A guide to completing World 5-4 in Super Mario Bros 3 for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

How to Clear World 5-4

At the start of the level, you see a Rotary Lift that is constantly spinning. If you try to jump up against it, it will push you back. You can do this to get an idea of how Rotary Lifts affect you if you hit them when they're spinning.

Hit the ? Block to get a Super Mushroom or Super Leaf.

If you're Raccoon Mario, you can skip most of this level and get some coins. If you're not Raccoon Mario or you don't want to get the coins, skip ahead to Waterfalls. Otherwise, to get the coins, go to the left side of the cloud at the start of the level, then run to the right to fill your P Meter, and fly up and right to reach some clouds. The first cloud and second cloud each have eight coins. The final cloud has a Rotary Lift. After that, you might want to fall straight down from the left side of the cloud, or you can try to hit the right side of the Rotary Lift to make it push you to the right, which can help you skip even more of the level (but you should only do this if you have a tail so you can tap the Jump button to fall slowly). Then skip ahead to Waterfalls.

After the ? Block, there is a Rotary Lift that is constantly spinning. You can make a running jump to jump over it and reach the next cloud. There is another constantly spinning Rotary Lift, so make another running jump to get over it and reach the next cloud.

Now there is a Rotary Lift that isn't spinning. Make a running jump to jump on top of it, but don't stay on it for long. Your weight will make it slowly rotate, and it's very slippery, so you will slide off of it if it's at an angle. Quickly jump from it to the upper Rotary Lift as soon as it's about to stop spinning, and try not to fall onto the constantly spinning Rotary Lift beneath it. Then quickly jump onto the next Rotary Lift, which will slowly rotate with your weight, and quickly jump from there to the cloud.

Next, there is a Rotary Lift that is constantly spinning. Make a running jump to try to jump over it and land on the wooden blocks of the waterfall.

Waterfalls

If you fell off the left side of the clouds up above, read the previous paragraph.

From the left side of the waterfall, make a running jump to reach the other side, then jump up to the next waterfall and jump over it.

After that, there is a spinning Rotary Lift, followed by a Red Paratroopa, followed by a lift that rotates with your weight, then another spinning lift, and another lift that rotates with your weight.

Stomp or ignore the Green Koopa Troopa on the cloud, then go through the pipe on the right. From there, as you go to the right, beware of the Lakitu that is dropping Spiny Eggs. Hit the Goal Block to complete the level.

After the Level

The Hammer Bro in this area awards a Music Box.

From here you can go to World 5-5.