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| “ | My clock is indicating the approach of sunset. Pikmin waiting beneath the Dolphin and Onions will probably enter the Onions on their own, but if I don't call the stragglers and add them to my group, they may not be able to get back. I am sure that the Pikmin still planted are safe, but I am somewhat concerned about leaving Pikmin to fend for themselves in the darkness. | „ |
| ~ Olimar monologuing his gut-feeling concern about the Pikmin being left alone at night, foreshadowing what would happen to them if he doesn't save them before nightfall. |
The Grub-Dogs, Amphitubers, Snavians, and many more types of monsters are the secondary antagonists and recurring enemies of the Pikmin video-game series, being indigenous life-forms that reside in planets inhabited mainly by the Pikmin, and are organized by families (although some do not have a known taxonomical family, they may be related in some way). As of Hey! Pikmin, there are over 84 different types of hostile species throughout the Pikmin franchise.
They are encountered mainly on the surface and in the underground caves of PNF-404, but can also be found on the planet featured in the videogame Hey! Pikmin, a spinoff of the series.
Also, mechanical versions of them appear as the minions of Dark Monita in the Nintendo Land minigame Pikmin Adventure, while protoplasmic clones of them appear as the minions of the Plasm Wraith/Mysterious Life Form in the Formidable Oak area from Pikmin 3.
Defeating hostile species constitutes a major part of gameplay in all Pikmin games in the series.
Behavior[]
While specific behaviors vary, the vast majority of species in the Pikmin series have only one goal in mind: to survive and reproduce. Naturally, most of the behaviors exhibited in the various species in the franchise are done to either gather food or to protect themselves from threats.
While many species try to simply eat the Pikmin, some, like the Wollyhops and the Long Legs try to crush the Pikmin, while others, like the Gatling Groink and the Careening Dirigibug attempt to blow the plant-based creatures up. Additionally, some, like the Swooping Snitchbug or the Mamuta do not attempt to kill Pikmin, but bizarrely try to plant them into the ground.
Many creatures on PNF-404 seem to exhibit the ability to wield the elements, specifically fire, electricity, water, poison, and ice, and necessitate the use of the Pikmin that resists it for minimal losses. Most creatures are also immune to most natural elements as well, only being affected by poisons and the like through Pikmin, rather than any other environmental hazard.
How intelligent creatures are in the series vary, with most being little more than animalistic predators, while others having hints of personality. For example, Withering Blowhogs laugh when they knock Pikmin down while the Scornet Maestro is able to create complex patterns with its minions. Notably, the Bulborb and Fiery Blowhog in the Pikmin Short Movies display higher intelligence, though this could be just for dramatic effect, and likely shouldn't be used as a gauge for how sentient these creatures are in canon.
For the most part, every enemy is its own entity, interacting only with the Pikmin and leaders. However, some enemies have passive or active interactions with the environment, other enemies, or miscellaneous objects.
Environment interactions[]
- In Pikmin 3, most enemies will be unable to detect Pikmin and leaders if they are hiding under tall plants.
- In Pikmin 2, if an Emperor Bulblax gets close to a bomb-rock, he will eat it without needing to be coaxed into doing so.
- The fire on a Fiery Bulblax or a Pyroclasmic Slooch's back will be put out should it go into water. Both creatures reignite once they leave the water.
- If a member of the Mandiblard family touches water, it will steadily lose health, and if it is near a wooden bridge and not in pursuit, it will begin eating the wood, destroying it.
- Wolpoles and Puckering Blinnows will start flailing around if they're on dry land, but they are able to swim freely if they're underwater.
- In general, most species are either nocturnal or become more hostile in the dark, which presents a threat for any Pikmin left behind. The night also seems to put them in a sort of frenzy. During this time, they are also attracted to the Lumiknolls and the Glow Sap they leave behind.
Cooperation[]
Young Bulbmin following an adult one.
Some creatures have a bond with others. To maximize the chances of survival, some enemies can be seen next to others, normally of their own species, and oftentimes interacting with them when a fight for survival is taking place. Dwarf Red Bulborbs, Dwarf Bulbears, etc. are often found next to larger enemies of the same species or of the species they are mimicking. When under attack in Pikmin, they may scream in order to wake up their larger allies.
Queen Shearwig alongside her minions.
Other creatures choose to follow a leader, normally of their own family. An example is the Bulbmin, who lose all sense of control should their leader perish, the Scornets, who obey the command of the Scornet Maestro, and the Shearwig, which can be found under the control of the Queen Shearwig, and are otherwise independent.
Hostility[]
Hostility between enemies is very rare, but cases of enemies damaging each other are not. Some enemies may, if inadvertently, hurt others. This normally happens when they try to kill Pikmin or leaders. Not many enemy attacks are made to hurt others, but the following are:
- The Empress Bulblax can kill her young by rolling into them.
- A Gatling Groink can damage other enemies with its shots (including other Groinks), but not itself.
- Careening Dirigibugs can damage other enemies with their bombs.
- Most Lithopods with boulders can harm other enemies or even the launcher itself.
- The Beady Long Legs, Raging Long Legs, Groovy Long Legs (Although it is impossible to see without hacks), Shaggy Long Legs and Baldy Long Legs can stomp on and kill other enemies, particularly in the Angle Maze and Tropical Forest, respectively.
- In Pikmin 3, Yellow Wollyhops can kill or injure other enemies if they land on them.
- In Pikmin 3, Skutterchucks can harm and kill other enemies if their crystal nodules land on them. They can even kill themselves.
- The Waterwraith instantly kills all enemies that come into contact with his rollers.
- The Man-at-Legs can hurt other enemies with his gun. This is impossible to see without hacks, since the creature never appears alongside other enemies.
- In Olimar's Piklopedia notes, it is said that Water Dumples feast on Wollyhop eggs, thus giving these two species a natural hate towards each other, although this is not seen gameplay-wise.
Gender[]
Although most do not have a specific gender, as they are species with males and females (although some of them, specially the wraiths could be asexual), some do seem to have one specifically, or at least the individuals seen in gameplay:
- Sheargrubs (females have shorter mandibles, unable to harm Pikmin, and white pigment, while males have longer mandibles, diet for Pikmin flesh, and purple and brown pigment)
- Shearwigs (male, because only males have wings, with the exception of their Queen)
- Shooting Spinners (females have extendable legs and have a pink coloration, males can launch spores and have a brown coloration)
- Emperor Bulblax (male, for his Piklopedia entry and having the word "Emperor" in his name)
- Empress Bulblax (female, according to her Super Smash Bros. Brawl trophy, being based off of termite queens, for having the word "Empress" in her name and for giving birth to larvae)
- Raging Long Legs (female, for releasing Mitites, parasites that feed off of eggs, upon her death)
- Titan Dweevil (male, according to the Spanish Pikmin wiki)
- Scornet Maestro (female, as Olimar states in his notes that male Scornet Maestros are smaller, flightless and differently colored; while the one in-game can fly, is bigger and has a bee-like coloration)
- Armurk (male, according to the Spanish version of Hey! Pikmin)
- Queen Shearwig (female, for having the word "Queen" in her name)
- Luring Slurker (male, according to the Spanish version of Hey! Pikmin)
- Arachnode (unlike others, Arachnodes have no defined gender, being ambisexual, and seem to have both male and female reproductive organs as noted in the Piklopedia)
- Some species, specially Bulborbs, seem to be able to change sex, depending on various factors like colony necessities, environmental changes, seasonal pass and amongst other natural processes
Other Media[]
Pikmin Short Movies[]
A Bulborb and a Fiery Blowhog appear as antagonists during the third short Occupational Hazards.
While Olimar and the Pikmin were scavenging through an abandoned construction vehicle in order to search for parts, some Pikmin decided to play around some pipes, entering and exiting as they pleased. To their surprise, however, one of these "pipes" turned out to be a Fiery Blowhog, which promptly attacks.
In retaliation, two Red Pikmin decide to attack the fire-breathing pig due to their natural resistance to heat, and lead it over to a pile of mud. The Blowhog tries to attack, but ends up spewing mud instead. The Pikmin, having tired the creature out, decided to play on its back.
Meanwhile, a nearby Yellow Pikmin notices a few golden screws in a cave, leading to a giant mushroom. The Pikmin goes nearby, only to discover that the "mushroom" was, in fact, a sleeping Bulborb, who immediately goes berserk as it was woken up from its slumber.
The Bulborb tries to eat two Pikmin at first, only for them to escape through its nostrils and attack its eyes, causing it to shake them off. Immediately afterwards, the Bulborb is confronted by a giant hand, which stops it in its tracks. The Bulborb, while accepting of it at first, realizes that it was just a group of Pikmin in a dirty glove, and attacks again, sending the Pikmin flying.
Luckily, the Pikmin just so happened to land next to the rim of a tire, and hide inside. The Bulborb tries to snatch one peaking out, only to become disoriented by the Pikmin's tactics. Afterwards, the Bulborb tries to peek inside, only to have its eye attacked. Enraged, it tries to flip over the rim, only to wail in pain as it had kicked metal with its bare foot.
Eventually, the Bulborb tries to use its snout to dig out the rim, which works to great success. Olimar, seeing the ruckus, tries to whistle the Pikmin to safety, only for the fleeing Pikmin to reencounter the Fiery Blowhog they defended against earlier. Fortunately, the Blowhog is in no condition to fight, but the Bulborb remains relentless.
Immediately chasing the Pikmin into a corner, while eating and killing up Pikmin two along the way, the Bulborb tries to intimidate the Pikmin before going in for the remaining kills, but is suddenly stopped after realizing that the group had wandered onto the arm of a backhoe, which a group of Yellow Pikmin had conveniently powered up. The arm starts lifting the group up before dropping them all down. The Pikmin are able to survive due to their flowers acting as parachutes, with the Bulborb not being so lucky. Imagining one last scenario where it could have a parachute as well, the Bulborb realizes it is doomed and falls to its death after breaking its spine.
The Pikmin, triumphant over this victory, decide to attack and mutilate the corpse of the Bulborb, leaving it in a state that has to be censored for viewing. The Pikmin are only stopped due to having to retreat from the collapsing backhoe, which crushes the deceased Grub-Dog even further.
It is unknown what happened to the Fiery Blowhog after that, but considering it was inside the collapsing machinery, it's highly likely it perished in the aftermath of the collapsing machinery.
WarioWare[]
In WarioWare: Smooth Moves and WarioWare Gold, one of the microgames involves the player controlling the Empress Bulblax and having to crush all Pikmin onscreen to win.
Nintendogs[]
A Red Bulborb toy appears in the background of the shop, sitting on one of the shelves.
The Amazing World of Gumball[]
In the episode "The Fury", during a retailing scene of a fighting tournament, a cloudy girl contestant kicks a crab resembling a Peckish Aristocrab.
Mad[]
In the skit "Pikmin Pest B Gone", a farmer has Olimar release a hoard of Red Bulborbs from the S.S. Dolphin to eat the Pikmin eating his crops.
Super Smash Bros.[]
Super Smash Bros. Brawl[]
A Bulborb can appear from the right side of the Distant Planet stage, where it can open its mouth to catch any players that land in it, causing an instant KO. Bulborbs also appear in Olimar's Final Smash "End of Day", where after Olimar enters his ship and flies off to avoid the Bulborbs that deal about 47% damage to everyone on the stage who are not at the top of the screen.
A Red Bulborb appears as a sticker that increases Olimar's Pikmin attacks by 34 points.
Trophies[]
- Red Bulborb
- Creeping Chrysanthemum (unlockable by collecting all fighter trophies)
- Empress Bulblax
- Careening Dirigibug
- Fiery Blowhog
- Burrowing Snagret
- Iridescent Flint Beetle
- Wollywog
- Swooping Snitchbug
Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U[]
On the Garden of Hope stage, a Peckish Aristocrab can appear and charge through the stage to attack the fighters, signaling its arrival with bubbles. The Aristocrab will charge through the entire stage unless the bridge in the middle is broken. A Red Bulborb may also appear, but it will simply spectate the fight without attacking.
In "Smash Run" on the 3DS version, a Red Bulborb appears as a powerful enemy that has resisted knockback, attacks that deal heavy damage and knockback, and drops multiple powerups when defeated. An Iridescent Glint Beetle may appear as a rare enemy, dropping gold when it is attacked before escaping. In "Smash Tour" on the Wii U version, an Iridescent Glint Beetle may appear on the board. Should any player catch it before it can escape is awarded a new fighter.
Trophies[]
While all of them appear in the Wii U version, only the Red Bulborb and Iridescent Glint Beetle appear in the 3DS version.
- Red Bulborb
- Iridescent Glint Beetle
- Peckish Aristocrab
- Yellow Wollywog
- Iridescent Flint Beetle
- Swooping Snitchbug
- Burrowing Snagret
- Quaggled Mireclops
- Plasm Wraith
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[]
Both the Distant Planet and Garden of Hope stages return, with the Bulborbs and Aristocrab doing the same as they did in the previous games. A Burrowing Snagret appears as an Assist Trophy that emerges from the ground to peck at other fighters that approach it. It will then burrow underground to emerge elsewhere on the stage.
Spirits[]
- Red Bulborb: Advanced shield primary type that is fought in a timed Stamina battle against a giant red Yoshi with increased attack power. It can be enhanced to the Empress Bulblax spirit at level 99.
- Empress Bulblax: Legend shield primary type that boosts stats after eating. Obtainable by enhancing the Red Bulborb spirit.
- Emperor Bulblax: Ace support type that prevents the fighter from slipping on ice floors. Fought in a Stamina battle against a giant King K. Rool with super armor.
- Burrowing Snagret: Ace attack primary type that reduces speed. Summable using the cores of Raphael the Raven and Rattly, or fought against a giant blue Charizard that summons the Burrowing Snagret Assist Trophy.
- Plasm Wraith: Ace neutral primary type that reduces speed. Only obtainable by summoning using the cores of Hakkun, Eddy, and two random neutral cores.
- Fiery Blowhog: Novice attack primary type that boosts fire attacks. Fought against three silver Charizards that favor using Flamethrower.
- Smoky Progg: Novice support type that starts the battle equipped with an Unira, and the first spirit fought in World of Light. Fought against Mario who can occasionally turn metal.
- Swooping Snitchbug: Novice support type that decreases lag upon landing. Fought against four Pits that are distracted by Boss Galaga items.
- Iridescent Glint Beetle: Advanced support type that prevents the fighter from getting stuck in sticky floors. Fought in a timed Stamina battle against a gold Squirtle that runs away from combat.
- Yellow Wollywog: Advanced support type that makes the fighter resistant to strong winds. Fought against three King Dededes that favor up specials.
- Peckish Aristocrab: Advanced shield primary type that increases the damage taken from electric attacks. Fought in a Stamina battle against a giant Ridley that favors side specials.
- Mockiwi: Novice shield primary type that is fought in a Stamina battle against a giant Pac-Man while Olimar is an ally.
Trivia[]
- Some of them, like the Wogpole, or the Skitterleaf, are harmless for the Pikmin, but not for the captains (because when shaking Pikmin off, they can damage the captains if they are near). On the other hand, creatures like Female Sheargrubs and Spectralids are completely harmless, as they don't even have shaking animations.
The Sheawigs doing the instant-kill attack, under the command of the Queen.
- The Scornet Maestro and the Queen Shearwig could be considered rightfully evil because they appear to display human-level sapience when they command their minions to attack, when the Scornet Maestro becomes frustrated when her Scornet army's attacks fail, and when the Queen Shearwig shrieks excitedly when Olimar become vulnerable to her One Hit K.O. attack.
- Despite collectivelly being known as dangerous animals, some of them are plants (Creeping Chrysanthemum, Quaggled Mireclops and the plant possessed by the plant being possessed by the Leech Hydroe only) and fungi (Puffstool, Puffmin, Puffstalk, Startle Spore, Toxstool, and the fungi controlling the dead bodies of the Moldy Dwarf Bulborb and Moldy Slooch).
- In the European versions of the games, some of the enemies are renamed to avoid British slang that would be seen as offensive, including the Wollywogs being renamed "Wollyhops", and the Beebs from Pikmin Adventure being renamed "Baubs".
- The change for the Wollywogs would eventually be brought over to the rereleases for Pikmin 1+2, cementing "Wollyhop" as the species' canonical name from that point forward.
- The most recurring ones are the Red Bulborb, the Fiery Blowhog, the Male Sheargrub, the Shearwig, the Yellow Wollywog, and the Swooping Snitchbug, appearing in all four games in the series.
- Should Louie's notes be correct, nearly all of the species encountered in the series are edible, as long as they are prepared properly. Some of them can even be eaten raw or even alive.
External Links[]
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 Villains
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