Super Mario Bros. 3 World 2: Desert Land
The five numbered courses share the map with a fortress, a separate desert course and the pyramid. The desert’s sand and pursuing Sun make this world feel very different from Grass Land.
- Levels
- 9 (5 courses, 1 fortress, 1 desert course, 1 pyramid, 1 airship)
- Boss
- Morton Koopa Jr.
- Theme
- Quicksand, the Angry Sun and a hidden map branch
Map at a glance
- Hammer Bro battles
- Two Boomerang Brothers: Hammer and Music Box. Two hidden Fire Brothers: the third Warp Whistle
- White Toad House
- Finish 2-2 with 30 coins: Anchor. A hidden P Switch over the oasis helps.
- Special Toad House
- A hidden Toad House on the Fire Brothers’ branch holds a Frog Suit.
- Warp Whistle
- Beat the hidden Fire Brothers past the upper-right rock. Route
- Princess’s letter
- Jugem’s Cloud
All 9 World 2 levels
2-1DesertBrick stacks conceal Pile Driver Micro-Goombas, while Firesnakes hop across a lattice of small pipes.Foes: Pile Driver Micro-Goomba, Firesnake, Goomba, Piranha PlantFly up-left from the first pipe cluster as Raccoon Mario to a hidden room whose P Switch reveals blue coins.Power-up: Super Leaf
2-2OasisQuicksand with Venus Fire Traps leads to an oasis crossed by lift while Cheep-Cheeps leap below.Foes: Venus Fire Trap, Cheep-Cheep, Koopa ParatroopaA P Switch in the second brick over the oasis helps you get 30 coins for an Anchor White Mushroom House.Power-up: Super Leaf
2-FortressFortress · Boss: Boom BoomThwomps and Boo Diddlys make their debut in a gray fortress ending with rising and falling spiked platforms.Foes: Thwomp, Boo Diddly, Dry Bones—Power-up: Super Leaf
2-3DesertPyramid-shaped platform stacks crawling with Firesnakes, then brick pyramids hiding Pile Driver Micro-Goombas.Foes: Firesnake, Koopa Troopa, Pile Driver Micro-GoombaHidden Blocks lead above the brick pyramids, where a P Switch turns them into coins and frees a 1-Up Mushroom.Power-up: Super Leaf
2-DesertDesertAn item-free desert of quicksand, a tornado that blows you backward, and an Angry Sun that eventually swoops down.Foes: Angry Sun, Venus Fire Trap, Koopa Paratroopa—
2-4DesertTwo routes: a ground path guarded by Boomerang Brothers, and a coin-rich upper path reachable only by flying.Foes: Boomerang Brother, Koopa Troopa, Koopa Paratroopa, Venus Fire TrapFly into the bricks above the start to reach an oasis on the upper route, full of coins and hidden P Switches.Power-up: Super Leaf
2-5DesertChain Chomps debut here, lunging from their posts across semisolid platforms shared with Koopa Troopas and Goombas.Foes: Chain Chomp, Koopa Troopa, GoombaKick a shell into the enclosed bricks to sprout a vine up to a coin room with a P Switch.Power-up: Super Leaf
2-PyramidPyramidA maze inside a pyramid where you break brick walls with kicked Buzzy Beetles or a tail swipe to advance.Foes: Buzzy Beetle, Piranha Plant, Boomerang BrotherReveal a Hidden Block to clear a wall and enter an overhead pipe; its room’s P Switch turns bricks into coins.Power-up: Super Leaf
2-AirshipAirship · Boss: Morton Koopa Jr.Morton’s broken-up airship is lined with Bullet Bill cannons, and Rocky Wrenches pop up near the stern.Foes: Bullet Bill, Rocky Wrench, Cannon—Power-up: Fire FlowerRoute & preparation
- Route: Work along connected roads toward the pyramid and castle, using the fortress to remove its map lock. Before spending a Hammer, decide whether you want the third whistle.
- Bring: Save the Hammer until you are standing beside the correct rock. A Fire Flower gives you room to attack on land, while a Leaf helps with controlled landings above sand.
- Don’t miss: Use the inventory Hammer on the upper-right rock, follow the newly opened path, and beat both Fire Brothers. The nearby secret Toad House also contains a Frog Suit.
Boss: Morton Koopa Jr.
Morton moves more slowly than Larry but fires his wand more often. Leave space to dodge a shot, then jump onto his head. Three stomps recover the wand.
2-Airship: Morton’s broken-up airship is lined with Bullet Bill cannons, and Rocky Wrenches pop up near the stern.
FAQ
How many levels are in World 2 of Super Mario Bros. 3?
9 on the map: 5 numbered courses, 1 fortress and desert, pyramid and airship.
Who is the boss of World 2?
Morton Koopa Jr.. Morton moves more slowly than Larry but fires his wand more often. Leave space to dodge a shot, then jump onto his head.
What is the main secret in Desert Land?
Use the inventory Hammer on the upper-right rock, follow the newly opened path, and beat both Fire Brothers. The nearby secret Toad House also contains a Frog Suit.
Sources & picture credits
- Desert Land (Super Mario Wiki)
- World 2-1
- World 2-2
- World 2-Fortress
- World 2-3
- World 2-Desert
- World 2-4
- World 2-5
- World 2-Pyramid
- World 2-Airship
Guide text is original retrogameindex writing. Maps, screenshots, sprites and artwork © Nintendo; local copies archived from Super Mario Wiki file pages (listed on the image gallery).