- How to make it thunder: Solve the Chapter 3 storm machine puzzle with the Hattifattener lure quest
- Key item: Little My must climb the tree to retrieve the woodpecker
- Story trigger: Talk to Mymble and read her bad weather newspaper forecast
- Machine setup: Place the slingshot and correct items into the storm machine slots
- Reward: Storm clouds form and the Hattifattener is lured out of hiding
How to Make It Thunder: Puzzle Overview
The thunder puzzle is one of the trickiest moments in Chapter 3 of Moomin: Midsummer Madness. Your goal is to activate the storm machine and make it thunder, which produces the storm clouds needed to lure the Hattifattener out of its hiding spot. Many players stall here because the in-game hints are subtle — the puzzle expects you to connect four separate items and clues without spelling out the solution.
Video Highlights:
- Full Chapter 3 Hattifattener lure walkthrough with every required item
- Little My climbing the tree to grab the woodpecker Moomin cannot reach
- Talking to Mymble to obtain the bad weather forecast newspaper
- Loading the storm machine with the slingshot and correct item combination
Here is a quick summary of the four puzzle components before we go step by step:
| Component | Source | Role in the Puzzle |
|---|---|---|
| Woodpecker | Tree near the Hattifattener's spot | Noise source — loud pecking on metal |
| Mymble's raincoat | Talk to Mymble | Clue that bad weather is coming |
| Weather newspaper | Mymble hands it over | Forecast to read to the Hattifattener |
| Slingshot | Your inventory | Needed to operate the machine's lever |
The game's hints are deliberately subtle. The woodpecker clue only makes sense once you realize the machine's emblems describe what each slot does — the noise emblem is the slot for a loud item. If you are stuck, match each item to an emblem rather than guessing randomly.
Step-by-Step: Activating the Storm Machine
Follow these steps in order. Skipping the Mymble conversation is the most common reason players cannot progress, since the newspaper only appears after that dialogue.
Find the Hattifattener's Spot
Progress through Chapter 3 until you reach the area where the Hattifattener is sitting. This is your puzzle hub — everything you need is nearby. Do not interact with the Hattifattener yet; it will not respond until the storm conditions are met.
Send Little My Up the Tree
Locate the tree with the woodpecker hanging on it, right next to the Hattifattener area. Moomin cannot grab it himself. Switch your active character to Little My, who climbs the tree and brings the woodpecker down into your inventory.
Talk to Mymble
Find Mymble (Little My's sister) and ask why she is wearing a raincoat. During the conversation she produces the newspaper containing the bad weather forecast. You will read this forecast to the Hattifattener later to lure it out.
Load the Storm Machine
Select your slingshot and place it into the machine with the working lever. Study the emblems on the machine — they indicate what each slot needs. The woodpecker goes in the noise slot, since it pecks loudly on metal, and the newspaper clues link to the storm forecast slot.
Trigger the Thunder
With all items placed correctly, operate the lever. Storm clouds gather and thunder rolls in. Keep the storm clouds active — do not dismantle the setup — then read the newspaper forecast to the Hattifattener to lure it out and complete the quest.
Moomin cannot climb trees. If the woodpecker will not budge, you have not switched to Little My. Open your character selection and choose her before interacting with the tree again.
Item and Character Reference
Each puzzle element has a specific purpose. Use this reference table to double-check your setup before pulling the lever:
| Item / Character | Location | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Woodpecker | Tree beside Hattifattener area | Loud noise on metal, fits the noise emblem |
| Newspaper | From Mymble after dialogue | Bad weather forecast, read to lure Hattifattener |
| Slingshot | Player inventory | Activates the machine's lever mechanism |
| Little My | Character select | Only character who can climb the tree |
| Mymble | Near the puzzle area | Gives raincoat hint and the newspaper |
Little My
- Tree climbing specialist
- Required for the woodpecker
- Fast and agile in mini-games
Moomin
- Main puzzle operator
- Loads the storm machine
- Reads the forecast to the Hattifattener
Mymble
- Story gate for the newspaper
- Raincoat signals the weather clue
- Talk to her before using the machine
The emblems on the storm machine visually describe each slot's purpose. One emblem represents the storm itself — keep that configuration in place when the clouds form. Matching items to emblems is faster than trial and error.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If the thunder will not trigger, one of these issues is usually responsible:
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Woodpecker unreachable | Wrong active character | Switch to Little My |
| No newspaper in inventory | Mymble dialogue skipped | Return and talk to Mymble fully |
| Lever does nothing | Slingshot not inserted | Select slingshot, place in machine |
| No storm clouds | Wrong item in a slot | Match items to the emblems |
| Hattifattener ignores you | Forecast never read | Read the newspaper to it after thunder |
When everything is placed correctly, storm clouds visibly gather and thunder sounds play. If neither happens, recheck the woodpecker and newspaper — those two items account for most stuck cases at this puzzle.
Use this checklist to confirm every requirement before pulling the lever:
Thunder Puzzle Checklist:
- Reached the Hattifattener area in Chapter 3
- Switched to Little My and retrieved the woodpecker
- Completed the Mymble conversation about her raincoat
- Obtained the bad weather forecast newspaper
- Placed the slingshot into the machine with the working lever
- Matched the woodpecker and newspaper to the correct emblems
After the Thunder: Luring the Hattifattener
Once it thunders, the final phase begins. The Hattifattener responds to the storm conditions — that is the entire reason you built the machine in the first place.
- Keep the storm clouds active; do not remove items from the machine prematurely
- Approach the Hattifattener and read it the bad weather forecast from the newspaper
- Watch the mini-game sequences carefully — Chapter 3 contains several of them, and some require quick input
- Be warned: the creature is flagged as dangerous in-game, and there is a chance it escapes during the sequence if you mishandle the encounter
The Hattifattener can get away if the encounter goes wrong. If it escapes, you will need to repeat the lure sequence — the storm machine setup stays intact, so simply read the forecast again.
FAQ
Q: How do I make it thunder in Moomin: Midsummer Madness?
Collect the woodpecker with Little My, talk to Mymble to get the bad weather newspaper, then load the slingshot, woodpecker, and newspaper into the storm machine's correct emblem slots. Pull the working lever and storm clouds will form with thunder.
Q: Why can't Moomin grab the woodpecker?
Moomin cannot climb trees. You must switch your active character to Little My, who climbs the tree beside the Hattifattener area and brings the woodpecker into your inventory.
Q: Where do I get the newspaper for the puzzle?
Speak to Mymble, Little My's sister, and ask about her raincoat. She produces the newspaper with the bad weather forecast, which you later read to the Hattifattener to lure it out.
Q: What do the emblems on the storm machine mean?
The emblems describe what each machine slot requires. The noise-related emblem corresponds to the woodpecker because of its loud pecking on metal, while the storm emblem relates to the weather forecast items. Match items to emblems instead of guessing.