Gameplay Guide

The Gameplay Guide is a menu in Pikmin 4 that teaches the player how the game works and what the controls are. Each guide has some text and an image or a video alongside it.

The Gameplay Guide can be opened at any time when a menu is open by pressing with dual Joy-Con or a Pro Controller, or by pressing  / with horizontal controls.

List

This article or section is in need of more images. Particularly: Images for all Guides and the icon for Pup Drive. You can help Pikipedia by uploading some images.

Sections

Image/video	Name	Text
	Story	“This section contains basic information necessary for progressing through Story mode.”
	Co-op Mode	“Review all the rules, tips, and items in Co-op Mode.”
	Types of Pikmin	“Learn about all the different types of Pikmin and their unique characteristics.”
	Oatchi	“This section serves as an introduction to the skills PupOatchi can learn.”
	Tablet	“Learn everything you need to know about the Tablet and its many apps.”
	Options	“Review all the options and functionalities found in the Options menu.”
	Dandori Challenge	“Learn more about all the rules and tips used in Dandori Challenges.”
	Dandori Battle	“Familiarize yourself with all the rules, tips, and items used in Dandori Battles.”
	Night Expedition	“Everything you need to know about the rules and features unique to night expeditions can be found right here.”
	Olimar's Shipwreck Tale	“Relive Olimar's shipwreck experience alongside the brave adventurer himself.”
	Field Camera	“Review this section to learn the ins and outs of using the Field Camera.”
	Decor Pikmin	“Learn all you need to know about Decor Pikmin.”
	Creature Activity Levels	“Read about the different creature Activity Levels.”
	Roll Over	“Here you'll find information about doing a Roll Over and the details about how it allows you to replay your adventure.”

Story

Image/video	Name	Dual Joy-Con/Pro Controller text	Horizontal controls text
	Story Objective	“Reunite with Rescue Corps Officers who crashed on an unknown planet while you search for the missing Captain Olimar. Be sure to rescue any other castaways you find along the way.”
	Save Data	“You can save up to three rescue files in Story mode. You can also copy or delete save data on the Rescue Database screen.”
	Message Log	“If you press  / during a conversation, you can view the conversation history as far back as the previous 50 messages up to that point.”
	Defeating Creatures (1)	“Creatures will attack when they see you or even sense your presence. Try to approach them from a blind spot or from behind, for example, to avoid taking damage.”
	Defeating Creatures (2)	“Each Pikmin type has an advantage when fighting certian kinds of creatures. For example, Red Pikmin are strong against fiery creatures. Use the right Pikmin based on the enemy you're fighting.”
	What If You Get into Trouble?	“If your Pikmin get into trouble fighting creatures, blow your whistle with / to call for a retreat. When you do this, Pikmin may even regain consciousness or evade enemy attacks.”
	Getting More Pikmin	“When pellets or defeated creatures are carried to an Onion, the Onion will produce more Pikmin. The type of Pikmin produced will be the same as the majority of those that did the carrying.”
	Raw Material	“You need raw material to build things such as clay bridges and clay mounds, and to develop new items and gear in the Lab. Make sure to collect as much as you can during explorations.”
	Items	“If you visit the scientist at the Rescue Command Post, he can make items for you in exchange for raw material. Items can only be used once, so don't be afraid to stock up.”
	Prototypes	“Whenever the scientist at the Rescue Command Post invents a new items, you can select the item to receive a prototype and give it a one-time-only test run.”
N/A	Types of Items (1)	“ PupOatchi loves his Scrummy Bones! They restore his HP or, when it's full, temporarily increase his max HP up to five times. If this kit is in your pack when you get knocked out, it will automatically restore your HP and make you invincible for a short time. Creatures love to snap these Pikpik Carrots right up! And the more they eat, the longer the carrots' paralyzing effects will last.”
N/A	Types of Items (2)	“ Ultra-Spicy Spray speeds up the Pikmin and PupOatchi's movements. When used, anyone in the area will be affected for a limited time. A Lightning Shock will call down lightning onto creatures and briefly paralyze them with a powerful electric shock. The Bomb Rock is a rock that explodes when thrown. Use it to break reinforced walls or inflict damage on creatures.”
N/A	Types of Items (3)	“ The Mine automatically activates when it detects signs of life. Plus, it sticks to any creature it touches. The Trackonator automatically chases after its prey once found. If there are no targets in the vicinity, it will explode on the spot. The Ice Blast freezes any and all targets caught in its ice-cold blast zone.”
	Gear	“If you visit the scientist at the Rescue Command Post, he can make gear for you in exchange for raw material. Unlike items, gear can be used indefinitely.”
N/A	Types of Gear (1)	“ The Survey Drone scouts the area from the skies above. You can use it to place up to three pins on places of interest. Releases an alert that calls Pikmin currently outside your squad back to you but will have no effect on Pikmin who are busy with a task. This device gathers Pikmin currently outside your squad back at the base. It will also affect Pikmin who are busy with tasks.”
N/A	Types of Gear (2)	“ This powerful horn signals to PupOatchi or the selected Pikmin in your squad to charge. The Idle Counter keeps a tally of the number of Pikmin currently outside your squad, not including those busy with a task.”
N/A	Types of Gear (3)	“ This sensor reacts to treasure, castaways, and more when you approach them. The closer you are, the stronger the signal. An upgraded Treasure Gauge that can detect the number of treasures in an area or cave.”
	Piklopedia (1)	“After you rescue a certain castaway, you'll be able to view the Piklopedia. Each new creature will be recorded there as you encounter them. You can study their behavior, read notes, and more.”
	Piklopedia (2)	“Press to practice fighting creatures in Engage mode. Creatures defeated in this mode will not count toward your in-game stats.”	“Use + to practice fighting creatures in Engage mode. Creatures defeated in this mode will not count toward your in-game stats.”
	Piklopedia (3)	“You can bring Pikmin with you into Engage mode or withdraw them while there. Any Pikmin lost while playing this mode will not affect the number of Pikmin you have in the main game.”
	Piklopedia (4)	“You can use items from your pack while in Observe mode and Engage mode. Items used within the Piklopedia will not be lost.”
	Treasure Catalog (1)	“After rescuing a certain castaway, you'll be able to view the Treasure Catalog. Each time you collect a new treasure, an entry is logged there. You can view treasure, read notes, and more.”
	Treasure Catalog (2)	“Treasure is grouped into different series. You'll receive sparklium whenever you complete a full series.”
	Update Your Look	“When you rescue a certain castaway, you'll be able to speak to them and give yourself a makeover, which allows you to change your name and parts of you appearance.”
	Surface and Underground (1)	“Time flows differently on the surface compared to underground. No matter how much time you spend in a cave, time will barely pass on the surface. Explore underground without worrying about time.”
	Surface and Underground (2)	“When you go underground, you need to select which Pikmin will accompany you. If you're having trouble deciding, you can always press  / to autoselect the recommended Pikmin.”
	Exploration Results	“When you return to the surface and at the end of a day, your exploration results are displayed. You will see castaways rescued, treasure collected, Pikmin lost and gained, and more.”
	Rewind Time	“If you lose a lot of Pikmin or get stuck, you can Rewind Time to resume your exploration from an earlier moment. Just remember you will not be able to move between the surface and underground.”
	Before Finishing the Day	“At sunset, Pikmin who aren't close to an Onion or in your squad won't climb into the Onion and will be left on the surface. Pikmin that are left behind will be eaten by creatures.”

Co-op Mode

Image/video	Name	Text
	What Is Co-op Mode?	“If you select Co-op Mode from the Options menu, two players will be able to play through the story. P2 supports P1 by using the Pebble Pitcher to throw both pebbles and items when available.”
	Resetting the Pebble Pitcher	“If the Pebble Pitcher disappears off-screen, P2 can return it to center screen by pressing  / ”
	Co-op Points	“Earn Co-op Points by working together. P2 can help P1 defeat creatures, break walls, transport things, etc. When the Co-op Gauge by the Pebble Pitcher is full, P2 receives an item they can use.”
	Help Ease the Burden	“Help out Pikmin by hitting the treasure they're carrying with pebbles to increase their carrying speed for a short time.”
N/A	Types of Items (1)	“ When you give nectar to a Pikmin, they bloom a flower. Give it to PupOatchi when his HP is low, and he will recover a small amount of HP PupOatchi loves his Scrummy Bones! They restore his HP or, when it's full, temporarily increase his max HP up to five times. Creatures love to snap these Pikpik Carrots right up! And the more they eat, the longer the carrots' paralyzing effects will last.”
N/A	Types of Items (2)	“ The Bomb Rock is a rock that explodes when thrown. Use it to break reinforced walls or inflict damage on creatures. The Ice Blast freezes any and all targets caught in its ice-cold blast zone. A Lightning Shock will call down lightning onto creatures and briefly paralyze them with a powerful electric shock.”
	Quitting Co-op Mode	“Items acquired by collecting Co-op Points will disappear when Co-op Mode ends. They will not be carried over the next time you play.”

Types of Pikmin

Image/video	Name	Text
	Red Pikmin	“Strong and fire resistant, you can rely on these Pikmin when battling creatures.”
	Yellow Pikmin	“You can throw these electricity-loving Pikmin up high or put them to work digging in the dirt.”
	Blue Pikmin	“These Pikmin won't drown, so they're extremely useful in areas with water!”
	Rock Pikmin	“These tough Pikmin can break crystal nodules and crystal walls. Plus, they won't be crushed when stepped on, as long as the ground beneath them is soft.”
	Winged Pikmin	“These Pikmin might not be strong, but their ability to fly makes them handy to have around for midair battles or carrying treasures through the air.”
	Purple Pikmin	“Each of these slower Pikmin has the strength of 10 Pikmin! Their muscular density also helps them resist wind and bubble-based attacks.”
	White Pikmin	“These Pikmin move fast and carry a poison in their bodies that inflicts damage when they're eaten by creatures.”
	Ice Pikmin	“With their extremely cold bodies, these Pikmin can freeze creatures and the surface of water.”
	Glow Pikmin (1)	“These Pikmin are found during night expeditions. They are strong against fire, water, electricity, ice, and poison, but cannot be active in bright places.”
	Glow Pikmin (2)	“To produce more Glow Pikmin, transport glow pellets to a Lumiknoll. New Glow Pikmin will glide directly to your squad. Their flowers bloom over time without nectar.”
	Glow Pikmin (3)	“At the end of a night expedition, the number of Glow Seeds you receive depends on how many Glow Pikmin are left in your squad. Glow Seeds can only be used at night or underground.”
	Glow Pikmin (4)	“Hold down  / to combine the Glow Pikmin in your squad into a ball of light called a Glowmob that can temporarily stun creatures. After the attack is used, Glow Pikmin will resume their regular form.”

Oatchi

Image/video	Name	Text
	What's a Rescue Pup?	“A steadfast companion who can provide support by attacking creatures and carrying treasure alongside Pikmin.”
	Rescue Training	“Oatchi's Pup Drive increases anytime you rescue a castaway. Use Oatchi's Pup Drive points to train with the captain, who will teach PupOatchi a variety of new skills.”
	Skills: Buff	“This skill teaches your Rescue Pup to help with tasks that require strength, like carrying treasure and pushing boxes. Continue training to keep increasing his strength.”
	Skills: Super Buff	“Teaching this skill to your Rescue Pup further increases the strength boost he gets from Buff. You can level up this skill with more training.”
	Skills: Swallow	“A skill that teaches your Rescue Pup to hold treasure and defeated creatures in his mouth in order to transport them. He alone can carry an object that would take 100 Pikmin to transport.”
	Skills: Chomp	“This is a bite attack that Rescue Pups can use against creatures. Level up this skill with training to increase damage.”
	Skills: Big Chomp	“This skill teaches Rescue Pups an even stronger Chomp attack and allows them to jump up to attack creatures in higher places.”
	Skills: Rush	“With this skill, Rescue Pups charge up their power and Rush forward, dealing damage to creatures in their path. They can also use it to knock treasure down from high places and break dirt walls.”
	Skills: Mega Rush	“Teaching this skill to your Rescue Pup shortens the amount of time it takes to charge up power and increases the strength of the rush, leaving creatures stunned for longer periods of time.”
	Skills: Doggy-Paddle	“This skill allows PupOatchi to swim. If you level up the skill in your training, he'll be able to do more things in the water as well.”
	Skills: Jump	“This skill lets you hop onto PupOatchi's back and move around that way. Press  / while on his back to instruct him to jump over smaller steps.”
	Skills: Pluck	“This will teach your Rescue Pup to pluck Pikmin right out of the ground. Level up this skill to increase plucking speed.”
	Skills: Dig	“A useful skill that allows your Rescue Pup to help out when you need to dig in the dirt and sand or speed up the Pikmin's excavations. Keep training to increase his digging speed.”
	Skills: Heal	“If PupOatchi receives damage while exploring, this skill helps him heal faster. Level up this skill to keep increasing his healing speed.”
	Skills: Command	“This skill teaches PupOatchi to track down different things, as well as help with other tasks. Learn more about what Commands are available in training.”

Tablet

Image/video	Name	Text
	Radar Map	“The Radar Map displays the area you're currently exploring, and places on the map you've already explored will be displayed brighter. Use this map to see where treasure, Pikmin, and other things are.”
	To-Do Pin	“Newly discovered caves and areas now accessible after completing a task are marked on the Radar Map with or . The marks serve as reminders and will disappear when you reach that location.”
	Missions	“Visit this app to see your main mission and side mission progress. It's also a good place to figure out what you need to do next.”
	Main Missions	“Open the Main Missions tab to check for updates on your current objectives. The list will be updated as the story progresses.”
	Side Missions	“If you talk to rescued castaways, sometimes they'll have special requests for you. Fulfill these side missions to earn rewards.”
	Status Report	“Use the Status Report to check various records, like how much progress you've made in an area and how many Pikmin you've gained or lost since starting your explorations.”
	ID Badges	“This is a register of the Rescue Officers you've met and castaways you've rescued so far. Learn about each character by viewing their ID badge, or select one to pay them a visit.”
	Gear and Skills	“See the gear that you and PupOatchi have acquired and skills that PupOatchi has learned. You can also view a brief explanation and video for each one.”
	Rescue Journal	“A collection of rescue lessons passed down by former captains, along with documentation related to the Shepherd family history. You can also find the current captain's journal here.”
	Voyage Log	“A place to peruse Captain Olimar's Voyage Log. Keep progressing through the story to collect more Voyage Log entries and work on unlocking the Voyage Log of a certain someone else.”
	History and Stats	“Here you can view the Message Log and review various records, such as your total play time since starting the game.”

Options

Image/video	Name	Text
	Return to Title Screen	“Use this button to return to the title screen.”
	Co-op Mode	“Select this option to play with two people. You can switch to Co-op Mode at any time while playing through the story.”
	Single-Player Mode	“Return to Single-Player Mode when only one person will be playing.”
	Shortcut Settings	“You can set shortcuts in order to use equipped items and gear immediately. Customize them to your style of play.”
	Rewind Time	“By using Rewind Time, you can resume the exploration from a slightly earlier state. If you get into trouble, sometimes it helps to start over.”
	End Day	“You can advance time to sunset in an instant and end the day's exploration. Use this when you have nothing left in the area to do.”
	End Day (Shipwreck Tale)	“You can advance time in Olimar's Shipwreck Tale to sunset in an instant and end the day's exploration. Use this when you have nothing left in the area that you want to do.”
	End Dandori Battle	“Choose this in a Dandori Battle when you want to end the battle or pick a different stages midbattle.”
	End Dandori Challenge	“Choose this in a Dandori Challenge when you want to cancel the challenge or pick a different stage midchallenge.”
	Controls	“You can find more details on the controls here. When playing in Co-op Mode, the different controls will be explained here as well.”
	Settings	“You can customize various settings to your taste, such as camera controls, the Radar Map, drone settings, and turn the Motion Controls feature on or off.”

Dandori Challenge

Image/video	Name	Text
	What Are Dandori Challenges?	“Use your Dandori skills to rack up points and earn medals by collecting treasure and creatures within the time limit. In Story mode, you can keep retrying a challenge until you've claimed a medal.”
	Select Stage	“The number of stages you can play increases as the story progresses. After earning a medal, if you rescued a certain castaway, you can tackle the stage again from the Rescue Command Post.”
	Medals	“In Dandori Challenges, you can get commemorative medals for achieving outstanding results. There are four types of medals: platinum, gold, silver, and bronze.”
	Overtime (1)	“When taking on a Dandori Challenge within the Rescue Command Post, you can use Overtime to keep playing after the time is up until all transportable objects have been collected.”
	Overtime (2)	“Select End Dandori Challenge from Options to end Overtime. Even if you successfully collect everything during Overtime, those results won't be reflected in your game records.”

Dandori Battle

Image/video	Name	Text
	What Are Dandori Battles?	“Collect treasure, creatures, and more within the time limit, and compete to see who can earn the most points. You'll be able to command up to 50 Pikmin during these battles.”
	Select Stage	“More stages will unlock as you progress through the story. After winning a battle, if you've rescued a certain castaway, you can tackle the stage again back at the Rescue Command Post.”
	Bonus Finds	“Bonus Finds may be announced during certain stages. If you collect and object that matches what's shown in the center of the screen, you'll earn a lot more points for that object.”
	Golden Sniffer	“This treasure only appears in Dandori Battles. You will need a lot of Pikmin to carry it, but if you can collect it, you'll earn a lot of points.”
	Mystery Capsule	“If you acquire a Mystery Capsule, you will receive a random item that can be used in that battle.”
	Items	“Items acquired through Mystery Capsules can help you or hurt your opponent. They can be used to increase your Pikmin count, call down lightning onto your opponent, or even drop rocks on them!”
N/A	Types of Items (1)	“ Use a Quick Pik to add 10 Pikmin to your squad. The Quick Glow Pik adds 5 Glow Pikmin to your squad. Ultra-Spicy Spray speeds up the Pikmin or your pup partner's movements. Anyone in the area will be affected for a limited time.”
N/A	Types of Items (2)	“ Use a Lightning Shock to paralyze your opponent, their pup partner, their Pikmin, or even creatures with an electric shock. Use the Rock Storm to drop rocks on your battle opponent and inflict some damage. The Bewilder Bomb surrounds your opponent with black smoke. Their character will be blown away, and their Pikmin will panic!”
N/A	Types of Items (3)