MOTHER 2: Giygas Strikes Back（Super Famicom）
Tips, missables and photos
Rolling HP, phones, status conditions, missable deadlines and 32 photo locations. Check supplies for Magicant's solo exploration and the final departure.
Scope: Japanese SFC version (released August 27, 1994) / excludes changes specific to the English EarthBound and GBA MOTHER 1+2 / Content checked: October 2, 2026
Rolling HP and the direction of contact
| Situation | What to do | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Took fatal damage | Recover before the drum reaches 0. | You can still be saved while displayed HP remains. |
| Approaching an enemy | Make contact from behind. | A green start gives your party the first move. |
| An enemy is about to catch you while fleeing | Consider turning to face it. | A red start after being caught from behind puts you at a disadvantage. |
| Preparing in town | Withdraw only the amount needed. | You lose cash when the party is wiped out, but money in the account remains. |
Save by phone and organize goods
- Call your father on a black telephone or payphone and choose to save a record. Payphones cost $1; use a free black telephone if you have no cash.
- Calling your mother cures Ness's homesickness. Do not confuse it with saving through your father.
- Use Escargo Express to send items to your sister for storage. Leave inventory space when expecting an invention and wait without leaving the delivery location.
Collection and departure deadlines
| Deadline | Item or action to check first | Later restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Before Jeff leaves the dormitory | Broken Air Gun in the locker. | Do not assume the same item can be collected later. |
| Before defeating Stonehenge Base's boss | King's Sword dropped by Super Starmen. | Enemies stop appearing after the base is cleared. |
| Immediately after the rescue at the base | Mr. Saturn's Ribbon in the rescue room. | Finish the conversations before leaving to get the book. |
| Before finishing Magicant | Magicant Bat and Goddess Bracelet. | The location itself disappears. |
| Before the late-game attack on Onett | Mister Hat in the hideout. | Ordinary shops and buildings become inaccessible. |
| Before departing in the final Space Tunnel | Equipment, HP/PP supplies, revival items and a save record. | You cannot return to town to buy more. |
Give these to Ness before the eighth sound
| Preparation | Purpose | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Badge | Protection against lightning in the Sea of Eden. | Do not leave it in Jeff's or Paula's inventory. |
| Sea / Star / Darkness Pendant | Protection against Ness's Demon's light attacks. | Switch the equipped item in that slot. |
| HP and PP recovery items | Keep Lifeup available while alone. | You cannot use your companions' inventories. |
| Dragon Powder | An opening attack option. | Use before the shield changes to a counterattacking one. |
- You cannot use companions' goods during solo exploration. Before collecting the eighth sound, confirm that Ness is carrying supplies.
Final departure: distribute supplies to support Paula
| Character | What to prepare | Final role |
|---|---|---|
| Ness | PP for healing PSI and HP recovery items. | Healing allies. |
| Paula | Light protection and equipment that helps maintain HP. | Keep praying in the final phase. |
| Jeff | Usable attack goods, PP recovery items and revival items. | Handle supplies after attacking. |
| Poo | PP for healing PSI, water items and revival items if needed. | Share healing and support duties. |
- Distribute reliable revival items such as Horns of Life and PP recovery items among multiple characters. Do not rely on one person's actions for all healing.
Curing troublesome conditions: distinguish 15 types
| State | Response | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Cold / sunstroke / sleep | Healing α. Cold Medicine and Wet Towels also work. | Can also occur while traveling through the desert. |
| Poison / nausea / strangeness / crying | Healing β or the corresponding remedy. | Restoring HP alone leaves the condition active. |
| Paralysis / diamondization | Healing γ or a healer. | Paralysis prevents physical attacks and goods use. |
| Unconsciousness | Life Udon, Horn of Life, Healing Ω and similar options. | Revival through γ or Secret Herbal Medicine can fail. |
| Mushroom | A healer or the mushroom-picking girl in the valley. | Ordinary Healing cannot remove it. |
| Possession | Exorcism by a healer. | Simply restoring HP at an inn does not solve it. |
| Homesickness | Call your mother or meet her in person. | Only happens to Ness. |
| Frozen | Wait for an action. | A condition that prevents one action. |
| Unable to concentrate | Cannot use PSI for a while. | Supplement healing with another character's goods. |
Photos of your journey: visit 32 locations
Photos trigger according to where you stand and event progression. Even when progressing quickly, you can compare this list as you pass through.
| Region | Photo location | Requirement to meet first |
|---|---|---|
| Onett | In front of home | After receiving the Sound Stone from Buzz Buzz. |
| Onett | Inside the western vacation house | Buy it and go inside. |
| Twoson | In front of the bicycle shop | Pass through the location. |
| Twoson | In front of Chaos Theater | After receiving the Backstage Pass. |
| Valley | Northwestern dead end | Pass through the location. |
| Valley | In front of the mountain cabin | After rescuing Paula. |
| Winters | In front of the tent with a telephone | Pass through the location. |
| Winters | Inside the Low-Budget Dungeon | Inspect the warning sign about falling objects. |
| Winters | Center of Stonehenge | Pass through the location. |
| Threek | In front of the northern gravestone | Pass through the location. |
| Threek | In front of the headquarters tent | After defeating Belch. |
| Waterfall region | Before Grapefruit Falls | Pass through the location. |
| Saturn Valley | In front of the Milky Well cave | After defeating Belch. |
| Doko Doko Desert | At the black sesame seed | Speak to the black sesame seed. |
| Doko Doko Desert | Entrance to the dig site | After defeating all five Masters of the Hole. |
| Bridge to Fourside | Upper edge on the Fourside side | Pass through the location. |
| Fourside | Inside the dinosaur museum | Pass through the location. |
| Fourside | Behind the Monotoly Building | Pass through the location. |
| Fourside | In front of the fourth-floor toy shop in the department store | After defeating the Department Store Monster. |
| Fourside | In front of the museum | After finishing Magnet Hill. |
| Ranma | Inside the palace | After Poo joins. |
| Ranma | Palace entrance | After Poo joins. |
| Summers | In front of the hotel | Pass through the location. |
| Summers | Inside the restaurant | Pass through the location. |
| Summers | In front of the gelato seller on the beach | Pass through the location. |
| Toto | Residential area by the port | After Poo joins. |
| Scarabi | Beside the market | Pass through the location. |
| Scarabi | Pyramid entrance | Pass through the location. |
| Scarabi | Around the desert oasis | After Dungeon Man accompanies you. |
| Makyo | Near the center | Pass through the location. |
| Gumi village | Near the elder | After delivering the Book to Cure Shyness. |
| Saturn Valley | Square | Automatic photo after defeating Giygas. The photographer does not appear. |
Rare items: distinguish guaranteed sources and drops
| Item | Enemy that drops it | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| King's Sword | Super Starman | Seek it before defeating the base's boss. |
| Broken Parabola | Creepy Ball | Required repair IQ: 65. |
| Guts Bat | Kraken Bio | A different enemy from the Krakens in the Sea of Eden. |
| Mysterious Frying Pan | Hungry Dinosaur | Raises Guts but misses frequently. |
| Star Pendant | Higher-Ranked PK Man | The main story can progress without obtaining it. |
| Goddess Ribbon | Ancestral Starman | For Paula. An enemy drop, so acquisition is not guaranteed. |
- Rare items such as the sword are recorded as 1/128 drops. This does not mean one is guaranteed after 128 battles. No acquisition-time guarantee is given.
Version covered by this article
Covers the 1994 Japanese SFC version. Explanations follow its Japanese place names, goods names and event order.
- Place names such as Threek and Ranma follow the Japanese SFC display.
- Do not mix bugs exclusive to GBA MOTHER 1+2 into SFC final-battle strategies or supply methods.