The Secret Under the Moat

The Secret Under the Moat
Super Mario 64 Super Mario 64 DS
Area	Vanish Cap Under the Moat (N64) / The Secret Under the Moat (DS)
How to 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: Template:Chart icon Super Mario 64 DS: Template:Chart iconTemplate:Chart icon

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 Vanish Cap Switch in Super Mario 64. In order to access the course, Mario must drain the water in the moat of the Mushroom Castle by ground-pounding two brick pillars 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 Black Brick (in a rectangular shape, containing three coins) covers the entrance to the course, requiring only Wario's strength to enter. This is one of the three secret levels 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.

Layout

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 teetering platforms that lead to the Cap Switch. There are several Amps and flame throwers on the path. Once Mario pushes the Vanish Cap Switch, all the blue blocks 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 Coins 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 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 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 Kicks.

Gallery

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  The entrance to Vanish Cap Under the Moat in the N64 version

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  The entrance to The Secret Under the Moat in the DS version

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  Mario becomes transparent at the start.

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  Mario activates the Vanish Cap Switch.

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  Vanish Mario near a Red Coin

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  Mario obtains a Star in the level.

Names in other languages

Super Mario 64

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	おほりのとうめいスイッチ[?] Ohori no Tōmei Suitchi	Transparent Switch of the Moat
	とうめいスイッチのコース[?] Tōmei Suitchi no Kōsu	Transparent Switch Course
Chinese	护城河里的隐身帽[?] Hùchénghé Lǐ de Yǐnshēnmào	Vanish Cap Under the Moat
French	Invisible sous les Douves[?]	Invisible under the Moat
German	Blauer Schalterpalast[?]	Blue Switch Palace
Italian	Il segreto del fossato	The secret of the moat

Super Mario 64 DS

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	おほりのしたのひみつ[?] Ohori no Shita no Himitsu	Secret Under the Moat
Chinese (simplified)	护城河下的秘密 Hùchénghé xià de Mìmì	Secret Under the Moat
French	Le secret des douves[?]	The secret of the moat
German	Geheimnis im Schloßgraben[?]	Secret in the castle moat
Italian	Il segreto del fossato[?]	The secret of the moat
Korean	해자밑에감춰진비밀[?] Haeja Mit e Gamchwojin Bimil	Hidden Secret Under the Moat
Spanish	El Secreto del Foso[?]	The Secret of the Moat