Editing Boss

The definition of a "boss" seems to change with each game. In {{p1}}, the game seldom makes a distinction between a boss and a regular enemy. In {{p2}}, bosses are given different slots on the [[Piklopedia (Pikmin 2)|Piklopedia]] and a specific [[music]]al theme, with some having unique ones. In {{p3}}, bosses are clearly identified as such by the game itself,{{cite quote|Boss enemies you hurt will maintain their damage! Whittle their health down, and defeat them the next day!|[[Loading]] screen tip|the US [[Region|version]] of {{p3}}}} and are divided between main bosses and '''mini-bosses''', with both having unique musical themes and the former having even having unique [[cutscenes]], as well as needing to be defeated to progress the game's story. {{p4}} again provides little distinction between bosses and enemies other than inconsistent music changes. {{hp}} also has bosses with unique cutscenes and music, and defeating them is necessary to advance to the next [[sector]].

Four other enemies are often considered bosses by fans due to their rare appearances and boss-like level of difficulty.

 

Interestingly, these enemies all leave behind a corpse of some kind, while the “true” bosses drop pellets instead.

In {{p2}}, there are twelve bosses, all of which exclusively use a [[Music in Pikmin 2#Common boss battle|special musical theme]] when fighting against them. Three use their own unique theme, specifically: the [[Titan Dweevil]], the [[Waterwraith]], and the [[Giant Breadbug]]. They also appear in a larger bubble on the [[Piklopedia (Pikmin 2)|Piklopedia]]'s listing. These bosses are usually found in [[cave]]s, with at least one being found on the final floor presented as the final challenge (save for the [[Emergence Cave]]). When first defeated, many reward the player with a piece of [[gear]] for defeating them. Some bosses can be also found in specific spots in the overworld [[area]]s. The following are listed in Piklopedia order, which is roughly the order they are intended to be encountered in:

There are no mini-bosses in this game, though the Burrowing Snagret and Emperor Bulblax have literal ''mini'' variations with lower [[Health|HP]], which appear in places where they aren't fought as final bosses of a cave. The Empress Bulblax also has a lesser variation with lower HP and fewer attacks than the "primary" version. Late in the game, earlier bosses are sometimes rebattled and act as mini-bosses of a cave, such as in the [[Hole of Heroes]]. Additionally, the [[Fiery Bulblax]], which may have originally been [[Piklopedia (Pikmin 2)#Trivia|intended as a boss]], is occasionally considered a mini-boss by fans, as it is a relatively difficult enemy.

While other games may have what can be considered such, ''Pikmin 3'' is the first to distinctly define mini-bosses by using a different music theme – a remastered version of the boss theme from ''Pikmin 2''. Unlike the main bosses, their health will be reset at the start of a new day, and their corpses last only for the day they were defeated on. In [[Story mode]], these do not give out something plot-critical when defeated, and instead drop a [[fruit]]. The following are mini-bosses in ''Pikmin 3'':

In addition, the [[Calcified Crushblat]], [[Peckish Aristocrab]], and [[Medusal Slurker]] are sometimes considered mini-bosses by fans due to their difficulty, rare appearances, and the fact that they protect a fruit or drop one when defeated, but they do not play the mini-boss theme.

Unlike the three games prior, {{p4}}'s definition of a boss is unclear and inconsistent. The best way to define them is by the music cue that commonly accompanies them when they are encountered. However, some enemies use two different themes for different encounters. For instance, a [[Sovereign Bulblax]] uses a major boss cue at the bottom of the [[Subterranean Swarm]] and within the [[Cavern for a King]], but uses a minor boss drumbeat when encountered in the [[Giant's Hearth]].

 

Bosses can also be defined by how much nectar it drops when [[ice|frozen]], documented on the [[Ice#Frozen enemy drops|Ice]] page, or if something's locked behind a [[Numbered gate]], documented on the [[Numbered gate#Locations|Numbered gate]] page.

 

In terms of progression, none of these bosses are specifically required to be defeated other than the [[Ancient Sirehound]] to complete the story. Many of them house [[castaway]]s, either inside of them or behind numbered gates, requiring the boss to be defeated to rescue them. Boss battles being part of progression (seen in ''Pikmin 3'') is instead replaced with [[Dandori Battle]]s against [[Olimar]] and [[Louie]], all of which are required to complete the game's story.

Because of all this, the bottom classification is mostly conjecture and not finalized.

=== Major bosses in ''Pikmin 4'' ===

Bosses in ''Pikmin 4'' can be defined by the dramatic sting that begins and ends their unique battle themes, similar in tone to the boss themes of ''Pikmin 2'' and ''Pikmin 3''. This also includes enemies that have completely unique battle themes that do not include any element of the sting, specifically the [[Giant Breadbug]] and [[Ancient Sirehound]].

=== Minor bosses in ''Pikmin 4'' ===

These are bosses that are typically fought above ground or at the bottom of short caves. They are typically accompanied by a drumline cadence.

=== Tough enemy encounters in ''Pikmin 4'' ===

Sometimes, a tougher enemy acts as a boss in easier caves or a mini-boss partway through of a cave. They typically use a slower battle theme in these instances. These are not particularly bosses on the same level as the ones above, and are more situational encounters.

=== Numbered gate battles ===

Since the concept of a boss in ''Pikmin 4'' seems to be more defined by the setting rather than the enemy fought, it is helpful to instead look at all the scenarios that the game presents as a "boss battle" using characteristics seen in previous games. As stated above, this has typically been based on how the music changes, the type of rewards dropped, if there's a large arena for the fight, or if it is the final sublevel of the cave.

Notably, [[numbered gate]]s are a type of blockade exclusive to caves, introduced in ''Pikmin 4'', which display a number of enemies that must be defeated in order to open. Outside of [[Dandori Challenge]]s and the [[Trial of the Sage Leaf]], this feature consistently appears to be associated with encounters with a single tough enemy, as the number is most frequently "01". When the number is higher, it is usually multiple enemies not truly considered bosses but still pose a boss-like level of difficulty given the conditions. Most often, the boss will drop a [[castaway]] and the gate will open to allow access to a treasure or vice-versa. This tends to make the battle a requirement for progress similar to boss battles in ''Pikmin 3'', while other encounters with the same boss can be less difficult or skipped altogether.

The following is a list of these numbered gate battles that debatably can be considered bosses along with their rewards.

|[[Kingdom of Beasts]]||6||[[Emperor Bulblax]] × 2||Drops castaway, opens numbered gate to [[Ancient Statue Head]]

|[[Plunder Palace]]||5||[[Giant Breadbug]] × 2||One carries castaway and drops [[Disk of Angry Wisdom]] × 3, defeating both opens numbered gate to cave exit.

|[[Cavern for a King]]||3||[[Burrowing Snagret]] × 3||One drops [[Talisman of Life (Phoenix)]], defeating all opens numbered gate to next sublevel.

|[[Cavern for a King]]||5||[[Emperor Bulblax]] × 3||One drops [[Tremendous Sniffer]], defeating all opens numbered gate to next sublevel.

|[[Cavern for a King]]||11||[[Bloomcap Bloyster]] × 3||Drops [[Neon Goo]] and may drop [[Disk of Amusing Wisdom]] and [[Disk of Sorrowful Wisdom]] if it had eaten them. Defeating all opens numbered gate to next sublevel.

|[[Cavern for a King]]||16||[[Waterwraith]] × 2||One drops [[Connection Detector]], defeating both opens numbered gate to next sublevel.

|[[Cavern for a King]]||17||[[Empress Bulblax]] (with [[Bulborb Larva]])||Drops [[Fire-Breathing Feast]], opens numbered gate to next sublevel.

In [[Olimar's Shipwreck Tale]], all large enemy encounters use the same one theme – another rendition of the boss theme from ''Pikmin 2''. Because of this, we can easily define what is a boss and what isn't in this side mode.