Decorated Cannon Beetle: Difference between revisions

'''Decorated Cannon Beetles''' are enemies in ''[[Pikmin 2]]''. They have an appearance similar to [[Armored Cannon Beetle Larva]]e, but are red instead of green, and have orange eyes. Also, this particular species is never found buried in the ground like Armored Cannon Beetle Larvae. They, too, spit out stones, but their rocks home in on the currently active [[Leader|captain]] due to the magnetic field which envelops the boulders. However, the stones have odd characteristics. First of all, when they are found in [[cave]]s which are made of metal (which is rusty, indicating it contains iron), the spacesuits are the only thing the boulders home in on. The rocks are also surprisingly frail, in that one can be destroyed by throwing a [[Purple Pikmin]].

Much like the [[Armored Cannon Beetle Larva]], Decorated Cannon Beetles will wander aimlessly in a small area while left alone. Unlike their green counterparts, they will never be found buried in the ground. When approached, the larva will spit a large rock that crushes Pikmin, killing them instantly. These boulders move slowly compared to those shot by the Armored Cannon Beetle Larva, but they home in on nearby Captains. The rocks can be destroyed if they are lead into a wall, another enemy, and the impact of a purple Pikmin is even enough to break one. If the rock collides with another creature, it will deal a large amount of damage to them, enough to kill most small enemies. Certain creatures, however, are protected from the damage, such as [[Anode Beetle]]s.

When attacked, the Decorated Cannon Beetle has only one defense: a bucking motion that will send all attacking Pikmin flying out in front of it, briefly incapacitating them and possibly deflowering them, and knock any nearby Captain to the ground. This is very similar to defensive attack of the [[Fiery Blowhog|Fiery]] and [[Watery Blowhog]]s

The best way to defeat a Beetle is to use its own boulders against itself: since the rocks follow the captain, they can be manipulated into hitting the same Beetle that shot them. However, it is impossible to get a rock out of most lower water-filled areas. As a note, the rocks it shoots cannot be [[ultra-bitter spray|petrified]], but they will not hurt the leader if he [[Lie down|lies down]]. The boulders also act quite well against other enemies as well, killing small ones instantly and larger ones in one or two hits. Damage is determined by the speed of the stone and where the enemy is hit: hitting an enemy in the head will do more damage. If there is not enough room to do this, you should resort to using purple Pikmin to stun and quickly defeat the creature. Take a small group with you to avoid large amounts of death from the boulders. If the creature does get a chance to spit a rock, guide your Pikmin such that they are always on the opposite side of the captain that the boulder is approaching from, and lure it towards a nearby wall.