Gruntilda’s Lair is an area located within the world Spiral Mountain, and is owned by the game’s antagonist Gruntilda Winkybunion. The entire lair has a distinctive appearance as it is designed to resemble the wicked witch’s face. However, the interior of the lair is dark and gloomy, making it an exciting environment for players. In Banjo-Kazooie, the majority of the game is set inside the lair, which includes nine different themed worlds that can be accessed through special entrance doors. Banjo and Kazooie must solve puzzles to gain access to these worlds by utilizing a certain amount of Jiggies to open the entrance doors. Apart from these worlds, there are many different rooms and sub-areas based on worlds in Banjo-Kazooie. In addition, one of the most noteworthy features of the lair is the hat, which is a tower that is also known as the top of the lair. Here, Banjo and Kazooie can find the Furnace Fun Quiz, a board game that floats over a pool of lava. During the Furnace Fun Quiz, they will need to answer questions asked by Gruntilda to win Tooty, who is the first prize, and gain access to Gruntilda’s last room of the lair. Answering incorrectly will result in damage to Banjo and Kazooie, and on a square with the silhouette of a skull, they’ll fall into the lava, resulting in an instant defeat. The top of the lair is also the place where Banjo and Kazooie will first encounter Dingpot, who helps them to reach the roof in order to battle the wicked witch Gruntilda Winkybunion. Additionally, Dingpot’s room is surrounded by four Note Doors, with three of them holding a bigger version of a collectible that will refill the picked-up item to its maximum amount. For the last Note Door, players will find a small room that holds a puzzle frame, requiring the last four Jiggies of the game. Completing the last puzzle unlocks the red honeycombs, which increase the players health points, making the battle against Gruntilda more manageable.
» Gruntilda's Lair in Sequel Games
In Banjo-Tooie, Gruntilda’s Lair can be found again in Spiral Mountain, but now lies in ruins due to the efforts of Gruntilda’s evil sisters, Blobbelda and Mingella. While the Lair can still be accessed via one of the scattered Flight Pads in Spiral Mountain or by climbing the broken wooden bridge it is not possible to fully explore its depths anymore. Also, the entrance to the lair is now blocked by rocks, which prevent access to the first Note Door that used to be accessible by walking up a red-orange slope with Kazooie’s Talon Trot ability. Despite its dilapidated state, the lair still holds some secrets. In the main room of the lair, which features a damaged portrait of the green witch Gruntilda Winkybunion on the wall, Banjo and Kazooie can find Cheato, a magical book who will reveal one of his codes for every five pages they bring back to him. When they first interact with him, Cheato explains that the witch was furious with him for giving out cheats to the protagonists in the previous game, and carried out all of his pages as punishment. In Banjo-Kazooie Nuts and Bolts, seven years after the events of the game Banjo-Tooie, Gruntilda’s Lair can still be found in Spiral Mountain, albeit in an even more damaged state. Unfortunately, it’s not possible anymore to enter the room with Gruntilda’s portrait, as the entrance door is now blocked by boulders.
» List of Collectibles
JIGGIES
Jiggy #01: As soon as you enter Gruntilda’s Lair for the first time, turn to the left and jump up the green platforms. The first Jiggy of the game is waiting at the top of the highest platform that is required to complete the puzzle of Mumbo’s Mountain and open it’s entrance door.
Jiggy #02: Once the Witch-Switch got pressed in the level Mumbo’s Mountain, another Jiggy will spawn on the steep hill above the world’s entrance door in Gruntilda’s Lair. To pick up the Jiggy, the Duo must transform into a termite allowing them to simply walk up the steep hill.
Jiggy #03: After pressing the Witch-Switch in Treasure Trove Cove, a Jiggy will get fired out of a cannon and land on the ship that is opposite of it. After that return to the lobby of Treasure Trove Cove and jump on the ship on the left side in order to snatch the Jiggy at the top of it.
Jiggy #04: As soon as the Witch-Switch got pressed in Clanker’s Cavern the eyes on the floor in Gruntilda’s Mural will rise. After that exit the world and head over to the section, where you can find the puzzle of Treasure Trove Cove and Beak Bust both eyes to let a Jiggy appear.
Jiggy #05: Once the Witch-Switch got pressed in Bubblegloop Swamp, the hat will shatter of the giant Gruntilda statue, revealing a big hole at the top. Exit the world and climb up to the Note Door to use the Shock Spring Pad in the next room and enter the urn to get this Jiggy.
Jiggy #06: After pressing the switch in the world Freezeezy Peak, a panel will open above the world’s entrance door. Once done, head back to Gruntilda’s Lair and use the Flight Pad after pressing a switch in the lobby of Freezeezy Peak to fly all the way up and grab the Jiggy.
Jiggy #07: As soon as the switch got pressed in Gobi’s Valley, the ancient sarcophagus will open up in the room with the giant urn. Go back and activate the switch for the Shock Spring Pad that will circle around the big urn and aim for the Jiggy inside the sarcophagus.
Jiggy #08: Once the Witch-Switch got pressed in Mad Monster Mansion inside the Haunted Church, a Jiggy will appear in the right eye of the Gruntilda Head. After that head back to the Cobweb Room and use the Flight Pad to perform the Beak Bomb move on it to snatch it.
Jiggy #09: Pressing the switch in Rusty Bucket Bay will cause a Jiggy to spawn on a platform next to the world’s entrance door. After that, exit the world and head to the room, where you can find the six hundred forty Note Door to pick up the Jiggy on a platform in front of a pipe.
Jiggy #10: As soon as the Witch-Switch got pressed in Click Clock Wood, another Jiggy will spawn inside an alcove above the lobby of Click Clock Wood. To reach it you need to go back in spring to transform Banjo and Kazooie into a Bumble Bee and fly all the way up.
MUMBO TOKENS
✤ Behind the first purple cauldron that is surrounded by blue eggs
✤ On the top of a pipe near the first orange cauldron
✤ Above the entrance door of Clanker’s Cavern
✤ Behind a tree to the right of the Click Clock Wood puzzle
✤ Behind the sarcophagus next to the entrance door of Gobi’s Valley
✤ Inside the advent calendar above the entrance door of Freezeezy Peak
✤ In the bottom right corner near the entrance door to Rusty Bucket Bay
✤ In an alcove next to the Mad Monster Mansion puzzle
✤ Behind Mumbo’s chair inside the Haunted Shack of the Mad Monster Mansion Lobby
✤ Above the six hundred forty Note Door
EXTRA LIVES
✤ Behind the hat of the giant Gruntilda Head in the Cobweb Room
✤ On a wooden log in the Bubblegloop Swamp Lobby
✤ There are four extra lives scattered around the board of Grunty’s Furnace Fun
✤ Located at the top of the lair on a window ledge next to the yellow cauldron
✤ Behind some roots inside the room of the Click Clock Wood puzzle
✤ On the top of the Click Clock Wood entrance door
✤ Behind Mumbo’s Shack in the Mad Monster Mansion Lobby
✤ On the ceiling near the Mad Monster Mansion puzzle