Editing Cavern for a King

|suggested = {{icon|Blue Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}} {{icon|Purple Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}} {{icon|White Pikmin|v=P4 HUD}}

The '''Cavern for a King''' is a [[cave]] in the [[Primordial Thicket]] in {{p4}}. It is considered the game's final cave, due to it having a staggering twenty sublevels (the most of any cave in the series) as well as containing the game's final [[boss]]. It also features encounters with previous bosses, such as the [[Gildemander]] and features new encounters as well, such as the [[Toxstool]] (who is exclusive to the cave). This cave has {{sparklium|p4|2,935}} worth of treasure.

 

The final sublevel contains [[Louie]] riding atop the [[Ancient Sirehound]]. As there is no exit on visits prior to defeating the boss, defeating the boss and rescuing Louie will immediately have the player leave the cave. After which, the player will be given the option to finish the current day in the Primordial Thicket or end the day. Doing either will start the game's ending cutscene.

Before the cave can be accessed at all, the player must win [[Final Battle]], rescue [[Nelle]] and return to the Primordial Thicket on a later [[day]].

The cave is guarded by [[Bogswallow]]s and has [[mud]] areas where [[Oatchi]] and the player's Pikmin can drown, which would be detrimental for their army. There is a barely-visible walkable pathway through the mud, or 30 [[Ice Pikmin]] or an [[ice blast]] can be used to freeze the entire pool along with the Bogswallows inside.

{{transcript|Finally tamed that huge dog thing. I’m gonna lie down now for a while in its den. It’s really {{color|deep|darkorange}}, and there are {{color|plenty|darkorange}} of snacks. The others will give up and go home.|block=y}}

{{clear}}

** {{icon|Sticky Jewel|v=P4|y}} (inside Toxstool)

** {{icon|Toxstool|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Sticky mold|v=P4|y}} (3 poison spotcaps) × 2

** None

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 white|y}} (White) × 2

** None

 

** {{icon|Mechanical Harp (Lullabies)|v=P4|y}}

** {{icon|Uniquely You Goo|v=P4|y}} (inside Jumbo Bulborb)

** {{icon|Bulborb|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Jumbo Bulborb|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowered by defeating 1 Jumbo Bulborb, 1 Bulborb, and 4 Dwarf Bulborbs)

** None

** None

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4}} × 2

 

 

** {{icon|Talisman of Life (Phoenix)|v=P4|y}} (inside one of the Burrowing Snagrets)

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after defeating 3 Burrowing Snagrets)

** None

** None

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4}} × 2

 

** {{icon|Orbital Communication Sphere|v=P4|y}} × 3 (inside Arctic Cannon Beetle)

** {{icon|Arctic Cannon Beetle|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 1 Arctic Cannon Beetle is defeated)

** {{icon|Clipboard|v=P4|y}} × 1 (weight of 20)

** {{icon|Sticky mold|v=P4|y}} (5 poison spotcaps) × 1

** {{icon|Geyser|v=P4|y}} × 1 (plugged)

** None

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4}} × 2

** {{icon|Tremendous Sniffer|v=P4|y}} (inside one of the Emperor Bulblaxes)

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after defeating 3 Emperor Bulblaxes)

** None

** None

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4 large}} × 1

** {{icon|Planetary Rubber Cutie|v=P4|y}} (on floating platform)

** {{icon|Hydro jelly|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Fan|v=P4|y}} × 2

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 ice|y|n=Candypop Bud}} (Ice) × 2

** None

 

** {{icon|S.S. Peppermint|v=P4|y}} (inside Blizzarding Blowhog)

** {{icon|S.S. Berry|v=P4|y}} (inside Titan Blowhog)

** {{icon|Titan Blowhog|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Blizzarding Blowhog|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 1 Titan Blowhog and 1 Blizzarding Blowhog are defeated)

** {{icon|Bouncy Mushroom|v=P4|y}} × 2

** None

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4}} × 2

 

 

** {{icon|Dapper Blob|v=P4|y}} (inside Crusted Rumpup)

** {{icon|Crusted Rumpup|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after defeating 1 Crusted Rumpup)

** None

** None

** None

 

 

** {{icon|Heroic Sword|v=P4|y}} × 2 (inside Man-at-Legs)

** {{icon|Bright Sword|v=P4|y}} × 2 (inside Man-at-Legs)

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 1 Man-at-Legs is defeated)

** {{icon|Breakable pot|v=P4|y}} × 9 (2 groups of 3 pots, 1 group of 2 pots, 1 group of 1 pot)

** None

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 blue|y|n=Candypop Bud}} (Blue) × 2

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4 large}} × 1

 

 

** {{icon|Wayward Moon|v=P4|y}} (inside Smoky Progg)

** {{icon|Smoky Progg|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 1 Smoky Progg is defeated)

** None

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4 large}} × 1

 

{{clear}}

[[File:P4 Map Cavern for a King 11.png|thumb|300px|Map of sublevel 11.]]

** {{icon|Neon Goo|v=P4|y}}

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 3 Bloomcap Bloysters are defeated)

** {{icon|Fishing rope|v=P4|y}} × 1 (weight of 7)

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 blue|y|n =Candypop Bud}} (Blue) × 1

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4 large}}

[[Louie]] appears once again on this sublevel, only to run off. It's a good idea to lure the [[Bloomcap Bloyster]]s out of any water in the cave, so you can deal with them with a whole squad. If you still have [[Ice Pikmin]], use them to freeze the water so the Bloysters crawl over it, making them easier to kill. The Bloysters can eat the treasures they come across in this sublevel, so be sure to you grab the treasure they may spit out.

 

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 purple|y|n=Candypop Bud}} (Purple) × 2

A rest sublevel reminiscent of [[Shower Room#Sublevel 4|the 4th sublevel of the Shower Room]] from {{p2}}. There is a [[cave exit]] to escape to the surface here, if the player is running low on Pikmin. If you don’t have many [[Purple Pikmin]], try using the [[Candypop Bud]]s to produce more, for you will need them for the final boss.

[[File:P4 Map Cavern for a King 13.png|thumb|300px|Map of sublevel 13.]]

** {{icon|Mysterious Carriage|v=P4|y}} (inside Gildemander)

** {{icon|Gildemander|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Sticky mold|v=P4|y}} (6 poison spotcaps) × 2

** {{icon|Poison emitter|v=P4|y}} × 2

** {{icon|Breakable pot|v=P4|y}} × 2 (1 group of 2)

** {{icon|Poison Spotcap|y|v=P4|l=Spotcap}} × 14 (all inside sticky mold)

** {{icon|Numbered gate|y|v=P4}} × 1 (lowers after 1 Gildemander is defeated)

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 white|y|n=Candypop Bud}} (White) × 1

{{clear}}

[[File:P4 Map Cavern for a King 14.png|thumb|300px|Map of sublevel 14.]]

** {{icon|Horned Cannon Beetle|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 3 Armored Cannon Larva and 1 Horned Cannon Beetle are defeated)

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4 large}} × 1

Take down the [[Armored Cannon Larva]] before dealing with the main boss of this sublevel. Be wary of their unusual boulder paths, which curve around the arena. A fairly useful strategy is to position yourself behind an Armored Cannon Larva so that the [[Horned Cannon Beetle]]'s boulder rolls towards it and kills it in one hit.

 

[[File:P4 Map Cavern for a King 15.png|thumb|300px|Map of sublevel 15.]]

** {{icon|Baldy Long Legs|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 1 Baldy Long Legs is defeated)

** {{icon|Water spout|y|v=P4}} × 3

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 blue|y}} (Blue) × 2

** {{icon|Connection Detector|v=P4|y}} (inside one of the Waterwraiths)

**{{icon|Potted plant|v=P4|y}} × 2

**{{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 2 Waterwraiths are defeated)

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 purple|y|n=Candypop Bud}} (Purple) × 2

** {{icon|Fire-Breathing Feast|v=P4|y}} (inside Empress Bulblax)

** {{icon|Empress Bulblax|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Bulborb Larva|v=P4|y}} × 10 (a group of 10 will fall from the ceiling every time Empress Bulblax hits the wall the second time during her attack)

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 1 Empress Bulblax is defeated)

** {{icon|Geyser|v=P4|y}} × 2

** {{icon|Don't-See-It Specs|v=P4|y}} (inside Sovereign Bulblax)

** {{icon|Sovereign Bulblax|v=P4|y}} × 1

** {{icon|Numbered gate|v=P4|y}} × 1 (lowers after 1 Sovereign Bulblax is defeated)

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 blue|y|n=Candypop Bud}} (Blue) × 3

** {{icon|Egg|y|v=P4 large}} × 1

The [[Sovereign Bulblax]]'s arena is unique in that it can be changed during the fight. The boss's crushing slam and jump attack (as well as the boulders that come crashing down after it lands) can deform the landscape, which can create small pools of water. For this reason, using [[bomb rock]]s and [[ultra-spicy spray]] to defeat the Bulblax before it can make the arena too hard to navigate is a good strategy. Note that the [[Don't-See-It Specs]] and the Sovereign Bulblax's corpse will need to be carried over or through the small ring of water surrounding the main arena, so use Blue Pikmin or an [[ice blast]] (it takes 50 Ice Pikmin to freeze the water here), or [[upgrade]] [[Oatchi]]'s super buff to allow him to carry through water.

 

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4|y|n=Candypop Bud}} × 5 (Red, Yellow, Blue, Ice, and White)

The penultimate sublevel of this cave is a very forgiving one, with no hostile enemies. A shallow body of [[water]] contains a few of the treasures, so use Blue Pikmin to retrieve them. It is also recommended to utilize the [[Candypop Bud]]s to create some more Pikmin types, as they will be very useful in the upcoming sublevel. There is a [[cave exit]] present to escape, and the final sublevel entrance is buried under a pile of sand near the broken green bucket.

 

** {{icon|Gift of Friendship|v=P4|y}} (on Ancient Sirehound)

** {{icon|Ancient Sirehound|v=P4|y}} (Does not return after first defeat)

** {{icon|Castaway|n=Louie|y|v=P4}} × 1 (on Ancient Sirehound)

This sublevel contains a landing area for the [[S.S. Beagle]], and a large arena where [[Louie]] and the [[Ancient Sirehound]] are found. It drops the [[Gift of Friendship]]. The player does not need to actually transport the Gift of Friendship or Louie, as it happens during a cutscene immediately after defeating the Ancient Sirehound. Additionally, on the first visit, this final sublevel contains no [[cave exit]], as the player, Oatchi, and their Pikmin will use the S.S. Beagle to fly out of the cave instead. On return visits, a cave exit will appear next to the base.

* It's possible that the name of this cave is based on [[Louie]]'s name as a treasure in {{p2}}: [[King of Bugs]]. Louie himself rarely uses the name Cavern for a King however, instead opting for descriptions such as "the dog-thing's den" (in his [[Pikmin 4 voyage log|voyage log]]) or "the giant dog's den" (in his explanation of the sixth Fit for a Feast [[Side Mission]], when requesting a single [[Sovereign Bulblax]]).

* This is the longest cave in any ''Pikmin'' game, beating the [[Hole of Heroes]]'s 15 sublevels by five. It is more than three times as long as the second longest cave in ''Pikmin 4'', which only contains 6 sublevels: the [[Kingdom of Beasts]].

|Jap  = 王の穴

|JapR = Ō no Ana

|JapM = King's Hole

|ChiTrad  = 王之洞穴

|ChiTradR = Wáng zhī Dòngxué

|ChiTradM = King's Cavern

|DutM = King's cave

|Ita  = Caverna regale

|ItaM = Regal cavern

|Kor  = 왕의 굴

|KorR = Wang-ui Gul

|KorM = King's Cave

*[[Dream Den]]

*[[Hole of Heroes]]