Pikmin Strategy Guide 0.9
by Scott Lewis (
[email protected])
Updated 12.17.01
=================
Table of Contents
=================
1 Pikmin types
1.1 Red
1.2 Yellow
1.3 Blue
1.4 Purple
2 List of the Spaceship Pieces
3 Area by Area Guide
3.1 The Impact Site
3.1.1 Engine
3.1.2 Positron Generator
3.2 The Forest of Hope
3.2.1 Eternal Fuel Dynamo
3.2.2 Whimsical Radar
3.2.3 Extraordinary Bolt
3.2.4 Nova Blaster
3.2.5 Shock Absorber
3.2.6 Sagittarius
3.2.7 Radiation Canopy
3.3 The Forest Navel
3.3.1 Automatic Gear
3.3.2 #1 Ionium Jet
3.3.3 Gravity Jumper
3.3.4 Analog Computer
3.3.5 Libra
3.3.6 Anti-Dioxin Filter
3.3.7 Omega Stabilizer
3.3.8 Guard Satellite
3.3.9 Space Float
3.4 The Distant Spring
3.5 The Final Trial
4 Tactics
4.1 Match the pellet color with Pikmin color
4.2 Divide and conquer
4.3 C-stick bum rush
4.4 Overloading tasks
4.5 Use bomb-rocks on wooden walls
4.6 Pay attention to the C-stick revelry
5 Ecology of the Pikmin World
6 Pikmin Evolution
6.1 Growing
6.2 Finding nectar
6.3 Losing status
7 Creatures
7.1 Helpful
7.1.1 Iridescent Flint Beetle
7.1.2 Honeywisp
7.2 Annoyances
7.2.1 Wagpole
7.2.2 Breadbug
7.2.3 Swooping Snitchbug
7.2.4 Puffy Blowhog
7.3 Predators
7.3.1 Spotty Bulborb
7.3.2 Dwarf Bulborb
7.3.3 Spotty Bulbear
7.3.4 Dwarf Bulbear
7.3.5 Fiery Blowhog
7.3.6 Wollywog
7.3.7 Pearly Clamclamp
7.3.8 Sheargrub
7.3.9 Shearwig
7.3.10 Water Dumple
7.4 Rare Species
7.4.1 Goolix
7.4.2 Mamuta
7.4.3 Smoky Progg
7.5 Bosses
7.5.1 Burrowing Snagret
7.5.2 Puffstool
7.5.3 Armored Cannon Beetle
7.5.4 Beady Long Legs
7.5.5 Emperor Bulbax
8 Version History
9 Contributions
10 Was this strategy guide stolen?!?!?
11 Thanks
===============
1 Pikmin Types
===============
There are three main Pikmin types: red, yellow, and blue. Each of the
types has a specific role in the adventure.
-------
1.1 Red
-------
These are the Pikmin Olimar finds at the crash site and are overall
quite useful due to their fighting skill and resistance to fire. You
should always fight other creatures with red Pikmin if you have the
option - they fight around 50% better than the other two types. I
typically have far more (typically hundreds more) red Pikmin than other
types due to their usefulness in combat.
----------
1.2 Yellow
----------
These Pikmin are introduced in the Forest of Hope and have two main
abilities. One is the ability to carry bomb-rocks that allows Olimar
to blow up solid walls. The other is that they can be thrown higher
because they are lighter.
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1.3 Blue
--------
The not-so-subtle hint with these guys is that their onion is found at
the bottom of a small pool in the Forest Navel. Blue Pikmin love being
in the water unlike the other two types.
----------
1.4 Purple
----------
In the Forest Navel there is a fight with a giant mushroom that
releases diseased spores. If the spores get on any nearby Pikmin, they
are permanently transformed into purple Pikmin and their leaf is
replaced with a mushroom. These purple Pikmin will turn on Olimar and
attack him. You must use your healthy Pikmin to kill the purple Pikmin
and protect Olimar.
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2 List of the Spaceship Pieces
===============================
Part Name Location Weight
Main Engine The Impact Site 20
Positron Generator The Impact Site 20
Eternal Fuel Dynamo The Forest of Hope 40
Extraordinary Bolt The Forest of Hope 30
Whimsical Radar The Forest of Hope 20
Geiger Counter
Radiation Canopy The Forest of Hope 30
Sagittarius The Forest of Hope 20
Shock Absorber The Forest of Hope 30
Automatic Gear The Forest Navel 15
#1 Ionium Jet The Forest Navel 15
Anti-Dioxin Filter The Forest Navel 40
Omega Stabilizer The Forest Navel 30
Gravity Jumper The Forest Navel 25
Analog Computer The Forest Navel 20
Guard Satellite The Forest Navel 20
Libra The Forest Navel 15
Repair Type Bolt
Gluon Drive
Zirconium Rotor
Interstellar Radio
Pilot's Seat
#2 Ionium Jet
Bowsprit
Chronos Reactor
Nova Blaster* The Forest of Hope 30
Space Float* The Forest Navel 25
Massage Machine*
UV Lamp*
Secret Safe*
* indicates optional pieces of the ship
=====================
3 Area by Area Guide
=====================
There are 30 pieces of the Dolphin scattered across 5 different areas
of the Pikmin world. Some of the pieces cannot be recovered until you
have found all three types of Pikmin. I listed the pieces in the order
I thought would be most efficient to gather them.
-------------------
3.1 The Impact Site
-------------------
Captain Olimar crashes here at the beginning of the game and meets the
red Pikmin. It is a small clearing that contains two ship pieces, one
of which requires yellow and blue Pikmin to obtain. This is a great
area to visit if you are running low on Pikmin - there are a number of
high value pellets lying about and very few enemies. Great place to
recruit and regroup.
3.1.1 Engine
Weight: 20
Get 10 red Pikmin under your control. Head to the cardboard box
blocking one of your paths and throw 10 Pikmin in front of the box.
They should push the box up and clear the path. 20 Pikmin are needed
to carry the engine, so walk up the ramp that was created when you
pushed the box and get the 5 pellet and the 1 pellets that are laying
up there. Once you've gotten 20 Pikmin under your control, head to the
Engine and either throw the Pikmin or use the C stick to direct them to
carry it back for you. Note - Pull up all your planted Pikmin before
the Pikmin carry the Engine back to the Dolphin. Any Pikmin that you
don't pull up will remain in this area and won't follow you to the next
area.
3.1.2 Positron Generator
Weight: 20
This piece requires the blue Pikmin to retrieve. You won't be able to
get this piece until you recover the blue Onion from the Forest Navel.
Get a few yellow Pikmin and have them pick up three bombs located on
the open side of the box you pushed. Move up the ramp and blow up the
solid wall. Drop off your yellow Pikmin and get some blue Pikmin to go
into the small puddle that you found. Look at the Pearly Clamclamp on
the left - the Positron Generator will be in its mouth. Throw in a few
Pikmin to attack the Clamclamp, then whistle them out as it gets ready
to shut. Repeat this process until you defeat the creature and the
Generator pops out. Use 20 blue Pikmin to take it home.
Since getting this piece will take far less than a single day to
accomplish, use the extra time to grab the many high value pellets
scattered about this level and grow more Pikmin. Remember to pull them
up before you leave - any left in the ground will not follow you to the
next area.
----------------------
3.2 The Forest of Hope
----------------------
Olimar has his first encounter with yellow Pikmin in this forest. This
area contains 8 pieces, some of which require blue Pikmin to obtain.
3.2.1 Eternal Fuel Dynamo
Weight: 40
Assign almost all your Pikmin to knock down the wooden gate at the
landing site in the Forest of Hope. While they are working, use your
remaining Pikmin to gather pellets in the site area and to find nectar
in the two grass patches. Once the wall is knocked down, gather up all
your Pikmin and cross through the gate. You should see the Eternal
Fuel Dynamo in front of the gate to the right. If you currently have
the 40 Pikmin required to carry the part, assign 40 to carry it back
and carry on. If you lack a few Pikmin, grab the large red 10 pellet
nearby and knock out the dwarf bulborbs milling about to boost your
numbers, then come back and grab it.
3.2.2 Whimsical Radar
Weight: 20
The Whimsical Radar the most important part because it gives you the
ability to use the map to find other ship pieces. Clear out the
Bulborbs that are on this route. If you don't eliminate them, they may
eat your Pikmin as they carry pieces back to your ship. Get a large
number of red Pikmin (around 40 should be fine) and head out of the
landing area to the where the Eternal Fuel Dynamo was found. Take a
right and you will see another wooden gate. Knock down the gate. Down
the path on your left will be a yellow Onion sitting in the ground.
Move away from the Onion and disband your red Pikmin by pressing the X
button. Walk up to the yellow Onion and get your first yellow Pikmin.
Pick up nearby yellow 1 pellets and grow a couple more yellow Pikmin.
Get three yellows in your group and head to the solid white wall near
the Onion. (There is another wall in the area adjacent to a can of
bomb-rocks. That is not the correct wall.) There will be three bomb-
rocks in front of the wall - throw your yellow Pikmin at them to pick
them up and bring them back to you. Once all three have the bomb-
rocks, throw them one at a time at the wall. They should run to the
wall, drop the bomb-rock, and run back. The wall should fall down
after three bomb-rocks are used. You may want to drop off your yellow
Pikmin at this point so that they won't be killed in battle. Gather
your red Pikmin and move into the area that you just opened up and
clear out the creatures in the area. Make sure you kill the Sheargrubs
that come out of the sand near the reinforced solid wall. Once all the
predators have been neutralized, look on a nearby ledge to see the
Whimsical Radar. Throw 20 Pikmin up to grab it and take home the most
important ship piece in the game.
3.2.3 Extraordinary Bolt
Weight: 30
At most you will need 12 bomb-rocks to get this piece - pull out around
15 yellow Pikmin and get them. Use three bombs to knock down the solid
wall at your landing site if you haven't already. Using only red
Pikmin, clear the Bulborbs from the newly opened area and march through
the clover on the left to the sandy area in front of the reinforced
wall. Kill the Sheargrubs that crawl out of the ground. Once all the
creatures have been knocked out, drop off your red Pikmin away from the
wall and gather up your yellow Pikmin carrying bombs. Use 9 bombs to
knock down the reinforced solid wall and open the path to the
Extraordinary Bolt. Assign 30 Pikmin to carry it back and you're on
your way!
3.2.4 Nova Blaster (Optional)
Weight: 30
Use three bombs to knock down the solid wall in your base if you
haven't done that yet. Knock down the reinforced wooden wall on the
right side of the path. (Note the tiny mouse hole in the trunk next to
the wall- you can use this to sneak some of your troops in before the
wall is knocked down.) This should open up another pathway - clear out
the Bulborbs, grab the Nova Blaster at the end, and head on home.
3.2.5 Shock Absorber
Weight: 30
Blue Pikmin are needed to acquire this piece.
Get 40+ blue Pikmin and walk to the large pool near where you found the
Eternal Fuel Dynamo. To your left there should be a smaller pool
adjacent to the larger one. Hop into the pool and crawl up the root to
the other side. To your right you will see the Shock Absorber guarded
by a Spotty Bulborb. Knock out the Bulborb, grab the Shock Absorber,
and head home.
3.2.6 Sagittarius
Weight: 20
Blue Pikmin are needed to acquire this piece.
This piece requires two parts of a bridge to be built in the large pool
area. Take at least 10 red Pikmin to the start of the bridge near the
shore, knock out the sheargrubs that appear, and then assign them to
start building the bridge. Take at least 10 blue Pikmin and go into
the water to the second little outcropping in the pool - you should see
the green Sagittarius sitting on the ground along with another piece of
the bridge. Walk up onto the land and throw 10 blue Pikmin to start
building the second part of the bridge. When the bridges are complete,
grab the Sagittarius, and head back home.
3.2.7 Radiation Canopy
Weight: 30
Blue Pikmin are needed to acquire this piece.
On the path leading to the Nova Blaster, there should be a wooden gate
in a pool on the left. Assign blue Pikmin to knock it down. While
they are banging on the wall, you might want to get bomb-rocks for
three yellow Pikmin. Throw the yellow Pikmin up the nearby cliff that
leads to a reinforced wooden gate. Once the blue Pikmin have knocked
down the wall, take them through the gate to the other side. You
should see the yellow Pikmin you tossed up the clear nearby clutching
bomb-rocks - use the bombs to blow up the wall. If you didn't get
yellow Pikmin, assign the blue Pikmin to knock down the wall. Once the
wall is cleared, there should be an armored cannon beetle in your way.
(Refer to the section 7.4.2 on how to defeat him.) Once he has been
overcome, snag the Radiation Canopy and head on home.
--------------------
3.3 The Forest Navel
--------------------
This underground cavern contains the blue Pikmin onion. There are nine
pieces in this level to gather.
This level contains a number of walls and bridges that don't need to be
overcome to complete the level. They are there to provide the Pikmin
with more direct paths for carrying things back to base. If you find
yourself running out of time carrying something back at the end of the
day, you may want to consider opening up these blocked paths.
Bomb-rocks are placed in remote locations on the map and are time
consuming to acquire. Plan your runs to get bombs so that you get as
many as you can at a time and make plans so that you are able to knock
down as many walls as necessary. Remember - white walls require 3
bomb-rocks to knock down, grey walls require 6, and black walls require
9.
Find the blue Pikmin onion on the first day in the pools near the first
wooden wall to knock down. Drop all your Pikmin using the X button and
go into the water to activate the Onion. Try to build their numbers up
with the nearby 1 and 5 pellets so that the next day you will have
around 20.
3.3.1 Automatic Gear
Weight: 15
Knock down the first wooden wall near the landing site. Go through the
gate to a pile of sticks on a ledge around a grey and black solid wall.
Assign Pikmin to start building a pole to reach the Automatic Gear.
Once the pole is completed, throw 15 Pikmin at the pole - they will
shimmy across, pick up the Automatic Gear, and take it home.
3.3.2 #1 Ionium Jet
Weight: 15
This piece requires 15 blue Pikmin to move. If you hustle, you can
grow 15 Pikmin on your first day in the level and grab this piece.
Look for this piece in the set of pools where you found the blue Onion,
in the pool adjacent to the can of bomb-rocks. Assign 15 blue Pikmin
to carry and you got yourself a new ship piece!
3.3.3 Gravity Jumper
Weight: 25
On the left side of the beach there is a small plateau with the
beginning of a bridge to one side. Throw up a few Pikmin to start
building the bridge. Once it is complete, carry your piece home.
3.3.4 Analog Computer
Weight: 20
You need at least 20 blue Pikmin to recover this piece - bringing 20
red Pikmin along as well will greatly speed carrying it back to base.
On the right side of the beach there is a little alcove with a wooden
wall. Knock down the wall. There will be a path of flame spouts - use
your C stick to move your Pikmin up against the wall and move slowly to
the end avoiding the flames. At the end will be a small pool with the
analog computer in it. Use your blue Pikmin to lug it out of the
water. Whistle them back into your group after they have pulled it out
of the pool. If you have red Pikmin with you, assign them to carry it
back - they won't be burnt to a crisp by the flame spouts. If you only
brought blue Pikmin, head up the ramp near the pool to find the red
*transformation flower* (I've forgotten the name). Throw your blue
Pikmin into the center of the flower until it closes up and plants red
seeds. Keep doing this until you have at least 20 red Pikmin in your
group and assign them to carry the Analog Computer back to base.
3.3.5 Libra
Weight: 15
You will need a few blue Pikmin, 15 yellow Pikmin, and 15 red Pikmin to
collect this ship piece. On the right side of the beach there is an
alcove with a wooden wall - knock it down if you haven't already.
Avoid the flame spouts on the path by walking near the wall and using
the C stick to keep your Pikmin close to the wall. Halfway along the
path on the left will be the start of a bridge. Assign the Pikmin to
build the bridge. Once it is complete, you will see a small pool and a
high ledge. Drop off all the Pikmin by pressing X, then pick a few
blue ones by walking into them. Walk into the water and the blue
Pikmin will start breaking open an air spout. Once they've opened the
air spout, throw 15 yellow Pikmin up to the next level on the shelf.
Walk Olimar over the newly opened air spout to get him to the next
level. You should see the Libra gem sitting on another level up, so
throw your 15 Pikmin up there to grab it and pull it down. Once they
bring it to the bottom level, assign your red Pikmin to begin carrying
it back to base.
3.3.6 Anti-Dioxin Filter
Weight: 40
The filter is right in the middle of the large pool. Problem is that
the shore is guarded by Fiery Blowhogs on the shore and Wollywogs in
the water. Knock them out and collect the piece.
3.3.7 Omega Stabilizer
Weight: 30
Take at least 30 red Pikmin towards the area with the glowing
mushrooms. (You should see the enclave from the landing site if you
look around.) Wipe out the Sheargrubs and Shearwigs you find at the
mouth of the glowing mushroom area to ensure that the Pikmin carrying
the stabilizer back will not be harassed. Parading in the middle of
the glowing mushrooms is a Puffstool. Knock the overgrown fungi out.
(Check section 7.5.2 for tips on defeating the giant freaky `shroom.)
Once defeated, the Omega Stabilizer will pop out. Take it home!
3.3.8 Guard Satellite
Weight: 20
At the entrance of the glowing mushroom area there will be a ramp to
the left with a reinforced wall that requires 6 bombs. Avoid the fire
spouts and blow up the wall. In the sandy area that opens up will be a
Beady Long Legs. Throw yellow Pikmin at the center bulb to defeat it.
(Refer to section 7.5.4 for more information on how to wipe out the
giant spider.) The guard satellite will pop out when the boss goes
down. Consider using red Pikmin to carry the piece past the flame
spouts. If you want to speed up the process of carrying it back,
destroy the strong wooden wall next to the reinforced wall you knocked
down to give your carriers a shorter path.
3.3.9 Space Float (Optional)
Weight: 25
There will be a breadbug wandering about the level that steals pellets
and drags them back to his hiding place. When the breadbug is dragging
one of the pellets, assign two Pikmin to start pulling on the pellet.
He will be eventually dragged back to the landing site. When the
pellet is pulled up into the Onion, the breadbug will be knocked out
and the Space Float he was hoarding will appear.
----------------------
3.4 The Distant Spring
----------------------
Some of the world's most exotic creatures inhabit this beautiful
stream. Ten ship parts have fallen here.
-------------------
3.5 The Final Trial
-------------------
This obstacle course area with a huge final boss contains a single ship
piece.
==========
4 Tactics
==========
--------------------------------------------
4.1 Match the pellet color with Pikmin color
--------------------------------------------
Pellets come in red, blue, and yellow to match the colors of the main
types of Pikmin. Carrying a pellet to the matching onion will often
generate around twice as many Pikmin if you took the pellet to a non-
matching Onion. Pikmin will take the pellet to the same color of onion
as the majority of Pikmin carrying it.
This chart shows the benefits of carrying pellets back to the
appropriate onion.
Matching Non-matching
1 pellet 2 1
5 pellet 5 3
10 pellet 10 6
20 pellet 20 10
----------------------
4.2 Divide and conquer
----------------------
Extremely simple but equally important - fight one enemy at a time. If
there are a group of enemies, try to draw one out, kill it, and then
continue until you knock them all out. I knock out the smaller guys
first because they are harder to keep track of when a big creature is
on the attack.
--------------------
4.3 C-stick bum rush
--------------------
I refer to directing Pikmin into a battle using the C stick as a "bum
rush." This method of attack is most useful when your have far more
troops that typically needed to knock out the creature. Almost all the
land creatures in the game can be immediately knocked out if a large
enough group is directed into them. If you are able to knock a flying
creature to the ground, immediately bum rush them with all the Pikmin
under your control to finish them off.
---------------------
4.4 Overloading tasks
---------------------
When Pikmin are carrying objects, such as pellets, ship pieces, or
defeated enemies, you can assign between 1.5 and 2 times the number of
Pikmin needed to carry the object. This speeds the rate at which the
Pikmin carry the object to the base.
Resist the temptation to assign more Pikmin than needed without good
cause. Your goal should be to do as much as possible with your Pikmin
before wasting a trip back to base. If you assign twice the number of
Pikmin needed each item you find, you will quickly run out of Pikmin
and be forced to return to the base as much as twice as often. By
using the minimum number of Pikmin for a carrying task you will be able
to make fewer trips to base and find that you get more done in a single
day.
There are a number of situations in which overloading is entirely
appropriate. If some items near the end of the day are in danger of
not making it back to the ship - overload. If you lack a specific type
of Pikmin and want to quickly get the correct color of pellet back to
the base - overload. Just make sure that you overload for a reason
rather than out of habit.
---------------------
4.5 Bomb wooden walls
---------------------
There are two types of walls in the game - wooden walls that can be
knocked down by Pikmin and solid walls that must be knocked down with
bombs. While wooden walls can be beaten down using Pikmin, try to use
bombs on them as often as possible. Three bombs can knock down a
reinforced wooden wall much faster than a hundred Pikmin can.
----------------------------------------
4.6 Pay attention to the C-stick revelry
----------------------------------------
If you have Pikmin following you, Olimar will play a cute little
revelry when you direct them around with the C-stick. If you don't
have any Pikmin following you, no revelry will play.
When you assign Pikmin to build a bridge or knock down a wall, hold the
C stick towards the structure and move around until the tune stops.
This indicates that all of your Pikmin have been assigned to work and
you have no more following you.
=============================
5 Ecology of the Pikmin world
=============================
Almost everything in the Pikmin world grows. When a Pellet Posy is cut
down, a sprout will take its place that will eventually grow into a new
flower. A Pikmin in the ground will grow from a leaf to a bud to a
flower. The Pikmin's predators also grow from children to adults. The
Dwarf Bulbarbs, if left unharmed, will grow into Spotty Bulbarbs in a
day or two. The Wagpoles that zip around in the water eventually
mature into Wollywogs. Sheargrub start life as a white larva.
Use the ecology of the Pikmin world to your advantage. Protect
yourself from dangerous adult creatures in future days by defeating
them when they are young. If you visit the same area multiple days in
a row you will be able to prevent the creatures from growing into an
adult state. If you revisit an area that you left several days ago,
expect the wildlife to have flourished in your absence and prepare for
a tough battle.
==================
6 Pikmin Evolution
==================
The Pikmin have three stages in their development - from leaf, to bud,
to flower. Pikmin become significantly faster and stronger with each
phase. Flower Pikmin have some significant advantages. Olimar is less
likely to lose flower Pikmin because they are fast enough to stay with
him and don't get stuck behind corners as often. Flower Pikmin also
carry things faster, allowing you to get more done in a single day.
There are two ways to get your Pikmin to a flower status: let them
mature while they're in the ground or find nectar.
-----------
6.1 Growing
-----------
Letting Pikmin grow in the ground is the best solution to get most of
your Pikmin to become flowers. When food is brought back to the onion
and the seeds fly out, don't pull the Pikmin out of the ground
immediately. Leave them in the ground and give them around 3/4 of a
day to grow to flower form. Once a Pikmin has bloomed, pull them from
the ground immediately. You can only have 100 Pikmin in the world at
once and a planted flower Pikmin is wasting a valuable spot.
------------------
6.2 Finding nectar
------------------
Finding nectar is the only option for maturing Pikmin once they have
been pulled from the ground. When a Pikmin drinks from the yellow,
sugary drop they immediately bloom into flowers. There are four places
to find nectar - in long grass, in small pods, being carried by
Honeywisps, and from Flint Beetles. When you move by grass or small
pods, your Pikmin often become distracted and start trying to find the
nectar by pulling out the grass or breaking the pods. Sometimes this
method will provide three or four drops of nectar, sometimes none.
Another way to secure some nectar is to hit one of the Honeywisps (the
translucent, ghost-like beings with the yellow ball at the bottom) with
a thrown Pikmin to knock the nectar it was carrying to the ground.
Watch the Honeywisp's shadow to aim your Pikmin the appropriate
direction and wait for it to swoop close to the ground to throw. The
Flint Beetle (the bright blue bugs that your Pikmin enjoy attacking)
will sometimes drop some nectar when hit with a thrown Pikmin.
A large number of Pikmin can drink from a single drop of nectar, so
when you find one use the C stick to try to get as many leaf and bud
Pikmin around it at once. Pikmin become confused (or seemingly very
relaxed) after drinking nectar, so you have to use your whistle again
on them to get them back in your group.
-----------------
6.3 Losing status
-----------------
If a bud or flower Pikmin gets knocked around in combat they can lose
their status and revert back to their previous state, and can revert
all the way back to a leaf Pikmin. Petals will fall to the ground to
indicate when a Pikmin has lost status.
============
7 Creatures
============
-----------
7.1 Helpful
-----------
These creatures are not threatening to the Pikmin and can provide some
useful items.
7.1.1 Iridescent Flint Beetle
Habitat: All levels
The Pikmin seem to have a vendetta against these timid shiny blue
beetles. Defeating them does not generate any reward, but if you hit
them with a tossed Pikmin they drop out a small pellet or drop of
nectar.
7.1.2 Honeywisp
Habitat: All levels
These ghostly creatures that bob in the breeze are welcome visitors
because of the drop of yellow nectar they carry. If you hit a
Honeywisp with a Pikmin in mid-air, they drop the nectar and scoot off.
Use the Honeywisp's shadow to aim your shot and wait until it bobs down
before you make your throw.
--------------
7.2 Annoyances
--------------
These creatures don't kill your Pikmin - they just play mean tricks on
them.
7.2.1 Wagpole
Habitat: The Forest of Hope, The Forest Navel, The Distant Spring
Food value: 1
Pikmin enjoy chasing after these tadpoles that grow into Wollywogs, but
they are extremely quick and difficult to catch. It is usually not
worth the time or effort to kill them.
7.2.2 Breadbug
Habitat: The Forest Navel
These armadillo-like critters are thieving packrats. They mill about
the level and steal pellets to take back to their nest. The Pikmin
won't attack them, so you have to resort to more creative measures to
defeat them. You can knock their health down to nothing by hitting
them with thrown Pikmin. You can also win a tug of war with them -
when they are dragging away a pellet, order two Pikmin to try to pull
it away. They will slowly drag the breadbug with the pellet up to the
Onion to be reclaimed. When the pellet is being sucked up, the
breadbug will hit his head and be knocked out cold.
7.2.3 Swooping Snitchbug
Habitat: The Forest of Hope, The Forest Navel, The Distant Spring
Food value: 3
These flying, long-limbed nuisances enjoy plucking up your Pikmin and
planting them elsewhere. They can be knocked out of the sky before
they can grab anyone with a well-thrown Pikmin, but are much easier to
hit after they kidnapped a Pikmin or two because they fly slower and
lower to the ground. Knock them down, bum rush them on the ground, and
they won't last very long.
7.2.4 Puffy Blowhog
Habitat: The Distant Spring
These giant psychedelic flying blowhogs are not lethal by themselves
but are quite a hassle to take down. Their attack blows your Pikmin
about with a huge stream of air, forcing you to gather them back in
your group. Stay away from its mouth and throw Pikmin on its belly and
back. If you get enough Pikmin attacking it at once it will fall to
the ground - bum rush it to finish it off.
-------------
7.3 Predators
-------------
These critters will eat your Pikmin for lunch.
7.3.1 Spotty Bulborb
Habitat: The Forest of Hope
Food value: 10
These sleepy giant ladybug-like creatures are the Pikmin's most common
predators. Watch out for their gaping mouths - they can consume Pikmin
by the half dozen. Fortunately they spend most of the day in a deep
sleep. To bum rush these giants without suffering serious losses you
need more than 40 red Pikmin. With smaller forces, you have to be a
bit more creative. Position Olimar behind the Bulbarb (while using the
C stick to keep your Pikmin away from the nostrils) and start throwing
Pikmin on its bright red back. The Bulbarb will try to rotate around
to get a bite out of you and your posse - try your best to stay behind
him. Pace your throws so that there are Pikmin landing on his back the
entire battle. This will help preventing him from snacking on the
growing pile of fallen Pikmin at his feet. The Spotty Bulbarb can be
tough to defeat without suffering casualties - using red Pikmin is
always a good idea when confronting these creatures.
7.3.2 Dwarf Bulborb
Habitat: The Forest of Hope
Food value: 3
These quarter-sized children of the Spotty Bulbarbs are pussycats
compared to their big brothers, but can still be dangerous if they
sneak up on you. They can be seriously damaged if hit with a thrown
Pikmin, but the most convenient way to dispatch them is the bum rush.
If you have around 10 Pikmin, just move them into the creature with the
C-stick - the Dwarf Bulbarb should fall with no casualties. If you
find any Dwarfs grazing near Spotty Bulbarbs, try to lure them away
before attacking. This allows you to focus on taking on the more
dangerous Spotty Bulbarbs without having these little guys grab easy
kills.
7.3.3 Spotty Bulbear
Habitat: The Distant Spring
Food value: 10
This tougher, red dots-on-black version of the Spotty Bulborb is quite
fearsome. Use the same tactics that used against the Spotty Bulborb
but with more caution.
7.3.4 Dwarf Bulbear
Habitat: The Distant Spring
Food value: 3
This is tougher, darker version of the Dwarf Bulborb. They are still
easily defeated with a bum rush, just be a little bit more cautious
around them.
7.3.5 Fiery Blowhog
Habitat: The Forest Navel
Food value: 7
This creature that hangs out on the shore of the Forest Navel pond
looks like a miniature elephant with an anteater's snout. If attacked,
the Blowhog bucks the attackers off and incinerates them with a blast
of fire from his snout. While lethal to most Pikmin, the fire-
resistant red Pikmin dominate the Fiery Blowhogs.
7.3.6 Wollywog
Habitat: The Forest Navel, The Distant Spring
Food value: 7
This globular, water-loving frog is one of the most dangerous on the
planet. It attempts to kill Olimar and the Pikmin by leaping into the
air above its target and come back down with a crushing blow. You
should never attack the Wollywog with a C-stick bum rush - you may hold
the freak frog down for a few moments, but if it gets into the air
you'll loose most of your attacking Pikmin. Jay Bibby provides this
effective strategy - to defeat the Wollywogs you only need about 10
pikmin. Lure the frog to jump at you and move out of the way to dodge
his attack. When Olimar and his Pikmin are out of the way, position
the cursor over the Wollywog's shadow before he lands. Once landed,
throw 5 Pikmin onto his head. He will leap straight up with Pikmin on
his head. Just as he is falling back down, whistle the Pikmin back to
the group. As he crashes to the ground, throw the other 5 onto his
head. Repeat until done.
7.3.7 Pearly Clamclamp
Habitat: The Impact Site
Food: 50(!)
These clam-like creatures require patience to overcome, but the pearl
can be returned to the Onion for 50 Pikmin! Their vulnerable spot is
the pearl that they are carrying in their mouths. Throw Pikmin at
pearl to attack. Watch the roof of the Pearly Clamclamp carefully and
be very cautious on your first few attempts on attacking so you can
learn when they shut their traps. I typically throw 5 Pikmin in to
attack, let them bash for a few seconds, and then whistle them out
right before the mouth slams shut. Attack, retreat, repeat.
7.3.8 Sheargrub
Habitat: The Forest of Hope, The Forest Navel, The Distant Spring
Food value: 1
These bugs like to crawl out of the ground to munch on your Pikmin.
They nest near bridges so keep and eye out for them when you approach.
Sheargrubs can usually be bum rushed for an easy kill.
7.3.9 Shearwig
Habitat: The Forest Navel, The Distant Spring
Food value: 1
These bugs crawl out of the ground like the Sheargrub, but take flight
and heal themselves if the fighting gets too rough. Hitting them with
a thrown Pikmin while they are flying will result in knocking them out.
Shearwigs take damage when they enter water.
7.3.10 Water Dumple
Habitat: The Distant Spring
These bottom dwelling fish creatures splash about, hang out in groups
of three, and like to munch on blue Pikmin. A sizable bum rush can
easily dispose of them.
----------------
7.4 Rare species
----------------
These creatures sometimes appear in certain locations, so keep your eye
out for them.
7.4.1 Goolix
Habitat: The Impact Site
This rare aquatic organism has two elements in its membrane. One is
the round heart of the creature and the other is a shocking organ(?)
that chases Olimar. Throw many blue Pikmin at the heart of the
creature to get them banging away and have Olimar circle around the
creature to keep the shocking plate away from the Pikmin. The Goolix
has great constitution but can be easily defeated without taking any
losses.
This is a hard to find creature that sometimes appears in the clearing
at the top of the box ramp at the Impact Site.
7.4.2 Mamuta
Habitat: The Impact Site
This menacing looking rock creature has two strong arms that have
paddles at the end. When enraged, he will move up to your Pikmin and
literally smash them into the ground, replanting them with his paddle
arms. While he looks fearsome he is won't kill your Pikmin and is
straightforward to defeat - toss Pikmin on him to knock him out.
Like the Goolix, this creature sometimes appears in the clearing at the
top of the box ramp at the Impact Site.
7.4.3 Smoky Progg
Habitat: The Distant Spring
Food: 100(!!)
This huge creature starts as an egg in the Distant Spring. Look for a
green egg sitting on a lily pad in the middle of the stream, around the
beach with the two skulls. Use your Pikmin to break open the egg. The
Smoky Progg may leap out and head toward your base. Avoid the black
ooze that he leaves in his trail – it will kill Pikmin instantaneously.
The Smoky Progg starts devouring all your Pikmin above ground when he
reaches your base. After he wipes all of them out, he starts digging
up your buried Pikmin to attack!
The Smoky Progg is difficult to defeat because his sides are toxic so
bum rushing him will get your Pikmin killed. Throwing Pikmin on its
head seems to be only way to damage the freaky frog. Keep tossing them
until he keels over – he will drop out an acorn-like object that takes
3 Pikmin back to your base to carry. The acorn is worth 100 Pikmin!
----------
7.5 Bosses
----------
These giant creatures take careful plotting and dozens of Pikmin to
overcome.
7.5.1 Burrowing Snagret
Habitat: The Forest of Hope
These twisted burrowing creatures have a bird's head on what seems to
be a snake or worm's body. A brute force attack using a C stick will
do moderate damage, but this method leaves your Pikmin to be easily
picked off by the Snagret. Watch the Snagret as it comes out of the
ground. If you see the bill struggling to come out, use your C stick
to surround it with your Pikmin. When the Snagret appears the Pikmin
will be attacking its head dealing a tremendous amount of damage. Move
Olimar and the rest of your Pikmin out of range while the Pikmin on its
head attack. Once the Snagret has tossed the attackers off and gone
back underground, regroup. If the Snagret comes up in any other manner
try to move Olimar and your Pikmin out of the range of its long bill.
You can attempt to throw Pikmin at the Snagret's head, but targeting is
difficult while it is moving around.
7.5.2 Puffstool
Habitat: The Forest Navel
Food value: 10
This giant skipping mushroom looks harmless but has a devastating sneak
attack. Attack the Puffstool's feet to make it flip over, and then
throw Pikmin on what is now the top to deal serious damage. If you see
the Puffstool become riled up and its dome contracts - pull your Pikmin
away immediately. It will disperse spores on your nearby troops, which
turn them into purple mushroom Pikmin that attack Olimar! To knock out
diseased Pikmin you can use healthy Pikmin attack them or you can lure
them near predatory creatures so that they will be eaten.
Surprisingly, you don’t need Pikmin at all to defeat the Puffstool –
you can knock him out with Olimar’s punch attack (the ‘A’ button when
you don’t have any Pikmin). It is quite slow, but if you are low on
Pikmin or are having a hard time defeating them without having all your
Pikmin diseased, this may be a great alternative. (Thanks KS!)
While the Puffstool's spores can cause a serious headache, exercising
caution will make the Puffstool easy prey.
7.5.3 Armored Cannon Beetle
Habitat: The Forest of Hope, The Distant Spring
Food value: 30
This is a giant black beetle with a snout that fires rolling boulders.
His shell is impenetrable but his weakness is the giant breath he takes
before an attack. Chuck a Pikmin into the big nostril on his head when
he inhales and the sides of his shell will open up. Attack the bright
red gooshy guts underneath to take this monster out.
7.5.4 Beady Long Legs
Habitat: The Forest Navel
This brown, long-legged creature towers over Olimar and the Pikmin
threatening to crush them with every step. Attacking the feet of the
creature slows its stomping but does not damage it. Throw Pikmin at
the center of the creature to defeat it.
7.5.5 Emperor Bulbax
Habitat: The Final Trial
The final boss of the game is a gigantic Bulborb with an armored back!
It has several attacks to watch out for. Once involves shooting its
tongue out to slurp up some of your Pikmin - stay away from this guy's
mouth on general principle. Bulbax will also do short hops in the air
to kill Pikmin attacking its feet. After the boss is down to 1/4th of
its health, it will begin taking huge jumps around the ring trying to
squash your Pikmin in a single attack. Move quickly to avoid him and
use the C stick to keep your Pikmin safe. After he does several of
these jumps, the giant Bulborb should go back to doing tongue attacks.
I defeated the creature using 100 red Pikmin and a lot of dodging.
Since its back is armored, the only place to attack it with Pikmin is
on the head - the sagging cheeks on each side make good targets. Throw
Pikmin onto its cheeks to attack while avoiding his tongue attacks.
When Bulbax shakes the Pikmin off, call them back immediately. If you
don't, the Pikmin will run underneath the creature to attack his feet
and the Bulbax will jump up in the air and crush them. Keep throwing
Pikmin onto his cheeks until he gets to 1/4 of his health and starts
doing the gigantic leaps into the air. Avoid him by running like mad
and using your C stick to keep your Pikmin out of harm's way - he can
crush your entire group in one attack. After several jumps the Emperor
will do the tongue attacks again - use this opening to finish him off.
Jeff Wilson, one of my friends, employed a far more creative method to
defeat the Emperor:
1.) Grab 15 yellow Pikmin
2.) Grab 85 reds
3.) Take them all to the boss arena (don't wake him). Then, take the
Pikmin to the "upper level" around the edge of the man hole.
4.) Fill all the yellows with bombs and put them in a group near the
gate doorway (but not in arena)
5.) Put all the reds in a group near the doorway (but not in arena)
6.) Go wake the boss by yourself, don't let any Pikmin follow.
7.) Go grab ONE yellow with a bomb, press and hold "A" for throw but
do not release. The idea is to have one yellow+bomb following you that
you have locked in for a throw.
8.) Run circles through the pile of red Pikmin until you have around
30-40 of them following you.
9.) Walk into the arena and wait for the boss to approach you.
10.) When the boss starts sucking in (just before tongue attack) throw
the yellow that is holding the bomb towards the bosses mouth (just let
go of the already depressed "A" button).
***FYI, the whole bit with picking up the yellow Pikmin first, pressing
"A" to throw but not releasing, and then picking up some reds is so
that you can guarantee that you will throw the correct Pikmin when the
boss approaches.***
11.) He'll eat the yellow Pikmin and the bomb.
12.) Stay back while he burps fire and gets knocked out.
13.) Run forward while he's stunned and chunk reds on his head. ONLY
throw them on his head. DO NOT use the c-stick to make them attack
from underneath. If you do this, they'll more easily be crushed.
14.) Whistle your reds back once he recovers, preferably before he
shakes them off.
15.) Take the reds out of the arena and reorganize your red pile.
16.) Go to 7.), repeat keeping following caveat in mind.
***Once the boss has lost more than half health you need to be very
careful about walking into the arena with your posse. Go VERY slowly
into the arena. If he takes off and hovers run away! Go through the
doorway, outside of man hole as fast as possible. If he hovers, it
means he's about to body slam your group of Pikmin--he will kill every
last one. Keep trying to tentatively approach the boss until he
returns to his usual behavior, and start over with the bomb trick.
Cullen provides a very precise method for those unwilling to lose
dozens of Pikmin in combat against Emperor Bulbax:
1) Grab 25 yellow and 75 red and head for the Emperor.
2) Leave the red Pikmin outside of his area.
3) Take the yellow to the bomb rocks that are behind his area and make
sure each Pikmin is carrying one.
4) Return to the red group.
5) Take one yellow by telling your Pikmin to leave your side, then
touch one. Lead him out towards the Bulbax and then hit X to make him
stop moving. Then go and wake up Bulbax.
6) Run back to your reds and form them into a group. Wait outside while
the emperor takes the bait.
7) After a few seconds the emperor will come and suck him the bomb-rock
carrying yellow Pikmin and will be stunned temporarily by the blast.
8) Just after the emperor sucks up the yellow guy, run in with your
reds and start throwing them at his head. As soon as he shows signs of
waking up, call all your reds back and leave the battle area.
Repeat steps 5 through 8 until he is dead. You can use two or three
yellows at a time to do more damage. It will take about 5-6 iterations
to defeat him.
----------------
8 Contributions
----------------
Many 'thank you!'s go out to:
- KS submitted a way to defeat the Puffstool with just Olimar!
- The many Pikmin players who have submitted information on how to
defeat the Smoky Progg:
Jeff Wilson
Bob Strong
Ken Stahl
Larry Welch
Jamie Turner
Nate Damon
[email protected]
Rob Martin
- Jeff Wilson and Greg Hermann for details on how to find and awaken
the elusive Smoky Progg
- Jeff Wilson and Cullen for strategies on how to defeat Emperor Bulbax
- Jay Bibby for an excellent strategy for defeating the tough Wollywogs
- Nintendo for sending me the nifty Pikmin guide in the mail
------------------
9 Version History
0.9 Added Anti-Dioxin Filter, Omega Stabilizer, and Guard Satellite to
the walkthrough. (12.17.01)
0.85 Smoky Progg has been defeated! Thanks KS for the info on a
different way to beat the Puffstool (12.15.01)
0.8 Added better strategy for beating Wollywog (Thanks Jay Bibby!),
Added another alternate strategy for defeating Emperor Bulbax (Thanks
Cullen!) Added more pieces to the walk through. Added
0.7 Added strategy info on knocking down wooden walls with bombs,
added
a few more pieces to the walkthrough. (12.10.01)
0.6 Added info on the Smokey Progg (Thanks Jeff Wilson and Greg
Hermann!), added alternate strategy for defeating Emperor Bulbax
(Thanks
Jeff Wilson!) (12.10.01)
0.5 Started on the walkthrough
0.4 Got the official names for all the creatures, listed all the ship
parts, fixed descriptions for defeating the creatures (12.8.01)
0.3 Added more boss creatures, numbered the sections, general editing
and grammar correction (12.7.01)
0.2 Added ecology section, more creatures, edited creature
descriptions
(12.6.01)
0.1 Just started. Plenty to do. (12.5.01)
---------------------------------------
10 Was this strategy guide stolen?????
---------------------------------------
This strategy guide is proudly displayed at the following sites:
- GameFAQs (www.gamefaqs.com)
- GameSpot (www.gamespot.com)
If you find this document at a location not listed above, please notify
me at
[email protected]. If you would like for my strategy guide
to appear on your site, send a request via e-mail. This document is
not to be sold individually or part of a package for any purpose
without my signed written consent.
----------
11 Thanks
----------
Thanks to CJayC for running GameFAQs and hosting this strategy guide.
Thanks for GameSpot for hosting my strategy guide.
Thanks Nintendo for making such a fun game.
