Gatling Groink
| Gatling Groink | |
|---|---|
| |
| Appears in | N/A |
| Scientific name | Megaplod calibersi |
| Family | Unknown |
| Areas | Wistful Wild |
| Attacks | Fires explosive mortars |
Gatling Groink is an enemy in Pikmin 2. It is a large biomechanical creature resembling a rotund goldfish with forward-facing eyes and what appears to be a windshield in between them, two legs, a mechanical tail, and a mouthplate which covers a cannon that fires mortar rounds. Aside from what can be observed, very little is known about this strange creature.
Groinks can usually be seen patrolling caves and are known to actively hunt the player and your Pikmin. A stronger variation of the Groink is found on top of hard-to-reach towers, giving it a wide attack range, which is especially annoying when they are in possession of a treasure and cannot merely be avoided. It attacks by initiating a cannon from its mouth and fires either one large or three small mortars (with very little time between firings). When the shells hit the ground, they explode and scatter any the Pikmin in range and kill those at the absolute center of the blast; very rarely, however, Pikmin caught in the dead-center are not killed.
If used correctly and carefully, the Gatling Groink's cannon can be used to kill other enemies and even airborne enemies. To do this, have the Gatling Groink fire at Olimar while standing near or under an enemy. If ths is done correctly, it should be able to kill most large ground enemies in 3-4 shots. This does not work to kill the Gatling Groink itself.
Fast Gatling Groink
In Challenge Mode's Secret Testing Range, if a Gatling Groink is allowed to regenerate after it dies, it will sometimes come back as a sped up version that walks and shoots 4 times faster than normal.
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How to Kill
The best method to attack it is to throw Pikmin onto its sides and back, as the front has a protective shield. Certainly the most effective strategy is to pummel it with heavy Purple Pikmin, as each one carries a chance of stunning the creature, preventing it from fighting back. Once defeated, this stubborn beast will begin to regenerate, just as the Spotty Bulbear does, making it crucial to carry it to the Onion, or Research Pod if underground. If not, it will revive within about two minutes, and then continue its attack. It is said in Olimar's notes that if its tail were incapacitated, it would be incapable of attacking; in fact, if Pikmin are thrown on the tail, it will be unable to use its mortar, but will attempt to shake them off. However, in the Cavern of Chaos, they are accompanied by many Dwarf Red Bulborbs, in which case using an Ultra Bitter Spray would be wise due to the Bulborbs.