Throw: Difference between revisions

{{game help|p3|Add things that can't be done while holding, and special throws.}}

Pikmin are thrown upwards at an arc, leaving sparkling particles through their trajectory. The cursor estimates the landing location of a thrown Pikmin, but if there is a wall or object in the way, the Pikmin might bump into it and fall short. This is only true in the first two games, as ''Pikmin 3'' and ''Pikmin 4''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s cursors take into account walls and obstacles, and the line connecting it to the leader changes to a preview arc. One of the traits [[Yellow Pikmin]] possess is the ability to be thrown higher than other types. This allows them to reach ledges otherwise unreachable. The throw arc of [[Purple Pikmin]] is slightly different from the rest: they are thrown faster than the others, so that the apex of their jump is located somewhere above the cursor. When the cursor is reached, the Pikmin loses its horizontal momentum and drops down with a great impact. Besides homing in on [[Enemy|enemies]], when landing, they cause high damage and can also cause the creatures to bounce up, making them unable to move for less than a second, or stun them altogether for a few seconds. [[Rock Pikmin]] have a much lower throwing arc than other Pikmin types, and will bounce off the ground and roll forward when they land, meaning they won't land exactly where the reticle is. [[Winged Pikmin]] can be thrown, though they will not land on the ground like the other Pikmin types do. If a Winged Pikmin is thrown near an enemy, the Pikmin will fly towards the enemy and attempt to latch on.

The next Pikmin type to be thrown will be shown on the [[HUD#Standby Pikmin|HUD]]. This reflects the type of the Pikmin closest to the leader in the [[GameCube]] games and their [[Wii]] rereleases, but the group can be reordered in some games. From ''Pikmin 3'' onward, the next type to be thrown only changes when altered by the player.

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==Holding==

[[File:ThrowingDataFile.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[data file]] explaining throwing.]]

While holding, it is also possible to swap the currently held Pikmin/leader for one of a different type in the party, or even maturity, depending on the games, as outlined [[#Controls|above]].

*In the original ''Pikmin'' (but not the ''[[New Play Control! Pikmin|New Play Control!]]'' or the [[Pikmin 1 (Nintendo Switch)|Nintendo Switch versions]]), thrown [[Yellow Pikmin]] carrying [[bomb-rock]]s will become "ready". When [[whistle]]d, they will drop and activate the bomb-rock. In addition, if thrown next to a [[gate]] or enemy, the Pikmin will in turn throw the bomb at the target.

*The following enemies behave differently when a Pikmin is thrown directly at them:

**[[Honeywisp]]: makes it drop its [[nectar]] (in the first game) or [[egg]] (in the second and fourth games) instantly and fly away.

**[[Iridescent Flint Beetle]], [[Iridescent Glint Beetle]] and [[Doodlebug]]: makes it flip in the air and drop some spoils.

**[[Shearwig]]: if airborne, the creature dies right away in the first two games. in ''Pikmin 3'' and ''Pikmin 4'', it instead reduces them to ⅓ health and knocks them to the ground.

**[[Unmarked Spectralids]], [[Red Spectralids]], [[White Spectralids]], and [[Yellow Spectralids]]: the creature instantly dies. Interestingly, Unmarked Spectralids die in one hit even though they have the same amount of health as a Dwarf Bulborb.

*When a [[Blue Pikmin]] is thrown at the [[Goolix]]'s larger core, while the creature is stretched, the two cores will slam against one another, and all Pikmin attacking the smaller core will scatter around.

*In {{p3}}, Rock Pikmin thrown at [[crystal]]s deal more damage to them than just running into or charging at them. This is no longer the case in {{p3d}}, where Rock Pikmin attacking or charging crystals deals the same amount of damage as being thrown at them.

*In ''Pikmin 3'', any kind of Pikmin thrown at a [[Grub-dog family|grub-dog]]'s eyes will cause it to recoil and spit out any Pikmin it may have started to eat.

==Tricks==

===Longer throw trick===

In the ''New Play Control!'' versions, this trick is not necessary, nor does it work: the leader's momentum is not carried over, otherwise the player would not be able to accurately throw Pikmin all around while moving, which is one of the new control scheme's biggest advantages. In these games, the throw distance limit has been raised, compared to the GameCube games, which allows for naturally longer throws that can permit the same exploits as those in the original games.

Interestingly, there are a few ways to throw [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] even higher or further, in {{npcp1}} and {{npcp2}}. It depends on the type and the way the Pikmin is thrown. The following tricks do not have any known uses at the moment, however. Also, they do not work in ''Pikmin'' nor ''Pikmin 2'', only the Wii ports.

== Oddities ==

Interestingly, [[maturity|flower]] Pikmin twirl after they reach the apex of a throw arc in {{p1}} and {{p2}}, and this results in them falling slower. It also results in the Pikmin losing some horizontal momentum, and ending up closer to the leader compared to a leaf or bud. [[Purple Pikmin]], regardless of maturity, do a pound instead and no twirl.

==Technical information==

*In ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'', Pikmin in mid-throw retain their position and velocity when a cutscene is triggered. In ''Pikmin 3'' however, cutscenes often involve a leader speaking in a paused world; these cutscenes behave differently than most, and when gameplay resumes, thrown Pikmin still retain their position but not their forward velocity. They fall to the ground idle, which can put the player at a disadvantage if they were combating an enemy before the cutscene started.

==References==