Cavern for a King

The Cavern for a King is a cave in the Primordial Thicket in. It is considered the game's final cave, due to it having a staggering twenty sublevels (the most of any cave) as well as containing the game's final boss. It also features encounters with previous bosses, such as the Gildemander and features new encounters as well, such as the Toxstool (who is exclusive to the cave). This cave has worth of treasure.

How to reach
Before the cave can be accessed at all, the player must win Final Battle, rescue Nelle and return to the Primordial Thicket on a later day.

The cave is guarded by Bogswallows and has mud areas where Oatchi and the player's Pikmin can drown, which would be detrimental for their army. There is a barely-visible walkable pathway through the mud, or 30 Ice Pikmin or an ice blast can be used to freeze the entire pool along with the Bogswallows inside.

Sublevel 1

 * Treasures:
 * (inside Toxstool)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 4
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * (3 posion spotcaps) &times; 2
 * (4 posion spotcaps) &times; 2
 * &times; 14 (all inside sticky mold)
 * &times; 1 (lowered by defeating 1 Toxstool)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (White) &times; 2
 * Others:
 * None

Bringing the bodies of the Moldy Dwarf Bulborbs and Moldy Slooches back to the S.S. Beagle, or shattering them with Ice Pikmin or an Ice Blast, will prevent the Toxstool from resurrecting them. From there, a focused attack from White Pikmin was should be able to dispatch it.

Sublevel 2

 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 4
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowered by defeating 1 Jumbo Bulborb, 1 Bulborb, and 4 Dwarf Bulborbs)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * None
 * Others:
 * &times; 2
 * Others:
 * &times; 2

The Jumbo Bulborb hides in a bush, so be wary of it when fighting the Dwarf Bulborbs and the Bulborb.

Sublevel 3

 * Treasures:
 * (inside one of the Burrowing Snagrets)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 3
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after defeating 3 Burrowing Snagrets)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * None
 * Others:
 * &times; 2

For the first time in 22 years, it's time for the Snagret triple threat. It is recommended to try and bait out and defeat each Burrowing Snagret individually. Prepare to rush each Snagret's head just as it pops out of the ground, which can deal with a Snagret in just a handful of attack cycles.

Sublevel 4

 * Treasures:
 * &times; 3 (inside Arctic Cannon Beetle)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 6
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 1 Arctic Cannon Beetle is defeated)
 * &times; 1 (weight of 20)
 * (5 poison spotcaps) &times; 1
 * &times; 5 (all inside sticky mold)
 * Tools:
 * &times; 1 (plugged)
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None
 * &times; 2

The Arctic Cannon Beetle is placed such that the player will have to constantly dodge its snowballs just to reach it. When they do get close enough to attack, the cramped space it resides in (exacerbated further by the presence of sticky mold) puts Pikmin at significant risk of being eaten if they are not whistled away as soon as it begins to inhale. Using Oatchi is recommended to keep the squad together when dodging snowballs. Leading the Dwarf Orange Bulborbs into snowballs is an effective strategy, as they will die as soon as the snowball breaks.

Sublevel 5

 * Treasures:
 * (inside one of the Emperor Bulblaxes)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 3
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after defeating 3 Emperor Bulblaxes)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * None
 * Others:
 * &times; 1

While it is theoretically possible to kill each Emperor Bulblax individually, in practice the roar of one Bulblax will wake up the other two, and on this floor, it will roar as soon as possible. Despite this, the player should try to fight them one at a time rather than spread their Pikmin thin trying to fight them all at once. Using bomb rocks and ultra-spicy spray to dispatch one of the Bulblaxes quickly is a good tactic to avoid one waking the others.

Sublevel 6

 * Treasures:
 * (on floating platform)
 * Enemies:
 * x 2
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1 (weight of 20)
 * Tools:
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 4
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Ice) &times; 2
 * Others:
 * None

A cutscene plays with Louie lounging around before escaping further into the cavern. After that the player has the option to delve deeper or to leave the area, as a cave exit is nearby.

Sublevel 7

 * Treasures:
 * (inside Blizzarding Blowhog)
 * (inside Titan Blowhog)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 1 Titan Blowhog and 1 Blizzarding Blowhog are defeated)
 * Tools:
 * &times; 2
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * None
 * Others:
 * &times; 2

The Titan Blowhog and the Blizzarding Blowhog have the same abilities as the Fiery Blowhog and the Snowy Blowhog, only much bigger and they throw much further. The same strategies should be applied for each: charge your Pikmin at them, and then whistle them back when the huge Blowhogs are about to throw them.

Sublevel 8

 * Treasures:
 * (inside Crusted Rumpup)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after defeating 1 Crusted Rumpup)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None

This fight is the same as on top of the sand castle only this time, mud is involved. Be careful as the Rumpup could launch some Pikmin into the mud, putting them in peril. However, the Rumpup itself is still the same and can still be easily destroyed. Kill the Crusted Rumpup and move on.

Sublevel 9

 * Treasures:
 * &times; 2 (inside Man-at-Legs)
 * &times; 2 (inside Man-at-Legs)
 * Enemies:
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 1 Man-at-Legs is defeated)
 * &times; 9 (2 groups of 3 pots, 1 group of 2 pots, 1 group of 1 pot)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Blue) &times; 2
 * Others:
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1

The main battleground is submerged in water, so bringing a sizable amount of Blue Pikmin is heavily recommended for this fight. Don't break any of the breakable pots as they can be used as temporary defense against the Man-at-Legs. If Oatchi has upgraded his Doggy-Paddle ability, he can comfortably avoid shots from the Man-At-Legs by simply swimming around at the edge of the arena. Otherwise, the starting area of this sublevel provides more than enough cover from fire.

Another method of fighting this Man-at-Legs is to freeze the water after activating the boss. The puddle of water will freeze with 50 Ice Pikmin (one Ice blast can be used too, but the freeze is only temporary), leaving you the other 50 Pikmin to break the boss while frozen.

Sublevel 10

 * Treasures:
 * (inside Smoky Progg)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 1 Smoky Progg is defeated)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * None
 * Others:
 * &times; 1

The Smoky Progg is significantly easier than how it was in, but can still cause mass Pikmin casualties if the player is unprepared. A good strategy is to use Oatchi's rush skill to send all of your Pikmin onto it, defeating it quickly. Just be sure to jump to avoid the shockwaves produced by its projectiles, and whistle after it shakes off your Pikmin to ensure they don't panic directly into the path of its gloom or into the swamp surrounding its arena. However, with an ultra-spicy spray, the Rush Boots, and tight movement, you can destroy the egg by simply rushing into it before it gets to hatch.

Sublevel 11

 * Treasures:
 * (Pulled out of the ground through the use of a fishing rope)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 3
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 3 Bloomcap Bloysters are defeated)
 * &times; 1 (weight of 7)
 * &times; 1
 * Tools:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Blue) &times; 1
 * Others:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Blue) &times; 1
 * Others:

Louie appears once again on this sublevel, only to run off. It's a good idea to lure the Bloomcap Bloysters out of any water in the cave, so you can deal with them with a whole squad. If you still have Ice Pikmin, use them to freeze the water so the Bloomcap Bloysters crawl over it, making them easier to kill. The Bloomcap Bloysters can eat the treasures they come across in this sublevel, so be sure to you grab the treasure they may spit out.

Sublevel 12
A rest sublevel reminiscent of the 4th sublevel of the Shower Room from. There is a cave exit to escape to the surface here, if the player is running low on Pikmin.
 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 3
 * Obstacles:
 * None
 * Tools:
 * &times; 1
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Purple) &times; 2
 * Others:
 * None
 * None

Sublevel 13
This room is very cramped, so it is recommended to use Oatchi or a small group of White Pikmin to clear the sticky mold before engaging with the boss. Try to lead the Gildemander away from the walls, as gold that is knocked off its back may land in a spot where it is hard to destroy. It is highly recommended to clear the sticky mold before engaging in combat with the boss, for your Pikmin will go for the mold first.
 * Treasures:
 * (inside breakable pot)
 * (inside Gildemander)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * (6 poison spotcaps) &times; 2
 * (2 posion spotcaps) &times; 1
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 2 (1 group of 2)
 * &times; 8 (all inside sticky mold)
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 1 Gildemander is defeated)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (White) &times; 1
 * Others:
 * None

Sublevel 14

 * Treasures:
 * (inside Horned Cannon Beetle)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 3
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 3 Armored Cannon Larva and 1 Horned Cannon Beetle are defeated)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * None
 * Others:
 * &times; 1

Take down the Armored Cannon Larva before dealing with the main boss of this sublevel. Be wary of their unusual boulder paths, which curve around the arena. A fairly useful strategy is to position yourself behind an Armored Cannon Larva so that the Horned Cannon Beetle's boulder rolls towards it and kills it in one hit.

Sublevel 15
Louie shows up before running off yet again in this sublevel. A Baldy Long Legs stomps between a water-filled pit and a mud patch, both of which are surrounded by blocks, so Blue Pikmin are recommended. Additionally, using ten Ice Pikmin (if you happen to have any left over) to freeze the water (or the mud) will also freeze the boss, which can be used to the player's advantage. The mud patch is shallow though, so you don’t need Ice Pikmin.
 * Treasures:
 * &times; 10 (all inside Baldy Long Legs)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 1 Baldy Long Legs is defeated)
 * &times; 3
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Blue) &times; 2
 * Others:
 * None

Sublevel 16
Two Waterwraiths spawn almost immediately after entering this sublevel. However, they do not pose much threat if the player brought Purple Pikmin. If they did not, there are Violet Candypop Buds blocked by sand walls available to create some. One of the Waterwraiths holds the Connection Detector. It is required to defeat both to unlock the path to the next sublevel.
 * Treasures:
 * (inside one of the Waterwraiths)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 2
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 1 (lowers after 2 Waterwraiths are defeated)
 * Tools:
 * None
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Purple) &times; 2
 * Others:
 * None

Sublevel 17

 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * , a group will fall from the ceiling during each of the Empress's attacks.
 * Obstacles:
 * Boulder Falls when Empress Bulblax hits a wall.
 * Tools:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * Others:
 * Tools:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * Others:
 * Others:

The Empress Bulblax on this sublevel occupies a small chamber which, unlike any other encounter with it, means that there is no single place to stand to avoid its rolling attack. Instead, there are two geysers which shoot you to the opposite sides of the arena and a small passage in the back. The intended method is to use these to jump over the top of the boss or to slip behind it before making your way back to the arena, but it is far easier to use six or so bomb rocks and finish the job before it can even attack. Don't rush with Oatchi as that triggers its roll attack immediately. Alternatively, Rock Pikmin can be used for their immunity to being crushed against the soft floor of the sublevel.

Sublevel 18

 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * Obstacles:
 * Tools:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Blue) &times; 3
 * Others:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * (Blue) &times; 3
 * Others:

The Sovereign Bulblax's arena is unique in that it can be changed during the fight. The boss's jump attack can deform the landscape, which can create small pools of water. For this reason, using bomb rocks and ultra-spicy spray to defeat the Bulblax before it can make the arena too hard to navigate is a good strategy. Note that the Don't-See-It Specs and the Sovereign Bulblax's corpse will need to be carried over or through the small ring of water surrounding the main arena, so use Blue Pikmin or an ice blast (it takes a very large amount of Ice Pikmin to freeze the water here), or upgrade Oatchi's super buff to allow him to carry through water.

Sublevel 19

 * Treasures:
 * &times; 3
 * (buried)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 7
 * Obstacles:
 * Water body icon.png || Water body
 * Tools:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * &times; 5 (Red, Yellow, Blue, Ice, and White)
 * Others:
 * Water body icon.png || Water body
 * Tools:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * &times; 5 (Red, Yellow, Blue, Ice, and White)
 * Others:

The penultimate sublevel of this cave is a very forgiving one, with no hostile enemies. A shallow body of water contains a few of the treasures, so use Blue Pikmin to retrieve them. It is also recommended to utilize the Candypop Buds to create some more Pikmin types, as they will be very useful in the upcoming sublevel. There is an air vent present to escape, and the final sublevel entrance is buried under a pile of sand near the broken green bucket.

Sublevel 20

 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * (Doesn't respawn after first defeat)
 * Obstacles:
 * Tools:
 * Wild Pikmin:
 * Others:
 * Louie
 * Louie

This sublevel contains a landing area for the S.S. Beagle, and a large arena where Louie and the Ancient Sirehound are found. It drops the Gift of Friendship. The player does not need to actually transport the Gift of Friendship or Louie, as it happens during a cutscene immediately after defeating the Ancient Sirehound. Additionally, on the first visit, this final sublevel contains no air vent, as the player, Oatchi, and their Pikmin will use the S.S. Beagle to fly out of the cave instead. On return visits, an air vent will appear next to the base.

Trivia

 * It's possible that the name of this cave is based on Louie's name as a treasure in : King of Bugs.
 * This is the longest cave in any Pikmin game, beating the Hole of Heroes's 15 sublevels by 5.
 * The skybox of sublevel 19 is the same as Blossoming Arcadia at night.
 * If the player brings Rock Pikmin and Winged Pikmin into the cave, the Candypop Buds inside the cave will change color to prevent the player from having more than 7 types of Pikmin in their squad.
 * The outside of the arena on sublevel 20 is littered with various objects from various areas of the game. These include:
 * Plant pots.
 * Wellington boots.
 * Bricks.
 * Empty metal cans.
 * A yellow fork.
 * Cardboard takeaway containers.
 * Pillows.
 * A paper cup.
 * Various shoes.
 * Toy trains.
 * A yellow plastic bucket.
 * A toy digger.