SCENE 20 - WHACK A MOLE

Location: Desert Gold Mine

Maps: Map 1, Map 2, Map 3

You are about to enter one of the most difficult dungeons in EarthBound. Go first to the drugstore and stock up on Picnic Lunches and Refreshing Herbs. You'll need plenty of both. Fill all but a few spaces in your inventory with them.
If you have the Magic Truffle, return to Twoson and buy a few ketchup packets. Give all the packets and the truffle to one person, then have that person "Give" the Truffle to him/herself. This will place the Truffle at the end of his/her inventory. Now, if you use the truffle IN BATTLE, you'll regain ~90 PP and one of the ketchup packets will be spent, but not the truffle! This is a great trick to use to survive the gold mine.
It's suggested that Paula's level be at 31 before you go into the gold mine. At level 31 she will learn PSI Freeze γ, which will be extremely useful against the bosses there.
When you arrive back in the desert, go back to the mine where you met the miner and gave him food before. It should now be a big cave surrounded by people. If it isn't, go back to the Fourside #1 part of this walkthrough and make sure you talked to the Topolla Theater manager.
There are five moles, Guardian Diggers, that you must find and defeat in this maze. The enemies inside are nasty, and the Thirsty Coil Snake and Gigantic Ant will poison you regularly. That's why you need Refreshing Herbs. Use them or PSI Healing β to heal poisonings. Use PSI Freeze (α on Snakes, β on Ants) to defeat the enemies before they can harm you, but watch Paula's PP level.
When fighting the Guardian Diggers, use PSI Freeze β or γ. PSI Rockin' is OK, too. They start with power shields up, so physical attacks will bounce back for a while. This is just a suggested route through the cave. You can go through it however you like. Anyway, from the entrance, walk as far up as you can and go down the ladder. To the left is the first Guardian Digger.
After defeating this mole, walk left, up the ladder, down, go down when the path branches, and then follow the path as it curves upward until it turns left, and you'll enter a clearing with an Exit Mouse and two presents. Make sure you get the Exit Mouse; if you run out of PP you can use it to get out of the maze and rest at the miners' shack.
From the clearing, go down and follow the path as it turns left. Use PSI Fire β if you are attacked by a group of Noose Men. You'll find the second Guardian Digger at the end of the path; after defeating it, get the valuable Platinum Band from the present and equip it on whomever needs a defense boost the most.
Now return to the clearing, and then go up from there. You'll soon encounter another mole. Defeat it, then return to the clearing, and this time go left. Follow the path downward, and you'll encounter a fourth mole.
Turn around and follow the path you just took, except this time go straight up. After some walking, you'll reach a ladder. Go down it, then follow the path to the right. Fight the last mole. Once all the moles are gone, the music will change. Use the Exit Mouse to get out of the cave and then talk to the miner.

Gigantic Ant	Use your strongest physical attacks and offensive PSI attacks to make this ant holler uncle.
	HP: PP: Offense: Defense: Speed: Guts: 308 81 54 112 17 5	Exp.: Money: Item: 3980 $304 Double Burger (4/128 chance) More Detailed Info Here
Mad Duck	This insane mallard can disrupt your ability to use PSI, but poses no threat to Jeff.
	HP: PP: Offense: Defense: Speed: Guts: 51 0 12 24 30 5	Exp.: Money: Item: 41 $12 Fresh Egg (8/128 chance) More Detailed Info Here
Noose Man	They might look intimidating, but since they usually form a line, a nice PSI Fire blast will take care of them.
	HP: PP: Offense: Defense: Speed: Guts: 231 0 47 52 18 5	Exp.: Money: Item: 1990 $220 Carton of Cream (16/128 chance) More Detailed Info Here
Thirsty Coil Snake	It's thirsty, but not as parched as you'll be for a Vial of Serum after getting its poison fangs!
	HP: PP: Offense: Defense: Speed: Guts: 270 0 52 80 18 5	Exp.: Money: Item: 2786 $276 Chick (8/128 chance) More Detailed Info Here

Guardian Digger	Each one you come across will claim that it is third in line. Perhaps they should have meetings more often.
	HP: PP: Offense: Defense: Speed: Guts: 386 110 59 129 17 21	Exp.: Money: Item: 17301 $1467 Nothing More Detailed Info Here