Man-at-Legs

The Man-at-legs is a member of the Arachnorb family, and first appeared as a boss in Pikmin 2 and reappears in Pikmin 4. It's one of two bio-mechanical creatures featured in the game, having a mostly mechanical torso sheathed in metal with four spindly legs – three of them are black, organic and spider-like, while the other one is mechanical; this makes attacking its feet impossible. Several exhaust pipes on its body continually emit smoke. Unlike other Arachnorbs, it has no flat footpads to stomp Pikmin with, instead relying on its long-ranged attacks and speed, quickly skittering around the room to avoid being attacked. When agitated, it stops in place, the panels of its underbelly separate and a machine gun-like weapon extends out, tracking any nearby targets via a laser sight before rapidly firing a barrage of explosive rounds at whatever it manages to lock-on to. After firing a few dozen shots, with minimal breaks in-between, it sheathes its weapon before continuing to move about. While moving, it will occasionally stand still to rest, roaring like its relatives.

Its interior appears to be filaments of biological matter that stretch to allow its gun to fold out. The creature is not without its flaws, though: it lets off steam with a loud hiss before it attacks, signaling the player's retreat, and there is a visible red laser it uses to target the Pikmin, making it obvious where it's going to shoot. However, the blasts come very quickly, so the laser is not of much use when avoiding the enemy.

The Man-at-Legs is not in control of its attacks, as stated by Olimar's notes. In typical Arachnorb manner, it leaves no body behind upon dying. However, instead of slowly disintegrating like its two relatives, it freezes and releases lots of steam while shaking a bit, before exploding violently.

This boss is usually found in arenas that have raised ground that can be used as shields against the blasts. As a side note, it cannot be petrified while it is dormant.

Strategy

 * 1) When the creature has fully risen from the ground and starts aiming, the player should run for cover behind an object. Once it starts walking around, it should be chased. It is most easily attacked when it stands still and lowers its head. When it shakes the Pikmin attacking it off in a fury, the player should hide again, and repeat the cycle.
 * 2) A large mob of Purple Pikmin thrown at this enemy while it lies dormant in the ground should drop its health to a substantial fraction. Once it has risen fully, the first or third strategy should be used.
 * 3) The creature is attacked until it has stood up all the way, and at that point it is petrified. As soon as the spray wears off, it should be petrified again. However, occasionally the Man-at-Legs will exit the stun and start shooting immediately, without the aiming laser.
 * 4) Before the creature opens fire, the player can dismiss their Pikmin away from the Man-at-Legs and run in tight circles around its legs. As long as Olimar is closer to the creature than the Pikmin, he will be shot at, and with skill, unharmed. This strategy is easier to perform after obtaining the Rush Boots.

Unfortunately, the player faces the Man-at-Legs in a watery area two out of three times, leaving the aforementioned strategy of Purple Pikmin useless. In such circumstances, it is best to attempt the "Hit and Run" technique of number one. The second strategy does not work in New Play Control! Pikmin 2, as the creature is invincible while it is rising from the ground. The fourth method is effective, but hard to perform at times.

In Pikmin 4, its arenas usually have some mixture of vases and dirt walls that can be used for cover against its attacks. They will break after taking too many hits, requiring the player to move from one piece of cover to another to minimize the likelihood of being shot at; this is especially important when its health is low, as it will fire up to three barrages in a row before pausing and may stagger the timing between barrages to trick the player. It is advised to ride Oatchi while fighting the Man-at-Legs, since the Pikmin riding on his back cannot be shot at unless Oatchi himself is hit.

Trivia

 * The overall appearance of the Man-at-Legs is likely based on the from the novel . Both have a robotic and arachnid nature, as well as disproportionately thin legs. The way both creatures awaken is also by slowly lifting their spherical heads to reveal the legs attached to them.
 * The Man-at-Legs also shares numerous similarities with the OG-9 homing spider droid, being quadrupedal spider-like walkers with abdominal laser cannons. Both were released relatively close to each other, the Spider Droid preceding the Man-at-Legs by 2 years in.
 * Like the Raging Long Legs, the Man-at-Legs uses Beady Long Legs's roar at a different pitch. There are no adjustments to make it sound more mechanical.
 * Spider web patterns are seen on the floor of its battle arenas, similar to the shadows of webs in the Beady Long Legs and Raging Long Legs arenas and the web that the Groovy Long Legs hangs from.
 * Holes in its metal plating reveal "skin" with a texture similar to that of the Beady Long Legs.
 * An unused cave reveals that two Man-at-Legs were to be fought in the same sublevel.
 * It is unknown how Louie knows how to cook this beast, as it explodes upon death.
 * This is the only member of the arachnorb family that is not stated to be inedible or otherwise nearly unpalatable and unpleasant to consume according to Louie's notes on it, since he calls the oil a "mouthwatering gravy" and never mentions any unfortunate side effects of consuming the oil.
 * This member of the arachnorb family is very different from its other relatives; it is the only one that doesn't crush Pikmin nor fall from the sky (instead it comes out of ground) and it is also the smallest known member.
 * When its health reaches the halfway point, its mechanical legs' joints will start smoking.