| File:Emperorbulblax.jpg | |
| Emperor Bulblax | |
|---|---|
| Areas | The Final Trial |
| Underground Areas | Bulblax Kingdom, Cavern of Chaos, Hole of Heroes, |
| Attacks | Eats/squashes Pikmin, causes panic |
| Size | 130 mm |
| Scientific Name | Oculus supremus |
| Family | Grub-dog |
The Emperor Bulblax is the final boss in the first Pikmin game. He lies dormant in his arena at The Final Trial until approached, at which he will wake up and start attacking. He resembles a flabby Bulborb with small red eyes and an incredibly mossy shell, which is the only visible part of him when he sleeps, and also invulnerable to attacks. As Olimar's notes state, moss can only grow on it in the rainy season, and other plants can also grow on the hide (which means that it is the rainy season in Pikmin). His attacks include licking the ground with his tongue (with the intent of eating any Pikmin that happen to be there), licking his face (to get rid of attacking Pikmin), and jumping high into the air to crush and shake off Pikmin. His attacks are different depending on his "mood". This mood is initially characterized by salivation: he will attack by using his tongue. After taking damage, this phase will end, and Bulblax will use his jump attack. As defeating him when he is doing this is very difficult, you should pay attention to his mood. If you evade several of his jumps, he will go back to his eating mood.
The best strategy to beating him is to have Yellow Pikmin grab any nearby bomb-rocks, and let him eat them. He will be stunned by the explosion (the more bomb-rocks, the longer the stun), providing a good time to toss as many Pikmin as possible onto his face. Doing this repeatedly will have him beaten easily. Alternatively, you can throw yellows with bomb-rocks in front of him and call them to you as soon as the Bulblax prepares his attack; the yellows will leave the bombs and these will explode as soon as the Bulblax touches them with his tongue. This method is harder, but the effects are the same and without Pikmin loss, which is helpful for zero-death runs.
In Pikmin 2, these beasts are much weaker, most likely due to their diminished size. They are found only underground unlike in the first game, with only their eyes exposed as a form of camouflage, but emerge in the same manner. They still eat bomb-rocks, but must do so on their own instead, seeing as Yellow Pikmin no longer have the ability to handle those explosive objects. The Emperor Bulblaxes retain all of their other abilities except that their jump height is greatly reduced and they cannot lick their own faces. The hide is not very mossy, but the backside of the beast is still green and slimy, as well as invulnerable. This could mean that the Pikmin 2 versions may just be younger than the one in Pikmin 1.
The best way to beat it is to make it eat bomb-rocks if possible, or use a special strategy. When it is down to half of its health, it will roar, which has three effects: it causes your Pikmin to panic, summons another Bulblax to the fight if there is one in the area, and makes Mitites burrow out of the ground. Take your Purple Pikmin and, in front of the Bulblax, throw them onto it rapidly and without hesitation. This deals massive damage along with the possibility of stunning it, and makes it possible to kill it even before it can retaliate! Another way to look at this strategy is in two "stages". In "stage 1", the Emporer Bulblax will get out of the ground. When he does this, take any Purple Pikmin you have and pound it with them. If you don't kill it in "stage 1" it will enter "stage 2", when it will use all its attacks.
This creature is found on Sublevel 7 of the Bulblax Kingdom, where the only larger specimen is; two are found on Sublevel 4 of the Cavern of Chaos and Sublevel 10 of the Hole of Heroes; and three are in the Emperor's Realm in Challenge Mode.
Olimar's Notes
The largest member of the grub-dog family is normally found buried in the ground, with only the stalks of its eyes exposed. This camouflage allows the predator to surprise smaller creatures and use its long, adhesive tongue to capture prey. The thick hide and angular hump give the organism a distinct rocklike quality. During the rainy season, moss grows freely on its hump, making it nearly impossible to distinguish this lethal predator from a stone.
Louie's Notes
To prep the tongue for cooking, marinate in olive oil and chop into cubes. Stir in a pot with carrots, potatoes, and chives, cover, and simmer over low heat for several hours. Accompany this mouthwatering, rustic stew with a hearty roll.