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Arachnode

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Revision as of 20:48, January 14, 2015 by GoldenTriforce (talk | contribs) (Minor grammar edit)
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Arachnode Icon used to represent the enemy on the wiki.
An Arachnode on its web.
Appears in Pikmin 3
Scientific name Unknown
Family Unknown
Areas Twilight River, Formidable Oak
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages Twilight Hollow Remix
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages Twilight River Remix, Beastly Caverns
Side Story days None
Bingo Battle stages None
Attacks Eats Pikmin

The Arachnode is a spider-like enemy in Pikmin 3, and the first arachnid-based enemy in the Pikmin series with an interactable web. While dormant on its web, it resembles a cocoon, with a black and yellow striped and sphere-shaped body. This shape and coloring comes from the eight legs wrapped tightly around its body; the actual body is a small black orb with yellow circles instead of stripes. Once a Pikmin or leader gets caught in the web, it uncurls its legs after a while, and wanders up to its prey, consuming them quickly once it has reached them. It may also wander around the web freely in order to avoid Pikmin that are being thrown at it. The web will collapse once the Arachnode is defeated.

Pikmin caught in the web can be saved by whistling at them. This is important, especially with a small squad, as Pikmin shaken off by the Arachnode will usually get stuck in the web. Winged Pikmin carrying objects will get stuck in webs that are along their route, making webs the primary obstacle for these types of Pikmin.

Its behavior and anatomy differ from both the Arachnorb and Dweevil family: they both have noticeably longer and thinner legs than the Arachnode, and neither eat Pikmin when fought. The game gives no information as to the relations of the different families.

Notes

Pikmin 3 website

"An eight-legged creature that traps its prey in a sticky web."

Pikmin 3 Prima Guide

"The Arachnode is only able to attack Pikmin that become tangled in its web. When you first encounter a web, look for the attached Arachnode. To defeat the enemy quickly, throw a few Rock Pikmin directly at an Arachnode. You can also use a squad of Winged Pikmin to overwhelm an Arachnode with a single charge attack.

Because the Arachnode's web is fairly tall, the creature often moves out of your standard throwing range. Use Yellow Pikmin or Winged Pikmin to attack an Arachnode when it retreats to the top of its web. If any of your Pikmin become ensnared in the web, use the whistle to rescue them. When you defeat an Arachnode, its web unravels."

Behavior

The Arachnode sits still when nothing is near, but when a Captain or a Pikmin is thrown into its web, it will take on its spider-like form and attack its ensnared prey. It eats Pikmin by clamping down on them with its wide mouth, and it eats pretty quickly, so it can be difficult to save them in time. When all Pikmin are removed from the web, the Arachnode will take a moment and then go back into its resting state. It does not return to a specific point on the web to rest, so it can be put in a more vulnerable position for a second attack. When an Arachnode is defeated, it will fall to the ground and its web will collapse.

If unsupervised Winged Pikmin carry an item right into an Arachnode's web, them will get stuck, whatever goods they had will fall to the ground, and the creature will proceed to eat them. Fortunately, Arachnodes pose no threat to any other types of Pikmin when left unattended.

Strategy

The following article or section contains guides.
The strategies shown are just suggestions.

Rock Pikmin will kill an Arachnode in just three hits. Though it is not grounded, the Arachnode does not count as an airborne enemy, and Winged Pikmin deal little damage, so using them is only recommended if no Rock Pikmin are present and the Winged group is rather large. The Arachnorb can eat Pikmin from either side of the web, yet can only be attacked from the side it is on with non-Rock Pikmin; Rock Pikmin can attack it from both sides.

Besides using Winged Pikmin, the primary way to defeat an Arachnode is to throw any other kind of Pikmin at it. If it is too high up for regular Pikmin to be tossed, Yellow Pikmin may be used due to their higher throw arc. Otherwise, you should throw another Pikmin or Captain at the web first, preferably near the bottom. After detecting prey in the web, the creature will try to eat the immobilized Pikmin or leader. At this time, the enemy should be standing still and close enough for you to safely throw Pikmin at it.

Gallery

Trivia

  • This is the first true arachnid in the Pikmin series, having a full set of eight legs, unlike members of the Arachnorb or Dweevil family.