Cavern of Chaos

The Cavern of Chaos is the first cave found in the Wistful Wild in Pikmin 2. It is the easiest cave in the Wistful Wild, though that is not saying much as a long and hazardous crawl lies ahead, with to obtain in the US version, and  in the European version. Its boss is the Segmented Crawbster. The sublevel styles change throughout the cave, starting with metallic, then soil, then concrete, and lastly tile.

How to reach
This cave, like the Citadel of Spiders, is located right beside the landing site. There are very few enemies in the path to the cave, making it simple to access.

A squad of all Pikmin types is recommended. A high number of Red Pikmin is important due to the three Fiery Bulblaxes on sublevel 2, and Purple Pikmin are highly recommended to fight the enemies in this cave.

Sublevel 1

 * Theme: Metal
 * Music: Metal 3
 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 3
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 13
 * &times; 3
 * Vegetation:
 * (green) &times; 3
 * (red) &times; 3
 * Others:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None

Bomb-rocks, electrical hazards, Careening Dirigibugs, Fiery Blowhog and one Watery Blowhog are all cramped into this small space.

Dismiss your Pikmin and go out with one leader, punching the bomb-rocks to set them off. Try to have the Careening Dirigibugs drop bomb-rocks near the electrical wires so that when they explode, the generators will be disabled. Once the hazards are cleared out, take all of your Pikmin and attack each enemy, one at a time. Try to keep your Red Pikmin out of trouble, as they will be needed on the next sublevel, and also be especially careful not to throw any Pikmin over the edge.

The two treasures, the Mirth Sphere and the Enamel Buster, are both somewhere above ground; however, watch out for falling bomb-rocks, especially if the treasures are in dead-ends. It is possible to get both treasures without killing enemies. Just let some whites carry them (as they are fast) and distract the Careening Dirigibugs. Once all the treasures are collected, find the hole and jump down.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 2

 * Theme: Metal
 * Music: Metal 2
 * Treasures:
 * (inside Fiery Bulblax)
 * (inside Fiery Bulblax)
 * (inside Fiery Bulblax)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 3
 * &times; 3
 * Obstacles:
 * None
 * Vegetation:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None

This sublevel is very large, just like the ninth sublevel of the Subterranean Complex, but difficult nonetheless if you have a small amount of Red Pikmin. Along with a few Swooping Snitchbugs who try to pick up your Pikmin, there are three Fiery Bulblaxes here, and each contains a treasure.

Defeat all three of them, and take back the Frosty Bauble, Gemstar Wife, and Essence of Despair the Bulblaxes left behind. Find the hole (which is next to your starting area) and continue down.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 3

 * Theme: Soil
 * Music: Soil 1
 * Treasures:
 * (fully buried)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 5
 * &times; 2
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 4 (from eggs)
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 10
 * Vegetation:
 * &times; 9
 * (small red) &times; 9
 * &times; 7
 * Others:
 * Gate with 4000 HP &times; 4
 * &times; 4
 * &times; 4

At first sight, this may look like a rest level, but it's not; the music is a giveaway. Creeping Chrysanthemums, Mamutas, and falling rocks make this calm-looking level not what it seems.

Alcoves and pathways between circular areas contain falling rocks, so you may want to go in with your leaders to trigger the falling boulders before you begin fighting enemies. Use Purple Pikmin to defeat the Chrysanthemums, and use any Pikmin to defeat the Mamutas, unless you want them to flower your Pikmin first.

One treasure, the Infernal Vegetable, is somewhere above ground, and the other treasure, the Child of the Earth, is underground, so you'll need to listen to your treasure gauge and use White Pikmin to find it. When everything is collected and safe, go down the hole.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 4



 * Theme: Soil
 * Music: Boss (only when combating)
 * Treasures:
 * (US) / (Europe) /  (Japan) (inside Emperor Bulblax in all regions)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 2
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 2 (from eggs)
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 21
 * &times; 13
 * Vegetation:
 * &times; 1
 * (large) &times; 2
 * (small) &times; 2
 * Others:
 * Gate with 4000 HP &times; 3
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 2

The Emperor Bulblax makes a return in this wet sublevel, but this time, there are two of them – usually one on land and one submerged in water. At first, it is helpful to find which of the Bulblaxes has the treasure using the treasure gauge. With one leader, take all the Pikmin, or stash them in a crevice. Take the other leader out alone and wake up the Emperor Bulblax. When it is on or near land, lure it so that a bomb-rock is in front of it. It will try to eat the bomb-rock, which will explode in its mouth, taking some damage and stunning it.

With the other leader, take the Pikmin and throw Purple Pikmin onto its face while it is stunned. This will take away a good chunk of its health. Repeat until it is dead, and then do the same thing for the other Bulblax, or just ignore it if it isn't disturbing you. You may want to use Red Pikmin to disable fire geysers before you start.

There is also a treasure, the Milk Tub, above ground, usually behind a gate. Take both treasures back and then leave this watery sublevel. If you are in need of Blue Pikmin to collect the treasures, a Queen Candypop Bud will drop in one of the alcoves.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 5

 * Theme: Soil
 * Music: Relax
 * Treasures:
 * None
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 2
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 2 (from eggs)
 * Obstacles:
 * None
 * Vegetation:
 * &times; 2
 * (small red) &times; 3
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1
 * Others:
 * &times; 2

This is the only rest level in the Cavern of Chaos. It contains two Iridescent Flint Beetles, an Ivory Candypop Bud, a Violet Candypop Bud, a Queen Candypop Bud, and falling eggs that contain nectar or sprays. Regroup your Pikmin, go up the geyser if you need to, or continue down the hole.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 6

 * Theme: Concrete
 * Music: Concrete 2
 * Treasures:
 * (partially buried)
 * (inside Wollywog)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 6
 * &times; 5
 * &times; 2
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 2
 * Vegetation:
 * (small) &times; 6
 * Others:
 * None

This area is home to two hazards – water and electrical wires. There are also Wollywogs, Water Dumples, and Anode Beetles which make it even harder. Start by using Yellow Pikmin to disable electrical wires near your area, unless an enemy is dangerously close to it. Kill anything near your starting area with Purple Pikmin, and then go out with leaders, defeating Water Dumples. Avoid Wollywogs for now.

After the coast is clear, go back to your starting area, grab Purple Pikmin, and use them to defeat Wollywogs, being careful to avoid Anode Beetles, water, and electrical wires you missed. After that, go back to camp, grab your Yellows, and use them to kill the Anode Beetles (use Blue Pikmin if they are in water).

As soon as the coast is clear, you will see that one of the Wollywogs was carrying the Princess Pearl; take it back to camp (you may need Blue Pikmin if it was dropped in the water). The Growshroom is always half-buried and can be anywhere in the sublevel, usually in a puddle. Take back both treasures and any carcasses you want, and then continue down to the next sublevel.

One of the Wollywogs can get stuck in a small crevice and will continuously bounce from wall to wall. It cannot get out of this state without killing it.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 7

 * Theme: Concrete
 * Music: Concrete 3
 * Treasures:
 * (US/Europe) / (Japan)
 * (inside Puffy Blowhog)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 3
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 2 (from eggs)
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 3
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 6
 * Vegetation:
 * (large) &times; 2
 * (small) &times; 6
 * Others:
 * Gate with 4000 HP &times; 4
 * &times; 2

Several Puffy Blowhogs, Withering Blowhogs, Cloaking Burrow-Nits, and gas pipes inhabit this sublevel. However, the strategy is very simple – use White Pikmin to disable gas pipes, and then send Purple Pikmin or Red Pikmin to attack the Blowhogs and Burrow-Nits. Be careful of the Blowhogs' nasal blasts – they will knock most of your Pikmin over (and you too if you don't have the Rush Boots) and, in the case of the Withering Blowhog, de-flower them.

One Puffy Blowhog contains the Impenetrable Cookie, and the Fuel Reservoir can be anywhere above ground, but likely behind gates. Be careful not to miss Cloaking Burrow-Nits behind walls; they might eat unwatched Pikmin at the worst possible times. Take back the treasures, find the hole, and continue down.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 8



 * Theme: Tiles
 * Music: Tile
 * Treasures:
 * (US) / (Europe/Japan)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 54
 * (free) &times; 2
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 4 (from eggs)
 * Obstacles:
 * None
 * Vegetation:
 * None
 * Others:
 * &times; 4

This sublevel is unique, in that it contains the most enemies of any sublevel in the game – over 50 Dwarf Red Bulborbs, along with two Gatling Groinks as well. To defeat a Gatling Groink, try to trap it by a wall, and then come in with an army of 20-30 Purple Pikmin and attack its backside. Once it is defeated, take it back as soon as possible, as its health regenerates; use White Pikmin preferably.

To get through this sublevel without any casualties, use the aforementioned strategy on defeating Gatling Groinks, and then go through the level with an army of Purple Pikmin, leaving a leader with the rest of your Pikmin to keep an eye on them. Go through the sublevel, using your Purple Pikmin to defeat the Dwarf Red Bulborbs.

The reason you should go through the sublevel with very few Pikmin is to make sure that Pikmin that are left behind don't get eaten by other Bulborbs. Use the Purple Pikmin to kill any Bulborbs that are in your path, but don't take any of them back yet. Several parts in the sublevel have a huge cluster of Bulborbs together – resist the urge to swarm them! Just keep throwing your Purple Pikmin and you will be fine. Alternatively, you can lure a Groink into shooting most of the sublevel's Bulborbs, provided you can keep the Pikmin safe from the other Groink.

Eventually in the sublevel, you will get to its only treasure in a dead end somewhere: the Fruit Guard in the US version, or the Empty Space Container in Europe or Japan. If you've already cleared the area of Dwarf Red Bulborbs, that's great – take the treasure back. If not, go back and clear it, as the Bulborbs will try to eat your Pikmin on the way back. After you're sure all Gatling Groinks and Dwarf Red Bulborbs are dead and they are all taken back to your base, and all your Pikmin are safe, you can start taking back the massive amount of carcasses. Find the hole that leads to the next sublevel, and then jump down.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 9

 * Theme: Tiles
 * Music: Jellyfloat
 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 2
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 5
 * Vegetation:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None

When you begin, you will probably be close to some gas pipes – disable these before going any further. Take note of the pool of water that will probably be near your starting area when you begin – its walls are too high for Pikmin to come out of. If any of your Pikmin fall in, you will have to move to the slope and try to call them back from there. After all the gas pipes around your area are disabled, clear out any Careening Dirigibugs in your starting area with Yellow Pikmin.

After you're done with that, place your Pikmin in a dead-end and go out with one leader. Find a Careening Dirigibug, and try to lure it so that it destroys gas pipes with its bomb-rocks. This will save a trip for your White Pikmin. After the gas pipes are cleared out, use Blue Pikmin to take care of any enemies in water, and then go after the Careening Dirigibugs to clear out this level.

The Maternal Sculpture and the Wiggle Noggin can be anywhere above ground, even in the water (in which you will need Blue Pikmin to reach it). When the treasures aren't in the water, you can maybe get through this sublevel without killing any water enemies. If you're lucky, they might even be right next to the Research Pod. After collecting carcasses and treasures, look for the hole and jump down.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Sublevel 10

 * Theme: Tiles
 * Music: Boss (only when combating)
 * Treasures:
 * (inside Segmented Crawbster)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * None
 * Vegetation:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None

The battle with the Segmented Crawbster will be a difficult one, so it is best to take only Red Pikmin (and maybe Purple Pikmin also, if they are flowered). This is also a great place to use your ultra-spicy sprays, as the Crawbster will be much, much easier to defeat with them. Use the in-depth strategy linked above for defeating the boss, and then take back the Silencer. Use the eggs that might have fallen from above during the battle to give your Pikmin flowers if you need to, look for the geyser, and escape. Oddly, this sublevel actually becomes darker if the player has the Solar System.


 * For details on how objects are spawned, and how some may fail to spawn, see here.

Trivia

 * This cave allows the player to see an otherwise unused game limitation: there can be no more than 64 carriable objects on a single area at any one time. If there need to be more, some of the existing carriable objects get deleted. The number of carriable objects can be increased by having leaders lie down and getting some Mitites from eggs.