Editing Cavern for a King

|image    = P4 Voyage Log Louie 19.png

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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.

 

This cave contains six different types of [[Candypop Bud]]s, which would in theory allow all types of Pikmin to be in the player's squad at once, should other types of Pikmin be brought in to begin with. However, the game specifically prevents this from happening by changing the color of any Candypop Buds that would produce a seventh type of Pikmin. Buds are changed to Ice by default, White if Ice would also be a seventh color, and Purple if both those options are invalid. Glow Pikmin do not count for how many types are active at a time. It is likely this rule applies to all Candypop Buds in the game, though it can only be observed in this cave.

|the final boss of ''Pikmin 4''

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 mold|v=P4|y}} (3 poison spotcaps) × 2  

** {{icon|Sticky mold|v=P4|y}} (4 poison spotcaps) × 2

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

The [[Jumbo Bulborb]] hides in a bush, so be wary of it when fighting the [[Dwarf Bulborb]]s and the [[Bulborb]]. It is recommended that you go for the Dwarf Bulborbs first, then work your way up. Make sure the room is clear of any stragglers before taking back the treasure.

While it is theoretically possible to kill each [[Emperor Bulblax]] individually, in practice the roar of one Bulblax will wake up the other two, and on this floor, it will roar as soon as possible. Despite this, the player should try to fight them one at a time rather than spread their Pikmin thin trying to fight them all at once. Using [[bomb rock|Bomb Rock]]s and [[ultra-spicy spray|Ultra-Spicy Spray]] to dispatch one of the Bulblaxes quickly is a good tactic to avoid one waking the others.

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

The [[Titan Blowhog]] and the [[Blizzarding Blowhog]] have the same abilities as their smaller counterparts, only much bigger and they launch Pikmin much farther. The same strategies should be applied for each: charge your Pikmin at them, and then whistle them back when the huge Blowhogs are about to throw them. But if you don't want to fight them, you can do a very easy jump around the [[Numbered gate]].  

This fight is the same as on top of the sand castle only this time, [[mud]] is involved. Be careful, as the [[Crusted Rumpup]] could launch some Pikmin into the mud, putting them in peril. However, the Rumpup itself is still the same and can still be easily destroyed. Kill the Rumpup and move on.  

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

The [[Smoky Progg]] is significantly easier than how it was in {{P1}}, but can still cause mass Pikmin casualties if the player is unprepared. A good strategy is to use Oatchi's [[rush]] skill to send all of your Pikmin onto it, defeating it quickly. Just be sure to jump to avoid the shockwaves produced by its projectiles, and whistle after it shakes off your Pikmin to ensure they don't panic directly into the path of its [[Gloom]] or into the swamp surrounding its arena. However, it's possible to break the egg by either using an [[ultra-spicy spray]], the [[Rush Boots]], a [[Oatchi#Rush|rush]] and tight movement{{cite youtube|_oROvjbABxg|of the Smoky Progg's egg being destroyed before it hatches|published={{date|21|August|2023}}|retrieved={{date|24|August|2023}}}}, or by watching the egg breaking [[cutscene]], leaving the cave and coming back.

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

[[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 they are very handy for the final boss.  

** {{icon|Poison emitter|v=P4|y}} × 2

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

** {{icon|Candypop Bud|v=P4 white|y|n=Candypop Bud}} (White) × 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. Alternatively, you can lead the Armored Cannon Larva's boulders into the Horned Cannon Beetle, dealing damage to it even when its shell is closed.

** {{icon|Water spout|y|v=P4}} × 3

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

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

The Empress Bulblax on this sublevel occupies a small chamber which, unlike any other encounter with it, means that there is no single place to stand to avoid its rolling attack. Instead, there are two [[geyser]]s which shoot you to the opposite sides of the arena and a small passage in the back. The intended method is to use these to jump over the top of the boss or to slip behind it before making your way back to the arena, but it is far easier to use six or so [[bomb rock]]s and finish the job before it can even attack. Don't [[rush]] with Oatchi as that triggers its roll attack immediately.  Alternatively, [[Rock Pikmin]] can be used for their immunity to being crushed against the soft floor of the sublevel. Be careful though as other Pikmin can be crushed by its rolling attack as well as the boulders that spawn after it hits the wall. Rock Pikmin can also be eaten by the Bulborb larva that fall from the ceiling, so be careful of those as well.

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

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

* 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]].

*[[Dream Den]]

*[[Hole of Heroes]]