largest kingdom in the whole game, centered on the oasis town of Tostarena.
• Who are the Sand Kingdom's bosses?
  Two bosses. First Hariet, a Broodal with explosive pigtails, at the top of the Inverted Pyramid. Then Knucklotec, a stone colossus with floating hands, in the frozen underground temple.
• How many Power Moons does the kingdom hold?
  89 distinct moons: 87 Power Moons and 2 Multi Moons. Since each Multi Moon counts as 3 moons, the displayed total reaches 93, one of the highest in the game.
• Why is the desert frozen when you arrive?
  A cold snap 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 gives the desert its heat back.
• What is the town called and what inspired it?
  The oasis town is called Tostarena. Like the whole kingdom, it draws on Mexico and Mesoamerica, with a Day of the Dead atmosphere.

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