diff --git a/include/common_structs.h b/include/common_structs.h
index 1226b06c66..05ed09a21a 100644
--- a/include/common_structs.h
+++ b/include/common_structs.h
@@ -1455,7 +1455,7 @@ typedef struct GameStatus {
     /* 0x128 */ Vec3f playerGroundTraceNormal;
     /* 0x134 */ u16 frameCounter;
     /* 0x136 */ char unk_136[2];
-    /* 0x138 */ s32 nextRNG;
+    /* 0x138 */ u32 nextRNG;
     /* 0x13C */ s16 unk_13C;
     /* 0x13E */ char unk_13E[2];
     /* 0x140 */ ShopItemEntity* shopItemEntities;
diff --git a/include/effects_internal.h b/include/effects_internal.h
index a056888c25..48734eaaed 100644
--- a/include/effects_internal.h
+++ b/include/effects_internal.h
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "effects.h"
 
-s32 func_E0200000(s32);
+s32 effect_rand_int(s32);
 s32 func_E0200044(s32, s32);
 
 EffectInstance* shim_create_effect_instance(EffectBlueprint* effectBp);
diff --git a/include/variables.h b/include/variables.h
index 7640c544be..be6bde4f6d 100644
--- a/include/variables.h
+++ b/include/variables.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ extern PlayerStatus* gPlayerStatusPtr;
 extern CollisionStatus gCollisionStatus;
 extern GameStatus gGameStatus;
 extern GameStatus* gGameStatusPtr;
-extern s32 gRandSeed;
+extern u32 gRandSeed;
 extern ItemData gItemTable[365];
 extern UNK_FUN_PTR(gCurrentUpdateFunction);
 extern MoveData gMoveTable[185];
diff --git a/src/325AD0.c b/src/325AD0.c
index c59cd3cd33..5192eece9a 100644
--- a/src/325AD0.c
+++ b/src/325AD0.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include "effects.h"
 #include "nu/nusys.h"
 
-u32 D_E0200690 = 0x1E6D3457;
+u32 effect_prng_seed = 0x1E6D3457;
 
 void* effectFuncs[] = {
     guRotateF, guTranslateF, guTranslate, guScaleF, guMtxCatF, guMtxF2L, guMtxL2F, queue_render_task,
@@ -33,12 +33,16 @@ s32 D_E0200734[128] = {
 };
 
 // very simple 'random' number generator that mutates a single value in memory
-u32 func_E0200000(s32 max) {
-    s32 temp_v0 = D_E0200690 * 4;
+// prng implementation is identical to that of guRandom
+u32 effect_rand_int(s32 max) {
+    u32 seed = (effect_prng_seed << 2) + 2;
 
-    D_E0200690 = (u32)((temp_v0 + 2) * (temp_v0 + 3)) / 4;
+    seed *= (seed + 1);
+    seed = seed >> 2;
 
-    return D_E0200690 % (max + 1);
+    effect_prng_seed = seed;
+
+    return effect_prng_seed % (max + 1);
 }
 
 // very simple 'random' number generator using a LUT
diff --git a/src/43F0.c b/src/43F0.c
index c32fb4e168..2b79a43d27 100644
--- a/src/43F0.c
+++ b/src/43F0.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ u8 sIntegerDigits[] = {
     0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
 };
 
-s32 gRandSeed = 1;
+u32 gRandSeed = 1;
 
 f32 sAtanFactors[] = {
     1.0f, 1.273187f, 1.27303f, 1.272768f, 1.272402f, 1.271932f, 1.271358f, 1.270681f, 1.269902f, 1.269021f, 1.268038f,
@@ -487,53 +487,62 @@ void dma_write_block(Addr dramAddr, u32 devAddr, s32 size) {
     osRecvMesg(&osMesgQueue, &osMesg, 1);
 }
 
-s32 advance_rng(void) {
-    gRandSeed *= 0x5D588B65;
-    gRandSeed++;
+// advance the global RNG via LCG algorithm and return a random integer [0,2^32)
+u32 advance_rng(void) {
+    gRandSeed = gRandSeed * 0x5D588B65 + 1;
 
     gGameStatusPtr->nextRNG = gRandSeed;
 
     return gRandSeed;
 }
 
+// return a random float [0,1)
 f32 rand_float(void) {
-    u32 temp_v0 = advance_rng() & 0x7FFF;
-
-    return temp_v0 / 32768.0;
+    return (advance_rng() & 0x7FFF) / 32768.0;
 }
 
-s32 func_80029994(s32 arg0) {
-    u32 div = -1;
-    s32 plusOne = arg0 + 1;
+// return a random integer [0,max]
+s32 rand_int_internal(u32 max) {
+    u32 partitionSize = 0xFFFFFFFF;
+    u32 maxPlusOne = max + 1;
     u32 result;
 
-    div /= plusOne;
-    if (div == 0) {
-        div = 1;
+    // split [0,2^32) into ``maxPlusOne`` equally sized partitions
+    // [0, partitionSize), [partitionSize, 2*partitionSize), ... [maxPlusOne*partitionSize, 2^32)
+    partitionSize /= maxPlusOne;
+    if (partitionSize == 0) {
+        partitionSize = 1;
     }
 
-    do  {
-        result = advance_rng() / div;
-    } while (result >= plusOne);
+    // numbers in the leftover [maxPlusOne*partitionSize, 2^32) are rejected as they would return maxPlusOne
+    // this ensures the result is [0,max] whilst also ensuring each partition is the same size and equally probable
+    do {
+        // determine which partition the random number is in by dividing it by partitionSize
+        result = advance_rng() / partitionSize;
+    } while (result >= maxPlusOne);
 
     return result;
 }
 
-s32 rand_int(s32 arg0) {
+// return a random integer [0,|max|] with specific distributions for |max| = 1 and |max| = 100
+s32 rand_int(s32 max) {
     s32 ret = 0;
 
-    arg0 = abs(arg0);
+    max = abs(max);
 
-    if (arg0 != 0) {
-        switch (arg0) {
+    if (max != 0) {
+        switch (max) {
             case 1:
-                ret = func_80029994(1000) > 500;
+                // due to the off-by-one input of 1000 and the > operator being used,
+                // there is a 501/1001 chance of returning 0 and a 500/1001 chance of returning 1
+                // (assuming statistical randomness of rand_int_internal).
+                ret = rand_int_internal(1000) > 500;
                 break;
             default:
-                ret = func_80029994(arg0);
+                ret = rand_int_internal(max);
                 break;
             case 100:
-                ret = func_80029994(1009) / 10;
+                ret = rand_int_internal(1009) / 10;
                 break;
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/effects/big_smoke_puff.c b/src/effects/big_smoke_puff.c
index aa9ea9cf8b..412f13bc3d 100644
--- a/src/effects/big_smoke_puff.c
+++ b/src/effects/big_smoke_puff.c
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ void big_smoke_puff_main(f32 x, f32 y, f32 z) {
 
     for (i = 0; i < effect->numParts; i++, data++) {
         data->unk_00 = 0;
-        data->unk_02 = data->unk_04 = func_E0200000(6) + 0x10;
+        data->unk_02 = data->unk_04 = effect_rand_int(6) + 0x10;
         data->unk_06 = 4;
         data->unk_08 = 0;
         data->x = x;
diff --git a/src/effects/big_snowflakes.c b/src/effects/big_snowflakes.c
index cfa2eb08f8..e41e05a99a 100644
--- a/src/effects/big_snowflakes.c
+++ b/src/effects/big_snowflakes.c
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ void big_snowflakes_main(s32 arg0, f32 arg1, f32 arg2, f32 arg3) {
 
     data++;
     for (i = 1; i < numParts; i++, data++) {
-        data->unk_04 = func_E0200000(10) - 5;
-        data->unk_08 = func_E0200000(10) + 5;
+        data->unk_04 = effect_rand_int(10) - 5;
+        data->unk_08 = effect_rand_int(10) + 5;
         data->unk_0C = 10.0f;
-        data->unk_18 = func_E0200000(360);
-        data->unk_20 = func_E0200000(360);
-        data->unk_1C = func_E0200000(100) / 10;
+        data->unk_18 = effect_rand_int(360);
+        data->unk_20 = effect_rand_int(360);
+        data->unk_1C = effect_rand_int(100) / 10;
         data->unk_10 = 0;
         data->unk_14 = 2.0f;
     }
diff --git a/src/effects/cloud_puff.c b/src/effects/cloud_puff.c
index da5f27cda6..0e6d8e9a5a 100644
--- a/src/effects/cloud_puff.c
+++ b/src/effects/cloud_puff.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void cloud_puff_main(f32 arg0, f32 arg1, f32 arg2, f32 arg3) {
         part->alpha = 255;
         part->unk_24 = (shim_rand_int(10) * 0.03) + 1.0;
         part->unk_28 = (shim_rand_int(10) * 0.03) + 1.7;
-        part->unk_2C = func_E0200000(60);
+        part->unk_2C = effect_rand_int(60);
         part->timeLeft = 30;
         part->unk_34 = 0.5f;
         part->unk_38 = -0.02f;
diff --git a/src/effects/cloud_trail.c b/src/effects/cloud_trail.c
index 8c090015f3..0954163808 100644
--- a/src/effects/cloud_trail.c
+++ b/src/effects/cloud_trail.c
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ void cloud_trail_main(s32 arg0, f32 arg1, f32 arg2, f32 arg3) {
         part->alpha = -1;
         part->unk_28 = (shim_rand_int(10) * 0.03) + 1.4;
         part->unk_2C = (shim_rand_int(10) * 0.03) + 1.5;
-        part->unk_30 = func_E0200000(60);
+        part->unk_30 = effect_rand_int(60);
         part->unk_04 = arg0;
         part->lifetime = 15;
         part->unk_38 = 2.0f;
         part->unk_3C = -0.5f;
-        part->unk_18 = func_E0200000(360);
+        part->unk_18 = effect_rand_int(360);
         part->alpha = -1;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/effects/confetti.c b/src/effects/confetti.c
index 996ed616b5..38421d73ab 100644
--- a/src/effects/confetti.c
+++ b/src/effects/confetti.c
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ EffectInstance* confetti_main(s32 arg0, f32 arg1, f32 arg2, f32 arg3, f32 arg4,
     temp_fp = shim_rand_int(360);
 
     for (i = 0; i < np; i++, data++) {
-        temp_f30 = sp28 * (func_E0200000(100) * 0.01f);
+        temp_f30 = sp28 * (effect_rand_int(100) * 0.01f);
         switch (arg0) {
             case 0:
             case 4:
diff --git a/src/effects/drop_leaves.c b/src/effects/drop_leaves.c
index aa70bd245f..c4cfb8743d 100644
--- a/src/effects/drop_leaves.c
+++ b/src/effects/drop_leaves.c
@@ -39,21 +39,21 @@ void drop_leaves_main(s32 arg0, f32 arg1, f32 arg2, f32 arg3, s32 arg4) {
     part++;
     for (i = 1; i < numParts; i++, part++) {
         if (arg0 == 0) {
-            part->unk_04 = func_E0200000(50) - 25;
-            part->unk_08 = func_E0200000(50) - 25;
+            part->unk_04 = effect_rand_int(50) - 25;
+            part->unk_08 = effect_rand_int(50) - 25;
             part->unk_0C = 0.0f;
-            part->unk_18 = func_E0200000(360);
-            part->unk_20 = func_E0200000(360);
-            part->unk_1C = func_E0200000(100) / 10.0f;
+            part->unk_18 = effect_rand_int(360);
+            part->unk_20 = effect_rand_int(360);
+            part->unk_1C = effect_rand_int(100) / 10.0f;
             part->unk_10 = 0;
             part->unk_14 = 0;
         } else {
-            part->unk_04 = func_E0200000(10) - 5;
-            part->unk_08 = func_E0200000(10) + 5;
+            part->unk_04 = effect_rand_int(10) - 5;
+            part->unk_08 = effect_rand_int(10) + 5;
             part->unk_0C = 10.0f;
-            part->unk_18 = func_E0200000(360);
-            part->unk_20 = func_E0200000(360);
-            part->unk_1C = func_E0200000(100) / 10.0f;
+            part->unk_18 = effect_rand_int(360);
+            part->unk_20 = effect_rand_int(360);
+            part->unk_1C = effect_rand_int(100) / 10.0f;
             part->unk_10 = 0;
             part->unk_14 = 2.0f;
         }
diff --git a/src/effects/effect_3D.c b/src/effects/effect_3D.c
index d3ff4c1a54..c1048e6159 100644
--- a/src/effects/effect_3D.c
+++ b/src/effects/effect_3D.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void effect_3D_main(s32 arg0, f32 arg1, f32 arg2, f32 arg3, f32 arg4, f32 arg5,
                     part->unk_44 = 0.5f;
                     part->unk_48 = 4.0f;
                     part->unk_50 = 20.0f;
-                    part->unk_4C = part->unk_54 = func_E0200000(360);
+                    part->unk_4C = part->unk_54 = effect_rand_int(360);
                     part->unk_58 = 255;
                     part->unk_64 = ((i - 1) / 5) * 2;
                     part->unk_5C = 10;
diff --git a/src/effects/effect_46.c b/src/effects/effect_46.c
index efafc7496e..53243b1572 100644
--- a/src/effects/effect_46.c
+++ b/src/effects/effect_46.c
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ EffectInstance* effect_46_main(s32 arg0, PlayerStatus* arg1, f32 arg2, s32 arg3)
                 part->unk_08 = 0;
                 part->unk_0C = arg1->colliderHeight * 0.5;
                 part->unk_10 = 0;
-                part->unk_38 = func_E0200000(1) * 8 - 4;
+                part->unk_38 = effect_rand_int(1) * 8 - 4;
                 part->unk_3C = 0;
-                part->unk_40 = func_E0200000(1) * 8 - 4;
+                part->unk_40 = effect_rand_int(1) * 8 - 4;
                 part->unk_2C = i * 25;
                 part->unk_30 = (i - 1) * 360 / (numParts - 1);
                 part->unk_34 = 360 - i * 38;
diff --git a/src/effects/fire_flower.c b/src/effects/fire_flower.c
index bfdb6d9262..02d41650da 100644
--- a/src/effects/fire_flower.c
+++ b/src/effects/fire_flower.c
@@ -63,9 +63,9 @@ EffectInstance* fire_flower_main(s32 arg0, f32 arg1, f32 arg2, f32 arg3, s32 arg
         part->pos.z = 0;
         part->unk_14 = 8.0f;
         part->unk_18 = 0;
-        part->unk_1C = func_E0200000(20) - 8;
-        part->unk_20 = (func_E0200000(10) - 5) * 0.05;
-        part->unk_24 = func_E0200000(80) + 5;
+        part->unk_1C = effect_rand_int(20) - 8;
+        part->unk_20 = (effect_rand_int(10) - 5) * 0.05;
+        part->unk_24 = effect_rand_int(80) + 5;
         part->unk_3C = 255;
         partData->z = i - 1;
         partData->x = 10;
diff --git a/src/effects/gather_energy_pink.c b/src/effects/gather_energy_pink.c
index f0f2418010..a02d6b744e 100644
--- a/src/effects/gather_energy_pink.c
+++ b/src/effects/gather_energy_pink.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ void gather_energy_pink_main(s32 type, f32 posX, f32 posY, f32 posZ, f32 scale,
 
     data->unk_1C = 10.0f;
 
-    data->unk_58 = func_E0200000(360);
+    data->unk_58 = effect_rand_int(360);
     data->unk_5C = 4.0f;
 
     data->unk_50 = 0;
diff --git a/src/effects/snowfall.c b/src/effects/snowfall.c
index ef1bb1ef39..8e14ad65eb 100644
--- a/src/effects/snowfall.c
+++ b/src/effects/snowfall.c
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ Gfx* D_E008AA50[] = { D_09000D50_38DDC0, D_09000D50_38DDC0 };
 void func_E008A000(SnowfallFXData* data) {
     Camera* camera = &gCameras[gCurrentCameraID];
 
-    data->unk_08 = (camera->lookAt_eye.x + func_E0200000(2000)) - 1000.0f;
-    data->unk_0C = (camera->lookAt_eye.y + func_E0200000(2000)) - 1000.0f;
-    data->unk_10 = (camera->lookAt_eye.z + func_E0200000(2000)) - 1000.0f;
-    data->unk_14 = (func_E0200000(20) - 10.0f) * 0.05;
-    data->unk_18 = -1.2 - (func_E0200000(80) * 0.01);
-    data->unk_1C = (func_E0200000(20) - 10.0f) * 0.05;
+    data->unk_08 = (camera->lookAt_eye.x + effect_rand_int(2000)) - 1000.0f;
+    data->unk_0C = (camera->lookAt_eye.y + effect_rand_int(2000)) - 1000.0f;
+    data->unk_10 = (camera->lookAt_eye.z + effect_rand_int(2000)) - 1000.0f;
+    data->unk_14 = (effect_rand_int(20) - 10.0f) * 0.05;
+    data->unk_18 = -1.2 - (effect_rand_int(80) * 0.01);
+    data->unk_1C = (effect_rand_int(20) - 10.0f) * 0.05;
     data->unk_28 = 255;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/effects/windy_leaves.c b/src/effects/windy_leaves.c
index dec0f71845..25922199f8 100644
--- a/src/effects/windy_leaves.c
+++ b/src/effects/windy_leaves.c
@@ -41,10 +41,10 @@ void windy_leaves_main(s32 type, f32 arg1, f32 arg2, f32 arg3) {
 
     part++;
     for (i = 1; i < numParts; i++, part++) {
-        s32 temp_s0_2 = func_E0200000(50);
-        s32 temp_s1 = func_E0200000(20);
-        s32 temp_s2 = func_E0200000(360);
-        s32 temp_v0_2 = func_E0200000(100);
+        s32 temp_s0_2 = effect_rand_int(50);
+        s32 temp_s1 = effect_rand_int(20);
+        s32 temp_s2 = effect_rand_int(360);
+        s32 temp_v0_2 = effect_rand_int(100);
         part->unk_04.x = temp_s0_2 + 75;
         part->unk_04.y = temp_s1 + 70;
         part->unk_04.z = 0;
diff --git a/ver/us/symbol_addrs.txt b/ver/us/symbol_addrs.txt
index 75be3acd98..2c875f0ea3 100644
--- a/ver/us/symbol_addrs.txt
+++ b/ver/us/symbol_addrs.txt
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ dma_write = 0x800297D4; // type:func rom:0x4BD4
 dma_write_block = 0x80029860; // type:func rom:0x4C60
 advance_rng = 0x80029900; // type:func rom:0x4D00
 rand_float = 0x80029934; // type:func rom:0x4D34
-func_80029994 = 0x80029994; // type:func rom:0x4D94
+rand_int_internal = 0x80029994; // type:func rom:0x4D94
 rand_int = 0x800299FC; // type:func rom:0x4DFC
 signF = 0x80029A7C; // type:func rom:0x4E7C
 round = 0x80029AC4; // type:func rom:0x4EC4
@@ -7953,7 +7953,7 @@ EVS_WorldItem_ShowUsedItem = 0x802C0410; // type:data rom:0x3255E0
 EVS_WorldItem_PlayEatingSounds = 0x802C04F4; // type:data rom:0x3256C4
 EVS_WorldItem_PlayDrinkingSounds = 0x802C0560; // type:data rom:0x325730
 EVS_World_UseItem = 0x802C05CC; // type:data rom:0x32579C
-func_E0200000 = 0xE0200000; // type:func rom:0x325AD0
+effect_rand_int = 0xE0200000; // type:func rom:0x325AD0
 func_E0200044 = 0xE0200044; // type:func rom:0x325B14
 func_E02000AC = 0xE02000AC; // type:func rom:0x325B7C
 shim_guRotateF = 0xE0200410; // type:func rom:0x325EE0
@@ -7996,7 +7996,7 @@ shim_draw_msg = 0xE0200650; // type:func rom:0x326120
 shim_get_msg_width = 0xE0200660; // type:func rom:0x326130
 shim_get_background_color_blend = 0xE0200670; // type:func rom:0x326140
 shim_sfx_play_sound_at_position = 0xE0200680; // type:func rom:0x326150
-D_E0200690 = 0xE0200690; // type:data rom:0x326160
+effect_prng_seed = 0xE0200690; // type:data rom:0x326160
 effectFuncs = 0xE0200694; // type:data rom:0x326164
 D_E0200734 = 0xE0200734; // type:data rom:0x326204
 D_09000000_326410 = 0x9000000; // type:data rom:0x326410