Editing The Secret Under the Moat

{{course infobox
|area=Vanish Cap Under the Moat (N64) / The Secret Under the Moat (DS)
|image=[[File:SM64 Vanish Cap Under The Moat.png|200px]]<br>''Super Mario 64''<br>[[File:SM64DS Secret Moat.png|200px]]<br>''Super Mario 64 DS''
|unlock=Clear [[Bowser in the Dark World]] to access the basement and drain the castle's moat. (N64) / Clear [[Chief Chilly Challenge]] to unlock [[Wario]] and drain the castle's moat. (DS)
|stars='''''Super Mario 64'':'''<br>{{icon|SM64-Star}}<br>'''''Super Mario 64 DS'':'''<br>{{icon|SM64DS-Star}}{{icon|SM64DS-Star}}
}}
'''Vanish Cap Under the Moat''' (called the '''Vanish Cap Switch Course''' in the message that appears upon the player first entering the course) is a secret course that contains the [[Cap Switch|Vanish Cap Switch]] in ''[[Super Mario 64]]''. In order to access the course, [[Mario]] must drain the [[water]] in the moat of the [[Peach's Castle|Mushroom Castle]] by [[Ground Pound|ground-pounding]] two [[brick pillar]]s in the basement, then go outside through the newly exposed door. After he does so, there is a hole in the drained moat by the waterfall that warps him to the course.

In ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'', the course was retitled '''The Secret Under the Moat''', and the Cap Switch was removed. However, a second [[Power Star]] was added. Also, a [[Block (Super Mario 64)|Black Brick]] (in a rectangular shape, containing three [[coin]]s) covers the entrance to the course, requiring only [[Wario]]'s strength to enter. This is one of the three secret [[level]]s in the remake that only one certain character can access, the others being [[Chief Chilly Challenge]] for [[Luigi]] and [[Bowser in the Sky]] for Mario. There is a known [[glitch]] that, when performed, allows any character to enter the moat by going out of bounds at high speeds.<ref>{{cite|url=www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtjFf1cZc6o|title=''Super Mario 64 DS'' - The Secret under the Moat without Wario|publisher=YouTube|language=en|accessdate=August 7, 2024|date=January 16, 2018|author=Really_Tall}}</ref>

==Layout==
[[File:SM64DS Secret Under The Moat Map.png|left|frame|Map of The Secret Under the Moat in ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]'']]
When Mario first enters the course, he is atop a large slide, with several ledges located scattered throughout. Upon entering, Mario is also [[Vanish Mario]], though nothing happens to Wario in the DS remake. At the bottom of the slide is a path consisting of various moving platforms and [[seesaw|teetering platform]]s that lead to the Cap Switch. There are several [[Amp]]s and [[flame thrower (Flame Chomp)|flame thrower]]s on the path. Once Mario pushes the Vanish Cap Switch, all the [[Cap Block|blue block]]s in the game become solid, making the [[Vanish Cap]] usable. If Mario falls off, he will not lose a life, but he will come out of a gaping hole near the waterfall. In the DS version, if the player falls off, the same will happen, but the Black Brick will respawn.

==Missions==
There are two Power Stars to collect in this course, with one being exclusive to the DS remake.

===8 Red Coins===
There are eight [[Red Coin]]s in the course. The first four are located on the slide's ledges at the start, while the other four can be found along the path to the Cap Switch. The [[Star Marker]] is inside a cage next to the Cap Switch, so after collecting the final Red Coin and pushing the switch, Mario has to don a Vanish Cap to pass through the cage and get the Power Star.

In the DS version, by collecting the [[Luigi Cap]], Wario can use the [[Power Flower (Super Mario 64 DS)|Power Flower]] at the end of the course in lieu of a Vanish Cap and go through the cage to collect the Power Star. Alternatively, by collecting the [[Mario Cap]], Wario can use the Power Flower to [[Balloon Mario|float]] under a thin gap inside the cage.

===Switch Star (''DS'' only)===
In the DS version, there is a new area across the chasm at the bottom of the slide. By turning into Mario, Wario can use a Power Flower to float over to the new area. Wario can also do a precise [[Triple Jump]] and [[dive]] to reach that area. By activating the [[Star Switch]] on the platform, the Power Star appears in the [[Star Sphere]] above. Wario can reach it either by floating upwards to it or by using [[Wall Jump|Wall Kick]]s.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
SM64 Dry Moat.png|The entrance to Vanish Cap Under the Moat in the N64 version
SM64DS Dry Moat.png|The entrance to The Secret Under the Moat in the DS version
SM64 Vanish Cap Course Introduction.png|Mario becomes transparent at the start.
Blue Cap Switch Activated.png|Mario activates the Vanish Cap Switch.
Vanish Cap Switch Course Red Coins.png|Vanish Mario near a Red Coin 
SM64 Vanish Cap Moat Power Star.png|Mario obtains a Star in the level.
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
===''Super Mario 64''===
{{foreign names
|Jpn=おほりのとうめいスイッチ
|JpnR=Ohori no Tōmei Suitchi
|JpnM=Transparent Switch of the Moat
|Jpn2=とうめいスイッチのコース
|Jpn2R=Tōmei Suitchi no Kōsu
|Jpn2M=Transparent Switch Course
|Fre=Invisible sous les Douves
|FreM=Invisible under the Moat
|Ger=Blauer Schalterpalast
|GerM=Blue Switch Palace
|Chi=护城河里的隐身帽
|ChiR=Hùchénghé Lǐ de Yǐnshēnmào
|ChiM=Vanish Cap Under the Moat
|Ita=Il segreto del fossato<ref>{{cite|date=November 15, 2018|title=''[[Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia|Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia]]''|publisher=Magazzini Salani|language=it|isbn=889367436X|page=91}}</ref>
|ItaM=The secret of the moat
}}
===''Super Mario 64 DS''===
{{foreign names
|Jpn=おほりのしたのひみつ
|JpnR=Ohori no Shita no Himitsu
|JpnM=Secret Under the Moat
|Fre=Le secret des douves
|FreM=The secret of the moat
|Spa=El Secreto del Foso
|SpaM=The Secret of the Moat
|Ita=Il segreto del fossato 
|ItaM=The secret of the moat
|Ger=Geheimnis im Schloßgraben
|GerM=Secret in the castle moat
|Kor=해자밑에감춰진비밀
|KorR=Haeja Mit e Gamchwojin Bimil
|KorM=Hidden Secret Under the Moat
|ChiS=护城河下的秘密<ref>From the pause menu of the level in [[iQue]]'s localization of ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''.</ref>
|ChiSR=Hùchénghé xià de Mìmì
|ChiSM=Secret Under the Moat
}}

==References==
{{NIWA|Ukikipedia=Vanish Cap under the Moat}}
<references/>

{{SM64}}
[[Category:Sewers]]
[[Category:Secret areas]]
[[Category:Super Mario 64 locations]]
[[Category:Super Mario 64 DS locations]]
[[de:Geheimnis im Schlossgraben]]
[[it:Il segreto del fossato]]