Super Mario Bros. 3 World 3: Water Land
Water Land has nine numbered courses and two fortresses. Its world map adds moving drawbridges, and its courses mix underwater travel with exposed platforms over water.
- Levels
- 12 (9 courses, 2 fortresses, 1 airship)
- Boss
- Wendy O. Koopa
- Theme
- Swimming, changing bridges and surface hazards
Map at a glance
- Hammer Bro battles
- Two Hammer Brother pairs on flooding water tiles: Hammer and Starman
- White Toad House
- Finish 3-8 with 44 coins: P-Wing. Count the coins a P Switch releases.
- Treasure Ship
- Can replace a Hammer Brother here. How to summon it
- Princess’s letter
- Music Box
All 12 World 3 levels
ScreenLevelWhat to expectSecret / tip
3-1UnderwaterA swim past Bloobers and fireball-spitting Lava Lotuses, with bubble-jet pipes pushing you around.Foes: Bloober, Lava LotusIn the lower section, Jump Blocks bounce you toward a 1-Up Mushroom ringed with coins.Power-up: Fire Flower
3-2Sea liftsRail lifts carry you over open sea while Cheep-Cheeps leap high trying to knock you off.Foes: Cheep-Cheep, Koopa Paratroopa, Venus Fire TrapA P Switch turns coins beside the Venus Fire Trap pipe into bricks, letting you reach a Hidden Block with a 1-Up.Power-up: Fire Flower
3-3TidesFloating platforms rise and sink with the tide while Boss Bass circles below, ready to swallow you whole.Foes: Boss Bass, Cheep-Cheep, Koopa TroopaSkip the exit pipe and keep going right to a platform where a brick holds a 1-Up Mushroom.Power-up: Fire Flower
3-Fortress 1Fortress · Boss: Boom BoomA fortress of many doors; most drop you into a flooded basement, and only the right route reaches Boom Boom.Foes: Thwomp, Dry Bones, Roto-Disc, Boo DiddlyThe fourth door leads to a platform above the basement water with a ? Block holding a 1-Up Mushroom.Power-up: Super Leaf
3-4PlainsGrassy seaside slopes that end in a dash beneath a Lakitu raining Spiny Eggs.Foes: Lakitu, Spiny, Para-Goomba, Venus Fire TrapIn the row of six bricks past the ? Block area, the second from the left holds a 1-Up Mushroom.Power-up: Super Leaf
3-5UnderwaterSwim through narrow gaps between countless Jelectros while Big Bertha and Cheep-Cheeps patrol the water.Foes: Jelectro, Big Bertha, Cheep-Cheep, BlooberAs Frog Mario you can swim against a wind pipe’s current into a bonus room with three 1-Up Mushrooms.Power-up: Fire Flower
3-6AutoscrollAn autoscrolling run over Donut Lifts and Rotary Lifts, with Koopas and throwable White Blocks.Foes: Koopa Troopa, Koopa ParatroopaNear the end, a brick just before the P Switch holds a 1-Up Mushroom.Power-up: Super Leaf
3-7PlainsGrassy hills overrun by Spikes hurling spiked balls, with a beanstalk that branches into two cloud routes.Foes: Spike, Koopa Troopa, Venus Fire TrapClimb the beanstalk and go right to a Magic Note Block; its Coin Heaven ends with a chest holding Jugem’s Cloud.Power-up: Super Leaf
3-Fortress 2Fortress · Boss: Boom BoomA sunken fortress swum past Roto-Discs and Cheep-Cheeps, introducing the Stretch lurking in the walls.Foes: Stretch, Roto-Disc, Cheep-Cheep—Power-up: Fire Flower
3-8TidesBoss Bass returns over rapidly shifting tides, with beanstalks you can climb to escape his leaps.Foes: Boss Bass, Koopa TroopaA P Switch under a roofed platform releases coins; collect 44 to unlock a White Mushroom House with a P-Wing.Power-up: Fire Flower
3-9Land and seaBob-ombs and Bullet Bills harass you on land before pipes lead into a Cheep-Cheep-filled underwater zone.Foes: Bob-omb, Bullet Bill, Cheep-Cheep, Para-GoombaIn the underwater zone, the left path leads to a bonus area containing a Frog Suit.Power-up: Frog Suit
3-AirshipAirship · Boss: Wendy O. KoopaWendy’s airship fires cannons from several angles, with Rocky Wrenches and Rocket Engines guarding cramped passages.Foes: Rocky Wrench, Cannon, Rocket Engine, Bullet Bill—Power-up: Super LeafRoute & preparation
- Route: Follow accessible roads and bridge crossings, checking the map again after a clear or failed attempt. Clear fortresses to remove their locks rather than assuming a closed connection needs an inventory item.
- Bring: A Frog Suit is useful for a mostly underwater course, but awkward on land. Choose it for a known swim; keep a Leaf or Flower for mixed terrain and the airship.
- Don’t miss: The canoe branch offers optional supply stops. The changing bridges and map pipes can also alter your available route, so use the full map rather than the world’s course numbers alone.
Boss: Wendy O. Koopa
Wendy’s rings bounce off the arena’s walls, floor and ceiling. Watch the ring’s next bounce as well as Wendy’s position. Three head stomps end the battle.
3-Airship: Wendy’s airship fires cannons from several angles, with Rocky Wrenches and Rocket Engines guarding cramped passages.
FAQ
How many levels are in World 3 of Super Mario Bros. 3?
12 on the map: 9 numbered courses, 2 fortresses and airship.
Who is the boss of World 3?
Wendy O. Koopa. Wendy’s rings bounce off the arena’s walls, floor and ceiling. Watch the ring’s next bounce as well as Wendy’s position.
What is the main secret in Water Land?
The canoe branch offers optional supply stops. The changing bridges and map pipes can also alter your available route, so use the full map rather than the world’s course numbers alone.
Sources & picture credits
- Water Land (Super Mario Wiki)
- World 3-1
- World 3-2
- World 3-3
- World 3-Fortress 1
- World 3-4
- World 3-5
- World 3-6
- World 3-7
- World 3-Fortress 2
- World 3-8
- World 3-9
- World 3-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).