Horned Cannon Beetle

The Horned Cannon Beetle is a boss in Pikmin 4. It appears very similar to the Armored Cannon Beetle, but with a less metallic and more segmented shell, along with longer mandibles. The blowhole is also larger and higher up on the shell, pointing at an angle instead of being front facing. It's overall more detailed, but as these details are shared with the Arctic Cannon Beetle, these differences are likely due to graphical improvements. When breeding with the mature Armored Cannon Beetle, the larva will be highly aggressive and territorial. This behavior could explain either the wandering larva in Pikmin 2, or the larva that constantly shoot boulders in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4.

Relation to other lithopods
It is unclear whether the Horned Cannon Beetle is a new lithopod, or supposed to be the lithopod encountered in, having been misidentified in said game. Evidence supporting it being renamed includes the exact same behavior, being featured in promotional material alongside returning enemies, Olimar mentioning that it was once mistaken for an Armored Cannon Beetle (possibly referring to Pikmin where it was referred to as an Armored Cannon Beetle) and being a migrant lithopod just like the Armored Cannon Beetle is stated to be in the first game. It also shares its Japanese name with the Armored Cannon Beetle, and Olimar's notes in the Japanese version of Pikmin 4 appear to incorporate the Armored Cannon Beetle's notes from Pikmin ' s enemy reel. The only evidence for it being a new creature includes differences in design beyond graphical improvements, and the unclear nature of Olimar's statement.

Judging by the Japanese version, it seems that the Armored Cannon Beetle in Pikmin is indeed the same as the Horned Cannon Beetle in Pikmin 4. The new name seems to be an attempt to better distinguish it from the Armored Cannon Larva, as the larva was never meant to belong to the same species as the Pikmin enemy, with the Armored Cannon Beetle's name being repurposed as referring to the Armored Cannon Larva's species outside of its larval stage. It is unknown why the species introduced first was renamed, especially considering the lithopod is said to have a stronger carapace than its relatives.

Behavior
It behaves almost identically to the Armored Cannon Beetle, the only differences being longer charge time, larger boulders, and the fact that it doesn't idly shake. Before engaging it will wander within a set area, scanning its surroundings. Upon noticing a threat, it will lock onto it, and after a moment, start inhaling. After it inhales, it will spit out a massive boulder, which will crush Pikmin, including Rock Pikmin when fighting it in Hero's Hideaway, due to the hard surface. If a Pikmin is thrown into the horn while it's inhaling, the Beetle will choke, opening it's shell to vent heat through the holes in its fleshy back. This provides an opportunity to attack. Once defeated, the beetle will fall over forwards, its shell slightly exposed.

Locations
A Horned Cannon Beetle can be found on the coffee table in the Hero's Hideaway area, the same table where Olimar fights a Porquillion in the prologue and his Shipwreck Tale. It holds a Divine Balloon. Another one is present on the third sublevel of the Subterranean Swarm cave in the Primordial Thicket. This one drops the Creativity Conduit.

In Olimar's Shipwreck Tale, a Horned Cannon Beetle guards the Meandering Slope landing site in the Sun-Speckled Terrace.

Strategy
The Horned Cannon Beetle is a deceptively simple and easy fight. Once the player begins to engage it, wait for the Beetle to inhale through its top blow hole. Once it does, you have a rather generous amount of time to throw a single Pikmin into it to clog it. Once stops, the beetle's rear shell opens up, exposing its abdomen for attack. Rush the back of the creature with Oatchi and a large squad of Pikmin, or if he is not available simply throw them on. Once it shuts its shell, whistle your Pikmin back and repeat the process until the boss is defeated. Using a squad that has Rock Pikmin and/or Purple Pikmin is recommended.