Here’s how to quickly get the Metal Cap in Super Mario 64 and where you need it to get some extra Stars.
Get the Metal Cap in Hazy Maze Cave
You’ll have to progress a bit in Mario 64 before you can get the Metal Cap. It can be found in a sub-stage in Hazy Maze Cave, the game’s sixth level, but you can’t get there until you face off against Bowser for the first time in “Bowser in the Dark World.”
How to get to “Bowser in the Dark World”
To do that, gather at least eight Stars, head to the big Star door in the Castle Mezzanine area, and drop down the trap door in the hallway with the Peach/Bowser painting.
Deal with Bowser, and then make your way to the Castle basement. The pool of liquid metal there is your portal to Hazy Maze Cave.
Navigating Hazy Maze Cave to get the Metal Cap
Once you arrive, head left. Long jump (run+crouch+jump) over the gap, and follow the path down to the underground lake.
Swim over to Dorrie, and ignore the Star on the island for now. Jump on Dorrie and face toward the ledge with a door. A friendly beastie will ferry you over.
Go in, deal with the obstacles, and drop down into another metal pool. This takes you to the Cavern of the Metal Cap.
Work your way to the end of the cave, and activate the green ! switch. If you get caught in the current, it shoots you back out front of Peach’s Castle, so don’t do that.
Now, go back to where the transparent green block was when you first landed in the Cavern of the Metal Cap. Hit it to grab the Metal Cap, then gather up the eight Red Coins for a Star.
Like the Wing Cap, the Metal Cap only lasts for 60 seconds, but you can refresh it or get a new one by hitting another green block.
Metal Cap Stars in Mario 64
After the Cavern of the Metal Cap, there’s only one spot where you absolutely need the Metal Cap to acquire a Star, though there are a couple where having it makes life easier.
Dire, Dire Docks “Through the Jet Stream” Star
The only necessary one is Dire, Dire Docks for the “Through The Jet Stream” Star. Once you swim through the rings and activate the Star, you need to turn metal to withstand the jet and acquire the Star.
Hazy Maze Cave “Navigating the Toxic Maze” Star
The Metal Cap makes dealing with the miasma easier in Hazy Maze Cave’s “Navigating The Toxic Maze” since you don’t take damage from the poison while metal.
Wet-Dry World Stars
Going metal is also helpful in dealing with the underwater portions of Wet-Dry World where you’re raising and lowering water levels, though you don’t need it for any specific Star.
That’s all you need to know about how to get the Metal Cap in Super Mario 64. If you’re looking for more help with 3D All-Stars, be sure to check out our other 3D All-Stars guides, including how to get Yoshi and complete Blooper Surfing in Super Mario Sunshine. If you’re trying to blast away the wall in 64, we’ve got you covered there, too.
