Caps, items and movement abilities
Understand the original N64 power-ups and the movement tools behind difficult stars.
Original Nintendo 64 game with 120 Power Stars; not Super Mario 64 DS.
| Entry | Role or use |
|---|---|
| Wing Cap | Timed flight |
| Metal Cap | Weight and protection |
| Vanish Cap | Passing through certain barriers |
| Cannons | Long-distance launches |
| Coins | Healing and course objectives |
| Long jump and backflip | Distance versus height |
| Wall kick and ground pound | Vertical routes and switches |
Wing Cap
Timed flight. Activate the red switch to make red cap blocks solid. Take off with a triple jump or cannon launch, then manage dives and climbs rather than expecting unlimited upward flight.
Metal Cap
Weight and protection. The green cap lets Mario sink and resist many hazards. Its time limit makes the route to underwater switches important; decide where to go before collecting it.
Vanish Cap
Passing through certain barriers. The blue cap allows passage through compatible obstacles. It does not make every wall traversable, so look for the intended grate or barrier.
Cannons
Long-distance launches. Speak to the pink Bob-omb Buddy associated with a cannon to open it. Aim slightly above a distant landing point and avoid treating a dangerous first shot as a precision shortcut.
Coins
Healing and course objectives. Yellow, red and blue coins have different values. Build a route for the 100-coin star and collect that star when it appears before leaving the course.
Long jump and backflip
Distance versus height. A running crouch-jump covers distance; a stationary crouch-jump gains height. Practise both on flat ground so the wrong movement does not launch you off a ledge.
Wall kick and ground pound
Vertical routes and switches. Wall kicks require timing after contact, while ground pounds strike downward. Some obstacles respond to a specific move rather than repeated ordinary jumps.
This is a curated reference to important entries, not a complete database. Follow the edition note: later remakes may change availability, names or mechanics.