Editing Onion

{{game icons|p=y|p2=y|p3=y}}
{{featured|21st June 2013}}
[[File:Normal 28 Pikmin2 GCN screen16.jpg|thumb|The three available Onions in ''Pikmin 2''.]]

{{otheruses|the [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] nest|the [[treasure]]|Onion Replica}}

'''Onions''' are the large, round life forms that act as nests for the [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]]. There are five known types of Onion nests, each with unique coloration corresponding to either [[Red Pikmin|Red]], [[Yellow Pikmin|Yellow]], [[Blue Pikmin|Blue]], Rock and Winged Pikmin, and only one of each has ever been seen. As of ''[[Pikmin 2]]'', subterranean species such as [[Purple Pikmin]], [[White Pikmin]] and [[Bulbmin]] do not have Onions.

In ''[[Pikmin 3]]'', all discovered onions merge together the night after they are discovered, and become a single, universal Onion, greatly simplifying the management of Pikmin types at the beginning of each day. It also appears that the Onions in this game are much more malleable than their ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'' counterparts in regards to which Pikmin species they will hold. In ''Pikmin 3'', if a new Onion color is discovered, and Pikmin from that new type are left on the landing site at the end of the [[day]], the Master Onion there will accommodate them until the Onions fuse at the end of the day.

During the daytime, Pikmin hunt and bring food, such as [[pellet]]s or slain beasts, to the Onion, which in turn produces new Pikmin seeds. If there are fewer than 100 Pikmin on the field, the seeds are ejected and take root in the ground; if not, they are stored inside the Onion, along with any other Pikmin not on the field. Unlike in the area however, the number of Pikmin that can be stored inside an Onion is unlimited. <ref>Naturally, because of hardware limitations, there is a hard limit on the number of Pikmin that can be stored inside an Onion, but it is usually too large to be reached realistically.</ref> When night falls and all the Pikmin have returned, the Onion folds or sucks in its legs and lifts off from the ground, joining the ship in low orbit.

== Behavior ==
In the first two games, when night falls and all the Pikmin have returned, the Onion folds its legs and lifts off from the ground, presumably using its flower petals like rotor blades to propel itself into the low atmosphere, where it hovers until daybreak. In ''Pikmin 3'', when it's ready to lift off, it retracts its legs back into its base and lifts off through a jet coming from the same chute it absorbs pellets and enemies the Pikmin gather.

When the Onions are first discovered in ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 3'', they are dormant. It is not known exactly what triggers this hibernation, though it's possible that a loss of Pikmin or food shortage may prompt the Onion to become dormant until conditions improve. Onions can hibernate even with the presence of their Pikmin still somewhere on the field. It seems that this dormancy does not hinder their awareness however, as the red and pink Onions are seen struggling to dislodge themselves from the traps they are found in. The [[Winged Pikmin|Winged]] and [[Blue Pikmin]] species seem to have been entirely extincted by the point ''Pikmin 3'' begins, as they are the only two species whose Onions have to sprout more of when they are reactivated.

Onions seem to have some level of sentience, in that if all Pikmin of the same color are lost, the corresponding Onion will produce a single seed the following day to prevent [[Pikmin extinction|extinction]]. Captain Olimar notes this on his [[Olimar's Voyage Log]]<ref>"''When all of one color are lost, the Onion instinctively puts out new seeds... How does it know to do this? What a mysterious life-form!''" &ndash; Captain Olimar on a partial Pikmin extinction</ref>. In addition, they seem to "awaken" when a [[leader]] approaches them for the first time, and are capable of following the ship at daybreak. They know not to suck in leaders that are being [[carrying|carried]] (and to issue [[Easter eggs#Fireworks|fireworks]] if that is attempted); except [[Olimar as Pikmin|in one circumstance]], in the bad ending of ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]''. In ''Pikmin 3'', the red and pink Onions struggle to break free from their respective traps.

Onions appear to require light to function, seeing as in ''Pikmin 3'', the yellow Onion does not activate until a nearby light source is turned on, even when approached. They also seem to be able to stay underwater, at least blue Onions, as they are found underwater in ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 3''.

== Appearance ==
=== ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'' ===
These bulbous plant-hives have brightly colored bodies with a black and white band across the midsection. On the top, there is a big flower, resembling the flowers that Pikmin have. There are concentric circles on the ground in the Onion landing spots in each area, which are never referred to in-game. Three stilt-like legs suspend the Onions out of the reach of hungry predators, and provide access to the inside for Pikmin. In ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', [[Captain Olimar|Olimar]] states that he inspected the Onion's legs, and saw they were covered with tiny little hairs<ref>"''When I inspected the Onion's legs, I saw that they were covered by tiny little hairs. It was kind of disturbing.''" &ndash; Olimar on the Onion's legs</ref>. The Onions are named as such because of their resemblance to a vegetable native to Olimar's [[Hocotate|home planet]]<ref>"''It resembles a vegetable on my home planet that we call an onion. I shall call this an Onion too.''" &ndash; Olimar monologuing about the red Onion</ref>.

In ''Pikmin'', Onions have different appearances before they are discovered. They are darker in coloration, have no flowers on top, and are partly buried. When Captain Olimar approaches them, they explode with color, and the flower blooms and spins rapidly, pulling out the legs.

=== ''Pikmin 3'' ===
{{clean|The "characteristic element" section needs a re-write.}}
In ''Pikmin 3'', Onions appear as small, berry-like objects with three black-metallic "joints". Out of these joints come three glowing root-like legs which allow the Onion to stand. At night, the legs completely retract and blue flames burst out of the "joints", allowing the Onion to lift off into the night sky.

When multiple Onions are discovered, they fuse together to become an even larger universal Onion that swirls different colors, depending on the type of Pikmin it holds. When all 5 Pikmin types in the game are discovered, the Onion swells up into a more traditional Onion-like shape.

The new onions also display their [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] type's characteristic element upon activation:
*'''Red''': spews flames.
*'''Yellow''': generates electricity.
*'''Blue''': leaks water.
*'''Pink''': Flaps petals erratically.
*'''Gray''': creates a "thump".

== Withdrawing and retrieving ==
The player can access an Onion's Pikmin by having the current [[leader]] stand under the corresponding Onion's beam of light, and pressing the [[throw]] button, ({{button|gcn|A|wii|A}} in the first two games; {{button|wii|A|wiiu|A|wiiu|PCA}} in the third (and {{button|wiiu|L}} for the GamePad's Stylus mode)). Doing so pauses the gameplay and opens a [[Menu#Onion|menu]] where the player can choose how many Pikmin to retrieve, or how many Pikmin from the current party to place inside.

When Pikmin are told to go inside the Onion, they are dismissed from the group ([[bomb-rock]] carrying Pikmin also drop them in ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 3''), and begin climbing through the Onion's legs, eventually entering the holes the legs originate from. During this time, they can be [[whistle]]d back to the group, should the player change their mind, but if not, they will be stored inside the Onion, and the field [[HUD#Pikmin counter|Pikmin counter]] will decrease. Requested Pikmin will come out of the Onion from the same holes, and slide down the legs. If the leader is close enough, they will also automatically come to their side. In the case that there are Pikmin of multiple [[Pikmin family#Stages|maturities]], flower Pikmin will be withdrawn first, until there are no more left, in which case bud Pikmin will be withdrawn, and finally leaf Pikmin. This is not true when Pikmin go inside the Onion &ndash; all Pikmin sent inside will go in in a [[Randomness|random]] order.

== Types ==
=== Red ===
The red Onion is the first Onion to be discovered in [[Pikmin series|all three games]], and houses [[Red Pikmin]]. In ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', the red Onion is found at [[The Impact Site]], dormant in the ground not far from where the [[S.S. Dolphin]] crashed. Once awakened, it will release a single Red Pikmin seed which [[Olimar]] can use to harvest nearby red [[Pellet Posy|Pellet Posies]], and spawn enough Pikmin to retrieve the [[Main Engine]]. In ''[[Pikmin 2]]'', [[Louie]] finds this Onion in the [[Valley of Repose]] when he falls out of [[the Ship]]'s cockpit and gets lost. In ''[[Pikmin 3]]'' the Red Onion is discovered when [[Alph]] comes upon it caught in a branch at the [[Tropical Wilds]]. Pikmin need to be thrown at it, so that it gets weighed down, and eventually freed.

=== Yellow ===
The yellow Onion stores [[Yellow Pikmin]], and is the second type the player will come across in the first two games. In ''Pikmin'', it is found dormant in [[The Forest of Hope]] amidst several yellow Pellet Posies and free-standing yellow pellets. In ''Pikmin 2'', the yellow Onion is located in the Perplexing Pool behind a poison gate protected by a [[Fiery Bulblax]], so White and Red Pikmin are required to reach it. There are a few yellow Pellet Posies nearby which will not regrow once they've been harvested. In ''[[Pikmin 3]]'' the Yellow Onion is discovered by [[Brittany]] in a cave, as soon as the [[Distant Tundra]] is entered. To activate it, the [[Yellow Pikmin]] nearby must be thrown at a generator, in order to create a current that lights a light bulb, awakening the Onion.

=== Blue ===
The blue Onion houses [[Blue Pikmin]], and is the last type to be discovered in all three games. In ''Pikmin'', the blue Onion can be found in [[The Forest Navel]] in a pool near the landing site. Several blue [[Pellet Posies]] are in the immediate vicinity, as well as a free-standing blue 5 [[pellet]]. In ''Pikmin 2'', the Blue Onion is located in the [[Awakening Wood]]; although it can be seen relatively early in the game, it lies behind an electric [[gate]], meaning that [[Yellow Pikmin]] from the [[Perplexing Pool]] are required to access it. A small pool blocks the only direct path up to the gate, so the Pikmin must be thrown onto a nearby ledge (while taking care not to disturb the [[Cloaking Burrow-nit]] lying in wait there). The [[Captain]] can then walk around through some water to reach them, and order them to defeat the beast and demolish the gate, allowing him to find the game's first five Blue Pikmin. In ''Pikmin 3'', the blue Onion is located in a pool at the [[Garden of Hope]] and can only be accessed after defeating the Scornet Maestro at [[Twilight River]].

For some unknown reason, when landing on an area in ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'', the Blue Onion seems to hover a bit before landing, therefore landing after the red and yellow Onions.

=== Gray ===
The gray Onion is the Onion that holds [[Rock Pikmin]]. It can be found in the Garden of Hope, right in the cave next to the area in which Brittany was being held. A [[Medusal Slurker]] guards the [[crystal]] holding the gray Onion, and it is holding six Rock Pikmin inside of it. Near the gray Onion there are 3 crystals, two of which hold 1-[[pellet]]s, and the last of which holds a [[Data File]] explaining how carrying works with multiple types of Pikmin holding the object. The Medusal Slurker can also be carried back to the Onion.

=== Pink ===
{{todo|Explain the glitch, or link to it on [[Glitches in Pikmin 3|this page]].}}
The pink Onion is home to the [[Winged Pikmin]]. Upon reaching the [[Twilight River]] and walking around, the player will get a [[cutscene]] showing that the pink Onion is trapped in an [[Arachnode]] web. However, the Onion is located across the River, and a rather large [[bridge]] must be build across it to reach the other shore. Once the Onion is freed from the web, it will spit out one Winged Pikmin seed. Near the Onion are many Flukeweeds, which hold 1-pellets, 5-pellets, [[Nectar Egg]]s, and [[Female Sheargrub]]s underneath them. There is also a glitch that allows the player to reach the other shore without the need to build the bridge, though it is recommended as it will help with carrying back objects.

=== Master ===
{{todo|Is this name official? If so, add source. If not, add {{tem|title}}.}}
[[File:Pikmin_MasterOnion.jpg|left|thumb|The Master Onion's completed form.]] 
In ''Pikmin 3'', the gray Onion fuses with the red Onion at the end of the day in which the player discoveres Rock Pikmin to form a larger, universal "Master Onion" that holds all Pikmin types. As the player discovers the remaining Pikmin types, their Onions fuse into the Master Onion as well. The [[Menu#Onion|Onion menu]] has been changed as a result, now allowing the player to pick the numbers for all types at once. The majority of one type of Pikmin [[carrying]] an object to the Onion will determine which type of Pikmin the Onion produces. For example, if ten Rock Pikmin and five Red Pikmin are carrying a [[Red Bulborb]] to the Onion, Rock Pikmin will be produced.
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=== Other ===
{{spoiler}}
{|class="collapsible collapsed" align="right"
!The ''Pikmin'' ending&nbsp;
|-
|[[Image:NewOnions.png|thumb|Four pink Onions, four black, two cyan, one orange, one blue, one green and one purple. They appear during the "good ending" in ''Pikmin''.]]
|}
At the end of ''Pikmin'', there is a scene where fourteen Onions, with colors that have not appeared in a ''Pikmin'' game so far, fly above the [[Planet of the Pikmin]]. It is unknown whether they are trying to follow Captain Olimar, or merely hovering for the night. Interestingly, one of the Onions seen is purple, and [[Purple Pikmin]] were indeed introduced in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'', but without an Onion.
{{clear}}
{{endspoiler}}

== In 2-Player Battle and Bingo Battle ==
In ''Pikmin 2''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[2-Player Battle]] and ''Pikmin 3''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Bingo Battle]], each player has one Onion in their base. These Onions act slightly different: they can't store extra Pikmin, and captains cannot take Pikmin out or put them in. They also spit out the same amount of Pikmin lost to enemy Pikmin, without the need of nutrients.

In ''Pikmin 2'', the first player gets a red Onion, while the second player owns a blue Onion. In ''Pikmin 3'''s the first player gets a cyan-colored Onion that pulses yellow, and the second player gets a pink-colored Onion that pulses orange.

== Strategies ==
The number of Pikmin created when a [[pellet]] is delivered to an Onion is larger if the pellet type matches the Onion's. This should be taken into account when ordering Pikmin to [[carrying|carry]] a pellet, in order to maximize the number of Pikmin obtained.

When the Onion generates Pikmin, in order to save time, like on a [[Challenge run#Speedrun|speedrun]], it is best to withdraw Pikmin from Onions so that the field total reaches 100. This is because the Pikmin will be expelled as seeds in case there are less than 100 Pikmin on the field. The process of waiting for the seeds to be expelled and planted, waiting for them to grow stems, and [[pluck]]ing them is quite lengthy. The time it takes to withdraw the Pikmin that cap the counter, and in the case of the new Pikmin being a different type, the time it takes to store them again and retrieve the new Pikmin, is considerably smaller overall. In speedruns, the route is normally planned out so that, whenever possible, the field counter is capped when new Pikmin are generated. Normally, it's also organized so that no time is wasted withdrawing Pikmin just to avoid plucking the new ones.

In ''Pikmin 2'', after the [[Five-man Napsack]] has been obtained, the Pikmin can be told to [[carrying|carry]] a [[lie down|lying]] [[leader]] to an Onion if the player holds {{button|gcn|X|wii|C}}. This carries the advantage of having one leader go to an Onion automatically while the player can control the other leader, which increases the multitasking potential. This can also be done in the first game, by holding {{button|gcn|Paddown|wii|2}}, but because there is only one leader, the multitasking advantage does not exist. This feature has been removed in ''Pikmin 3'' in favor of the [[Go Here!]] command on the [[KopPad]].

== In ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' ==
[[File:MarioThrowsPelletIntoOnion.jpg|thumb|left|160px|[[mariowiki:Mario|Mario]] throwing a pellet into an Onion.]]
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl|Brawl]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS]]'', the three Onions appear on the [[PNF-404|Distant Planet]] stage, and in the case of ''Brawl'', as a random trophy too. On the arena, when a [[pellet]] is thrown into one, an item is ejected. The higher the number on the pellet thrown, the higher the amount of items that will appear, with more items appearing if the pellet and Onion have the same color, similar to the way it works in the [[Pikmin series|''Pikmin'' games]]. The Onions randomly land and fly away, but can be forced to leave early if hit several times.

=== Trophy description ===
"Items considered to be the places where Pikmin are born. As to the actual biology of the process, much is still unclear. Onions absorb the prey that Pikmin capture and use it to produce new Pikmin. In addition, Onions can take in Pikmin and later release them. These organisms are crowned with distinctive propeller-like sets of leaves that spin around, enabling them to fly."

{{clear}}
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Normal redonion.jpg|Clay model of a red Onion.
File:Normal yellowonion.jpg|Clay model of a yellow Onion.
File:Normal blueonion.jpg|Clay model of a blue Onion.
Red Onion.png|Concept art for a red Onion.
Yellow Onion.png|Concept art for a yellow Onion.
Blue Onion.png|Concept art for a blue Onion.
Red Onionp2.png|A red Onion as seen in ''Pikmin 2''.
Yellow Onionp2.png|A yellow Onion as seen in ''Pikmin 2''.
Blue Onionp2.png|A blue Onion as seen in ''Pikmin 2''.
ZlCfzRFpM7QNEwjcU-.jpg|A red Onion as seen in ''Pikmin 3''.
ZlCfzRFpQ YnPFqBoy.jpg|A gray Onion as seen in ''Pikmin 3''.
ZlCfzRFpmM00dIoKvX.jpg|A yellow Onion as seen in ''Pikmin 3''.
ZlCfzRFuYBcMXsrMxy.jpg|A pink Onion as seen in ''Pikmin 3''.
ZlCfzRFzY94VUhRohz.jpg|A blue Onion as seen in ''Pikmin 3''.
ZlCfzRFpVYYTELBCNC.jpg|Master Onion phase #1.
ZlCfzRFt8X4dBCdz46.jpg|Master Onion phase #2.
ZlCfzRFuZnwAibQMba.jpg|Master Onion phase #3.
ZlCfzRFzYE40bPpV3W.jpg|Master Onion phase #4.
Screenshot 2014-04-23 at 4.02.44 PM.png|The pink Onion caught in an Arachnode's web.
00Absorbing.PNG|The red Onion beginning to absorb the gray Onion while rising after nightfall. Notice the chute glowing as if it's receiving nutrients.
File:Dormant_Onion.jpg|A dormant red Onion, in ''Pikmin''.
Pikmin3 BingoBattleOnions.png|The Bingo Battle Onions in ''Pikmin 3''.
OnionGUI.jpg|The [[Menu#Onion|Onion's menu]] in ''Pikmin 3''.
zlCfzRF1G3YEWE6kKw.jpeg|The Master Onion seen from below.
File:WUPP Pikmin3 Ev05 scrn21.png|The Master Onion in a promotional ''Pikmin 3'' video, released on May 17th 2013.
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
*When Olimar first came upon the Red Onion in ''Pikmin'', he was knocked over by one of the legs as it sprang out of the ground. When he finds the other two later on in the game, he is a little more cautious and backs away.
*[[Unused content]] in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'' reveals that the Onions were originally planned to have a "booting up" [[cutscene]], just as they did in the first game. These cutscenes can be found almost entirely finished inside the game.
*If, on a day where Olimar or Louie finds an Onion, a [[cave]] is entered after whistling the wild Pikmin, the Onion will be at the landing site when the cave is left.
*It is possible to whistle the Pikmin as they are exiting the Onion. While mostly aesthetic, this can be used to bring a Pikmin to the party slightly faster than normal. In ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', the Pikmin will rarely react to the whistle, while in ''[[Pikmin 2]]'', they'll react to it almost every time.
*If the player looks up at the Master Onion in ''Pikmin 3'' with the [[KopPad]], they can see what appears to be solar panel-like cells on its petals.
*[[Alph]] mentions in a log entry that the swirling colors of the Master Onion may actually be the Pikmin themselves, stored in a simpler, fluid form for easier storage.

== Names in other languages ==
{{foreignname
|PorP=Onion
|PorPM="Onion"
|PorPN=Translation taken from the ''Pikmin'' instruction manual.
|notes=y
}}

== See also ==
*[[Pikmin family]]
*[[Pellet]]
*[[Carrying]]
*[[S.S. Dolphin]]
*[[Hocotate Ship]]
*[[S.S. Drake]]

== Notes ==
{{ToDo|Find the exact cap.}}
<references/>

[[Category:Pikmin family| ]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. series]]