These objects, plants, and animals are not hostile, and won’t hurt Mario if he bumps into them. Capture them with a cap toss. Most of these capture targets give Mario extra movement options, unlock new areas, or help solve Power Moon puzzles.
Binoculars
Get an eagle’s-eye view of the surrounding kingdom with Binoculars. Mario launches up into a hovering position, able to scope in any direction. Use the zoom function to focus on items of interest. Pop back out of the Binoculars (or any captured creature or object) with the Crouch button.
Boulder
The Boulder is one of a few captures where Mario uses Cappy’s spectral capturing magic to move an inanimate object. Mario in Boulder form can…well, he can scoot around a little bit.
Bowser Statue
Like capturing a Boulder, but more regal and evil.
Cactus
Like capturing a Bowser Status, if a Bowser Statue were a Cactus.
Coin Coffer
This strange little creature won’t be visible at first, but may be revealed when you stumble upon it resting in the forest. It stumbles off, trying to cloak and hide again. Coin Coffer can be stomped repeatedly for many coins, or captured and used as a rapid (and expensive) coin dispenser.
Frog
This is the first capture Mario experiences, early on in Bonneton. Frogs are one of the few animals capable of jumps even springier than Mario’s, and they can drift in midair even slower than during Mario’s spin jump. Shake the controller for an even taller Frog jump.
Glydon
This ambitious lizard doesn’t fly, exactly, but gracefully glides. He can’t gain more altitude while gliding unless he passes through a spiraling gust of rising air. Shake the controller to gain extra lift when passing through an updraft.
Jizo
This heavy stone statue isn’t the most mobile vehicle in the world, but it’s at least heavy enough to clomp the items out of any glowing spots on the ground. Shake the controller to make Jizo statues bounce around more quickly.
Lakitu
The worst day fishing is better than the best day working, that’s what Lakitu says. Take over Lakitu with Cappy to try it out. Cast the reel, wait patiently for shadows of fish underwater to tug at the bait, then lift up with motion control to try reeling them in.
Letter
Some large novelty letters can be controlled, like with the Boulder and Cactus.
Meat
Like a Boulder, but much more appetizing. Once it’s properly salted and cooked, anyway.
Mini Rocket
Mini Rockets lead to special challenge stages nearby, either launching up through the clouds, or even plunging into deep valleys for Mini Rockets located right alongside cliffs.
Moe-Eye
These skittish Moe-Eye statues just want to relax somewhere warm with their sunglasses. Snap on the sunglasses to reveal hidden platforms, snap off the sunglasses to move more quickly. If you’ve exposed hidden platforms temporarily by triggering a P-Switch then snapping on Moe-Eye shades, you might have to take the shades off to lumber across quickly before the P-Switch activation wears off. Pop the shades back on briefly whenever you need to get another look at the (invisible) lay of the land.
Picture Match Part (Goomba)
A couple of Power Moon puzzles involve trying to reconstruct a Goomba’s face as accurately as possible, taking control of facial features to rebuild the baddie.
Picture Match Part (Mario)
This is just like the Goomba Picture Match puzzle, but a little harder because of Mario’s more complex face. Like with kingdom hint art, you can use the Nintendo Switch console’s built-in snapshot feature to save a perfect reference, which helps with lining up Picture Match Parts.
Pole
Once a Pole is captured, aim by moving the stick away from the intended target, then release to launch Mario. Shake the controller to launch farther. Volbonans and Pokios work similarly.
Puzzle Part (Lake Kingdom)
The Puzzle Part puzzles involve rolling a square block around a small grid, trying to get one side affixed to the correct spot on the ground. In Lake Kingdom , it’s a stone pillar with the base broken off in a specific shape.
Puzzle Part (Metro Kingdom)
The Puzzle Part in Metro Kingdom is huge (but standard!) three-prong power outlet, which must be lined up and plugged in correctly.
RC Car
The RC Car controls delightfully like classic remote-controlled toy cars, so sort of like a speedy and weightless tank.
Shiverian Racer
The bouncy Shiverians make ideal snowbound vehicles themselves, just rolled up and bouncing. There are multiple races to undertake in Snow Kingdom as a Shiverian Racer. The key to winning races in Shiveria is to “bound” consistently whenever the Shiverian Racer bounces on the ground. Shake the controller or press the Jump button with good timing every time a Shiverian Racer bounces to surge forward and maintain high speed.
Spark Pylon
These electric ziplines are first found in Bonneton, leading to Cascade Kingdom . Mario temporarily transfers into the line, sparking along in lightning form. Ziplines can quickly cross long distances and otherwise-impassable gulfs. If coins or other pick-ups of interest are near the line in transit, shake the controller to divert briefly to the pick-ups before continuing along the line.
Taxi
It’s too bad it’s only one Taxi, but keep an eye out for the car that looks like it can be fitted with a cap. This Taxi can take Mario and Cappy somewhere special.
Tree
Like Cactus or Boulder, a straightforward capture, but much more pine-scented.
Volbonan
The fork-like inhabitants of Mount Volbono can be captured and used as Poles, flicking Mario over gaps or up sheer walls. Some challenging sequences involve flinging from one captured Volbonan to another.
Zipper
One of modern life’s conveniences, in over-sized, cap-friendly form. Zipper creases in walls reveal spots where Cappy can unzip new paths in the environment.
