Castaway

Collin talking about a castaway.

Castaways are people stranded on PNF-404 in Pikmin 4. It is one of the player's missions to find and save all of them, whether they be missing members of the Rescue Corps or civilian castaways.

Castaways are typically found in the final sublevel of a cave and have to be carried back to the S.S. Beagle, upon which they are called rescues. They all have a weight of 3 and a maximum number of carriers of 6. The following day, they can be talked to at the Rescue Command Post. Some rescues unlock features like the Piklopedia, or give the player side missions to complete. Each rescue also earns 1 Pup Drive for Oatchi, which can be used to unlock new abilities for him.

Certain castaways have instead been turned into leaflings and must be rescued by completing a Dandori Challenge or a Dandori Battle, though some leaflings are found in caves just like regular castaways.

Rescue order

Shepherd in need of rescue inside the Burrow of Beginnings.

While castaways are found at specific locations, and these locations can be visited in any order, the order in which castaways are rescued will always be the same. For example, no matter if the player's first rescue is in the Last-Frost Cavern or the Crackling Cauldron, it will always be Russ that is saved. Leaflings are rescued separately from other castaways, and while specific leaflings are found in specific locations, the character the leaflings are cured into also has a defined order independent of what leaflings are rescued.

While Shepherd is counted as a rescue, she is not a castaway as she is found in a different context, where instead of taking her to the S.S. Beagle, the player just has to defeat the 3 Bulborb Larvae surrounding her in the Burrow of Beginnings.

The following is a list of non-leafling castaways in the order they are rescued:

Character	ID badge description	Unlocks	Notes	Name inspiration(s)
Russ	An inventor, material engineer, and lover of all things science. He can develop all kinds of useful gadgets with the right raw materials.	The Lab. The ability to use raw material for construction. The "An Ode to Science" mission.	Occupation: Rescue Corps Officer Planet: Giya	Jack Russell Terrier
Schnauz	An acclaimed treasure appraiser who's traveled extensively. His unique techniques were used to develop a leading appraisal AI.	The Treasure Catalog. The "Appraisal Frenzy" mission.	Occupation: Treasure appraiser Planet: Siguray	Schnauzer
Kingsly	He took his obsession with flowers to a whole new level when he traveled alone to this remote planet simply to see its unusual blossoms.	The "Set the World Abloom" mission.	Occupation: Florist Planet: Ooji	Pekingese
Dingo	An officer who excels at solo missions. He's not a joiner by nature, but he'll show up and lend his physical abilities when need be.	The 'Get Help' option in Dandori Challenges, Dandori Battles, and night expeditions. The "Investigate Areas" mission.	Occupation: Rescue Corps Officer Planet: Ohri	Dingo
Dalmo	He loves animals and they love him. A researcher at heart, his passion for other creatures is as genuine as his smile.	The Piklopedia. The "All the Little Darlings" mission.	Occupation: Animal enthusiast Planet: Sozor	Dalmatian dog
François	For years, this scholar has been working to achieve his lifelong dream—reaching mutual understanding with plant life.	The "Friend to All Pikmin" mission.	Occupation: Plant researcher Planet: Ooji	French Bulldog
Pitunia	Highly focused and intelligent, she joined the team to investigate mysterious creatures through her unconventional methods.	The "Fusing Onions" mission.	Occupation: Researcher Planet: Ogura	Pit bull
Yonny	A doctor who lives for discovering and solving unusual cases. He jumps at every chance to test his experimental medicines.	Night expeditions.	Occupation: Rescue Corps Officer Planet: Ohri	Papillon dog
Puddle	A stylist with clients all over the universe. Just say the word, and he'll unleash his fashionable skills at lightning speed.	The ability to change the appearance of the player character. The "Leafling Meet and Greet" mission.	Occupation: Stylist Planet: Enohay	Poodle
Mika	A new teacher at Alayon Academy who's putting her liberal-arts degree to good use as adviser to the Planetary Science Club.	The "Find the Missing Students" mission.	Occupation: Teacher Planet: Neechki	Toy dog or Shikoku dog
Sy	This environmental ecologist joined the team to research Pikmin ecology and decipher their mysterious relationship to whistles.	The "Researching Onions" mission.	Occupation: Ecologist Planet: Ogura	Siberian Husky
Sheeba	Founder of Alayon Academy's Planetary Science Club. This student was determined to see the stars along with her friends.	N/A	Occupation: Student Planet: Neechki	Shiba Inu
Muggs	Popular for her brave reporting style, she was approached by a director to work on a project about this strange new planet.	The "Find the Missing TV Crew" mission.	Occupation: Popular television reporter Planet: Enohee	Pug or Muggin
Keesh	A member of the Planetary Science Club at Alayon Academy who believes the stars are inextricably linked to the ore she collects.	N/A	Occupation: Student Planet: Neechki	Keeshond or Kishu
Osa	An archaeologist tracking the path of civilization across the universe. He hopes his discoveries will shock the world of academia.	The "Building Goodwill" mission.	Occupation: Archaeologist Planet: Siguray	Tosa (dog breed)
Frisé	A dedicated composer traveling with a famous opera singer and a TV crew, hoping to find inspiration for an upcoming project.	The "Music of a Past Culture" mission.	Occupation: Composer Planet: Enohee	Bichon Frisé
Kaia	Though a member of her school's Planetary Science Club, the hours she spends cloud gazing rarely lead to scientific observations.	N/A	Occupation: Student Planet: Neechki	Kai Ken
Vonda	She fiercely believes that what unexplored lands need most is art, so she hired and flew a TV crew to this planet to create some.	N/A	Occupation: Opera singer Planet: Enohay	Briquet Griffon Vendéen
Twyla	A young researcher who is passionate about sedimentary rock and geological features but avoids its messy counterpart—dirt.	N/A	Occupation: Young geologist Planet: Conohan	Rottweiler
Bernise	This fortune teller followed the will of the galaxy to this planet to guide those who are lost. Her predictions occasionally come true.	N/A	Occupation: Fortune teller Planet: Enohay	Bernese Mountain Dog
Horatio	A proud member of the gig economy. He likes to think he spreads cheer wherever he goes, but he usually does the opposite.	N/A	Occupation: Member of the gig economy Planet: Sozor	Hoary fox
Sammy	Coming from a perpetually stormy region, he's captivated by the sight of a blue sky. He's hoping to see more during this trip.	N/A	Occupation: Sky researcher Planet: Ocobo	Samoyed dog
Wolfgang	He's here for good footage and, hopefully, good ratings. If he doesn't get the latter, then he's in for another existential crisis.	N/A	Occupation: Television director Planet: Enohee	Wolfdog

Special cases

There are a few castaways that do not adhere to any specific rescue order, instead they are found in specific locations or points in the story.

The following is a list of special castaways in the order the player will encounter them:

Character	ID badge description	Unlocks	Notes	Location	Name inspiration
Oatchi	This young, loyal Rescue Pup is one of an elite breed of space dogs that's long served the Shepherd family. This is his first mission.	Oatchi	Occupation: Rescue Corps Rescue Pup Planet: Giya	Found in the beginning area of the Rescue Command Post. He counts towards the "Rescue the Rescue Corps" mission but does not add to the rescue counter.	Japanese for sit
Collin	As the Rescue Corps Comms Operator, he handles communication for his fellow officers. Plus he's handy with a wrench!	The ability to choose an area to explore, once the "Secure Energy Source" mission has been completed.	Occupation: Rescue Corps officer Planet: Giya	Found directly behind the potted plant at the beginning of the Rescue Command Post.	Collie
Shepherd	A 99th-gen Rescue Corps Officer. She was saved by a Rescue Pup as a child, sparking a lifelong love for her furry colleagues.	The ability to teach Oatchi skills once he undergoes his growth spurt.	Occupation: Rescue Corps captain Planet: Giya	Found in the Burrow of Beginnings. To rescue her, the player just has to defeat the three Bulborb Larva surrounding her.	German Shepherd
Don Bergman	An ex-ranger who followed rumors of treasure to this planet. He'll use the profits to help the starving back in his homeland.	Primordial Thicket, once Yorke has also been saved.	Occupation: Treasure hunter Planet: Koppai	Always the first castaway found in the Giant's Hearth.	Dobermann
Yorke	Grandson of the famous Koppai scientist Dr. Drake and partner of Don Bergman. He's talented at rewiring communication devices.	Primordial Thicket, once Don Bergman has also been saved.	Occupation: Treasure hunter Planet: Koppai	Always rescued by completing Hot Sandy Duel.	Yorkshire Terrier
Nelle	A uniquely talented veterinarian at the top of her field. She's here with Don Bergman and crew in pursuit of treasure.	Cavern for a King the day after she is rescued.	Occupation: Treasure hunter Planet: Koppai	Always rescued by completing Final Battle.	Spaniel
Louie	The quiet new driver and the embodiment of the word "troublemaker." He has a ravenous and alarmingly adventurous appetite.	The "Fit for a Feast" mission.	Occupation: Hocotate Freight employee Planet: Hocotate	Always found on the final sublevel of the Cavern for a King.	Luigi

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	遭難者? Sōnan-Sha	Castaway
Chinese (traditional)	落難者 Luònàn Zhě	Castaway
Chinese (simplified)	落难者 Luònàn Zhě	Castaway
Dutch	Schipbreukeling	Castaway
French	Naufragé	Castaway
German	Gestrandeter	Castaway
Italian	Naufrago	Castaway
Korean	조난자 jonanja	Castaway
Portuguese	Sobrevivente	Survivor
Spanish (NoA)	Náufrago	Castaway
Spanish (NoE)	Persona desaparecida	Missing person

See also

• Louie, who is rescued similarly to a castaway in Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 3.