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Obstacle

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A dirt wall.
A dirt wall in Pikmin 3, an obstacle that blocks a path until it has been destroyed.

To do: Check if Pikmin contribute to a task in a linear fashion or logarithmic fashion. i.e. do 50 Pikmin take exactly twice as long to take down a gate as 100, or are they faster? Check other obstacles too, and check all games.
Care to do so?

Obstacles are interactive objects that stand in the way of Pikmin and leaders. Some obstacles can be destroyed by having Pikmin attack them, some can be overcome through the use of tools, and some cannot be destroyed at all and must be worked around. With creative use, some of these obstacles can end up helping the player in unique ways when they are cleared, like a cardboard box initially being pushed to get out of the way, but also ending up next to a ramp to serve as a makeshift bridge. In this sense, some obstacles can partially serve as tools in and of themselves.

List of obstacles[edit]

Icon Name Description Games
Pikmin Pikmin 2 Pikmin 3 Pikmin 4 Hey! Pikmin
Arachnode web icon.png
Custom icon for Arachnode webs in Pikmin 4.
Arachnode web Arachnodes often build their webs in the carrying routes of Winged Pikmin. If Winged Pikmin carry something into the web, they will let go of the object and become stuck. No No Yes Yes No
Bag P2 icon.png
Map icon for bags in Pikmin 4.
Bag Paper bags that block passageways. They can be crushed with enough Pikmin weight. No Yes No Yes No
Bamboo gate icon.png Bamboo gate Gates that must be held open with Winged Pikmin. No No Yes No No
Bomb-rock icon.png Bomb-rock This type of bomb rocks cannot be picked up by Pikmin, but will instead activate when attacked and explode a few seconds after. No Yes No No No
Boulder icon.png Boulder Boulders drop from the sky, and crush Pikmin they fall on. No Yes No* Yes No
White bramble gate icon.png
Black bramble gate icon.png
Bramble gate Bramble gates act like walls, completely blocking off an area. They can be torn down in a gradual process, until they are fully opened. There are multiple types of bramble gates. Yes Yes No No No
Map icon for breakable pots in Pikmin 4. Breakable pot Pots that block paths and can only be destroyed by charging them with Oatchi. No No No Yes No
File:Brick wall icon.png Brick wall Rare walls that can only be destroyed with iron balls. No No Yes No No
Custom icon for bubble blowers in Pikmin 4. Bubble blower These produce bubbles that can trap Pikmin. No No No Yes No
Buried icon.png Buried treasure, fruit or Sparklium Seeds While not technically an obstacle, some treasures are found underground, and White Pikmin are needed to clear the dirt and unearth them. Some fruits can also be found buried, but any Pikmin can dig them out, with Yellow Pikmin doing so faster. No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cardboard box icon.png Cardboard box Cardboard boxes block the path to certain areas, and must be pushed out of the way with a minimum number of Pikmin. Yes No Yes Yes No
Clipboard icon.png
A custom icon representing a clipboard in Pikmin 4.
Clipboard Boards with handles on them. In Pikmin 3, Clipboards often cover objects, and they need 8 Winged Pikmin to lift it. In Pikmin 4, however, they work as bridges. Needing 10 or 20 Pikmin, they can only be lowered from one side. No No Yes Yes No
Clog icon.png Clog Some pools of water can be drained by destroying clogs. No Yes No No Yes
An icon representing the cobblestone block obstacle. Cobblestone block Blocks made of stone, that can be destroyed by bomb rocks only. No No No No Yes
Custom icon representing the cold air obstacle in Pikmin 4. Cold air A type of weather caused by ice blocks and cause all Pikmin except Ice Pikmin to catch frostbite. No No No Yes No
Crystal nodule icon.png Crystal nodule Crystal pebbles used by Skutterchucks to attack Pikmin. No No Yes Yes Yes
Crystal wall icon.png
Map icon for crystal walls in Pikmin 4.
Crystal wall Walls made of glass, that can be broken with Rock Pikmin or bomb rocks. No No Yes Yes No
Dam icon.png Dam A stick over a river with Flukeweeds on top that blocks the movement of lily pads. No No Yes No No
A dirt block icon, used to represent the obstacle found in the games. Dirt block This obstacle prevents the player from making progress in an area. It simply needs to be destroyed by throwing a Pikmin at it. No No No No Yes
Dirt wall icon.png
Map icon for dirt walls in Pikmin 4.
Dirt wall Simple walls made of dirt, similar to bramble gates. No No Yes Yes Yes
Map icon for dried plants in Pikmin 4. Dried plant Groups of plants that can only be destroyed trough the use of Fire starters. No No No Yes No
Electric gate P2 icon.png
Electric gate P3 icon.png
Map icon for electric gates in Pikmin 4.
Electric gate Gates covered in electrical current, meaning only Yellow Pikmin can destroy them. No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Electrical wire icon.png Electrical wire Two cut bits of electrical wiring with exposed conductors. They create an arc of electricity from time to time. No Yes No No No
Custom icon for electricity generators in Pikmin 4. Electricity generator A 3-pronged electric node that generates electricity. No No No Yes No
Custom icon for fire geysers in Pikmin 4. Fire geyser Geysers poking out of the ground or ceiling that shoot fire at regular intervals. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
An custom icon representing flames. Flames Flames that prevent Olimar from making progress in an area, until they are smothered out. No No No No Yes
High ledge icon.png High ledges Some ledges are too high for regular Pikmin to reach, and can only be reached by Yellow Pikmin or Winged Pikmin. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Map icon for hydro jelly in Pikmin 4. Hydro jelly Hydro jelly is a substance that requires Ice Pikmin to freeze. No No No Yes No
A Hydroe bramble icon, used to represent the obstacle found in the games. Hydroe bramble Long bramble with thorns that block the way and move in specific patterns. Pikmin that touch one of these get killed, and there is no way to remove them. No No No No Yes
Map icon for ice blocks in Pikmin 4. Ice block Blocks of dried ice that create cold air inside rooms. No No No Yes No
Custom icon for ice vents in Pikmin 4. Ice vent Shards of ice that emit icy air. No No No Yes No
Map icon for ice walls in Pikmin 4. Ice wall Gates covered in freezing ice, meaning that only Ice Pikmin or fire starters can break it. No No No Yes No
A icicle-like crystal icon, used to represent the obstacle found in Hey! Pikmin. Icicle-like crystal Some crystals look and act like icicles, and will fall on Olimar when he goes under one of them. No No No No Yes
An iron block icon, used to represent the obstacle found in the games. Iron block Blocks of iron that need to be pushed by Pikmin in order to progress in an area. No No No No Yes
A custom icon representing an iron fence in Pikmin 4.
A custom icon representing an iron fence that can be lowered with a switch in Pikmin 4.
Iron fence Several upright metal bars arranged to form a wall, preventing Oatchi and treasures to pass through. Some of them can be lowered. No No No Yes No
Kingcap icon.png
A custom icon representing a kingcap in Pikmin 4.
Kingcap Large, red spotted mushrooms that block passageways. No No Yes Yes No
Large crystal icon.png Large crystal Crystals either block passageways or hold items, and in one case, block a geyser. They can be destroyed with Rock Pikmin. No No Yes No Yes
Custom icon for mud pools in Pikmin 4. Mud pool Shallow mud slows down anything that enters it, and deep mud will drown even Blue Pikmin and players. Like bodies of water, they can be frozen by Ice Pikmin to allow safe travel. No No No Yes No
A custom icon representing a narrow tunnel in Pikmin 4. Narrow tunnel Shortcuts through the earth. They act like normal Tunnels, except Oatchi can't go through them. No No No Yes No
Map icon for numbered gates in Pikmin 4. Numbered gate Indestructable metal gates that have a dot-matrix display on them. They will only lower once the numbers on them reach 0. No No No Yes No
Paper bag P3 icon.png
A custom icon representing a paper bag in Pikmin 4.
Paper bag Paper bags that can be pushed off ledges to create a new path up the ledge. No No Yes Yes No
Custom icon for poison emitters in Pikmin 4. Poison emitter Geysers that spit out poison gas. No Yes No Yes No
A custom icon representing a poisonous kingcap in Pikmin 4. Poison Kingcap A rarer variant of Kingcaps that can only be attacked by White Pikmin due to its poison. No No No Yes No
A custom icon representing a poisonous spotcap in Pikmin 4. Poison Spotcap A rarer variant of Spotcaps that can only be attacked by White Pikmin due to its poison. No No No Yes No
Map icon for potted plants in Pikmin 4. Potted plant Blocks of dirt that act like walls that require a plant to be pulled in order to destroy them. No No No Yes No
Purples needed icon.png Purple Pikmin needed Some bags and treasures are too heavy to overcome or carry with most Pikmin types as they weigh over 100 weight units, so Purple Pikmin are necessary to overcome or carry them. No Yes No Yes No
A custom icon representing a pup tunnel in Pikmin 4. Pup tunnel Shortcuts through the earth that can be used only by Oatchi. No No No Yes No
Gray reinforced wall P1 icon.png
Reinforced wall P3 icon.png
Map icon for reinforced walls in Pikmin 4.
Reinforced wall Strong walls that require bomb rocks to take out. There are multiple types of reinforced walls in Pikmin. Yes No Yes Yes No
Small crystal icon.png Small crystal Small crystals that block geysers and hold small items. No No Yes No No
Map icon for sizzling floors in Pikmin 4. Sizzling floor Red-hot patches that will burn all Pikmin except for Red and Glow Pikmin. They will be extinguished once all of the pieces of burning charcoal or fiery enemies have been removed. No No No Yes No
Spotcap icon.png
A custom icon representing a spotcap in Pikmin 4.
Spotcap Small fungi that can block passages in groups. No No Yes Yes No
Map icon for sprinklers in Pikmin 4. Sprinkler These objects constantly rain down water that blocks every Pikmin except Blue Pikmin. They can also be used to extinguish Sizzling floors. No No No Yes No
Map icon for sticky mold in Pikmin 4. Sticky mold Yellowish mold that will slow down and prevent all Pikmin except for Winged Pikmin from carrying objects. They will be destroyed once all mushrooms or poison enemies have been removed. No No No Yes No
Map icon for white gates in Pikmin 4.
Map icon for red gates in Pikmin 4.
Map icon for blue gates in Pikmin 4.
Switch gate Metal gates that can be raised and lowered with switches, and come in white, red, and blue varieties. No No No Yes No
Tin box icon.png Tin box Act just like cardboard boxes. No No Yes Yes No
An icon representing the trowel obstacle. Trowel When upright, it blocks the way forward. It can be tipped over with Pikmin throws, and when it lands, it serves as a makeshift bridge. No No No No Yes
Tunnel icon.png
A custom icon representing a tunnel in Pikmin 4.
Tunnel Shortcuts through the earth. They have a pile of rubble in the front, and Pikmin can be sent to dig them out. No No Yes Yes No
Custom icon for water spouts in Pikmin 4. Water spout Geysers that spit out water. No No No Yes No
Water body icon.png
Custom icon for a Water body in Pikmin 4.
Water body Most non-Blue Pikmin start drowning if they come into contact with bodies of water. Ice Pikmin instead float on the surface of a body of water; it can then be frozen solid if a certain number of Ice Pikmin are present in it and will remain frozen until they are recalled. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
A wooden stake icon, used to represent the obstacle found in Hey! Pikmin. Wooden stake A stake that either blocks the player's path and needs a certain amount of Pikmin to push it in the ground, or sticks below something and can be pushed up. No No No No Yes

* There is an item that causes boulders to fall in Bingo Battle, however.

Minor obstacles[edit]

Main article: Minor obstacles.

Several other kinds of obstacles appear in the Pikmin series, but are much rarer than the obstacles listed above.

Trivia[edit]

  • In Pikmin 2, Pikmin that are attacking an obstacle while latched on will cause damage at a faster pace than those that are standing on the ground.[1] This can be achieved with bridges by pushing the Pikmin off to the side and letting it go back to the bridge on its own, where it should hopefully cling on instead.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning Notes
Flag of France French Obstacle Obstacle
Flag of Portugal Portuguese (NoE) Obstáculo Obstacle Translation taken from the Pikmin instruction manual.
Flag of Mexico Spanish (NoA) Obstáculo Obstacle

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ YouTube video showing how latched Pikmin are faster than standing Pikmin, in Pikmin 2