Mushroom Pikmin

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A Mushroom Pikmin.

Because this subject has no official name, the name "Mushroom Pikmin" is conjectural.

Mushroom Pikmin are Pikmin that are under the control of a Puffstool. These odd Pikmin, as with the Puffstool, are only seen in Pikmin 1. The spores of the Puffstool cause affected Pikmin to morph into a strange form. Their eyes become pupiless and dead-looking, their skin turns a dark shade of purple, they make a strange noise, and an orange-brown mushroom cap grows over their leaf/bud/flower. Mushroom Pikmin each have the same stats as they did before they were turned, including attack power and resistance to hazards. They follow Captain Olimar and attack him until he shakes them off or loses all of his health. If Captain Olimar is not being attacked, he can usually find them dancing around the Puffstool. These Pikmin will also attack normal Pikmin and vice-versa, but as they can both be killed, this attacking will simply decrease Olimar's overall Pikmin population. Mushroom Pikmin will turn back into their normal forms after a while. If any Pikmin are in this state at day end, they will die like any other Pikmin species.

Glitch

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A single white Mushroom Pikmin attacks a Puffstool

An interesting glitch has been known to occur if Pikmin are knocked to the ground at the same time they are hit with the Puffstool's spores. Upon standing up, the Pikmin will change into Mushroom Pikmin, but their skin will become the pale color they were before they became mushroom pikmin and their mushroom will glow, as if they are idle. These Pikmin will turn upon the Puffstool, attacking it as if they were still under the player's control. Rebel Mushroom Pikmin cannot be called back or controlled by Olimar, and unaffected Pikmin will still attack them, but can be returned to normal either by knocking them down or by defeating the Puffstool. Use this to Olimar's advantage, but beware, as it is possible that they will turn from The glitched mushroom Pikmin to regular mushroom Pikmin.

It is possible to get the glitched Mushroom Pikmin under the command of Olimar, but it requires a different technique and is much more difficult to accomplish. If Pikmin are left idle by the Puffstool and called at the exact moment the creature inverts its cap (just before it blows its spores), the Pikmin may become Mushroom Pikmin and rush to Olimar's side immediately after. Timing must be perfect or you may not get all of the Pikmin to follow you. Rebels under the player's command cannot be thrown or dismissed, but they can be directed with the (C) stick to fight enemies, carry food, and even pluck grass. However, they will become normal as soon as the task is completed and cannot be called back while working. Just as with the above glitch, normal Pikmin will attack rebels as if they were still under control of the Puffstool, they should be kept away from each other if possible.

Trivia

These Pikmin were made into stickers, buttons, and plastic figures attached to lanyards and suction cups to promote the sale of Pikmin 1.