Frontier Cavern

The Frontier Cavern is a cave in the Valley of Repose in, and is the furthest away from the landing site. It is of above-average difficulty, featuring most major types of grub-dogs and lithopods. The cave features a distinct "festive" theme, with Christmas-themed treasures, sublevels with snow hallways that have red brick walls (as if the player were inside a chimney), and unique music featuring idiophone instruments for two sublevels. The cave's boss is the Empress Bulblax, which is slightly different than the one in Hole of Beasts in that it gives birth to Bulborb Larva every few seconds. In this cave, there are worth of treasures.

How to reach
Like the Subterranean Complex, it is impossible to reach the cave before getting Blue Pikmin. Use Blue Pikmin to remove the clog in the first pond and build a bridge over the second. Once this is done, Pikmin of all types can be brought across. Traveling in a straight line from the bridge will lead to the snowman with the Unspeakable Wonder on its head. Nearby is a slanted bridge that can be built to reach the cave. Defeating the Decorated Cannon Beetles, the various Blowhogs and the Cloaking Burrow-Nit is recommended, but not strictly necessary.

The cave features all hazards, so a Pikmin squad featuring all types of Pikmin is recommended. The Worthless Statue and the Priceless Statue have a high chance of spawning in water, so bringing at least ten Blue Pikmin, or leaving enough room in your squad to obtain the cave's Bulbmin, is highly recommended. Many treasures are buried, so White Pikmin are a must.

Sublevel 1



 * Theme: Snow
 * Music: Frontier Cavern
 * Treasures:
 * (fully buried)
 * (fully buried)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 3
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 6
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 4
 * Vegetation:
 * (large brown) &times; 0 or 24
 * (small brown) &times; 0 or 24
 * (large) &times; 1 or 12
 * &times; 1 (if max Pikmin requirement is met)
 * Others:
 * None

This sublevel has many Snow Bulborbs and a couple of Hairy Bulborbs. Before engaging the Hairy Bulborbs, take out any Snow Bulborbs near it first. Explore the sublevel and have your White Pikmin unearth any buried treasures.

There is a Violet Candypop Bud if you have less than 20 total Purple Pikmin. When wandering about the area, you may encounter Doodlebugs. After they have emerged from their cover, they may skitter into a Figwort or a Shoot. If this happens you can wait until they move and release flatulence to locate them. This is a good time to stock up on ultra-bitter sprays.


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

Sublevel 2

 * Theme: Snow
 * Music: Frontier Cavern
 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 6
 * Obstacles:
 * None
 * Vegetation:
 * (large brown) &times; 2
 * (small brown) &times; 8
 * Others:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None

You are likely to fall where there is a large stump. Shelter all of your Pikmin behind it to protect them. Venture out into the sublevel without any Pikmin and use the Decorated Cannon Beetles to clear out any enemies. Then use one of the rocky projectiles to kill the other Decorated Cannon Beetle. Then have the rock-hurling creature kill itself by having the boulder home in on itself. Afterwards, take your Pikmin and collect the Christmas-themed treasures.


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

Sublevel 3

 * Theme: Snow
 * Music: Emergence Cave 2
 * Treasures:
 * (inside Spotty Bulbear)
 * (fully buried)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 6
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 2 (from eggs)
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 4
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 2
 * Vegetation:
 * (small brown) &times; 6
 * &times; 1
 * Others:
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 2

When landing on this sublevel, be warned that two wandering enemies will be patrolling the area, so it is advised you act quickly. Gather all of your Pikmin and scout the level, deactivating any electrical wires and defeating Dwarf Bulbears. If you can, locate the Bulbmin and kill it before the Spotty Bulbear as it will make things easier. Defeat these enemies using whatever killing strategy you want, just make sure you bring the Bulbear's corpse back if it did not disintegrate. Explore the area once all the hazards are cleared and collect and unearth any treasures.


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

Sublevel 4

 * Theme: Snow
 * Music: Concrete 3
 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 8
 * &times; 3
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 3 (from eggs)
 * &times; 2
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 2
 * Vegetation:
 * (large brown) &times; 2
 * (small brown) &times; 8
 * &times; 1
 * Others:
 * &times; 3
 * Others:
 * &times; 3

Gather all your Yellow Pikmin and kill all the Anode Beetles, but watch out for the Swooping Snitchbugs and Bumbling Snitchbug. After all the Anode Beetles are defeated, take out the Swooping Snitchbugs and the Bumbling Snitchbug and proceed to collect the treasures. When you attempt to collect a treasure in an alcove, however, another Bumbling Snitchbug will drop from the ceiling. Kill it then continue collecting the treasure. There is a Violet Candypop Bud here to harvest more Purple Pikmin, but note that there is a chance that it will not spawn at all, as detailed here and here.


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

Sublevel 5

 * Theme: Soil
 * Music: Relax
 * Treasures:
 * (inside Mamuta)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 2
 * &times; 4
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 1 (from eggs)
 * (group of 9) &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * None
 * Vegetation:
 * &times; 8
 * (large red) &times; 3
 * (small red) &times; 12
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 4
 * (large) &times; 1
 * (small) &times; 1
 * &times; 1
 * Others:
 * &times; 1

A rest sublevel, but unique as it is one of only 3 rest sublevels in the game to contain a treasure. There are some Mamutas here, so you can take any leaf or bud Pikmin you have to the Mamuta, and let it pound all of them into the ground, so they become flower Pikmin. Now kill the Mamutas until one of them drops the Brute Knuckles. Also kill the Hydro Dweevil before you collect the treasure as the four-legged nuisance will attempt to carry the Brute Knuckles on its back.

The Brute Knuckles allows you to use the Rocket Fist when collected. There are some Lapis Lazuli Candypop Buds and a Violet Candypop Bud here if you are low on Blue Pikmin and Purple Pikmin, or you can use the Violet Candypop Bud to harvest 5 more Purple Pikmin. Killing the Unmarked Spectralids will cause them to drop nectar to power up your leaf Pikmin and occasionally sprays.


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

Sublevel 6

 * Theme: Soil
 * Music: Soil 3
 * Treasures:
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 3
 * (group of 10) &times; 0 - 1 (from eggs)
 * &times; 4
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 5
 * Vegetation:
 * &times; 8
 * Others:
 * &times; 1
 * Others:
 * &times; 1

The reason why there was a Lapis Lazuli Candypop Bud on the previous sublevel is this sublevel. Before taking your Blue Pikmin to collect treasure, have the Decorated Cannon Beetles kill the enemies, flame geysers, and each other then collected the two chess pieces with your Blue Pikmin and Bulbmin.

It is possible, although uncommon, for this sublevel to generate a layout with a second circular room with lumber and without the watery room with a ramp, and thus, require no Blue Pikmin to collect the treasures.


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

Sublevel 7

 * Theme: Soil
 * Music: Soil 1
 * Treasures:
 * (fully buried)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 10
 * &times; 1
 * &times; 3
 * Obstacles:
 * &times; 13
 * Vegetation:
 * &times; 8
 * &times; 1
 * Others:
 * None
 * None

This sublevel has boulders falling from the ceiling, so when going from place to place, be cautious. Have a single leader cause the boulders to fall, preferably on the Dwarf Orange Bulborbs and Orange Bulborbs to kill or severely damage them. After they all have fallen, take your Pikmin and kill any stragglers and collect the treasures. Then have your White Pikmin dig up the Flame Tiller and collect it. There is also an Iridescent Glint Beetle on this sublevel that can be used to harness ultra-spicy sprays for the boss.


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

Sublevel 8

 * Theme: Soil
 * Music: Boss (only when combating)
 * Treasures:
 * (inside Empress Bulblax)
 * Enemies:
 * &times; 9 (plus an indefinite amount created by the Empress Bulblax)
 * &times; 1
 * Obstacles:
 * None
 * Vegetation:
 * None
 * Others:
 * None

The final sublevel contains a rematch with the Empress Bulblax, only this time, it produces Bulborb Larvae, which are small and ferocious enemies. Have one leader clear out all or most of the larvae and have the other toss all the Pikmin up on the ledge behind the landing point. Have the leader you sent out call all the Pikmin and fight the huge Grub-dog. The Empress Bulblax also has more health than it did in the Hole of Beasts.

Don't worry about the larva after engaging the boss in combat, as the boss will squish them when it does its rolling attack. After the battle, collect the Repugnant Appendage and kill any remaining Bulborb Larva. The Repugnant Appendage will grant the leaders a massive speed boost and the resistance to a Puffy Blowhog's exhaling attack. Exit the cave with the geyser and continue your treasure hunt.


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