Editing Cave

{{game icons|p2=y|p4=y}}
{{game help|p4}}
[[File:Into the hole.jpg|thumb|200px|Some Pikmin jumping in a cave.]]
'''Caves''' ({{j|洞窟|Dōkutsu|Cave}}) are underground locations in {{p2}} and {{p4}}. Exploring them is important since they contain [[treasure]]s, [[castaway]]s, [[Flarlic]], and wild [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] inside. Each cave consists of a series of cramped [[#Sublevel|sublevels]] that limit the player's possibilities, with the gameplay and ambiance inside reflecting that fact:
* There are usually only one or two possible paths the player can follow to explore a given sublevel.
* Since there is no access to [[Onion]]s, it is impossible to retrieve more Pikmin, and getting new Pikmin can only be done with [[Candypop Bud]]s, [[Bulbmin]], or wild Pikmin.
* The current [[day]] cannot be ended until the cave is exited.
* The [[music]] in caves is significantly more minimal than the music in outside [[area]]s, and in ''Pikmin 2'' is partially randomly generated following specific parameters, like the terrain.

Caves in both games are composed differently, with sublevels in ''Pikmin 2'' being [[Pikmin 2 cave generation|generated randomly]] each time, but following a specific layout scheme, while sublevels in ''Pikmin 4'' are fixed and focus more on puzzle-solving. The two games also have other minute differences in the way caves work.

Caves are entered through [[#Hole|holes]] in the areas. Similarly, somewhere in the cave is a way to [[#Exiting caves|exit it]], allowing the player to safely return to the surface with all of their collected objects.

In ''Pikmin 2'', stages in [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin 2)|Challenge Mode]] and [[2-Player Battle]] also take place in caves, but this article focuses on the caves in [[Story Mode]], which includes [[Dandori Challenge]] and [[Dandori Battle]] stages. The other {{pg}} do not have caves per se, but have underground locations regardless. {{p1}} has [[The Forest Navel]], {{p3}} has underground sections within its main areas, and {{hp}} has some cave-themed levels.

== List of caves ==
=== ''Pikmin 2'' ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
![[Area]]
!Caves
!Sublevels
![[Treasure]]s
![[Hazard]]s
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[File:01 Site Valley of Repose.png|150px]]<br>'''[[Valley of Repose]]'''
|[[File:EmergenceCave2.png|100px]]<br>[[Emergence Cave]]
|2
|3
|None
|-
|[[File:Subterranean Complex sublevel 6.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Subterranean Complex]]
|9
|16
|{{fire}} {{electricity}} {{poison}} {{explosion}}
|-
|[[File:FrontierCavern5.png|100px]]<br>[[Frontier Cavern]]
|8
|15
|{{fire}} {{water}} {{electricity}} {{poison}} {{explosion}}
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[File:02 Site Awakening Wood.png|150px]]<br>'''[[Awakening Wood]]'''
|[[File:Hole of Beasts sublevel 4.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Hole of Beasts]]
|5
|6
|{{fire}}
|-
|[[File:White Flower Garden sublevel 3.jpg|100px]]<br>[[White Flower Garden]]
|5
|7
|{{fire}} {{poison}}
|-
|[[File:Bulblax Kingdom sublevel 6.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Bulblax Kingdom]]
|7
|10
|{{fire}} {{water}} {{electricity}} {{explosion}}
|-
|[[File:Snagret Hole sublevel 6.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Snagret Hole]]
|7
|15
|{{water}} {{electricity}} {{poison}}
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[File:03 Site Perplexing Pool.png|150px]]<br>'''[[Perplexing Pool]]'''
|[[File:P2 Citadel of Spiders Sublevel 2.png|100px]]<br>[[Citadel of Spiders]]
|5
|11
|{{fire}} {{electricity}}
|-
|[[File:Glutton's Kitchen.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Glutton's Kitchen]]
|6
|14
|{{electricity}}
|-
|[[File:Shower Room sublevel 3.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Shower Room]]
|7
|14
|{{fire}} {{water}} {{electricity}} {{poison}} {{explosion}}
|-
|[[File:Submerged Castle sublevel 4.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Submerged Castle]]
|5
|13
|{{fire}} {{water}} {{electricity}} {{poison}} {{explosion}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[File:04 Site Wistful Wild.png|150px]]<br>'''[[Wistful Wild]]'''
|[[File:Cavern of Chaos sublevel 1.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Cavern of Chaos]]
|10
|17
|{{fire}} {{water}} {{electricity}} {{poison}} {{explosion}}
|-
|[[File:Hole of Heroes sublevel 9.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Hole of Heroes]]
|15
|13
|{{fire}} {{water}} {{electricity}} {{poison}} {{explosion}}
|-
|[[File:Dream Den 11.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Dream Den]]
|14
|21
|{{fire}} {{water}} {{electricity}} {{poison}} {{explosion}}
|}

=== ''Pikmin 4'' ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
![[Area]]
!Caves
!Sublevels
![[Rescues]]
![[Treasure]]s
![[Onion]]s
!Suggested [[Pikmin]]
!Wild Pikmin
|-
|[[File:P4 Rescue Command Post.jpg|150px]]<br>'''[[Rescue Command Post]]'''
|[[File:ShepherdRescue.png|100px]]<br>[[Burrow of Beginnings]]
|1
|1
|0
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[File:Pikmin 4 area screenshot.jpg|150px]]<br>'''[[Sun-Speckled Terrace]]'''
|[[File:Pikmin 4 Last-Frost Cavern.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Last-Frost Cavern]]
|1
|1
|2
|1
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|-
|[[File:Pikmin 4 Crackling Cauldron.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Crackling Cauldron]]
|2
|1
|6
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:Pikmin 4 Aquiferous Summit.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Aquiferous Summit]]
|2
|1
|4
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:Pikmin 4 Industrial Maze.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Industrial Maze]]
|2
|1
|5
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:Pikmin 4 Hectic Hollows.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Hectic Hollows]]
|2
|1
|3
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[File:P4 Playground Area Scene.jpg|150px]]<br>'''[[Blossoming Arcadia]]'''
|[[File:Pikmin 4 Last-Frost Cavern.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Last-Frost Cavern]]
|4
|1
|10
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|-
|[[File:P4 Secluded Courtyard 3 South.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Secluded Courtyard]]
|4
|2
|10
|1
|{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|-
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Olimar 47.png|100px]]<br>[[Sightless Passage]]
|1
|1
|4
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|-
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Olimar 48.png|100px]]<br>[[Kingdom of Beasts]]
|6
|2
|16
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[File:Pikmin 4 desert prerelease.jpg|150px]]<br>'''[[Serene Shores]]'''
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Olimar 49.png|100px]]<br>[[Seafloor Resort]]
|4
|2
|23
|1
|{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Olimar 50.png|100px]]<br>[[Subzero Sauna]]
|3
|2
|5
|0
|{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Olimar 51.png|100px]]<br>[[Below-Grade Discotheque]]
|5
|1
|11
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Winged Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|-
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Olimar 52.png|100px]]<br>[[Engulfed Castle]]
|5
|2
|17
|0
|{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Purple Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[File:P4 House Area.png|150px]]<br>'''[[Hero's Hideaway]]'''
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Olimar 53.png|100px]]<br>[[Doppelgänger's Den]]
|4
|1
|16
|0
|{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|White Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Olimar 54.png|100px]]<br>[[Frozen Inferno]]
|4
|1
|12
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:Plunder Palace Sublevel 1.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Plunder Palace]]
|5
|2
|29
|1
|{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Purple Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[File:P4 Giant's Hearth.jpg|150px]]<br>'''[[Giant's Hearth]]'''
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Louie 12.png|100px]]<br>[[Ultimate Testing Range]]
|5
|2
|12
|0
|{{icon|Winged Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|White Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Louie 13.png|100px]]<br>[[Dream Home]]
|1
|1
|14
|1
|{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Winged Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Purple Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Louie 14.png|100px]]<br>[[Cradle of the Beast]]
|3
|1
|12
|0
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Purple Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[File:P4 Primordial Thicket Introduction 3.jpg|150px]]<br>'''[[Primordial Thicket]]'''
|[[File:P4 Voyage Log Louie 15.png|100px]]<br>[[The Mud Pit]]
|3
|1
|11
|1
|{{icon|Winged Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:Subterranean Swarm Sublevel 2.png|100px]]<br>[[Subterranean Swarm]]
|5
|2
|13
|0
|{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Winged Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|-
|[[File:Cavern for a King.png|100px]]<br>[[Cavern for a King]]
|20
|1
|48
|0
|{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|Purple Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}{{icon|White Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|None
|}

==== Dandori Caves ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
![[Dandori Challenge]]
!Available [[Pikmin]]
!colspan="4"|Requirements
![[Dandori]] level
!Time limit
![[Music in Pikmin 4|Music]]
|-
|[[File:Dandori Day Care overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Dandori Day Care]]
|40{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|90[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|100[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|120[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|140[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|1
|5:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 1|Dandori Challenge 1]]''
|-
|[[File:Hotshock Canyon 1.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Hotshock Canyon]]
|20{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}20{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|100[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|130[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|140[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|160[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|2
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 2|Dandori Challenge 2]]''
|-
|[[File:Rockaway Cellars Overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Rockaway Cellars]]
|25{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}25{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|160[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|190[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|220[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|240[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|2
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 2|Dandori Challenge 2]]''
|-
|[[File:Test Tubs overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Test Tubs]]
|35{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}25{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|110[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|130[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|150[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|170[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|3
|6:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 2|Dandori Challenge 2]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Ice-Cross Course.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Ice-Cross Course]]
|10{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}3[[File:Candypop Bud P4 ice icon.png|35px|link=Candypop Bud]]
|100[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|120[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|150[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|170[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|3
|6:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 1|Dandori Challenge 1]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Hefty Haulway.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Hefty Haulway]]
|10{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}5{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}2[[File:Candypop Bud P4 purple icon.png|35px|link=Candypop Bud]]
|200[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|250[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|300[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|350[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|3
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 1|Dandori Challenge 1]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Strategic Freezeway.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Strategic Freezeway]]
|10{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}5{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|130[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|140[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|160[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|170[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|4
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 2|Dandori Challenge 2]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Aerial Incinerator.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Aerial Incinerator]]
|60{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}6[[File:Candypop Bud P4 winged icon.png|35px|link=Candypop Bud]]
|220[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|250[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|280[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|310[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|4
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 2|Dandori Challenge 2]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Planning Pools.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Planning Pools]]
|5{{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|160[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|190[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|210[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|230[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|4
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 2|Dandori Challenge 2]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Toggle Training.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Toggle Training]]
|20{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}20{{icon|White Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}2[[File:Candypop Bud P4 white icon.png|35px|link=Candypop Bud]]
|170[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|190[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|220[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|240[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|4
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 2|Dandori Challenge 2]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Cliff-Hanger's Hold.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Cliff-Hanger's Hold]]
|5{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}10{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|180[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|210[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|240[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|260[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|5
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 2|Dandori Challenge 2]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Oasis of Order.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Oasis of Order]]
|10{{icon|Winged Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}20{{icon|White Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}1[[File:Candypop Bud P4 purple icon.png|35px|link=Candypop Bud]]
|160[[File:Dandori bronze P4 icon.png|35px]]
|190[[File:Dandori silver P4 icon.png|35px]]
|220[[File:Dandori gold P4 icon.png|35px]]
|250[[File:Dandori platinum P4 icon.png|35px]]
|5
|6:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Challenge 1|Dandori Challenge 1]]''
|-
|[[File:Sage Leaf fullbody.png|100px]]<br>[[Trial of the Sage Leaf]]
|Various
|colspan="4"|Based on different time limits
|Various
|Various
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Trial of the Sage Leaf|Trial of the Sage Leaf]]''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
![[Dandori Battle]]
!Default [[Pikmin]]
!Opponent
![[Dandori]] level
!Time limit
![[Music in Pikmin 4|Music]]
|-
|[[File:P4 Trial Run Overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Trial Run]]
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|rowspan="4"|[[File:P4 ID Badge Leafling HH Battle.png|50px|link=Captain Olimar]]
|1
|4:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Battle 1 (toys)|Dandori Battle 1 (toys)]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Battle in a Box Overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Battle in a Box]]
|{{icon|Ice Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|2
|5:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Battle 1 (toys)|Dandori Battle 1 (toys)]]''
|-
|[[File:P4 Dandori Castle Overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Dandori Castle]]
|{{icon|Yellow Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|3
|5:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Battle 2 (sand)|Dandori Battle 2 (sand)]]''
|-
|[[File:Leafy Showdown Overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Leafy Showdown]]
|{{icon|Rock Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|4
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Leafy Showdown|Leafy Showdown]]'' (in Story Mode)<br>''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Battle 2 (sand)|Dandori Battle 2 (sand)]]'' (in Dandori Battle mode)
|-
|[[File:Hot Sandy Duel Overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Hot Sandy Duel]]
|{{icon|Red Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|rowspan="2"|[[File:P4 ID Badge Louie.png|50px|link=Louie]]
|5
|5:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Battle 2 (sand)|Dandori Battle 2 (sand)]]''
|-
|[[File:Final Battle Overview.jpg|100px]]<br>[[Final Battle]]
|{{icon|Winged Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}
|5
|7:00
|''[[Music in Pikmin 4#Dandori Battle 1 (toys)|Dandori Battle 1 (toys)]]''
|}

== Sublevel ==
Each cave is divided into a number of sublevels. Each sublevel consists of a small isolated location, and will usually have at least one [[treasure]] or [[castaway]] and a few enemies. The player can only play on one sublevel at a time, and there can't be any Pikmin activity outside the current sublevel or cave. The shortest cave in ''Pikmin 2'' &ndash; [[Emergence Cave]] &ndash; has two sublevels and the longest &ndash; [[Hole of Heroes]] &ndash; has fifteen.

When a cave is entered, the player will land in its first sublevel, and will be able to proceed through that cave's sublevels in order through the use of [[#Hole|holes]]. Some sublevels have [[#Exiting caves|a way to exit]] safely while keeping all collected objects.

Every time a sublevel is entered the game is [[Saved game|saved]], so if the player turns the game off and then back on again, they will start in the same sublevel. In the case of ''Pikmin 2'', the sublevel will be generated randomly again.

Sublevels in ''Pikmin 2'' can generally be categorized into 3 types, those being:

* '''Normal levels''' usually have a few harmful enemies, and sometimes don't have any treasure.
* '''[[Rest sublevel|Rest levels]]''' either lack enemies or only have harmless enemies (exceptions being [[Doodlebug]]s and [[Bulbmin]]). Rest levels have Pikmin-supporting items, such as [[nectar]], [[ultra-bitter spray]], [[ultra-spicy spray]], or [[Candypop Bud]]s. These levels usually lack treasures, and feature [[Music in Pikmin 2#Rest|special ambient music]]. Most rest levels also have a [[geyser]] available, so the player can return to the surface if they have a low number of Pikmin.
* '''Boss levels''' contain one or more large [[boss]]es, are usually the final level of a cave. The only cave without a boss level is the [[Emergence Cave]], and the one with the most is the [[Hole of Heroes]]. When the boss is defeated, it often drops an [[upgrade]] for the [[leader]]s' space suits or ship.

''Pikmin 4'' has a greater emphasis on puzzles and exploration, with all sublevels having fixed layouts, compared to ''Pikmin 2''{{'s}} random generation on most of its sublevels. Some sections of some layouts are references to or outright reworkings of [[cave unit]]s originally from ''Pikmin 2'', such as <code>room_hitode4x4_3_metal</code> and <code>room_dan4x4i_3_conc</code>.

=== Final floor ===
[[File:Finallevel.png|thumb|The cutscene that plays when a final level is reached in the European [[region]] of the [[New Play Control! Pikmin 2|''New Play Control!'' version]]. In all other versions of the game, the text says "FINAL FLOOR!" instead.]]
Since at the final sublevel of a cave there is nowhere else to go, all final floors contain a [[geyser]] or air vent for the player to [[#Exiting caves|return to the surface]] and end their cave mission.

Typically, final sublevels have something grand to them. In ''Pikmin 2'', the final floor of all caves except the [[Emergence Cave]] is a boss level, and in ''Pikmin 4'', most caves have a [[castaway]] to rescue at the final sublevel.

In ''Pikmin 2'', the deepest sublevel of every cave receives special attention by the game and is known as the '''final floor''', or the '''final level''' in the European [[region]] of the [[New Play Control! Pikmin 2|''New Play Control!'' version]]. As the player drops into it, the game announces this by playing a distinct jingle, along with displaying the words "FINAL FLOOR!" or "FINAL LEVEL!" in large, yellow letters, before the player regains control. Additionally, on the [[HUD]], the word "SUBLEVEL" in the top-right corner is replaced with the words "FINAL FLOOR" or "FINAL LEVEL" in yellow.

In ''Pikmin 4'', there is far less attention drawn, simply displaying "FINAL SUBLEVEL" in place of the number as it fades away. For caves with only 1 sublevel ([[Burrow of Beginnings]], [[Last-Frost Cavern]], [[Dream Home]]), the distinction does not appear at all.

{{clear}}

== Hole ==
[[File:P4 unavailable cave exit.jpg|thumb|The exit of a cave that has not been completed yet in ''Pikmin 4''. Notice how it lacks a lid.]]
To enter a cave, the player must get close to a hole and press the [[throw]] button. To go from one sublevel to the next, the same must be done to a similar hole within the sublevel.

In ''Pikmin 2'', the holes are round, rocky mounds, with a small hole in them. On the cave entrance hole, if the cave has not been [[#Cave completion|completed]], wisps of steam will come out, and the screen will become foggy when the hole is approached. In contrast, if it has been completed, a simple red flag will be placed near the entrance. Inside a cave, the hole to a next sublevel will always contain steam, but will not fog the screen.

In ''Pikmin 4'', the holes are black tubes with colored lids &ndash; cyan for normal caves, gray for [[Dandori Challenge]]s, and orange for [[Dandori Battle]]s. They are actually Japanese {{w|curb box}}es, which are plastic tubes that house valves. After completing that cave, a flag appears in the color of the player's spacesuit with the [[Rescue Corps]] logo. When completing [[Burrow of Beginnings]] for the first time, [[Collin]] can be seen placing one such flag down in a cutscene. In addition, some caves have multiple holes, where the player will enter in one side and exit on the other such as the [[Aquiferous Summit]] and the [[Engulfed Castle]]. Entering the "exit" side of the cave from the surface will slightly change the layout to allow the sublevels to be cleared in reverse order, with an air vent that takes the player back to the "entrance" hole on the first sublevel. Exiting a cave from the [[pause menu]] will take the player back to the hole they entered from.

{{clear}}

== Mechanics ==
=== Passage of time ===
In ''Pikmin 2'', the time of [[day]] does not pass while the player is in a cave. According to earlier versions of the game, this is because the space-time continuum was warped due to the cave's geomagnetic radiation field.{{cite web|quote=A geomagnetic radiation field underground must have warped the space-time continuum. / Even my record of the terrain has been erased.|http://tcrf.net/Proto:Pikmin_2/Cutscene_Text#Return_to_the_Surface|Proto:Pikmin 2/Cutscene Text|The Cutting Room Floor}} The final version's instruction manual simplifies this and simply calls it "a powerful magnetic field".{{cite quote|Because of a powerful magnetic field deep under the surface, time does not pass underground.|Explanation|page 25 of the manual}}{{cite quote|The powerful magnetic field between the surface and underground can have peculiar, unexpected results. You can't rely merely on your memory, as familiar areas can often appear foreign.|Explanation|page 26 of the manual}}

In ''Pikmin 4'', time does pass while underground, but only at a sixth of its normal speed. If the overworld time reaches the [[sunset]] countdown while the player is exploring a cave, nothing will happen and the player will be free to continue inside the cave for as long as they want, but as soon as they leave the cave the sunset countdown will begin. Caves also cannot be entered during the sunset countdown.

=== Object spawning ===
Some objects respawn between visits to the same cave, including [[enemies]]. The rules are as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" | Object
! colspan="2" | Respawns
|-
! {{p2}}
! {{p4}}
|-
| [[Treasure]]s
| Never
| Never
|-
| [[Enemies]]
| Always
| If cave is 100% complete
|-
| [[Obstacles]]
| Always
| Never
|}

[[Treasures]] will not reappear once collected, unless the way the player [[#Exiting caves|exits the cave]] puts them back. Some Candypop Buds that have a [[Candypop family#Maximum Pikmin requirement|maximum Pikmin requirement]] will also not show up.

In ''Pikmin 4'', wild Pikmin, enemy corpses, treasures, and so on will remain in the same state the player left the cave in for a few days, position included, until the cave is completed, at which point the standard rules for respawning everything from scratch described above apply.

=== Entering caves ===
Once the player chooses to enter a cave from a [[#Hole|hole]], a confirmation menu appears with some information about the cave. In ''Pikmin 2'', it shows the kinds of [[hazard]]s inside, and in ''Pikmin 4'', the first page lets the player pick a sublevel to land on from previously visited sublevels, and the second page shows the [[Onion menu]] so the player can pick which Pikmin join them inside.

If the player accepts, the current leader, the other leader or [[Oatchi]], and the [[squad]] of [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] will all jump inside in a brief [[cutscene]]. For [[Dandori Challenge]] and [[Dandori Battle]] caves, the Pikmin will refuse to go inside, however. The other leader or Oatchi will join in regardless of distance, and in ''Pikmin 4'', the player's character and Oatchi will also join in even if they are knocked out, despite the entering cutscene not showing it.

When entering a cave, any Pikmin that do not go in will be safely returned to their [[Onion]]s. In ''Pikmin 2'', Pikmin in an idle leader's group will not be a part of the Pikmin that go in, even if the idle leader enters.

Any leader and Oatchi will regain full [[health]] when entering a cave. In ''Pikmin 2'', it is impossible to explore a cave without Pikmin, and while it is possible in ''Pikmin 4'', the game shows a confirmation dialog stating that it's hard to explore without any.

=== Entering sublevels ===
To go to the next sublevel in the cave, the player must find a hole similar to the one used to get in the cave in the first place.

Unlike entering a cave, leaders and Oatchi will not regain any [[health]] when a deeper sublevel is entered. In ''Pikmin 4'', certain sublevels will force Oatchi to fall in a spot far away from the rest of the crew, which usually results in the player having to solve some problem in the sublevel to reunite everyone.

=== Exiting sublevels ===
When the player chooses to exit the current sublevel, all non-[[sprout]] Pikmin, all conscious leaders, and Oatchi will automatically join the group and jump together, regardless of distance.

As explained [[#Pikmin management|below]], when a sublevel is exited, if there are any unplucked sprouts, the game will notify the player about this and ask them if they wish to continue. The same happens if there are any uncollected [[Onion]]s, [[Flarlic]], or [[castaway]]s.

=== Exiting caves ===
Like when entering a cave, the process of exiting a cave in any way restores the [[health]] of any leader or Oatchi, unless otherwise specified.

==== Safe exit ====
The standard way of exiting a cave is by finding a [[geyser]] in ''Pikmin 2'' or an air vent in ''Pikmin 4''. Either one will shoot leaders, Oatchi, and Pikmin back up to the surface. In ''Pikmin 2'', the player is returned to the landing site while in ''Pikmin 4'' they come out from a hole &ndash; usually the hole they went in from, but some caves have a different hole from which they are exited.

==== Failure ====
If the player is no longer able to explore due to a serious problem, the expedition will be cancelled, collected treasures will be lost in the process, and then any leaders or Oatchi will be brought to the overworld, a process which leaves the Pikmin behind if any were alive. In ''Pikmin 4'', the game gives the player the option to [[rewind]] time instead of letting this happen. A cave's exploration can be cancelled for the following reasons:
* In ''Pikmin 2'', both leaders lose all their [[health]]. This also results in the day ending immediately afterwards.
* In ''Pikmin 2'', the player loses all Pikmin.
* In ''Pikmin 4'', the player's character and Oatchi lose all their health.

Losing all Pikmin (or all Pikmin of a single type) in ''Pikmin 4'' simply results in a cutscene, a reminder to rewind time, and the possibility of continuing exploration regardless.

==== Manual abortion ====
In either game, a cave expedition can also be aborted manually in a controlled manner by using the [[pause menu]]. This will result in the leaders, Oatchi, and the Pikmin to hop inside the [[research pod]] or the [[S.S. Beagle]] and fly out. Doing this in ''Pikmin 2'' will result in the treasures being left behind, but not in ''Pikmin 4''.

=== Pikmin management ===
In ''Pikmin 2'', the [[Pikmin limit]] is respected even inside caves, while in ''Pikmin 4'' the player can have as many Pikmin as they want inside the cave, and even from more than 3 types, though the Pikmin they can bring in from the surface must still respect those two limits. Also in ''Pikmin 4'', if the cave is exited with surplus Pikmin, any extras will simply be brought to the Onion when the player chooses what Pikmin types to take with them once they land.

If any Pikmin happen to be currently [[sprout|buried]], attempting to leave a sublevel will prompt the game to warn you about abandoning the sprouts, showing a confirmation dialogue. What happens when a sprout is left behind a sprout works differently in the two games: While sprouts left behind are permanently lost in both games, they are only considered to be actual deaths in ''Pikmin 2''; in ''Pikmin 4'', they will not be considered as casualties in the [[Tablet#Status Report|Status Report]] screen.

=== Completion ===
A cave is considered "complete" if all major treasures within it have been collected. A cave that has achieved completed status will stop emitting mist, and a flag will be placed next to it. This is a small red flag with no symbol in ''Pikmin 2'', and a larger flag with the [[Rescue Corps]] symbol and colour in ''Pikmin 4''. A flag icon will also appear on the symbol used to mark the cave on the [[radar]].

In ''Pikmin 4'', [[obstacle]]s will be permanently destroyed, and [[raw material]] piles will be permanently collected. However, these are not considered for cave completion.

=== Cave generation ===
{{see|Pikmin 2 cave generation|t1=''Pikmin 2'' cave generation}}

== Oddities ==
{{todo|Move these to [[glitches in Pikmin 2]] and link to them.}}

=== Cave entrance leader mixup ===
When entering the first sublevel of a cave in ''Pikmin 2'', the game may or may not switch the player's active leader. This does not happen when the player goes from one sublevel to the next, making it mysterious as to why the leader changes seemingly randomly when going to the first sublevel.

In reality, this happens because of a simple glitch. In order to decide what leader to turn active whenever a sublevel is entered (be it the first or not), the game reads a variable in memory. This variable is also saved onto the [[Saved game|save game data]] and loaded from it. It is set whenever the player goes from one sublevel to the next, which explains why, when the next sublevel is loaded, the game selects the correct leader. However, this variable never gets set when the cave itself is entered. This means that when the first sublevel is finished loading, the game reads the variable, and uses an outdated value, last updated when a sublevel hole was entered. This glitch was not fixed for the ''New Play Control!'' or Nintendo Switch rerelease.

It can also be noted that [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin 2)|Challenge Mode]] uses a different behavior, without a glitch, and that the default value of the variable is 0, meaning that at the start of the game, before the player goes from one sublevel to the next, the game will make Olimar the active leader when entering a cave.

=== Hole entrance grunt mixup ===
When entering a cave or sublevel hole in ''Pikmin 2'', each leader grunts as he jumps. However, the first leader to jump will always make Olimar's sound effect, and the one behind will always make Louie's, regardless of the existing leaders and their order. The only exception is if the second leader is fallen, at which point only the first leader will grunt, still with Olimar's voice.

== Glitches ==
=== ''Pikmin 2'' ===
{{game help|p2|Confirm the glitch where the Pikmin don't jump down and remain idle. If confirmed, add it to the glitches page.}}
* [[Glitches in Pikmin 2#Cave hole glitch|Cave hole glitch]]: It is possible for a leader to end up inside the cave hole's geometry, if he's placed on the hole's spawning point before it spawns.
* [[Glitches in Pikmin 2#Cave death count glitch|Cave death count glitch]]: If a Pikmin is suffering from a hazard and the player chooses to go to the next sublevel, the Pikmin will still have the suffering animation when jumping down the hole. If they made that last cry, they will nevertheless be alive on the next sublevel, but the total Pikmin lost count will increase.
* [[Glitches in Pikmin 2#Fake Pikmin extinction|Fake Pikmin extinction]]: By entering a cave and [[dismiss]]ing at the same time, the game will let the player enter the cave with no Pikmin. It then instantly announces a Pikmin extinction.
* There is a glitch that can happen when proceeding to the next sublevel. In the animation where everybody jumps into the hole, some Pikmin may appear [[idle]] and won't jump in. Thankfully, these Pikmin that don't jump in will appear on the next sublevel.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
P2 Cave Entrance Artwork.png|Artwork of a cave entrance.
Emergence Cave Location.png|A completed cave.
Cave.png|The hole used to go down to the next sublevel in ''Pikmin 2''. These look the same as entrances to caves above ground.
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
[[File:Cave hole edge glitch.png|thumb|If the hole to the next sublevel spawns right next to the edge, leaders and Pikmin can climb it and fall off.]]
* Leaving a cave will always make the game switch to Captain Olimar, regardless of whatever leader the player had active before leaving.
* In an earlier version of ''Pikmin 2'', the player could leave caves with half of the collected treasure if they leave through the [[pause menu]]. However, all Pikmin would be lost in doing so.{{cite web|quote=Escape without your Pikmin? (Retain 1/2 of treasure found.)|https://tcrf.net/Pikmin_2/Early_English_Script#Pause_Menu|Pikmin 2/Early English Script|The Cutting Room Floor}}
* The [[Music in Pikmin 2#Enter cave|fanfare]] that plays when jumping into the first sublevel of a cave is played again on organ during the [[Music in Pikmin 2#Enter new sublevel|fanfare]] that plays when a deeper sublevel is entered.
* On the [[Subterranean Complex]]'s third sublevel, and possibly similar levels too, it is possible for the sublevel's hole to spawn on the zigzagging path instead of dead end or somewhere in the open. Since this place is so tight, it spawns a bit on the edge, and makes it possible for leaders or Pikmin to climb up the hole's mound and fall off the stage.{{cite youtube|cDQP8AxcwsE|of a hole close to the edge|m=56|s=42}}
* All story mode caves in ''Pikmin 2'', besides the caves in the [[Wistful Wild]], have some hint of some part of their contents as background scenery nearby. Examples of this would be the concrete block near the [[Citadel of Spiders]] (hinting towards the concrete theme), the ceramic tiling near the [[Frontier Cavern]] (hinting towards the brick wall designs) and the [[Shower Room]] being enclosed in a tiled tub (hinting towards the tile theme used in said cave).
* In "dirt"-styled sublevels, it is possible to see [[dig|buried]] treasure through the floor, in some angles.{{cite web|https://www.reddit.com/r/Pikmin/comments/nitcv2/tfw_you_realize_you_can_see_buried_treasure/|Post|reddit|published={{date|22|May|2021}}|retrieved={{date|3|May|2022}}}}

== Names in other languages ==
{{Foreignname
|Jap=洞窟
|JapR=Dōkutsu
|JapM=Cave
|Fra=Grotte
|FraM=Cave
|Ger=Höhle
|GerM=Cave
|Ita=Caverna (''Pikmin 2'')<br>Cava (''Pikmin 4'')
|ItaM=Cave
|ItaI=Cava
|Spa=Cueva
|SpaM=Cave
}}
{|
|- style="vertical-align:top"
|'''Sublevel'''
{{Foreignname
|Jap=地下
|JapR=Chika
|JapM=Underground
|Fra=Sous-niveau
|FraM=Sublevel
|Ger=Sublevel
|GerM=-
|Ita=Livello
|ItaM=Level
|Spa=Nivel/Sub Nivel
|SpaM=Level/Sub Level
}}

|'''Final floor'''
{{Foreignname
|Jap=最終階
|JapR=Saishū-kai
|JapM=Last Floor
|Fra=Dernier Niveau
|FraM=Last Level
|Ger=Letzter Level
|GerM=Last Level
|Ita=Livello Finale
|ItaM=Final Level
|SpaA=Último Nivel
|SpaAM=Last Level
|SpaE=Nivel Final<br>Último Nivel (GameCube version's "Final floor" warning)
|SpaEM=Final Level<br>Last Level
}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[Area]]
* [[The Forest Navel]]
* [[Challenge Mode (Pikmin 2)|Challenge Mode (''Pikmin 2'')]]
* [[Dandori Challenge]]
* [[Dandori Battle]]

== References ==
{{refs}}

{{p2 caves}}
{{p4 caves}}
[[Category:Caves| ]]