The 121st Star

The 121st Star is an anomalous Power Star that can be found in many personalized copies. It was one of the most popular rumors when Super Mario 64 was released, as people believed there might be more beyond the 120 standard stars in the game. The way to get the 121st Star is very inconsistent, likely as a result of playground rumors being blended with true personalized experiences, though some methods are more common than others, likely the actual ones that were found by players.

List of Methods
''Below is a list of some of the many ways to supposedly unlock the 121st Star. Note that some of these may be fabricated due to the widespread nature of this rumor or could be found simultaneously to add up to 122 or more.''


 * Collecting 100 coins in any small level, which is impossible without cheats in standard copies.
 * Somehow activating the Toad's Tool 64 Star. This is likely impossible, as the star was a glitch in the Toad's Tool device.
 * Grabbing any star from unused courses/sub areas implemented by the A.I.
 * Backwards Long Jumping into an area containing the star.
 * Finding a second Secret Aquarium and obtaining a star there.
 * Completing a seventh mission in any course, despite there only being 6 missions and a 100-coin star in standard copies.
 * Obtaining it from Yoshi upon speaking to him, along with the other gifts obtained from them. This does not happen in standard copies.
 * Reaching the Behind the Waterfall area or any other Minor Anomalous Location.
 * Finding a 4th star-giving Toad.
 * Finding a 3rd MIPS the Rabbit, or Mipsy.
 * Using the Vanish Cap to get behind the mirror in the Second Floor. Notably, this method is a hidden star in Super Mario 64 DS.
 * Obtaining the star at the end of Bowser in the Sky. Notably, this does not increment the star counter in standard copies.
 * Obtaining the Eternal Star, Book on Bad, Discolored Star or another anomalous collectible.

Trivia

 * A similar rumor exists for the DS version about a "151st" star.