Cryptic Cavern

Cryptic Cavern
Sublevels	5	Ultra-bitter sprays	2
Red Pikmin	5	Ultra-spicy sprays	3
Yellow Pikmin	0
Blue Pikmin	0
White Pikmin	5
Purple Pikmin	0
Bulbmin	0

The following article or section contains guides. The strategies presented may not be the only ones or the best ones.

Cryptic Cavern is the eleventh level in Pikmin 2's Challenge Mode. There are 5 sublevels, each with one enemy in the same basic layout.

Sublevel 1

• Theme: Soil
• Music: Toybox 1
• Time: 50 (100 seconds)
• Starting Pikmin:
  •  Red Pikmin × 5 (flower)
  •  White Pikmin × 5 (flower)
• Treasures:
  •  Regal Diamond × 1
  •  The Key × 1 (inside the Doodlebug)
• Enemies:
  •  Doodlebug × 1
• Obstacles:
  • None
• Plants and fungi:
  • None
• Others:
  • None

Note: The previous object numbers were gathered from a very basic reading of the game's files. Research is currently underway to get more accurate numbers.

Technical information
Internal cave name			ch_MAT_t_hunter_enemy
(?) Enemy maximum			1
(?) Item maximum			1
(?) Gate maximum			0
(?) Dead end unit maximum			0
(?) Number of rooms			2
(?) Corridor-to-room ratio			0
(?) Escape geyser			No
(?) Clogged hole			No
(?) Unit file			1_MAT_north_boss_tsuchi.txt
(?) Light file			normal_light_cha.ini
(?) Background			None
Cave units (?)
Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor
Circular room with 1 exit

The Doodlebug is hidden in the middle of the second room; it may be poisonous, but is very easy to beat. As soon as it takes a hit from the top, it'll disappear. Grab The Key and hurry to the next level. If it re-hides before you get The Key, search around the middle of the level, particularly closer to the research pod; you should find it again.

Sublevel 2

• Theme: Soil
• Music: Soil 1
• Time: +75 (+150 seconds)
• Treasures:
  •  Pink Menace × 1
  •  The Key × 1 (inside the Watery Blowhog)
• Enemies:
  •  Watery Blowhog × 1
• Obstacles:
  • None
• Plants and fungi:
  • None
• Others:
  • None

Note: The previous object numbers were gathered from a very basic reading of the game's files. Research is currently underway to get more accurate numbers.

Technical information
Internal cave name			ch_MAT_t_hunter_enemy
(?) Enemy maximum			1
(?) Item maximum			1
(?) Gate maximum			0
(?) Dead end unit maximum			0
(?) Number of rooms			2
(?) Corridor-to-room ratio			0
(?) Escape geyser			No
(?) Clogged hole			No
(?) Unit file			1_MAT_north_tsuchi.txt
(?) Light file			normal_light_lv0.ini
(?) Background			None
Cave units (?)
Dead end	Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor
Long corridor	Circular room with 1 exit

A Watery Blowhog. Kill it quickly, grab The Key, and off to the hole.

Sublevel 3

• Theme: Soil
• Music: Electricity
• Time: +65 (+130 seconds)
• Treasures:
  •  Memorial Shell × 1
  •  The Key × 1 (inside the Anode Dweevil)
• Enemies:
  •  Anode Dweevil × 1
• Obstacles:
  • None
• Plants and fungi:
  • None
• Others:
  • None

Note: The previous object numbers were gathered from a very basic reading of the game's files. Research is currently underway to get more accurate numbers.

Technical information
Internal cave name			ch_MAT_t_hunter_enemy
(?) Enemy maximum			1
(?) Item maximum			1
(?) Gate maximum			0
(?) Dead end unit maximum			0
(?) Number of rooms			2
(?) Corridor-to-room ratio			0
(?) Escape geyser			No
(?) Clogged hole			No
(?) Unit file			1_MAT_north_tsuchi.txt
(?) Light file			normal_light_lv1.ini
(?) Background			None
Cave units (?)
Dead end	Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor
Long corridor	Circular room with 1 exit

An Anode Dweevil. This can be defeated relatively easily with leaders, is hard to hit with Pikmin, and kills them instantly if it attacks, so attacking with leaders is often the safer option.

Sublevel 4

The Fiery Bulblax on the fourth sublevel.

• Theme: Soil
• Music: Soil 2
• Time: +40 (+80 seconds)
• Treasures:
  •  The Key × 1 (inside the Fiery Bulblax)
• Enemies:
  •  Fiery Bulblax × 1
• Obstacles:
  • None
• Plants and fungi:
  • None
• Others:
  • None

Note: The previous object numbers were gathered from a very basic reading of the game's files. Research is currently underway to get more accurate numbers.

Technical information
Internal cave name			ch_MAT_t_hunter_enemy
(?) Enemy maximum			1
(?) Item maximum			0
(?) Gate maximum			0
(?) Dead end unit maximum			0
(?) Number of rooms			2
(?) Corridor-to-room ratio			0
(?) Escape geyser			No
(?) Clogged hole			No
(?) Unit file			1_MAT_north_tsuchi.txt
(?) Light file			normal_light_lv2.ini
(?) Background			None
Cave units (?)
Dead end	Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor
Long corridor	Circular room with 1 exit

See also: Fiery Bulblax strategy.

A Fiery Bulblax. Take the 5 Red Pikmin and use both kind of sprays, or else you are almost guaranteed to lose Pikmin. You will make it just before the Bulblax turns normal. After its defeat, advance to the last sublevel. There are no buried treasures to look for.

Sublevel 5

• Theme: Soil
• Music: Concrete 2
• Time: +70 (+140 seconds)
• Treasures:
  •  The Key × 1 (inside the Burrowing Snagret)
• Enemies:
  •  Burrowing Snagret × 1
• Obstacles:
  • None
• Plants and fungi:
  • None
• Others:
  • None

Note: The previous object numbers were gathered from a very basic reading of the game's files. Research is currently underway to get more accurate numbers.

Technical information
Internal cave name			ch_MAT_t_hunter_enemy
(?) Enemy maximum			1
(?) Item maximum			0
(?) Gate maximum			0
(?) Dead end unit maximum			0
(?) Number of rooms			2
(?) Corridor-to-room ratio			0
(?) Escape geyser			Yes
(?) Clogged hole			No
(?) Unit file			1_MAT_north_boss_tsuchi.txt
(?) Light file			normal_light_lv0.ini
(?) Background			None
Cave units (?)
Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor
Circular room with 1 exit

See also: Burrowing Snagret strategy.

A Burrowing Snagret resides here in the last sublevel. Use all the sprays you have left. Always aim for the head, its weak point. When it buries itself in the ground, wait for it to get stuck on emerging, so you have time to aim at the head. When its head is being attacked by a number of Pikmin, the creature will stop attacking to retreat.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	かくしもちの洞窟?	Treasure Keeper's Cave
French (NoA)	Terres des mystères	Mystery lands
Spanish (NoA)	Caverna Críptica	Cryptic Cavern