50 Pikmin challenge

A 50-Pikmin run is a playthrough of Pikmin 1 with only 50 Pikmin, the minimum possible number. Like the 9-day run or the zero-death run, it is recommended that you have completed the game at least once before attempting due to its challenging nature.

Reasoning behind the number

The Gluon Drive requires a mimimum of 50 Pikmin to carry. This means that the entire main game is entirely beatable with only 50 Pikmin ever raised. The minimum amount of time this has ever been completed is in 9 days.

9-day Walkthrough

Day 1

Impact Site

• Discover Red Pikmin, raise 25 of them (allow them to flower up)
• Collect Main Engine
• PIKMIN COUNT: 25 reds, 0 yellows, 0 blues

Day 2

Forest of Hope

• Discover Yellow Pikmin, raise 10 of them
• Collect Shock Absorber
• Collect Nova Blaster
• Collect Extraordinary Bolt
• Collect Whimsical Radar
• PIKMIN COUNT: 25 reds, 10 yellows, 0 blues

Day 3

Forest Navel

• Collect Gravity Jumper
• Kill Puffstool and Beady Longlegs
• Kill the Breadbug and collect the Space Float
• Discover Blue Pikmin, raise 15 of them
• Collect Automatic Gear
• Collect Ionum Jet #1
• PIKMIN COUNT: 25 reds, 10 yellows, 15 blues

Day 4

Forest of Hope

• Collect Geiger Counter
• Collect Eternal Fuel Dynamo
• Collect Radiation Canopy
• Collect Saggitarus
• PIKMIN COUNT: 25 reds, 10 yellows, 15 blues

Day 5

Distant Spring

• Kill the 2 Swooping Snitchbugs and the Armored Cannon Beetle
• Collect the UV Lamp
• Using the Lapis Lazuli Candypop Bud, transform 24 reds and 1 yellow into 25 blues
• Collect Chronos Reactor
• Collect Ionum Jet #2
• Collect Repair-Type Bolt
• PIKMIN COUNT: 1 red, 9 yellows, 40 blues

Day 6

Impact Site

• Collect Positron Generator
• PIKMIN COUNT: 1 red, 9 yellows, 40 blues

Day 7

Distant Spring

• Collect Interstellar Radio
• Collect Pilot's Seat
• Collect Bowsprit
• Collect Zirconium Rotor
• Collect Gluon Drive
• PIKMIN COUNT: 1 red, 9 yellows, 40 blues

Day 8

Forest Navel

• With the 40 blue Pikmin, bring the Anti Dioxin Filter out of water
• Using the Golden Candypop Bud, transform 6 blues and 4 yellows into 10 yellows (enough for Libra)
• With the blues, bring the Analog Computer out of water and break the geyser near the Libra
• Using the Crimson Candypop Bud, transform 14 yellows and 33 blues into 47 reds
• Collect Analog Computer
• Collect Libra
• Collect Omega Stabilizer
• Collect Guard Satellite
• Collect Anti Dioxin Filter
• PIKMIN COUNT: 48 reds, 1 yellow, 1 blue

Day 9

Final Trial

• Using the Golden Candypop Bud, transform 2 reds to 2 yellows (for faster bomb rock collection)
• Finish bridges, walls, and box, and defeat the Emperor Bulblax
• Collect the Secret Safe
• PIKMIN COUNT: 46 reds, 3 yellows, 1 blue

(A walkthrough for a 20-day, 50-Pikmin run has also been written)