Editing Onion

{{game icons|p=y|p2=y|p3=y|p4=y|hp=y}}
{{otheruses|the [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] nest|the [[treasure]]|Onion Replica}}
{{infobox plant
|image       = Onion P4 icon.png
|image2      = P3 Red Onion Render.png
|image3      = Red Onion.png
|imagetitle  = ''Pikmin 4''
|image2title = ''Pikmin 3''
|image3title = ''Pikmin'' / ''Pikmin 2''
|pikmin      = y
|pikmin2     = y
|pikmin3     = y
|pikmin4     = y
|heypikmin   = y
|icon        = Onion P4 icon.png
|name        = Lillium pikminporta
|family      = Candypop
|areas       = [[The Impact Site]], [[The Forest of Hope]], [[The Forest Navel]], [[Valley of Repose]], [[Awakening Wood]], [[Perplexing Pool]], [[Tropical Wilds]], [[Garden of Hope]], [[Distant Tundra]], [[Twilight River]], [[Rescue Command Post]], [[Sun-Speckled Terrace]], [[Blossoming Arcadia]], [[Serene Shores]], [[Hero's Hideaway]], [[Giant's Hearth]], [[Primordial Thicket]], [[Pikmin Park]]
|underground = [[Trial of the Sage Leaf]]
|missionct   = [[Twilight Hollow Remix]], [[Beastly Caverns]]
|missionbe   = [[Tropical Forest]], [[Silver Lake]], [[Thirsty Desert]], [[Twilight Hollow]], [[Shaded Garden]], [[Tropical Wilds Remix]], [[Garden of Hope Remix]], [[Distant Tundra Remix]], [[Twilight River Remix]], [[Fortress of Festivity]], [[The Rustyard]], [[Beastly Caverns]], [[Forgotten Cove]], [[Clockwork Chasm]]
|sidestories = [[Flower Garden]], [[Inside Forest]], [[River]], [[Tundra]], [[Pikmin Reunion]], [[Creature Hunting]], [[Land, Sea, and Sky]], [[First Part Found]], [[Team Monster Hunt]], [[Channel Gone Dry]], [[Looking for Louie]], [[Big Fruit Carnival]]
|2p          = [[Battle Field]], [[War Path]], [[Carpet Plain]], [[Angle Maze]], [[Colosseum]], [[Rusty Gulch]], [[Brawl Yard]], [[Tile Lands]], [[Dim Labyrinth]], [[Hostile Territory]]
|bingo       = [[Shaded Terrace]], [[Stagnant Sea]], [[Twisted Cavern]], [[Arid Metropolis]], [[Rusted Labyrinth]], [[Jigsaw Fortress]], [[Blooming Terrace]], [[Buried Pond]], [[Sandbox Kingdom]], [[Corroded Maze]], [[Jigsaw Colosseum]]
|dandori_b   = [[Trial Run]], [[Battle in a Box]], [[Dandori Castle]], [[Leafy Showdown]], [[Hot Sandy Duel]], [[Final Battle]]
}}

'''Onions''' ({{j|オニヨン|Oniyon|Onyon}}) are the large, round life forms that act as nests for the [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]]. There are eight main types of Onion nests, each with unique coloration corresponding to either [[Red Pikmin|Red]], [[Yellow Pikmin|Yellow]], [[Blue Pikmin|Blue]], [[Purple Pikmin|Purple]], [[White Pikmin|White]], [[Rock Pikmin|Rock]], [[Winged Pikmin|Winged]], and [[Ice Pikmin|Ice]]. As of {{p4}}, [[Bulbmin]] and [[Glow Pikmin]] have no known Onions.

In {{p3}}, 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.

In {{p4}}, it's revealed they are part of the [[candypop family]]. Onions merge in this game like in ''Pikmin 3'', but discovered Onions must be manually brought back to the main Onion first. Since some Pikmin types have duplicate Onions in ''Pikmin 4'', collecting a type that has already been obtained will result in its absorption by the Master Onion, converting it into 20 Pikmin of the Onion's color. [[Flarlic]] can also be brought to the Onion to increase the [[Pikmin limit]] by 10.

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 Pikmin on the field than the allowed Pikmin limit, 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, [[#Storage limit|as a general rule]]. 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.

Each Onion has the main body, shaped like a real world onion, with holes from which three legs come out of. At the top, there is a piece that looks like a ''[[Chaenostoma cordatum]]'', used like helicopter blades. In the first two games, Onions look organic and fairly plain, in ''Pikmin 3'', they take on a more science-fiction appearance, and in ''Pikmin 4'', they look once again more organic, yet more rounded and natural due to the game's newer art style.

== 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 Winged 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 become entirely extinct 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 type are lost, the corresponding Onion will produce a single seed the following day to prevent [[Pikmin extinction|extinction]]. An Onion can also spit out a Pikmin seed if it detects that the only Pikmin available cannot be reached, as is the case when [[Louie]] first finds the Red Onion in ''[[Pikmin 2]]''. Captain Olimar notes this on his [[Olimar's voyage log]].{{cite quote|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!|Captain Olimar|his logs about a partial Pikmin extinction}} 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 that as a general rule, they should not suck in leaders that are being [[carry|carried]] (and will issue [[Easter eggs#Fireworks|fireworks]] if that is attempted). However, Onions do suck in leaders and [[castaway]]s if someone is trying to make a [[leafling]] out of them, as in {{p4}} and [[Olimar as Pikmin|to Olimar]] in the bad ending of ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]''; this suggests that Onions can understand nearby Pikmin and [[Moss]]'s intentions.

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 stand in water, as Blue Onions are first found in water in the first three main games.

== Appearance ==
[[File:Three Onions P2.jpg|thumb|250px|The three Onions in {{p2}}.]]
=== ''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.{{cite quote|When I inspected the Onion's legs, I saw that they were covered by tiny little hairs. It was kind of disturbing.|Olimar|his voyage log}} The Onions are named as such because of their resemblance to a vegetable native to Olimar's [[Hocotate|home planet]].{{cite quote|It resembles a vegetable on my home planet that we call an Onion. I shall call this an Onion too.|Olimar|a monolog about the Red Onion}}

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'' ===
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 five Pikmin types in the game are discovered, the Onion swells up into a more traditional Onion-like shape.

Some of the new Onions also clearly display their [[Pikmin family|Pikmin]] type's characteristic element upon activation: the Yellow Onion creates a small burst of [[electricity]], the Blue Onion drains out a large amount of [[water]], and the Winged Onion's flower flutters erratically. The Red Onion shoots out some brown particles, which might be [[Fire|flames]], but might also be dirt lifting from the ground. The Rock Onion lacks any notable reveal gimmick, but it does shine brightly from the light in the cave, similarly to how the Rock Pikmin shine from reflected light.

When the player has 100 total Pikmin in their squad, the Onions will emit smoke. This smoke has no effect on gameplay.

=== ''Pikmin 4'' ===
In ''Pikmin 4'', the Onion changes appearance once again, now appearing more like a fruit with a speckled texture similar to apples; its petals are smaller and point downwards like the original design. The base of the Onion is now yellow and plastic-like in appearance, and its legs are now green instead of yellow. Like in ''Pikmin 3'', Onions fuse together, however, it's different because the Onion now becomes segmented like a gourd, with each segment bearing the color of a Pikmin type, alongside the fact that the Onions are optional, since any Pikmin can go inside the main Onion even without the Onion supporting that type.

== 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|gc|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 [[Onion menu|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 [[Maturity|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.

== Storage limit ==
In {{p1}} and {{p2}}, an Onion can store any number of Pikmin, for all three [[maturity|maturities]]. In reality, because of hardware limitations, {{w|Integer (computer science)#Common integral data types|numbers can only hold up to certain values}}, but these are too large to be reached realistically.

In {{p3}}, each Onion can hold up to 9999 Pikmin of a given type in total.{{cite youtube|LS6bClqgV00|demonstrating the Onion's 9999 Pikmin limit in ''Pikmin 3''|published={{date|2|September|2019}}|retrieved={{date|14|September|2019}}}} If the player manages to go over this cap, all of the Pikmin of that type inside of the Onion will be converted to flower Pikmin. In addition, any Pikmin that is inserted into the Onion that would make it go over that limit will simply disappear. If a player has so many Pikmin with them that, at [[sunset]], they would go inside the Onion and reach the cap, then all Pikmin will still go inside the Onion, but the game will register deaths to sunset at the [[Day results menu|day's report]] of the excess amount. Whether these behaviors are the result of a glitch or intended is not known.

== Types ==
=== Red Onion ===
[[File:Red Onion P3 screenshot.jpg|thumb|left|100x|The Red Onion in ''Pikmin 3''.]]
The Red Onion is the first Onion to be discovered in [[Pikmin series|all four 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 [[Hocotate 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.

In ''[[Pikmin 4]]'', it is found by the Rescue Corps in the [[Rescue Command Post]], buried under a mound of dirt. The Rescue Corps initially mistakes it for treasure and has Oatchi dig it out to bring it to the S.S. Shepherd, but the Onion activates by itself before it can be collected. In [[Olimar's Shipwreck Tale]], a Red Onion stands next to the S.S. Dolphin from the start of day 1. It is already active and contains 10 Red Pikmin.

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=== Yellow Onion ===
[[File:Yellow Onion P3 screenshot.jpg|thumb|100x|The Yellow Onion in ''Pikmin 3''.]]
The Yellow Onion stores [[Yellow Pikmin]], and is the second type the player will come across in the first game. 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 have 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.

In ''Pikmin 4'', two Yellow Onions can be found by the [[rookie Rescue Officer]] or Oatchi. One is behind a [[bag]] in the [[Sun-Speckled Terrace]] that must be flattened by throwing ten Pikmin on top of it, the other is on top of a flowered hill accessible via a ramp in the [[Blossoming Arcadia]]. In Olimar's Shipwreck Tale, Yellow Onions are present on the right side of the Sun-Speckled Terrace as well as in the Blossoming Arcadia. In both modes, Yellow Onions [[weight|weigh]] 20 units and getting a second Yellow Onion propagates 20 Yellow Pikmin.

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=== Blue Onion ===
[[File:Blue Onion P3 screenshot.jpg|thumb|left|100x|The Blue Onion in ''Pikmin 3''.]]
The Blue Onion houses [[Blue Pikmin]], and is the last type to be discovered in the first 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, though the player can use [[Glitches in Pikmin 2#Seesaw block glitch|a glitch]] to bypass that.{{cite youtube|CWkHfTWlmpM|explaining how to get Blue Pikmin early in ''Pikmin 2''|published={{date|8|January|2018}}|retrieved={{date|9|April|2020}}}} 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 [[leader]] 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 rescuing [[Louie]] from the [[Scornet Maestro]] at the [[Twilight River]].

''Pikmin 4'' marks the first time in the main series that the Onion is not the last to be found, with the first one located near the first [[Dandori Battle]] cave in [[Sun-Speckled Terrace]], although it cannot be brought back until the water nearby is frozen with a large amount of Ice Pikmin, or until enough wild Blue Pikmin to carry it across have been found. It can also be collected without either type using Oatchi's [[Oatchi#Super Buff|Super Buff]] and [[Oatchi#Doggy-Paddle|Doggy-Paddle]] with an [[Ice Blast]]. Another Blue Onion can be found in [[Serene Shores]], near the encounter with the [[Crusted Rumpup]] in a small pool beyond a climbing wall which must be built. Since it is submerged and Oatchi cannot access this area, Blue Pikmin must already be found to collect it unless a Bomb Rock or the [[Co-op Mode|Pebble Pitcher]] is used. In Olimar's Shipwreck Tale, there are Blue Onions in the Blossoming Arcadia and Serene Shores. Regardless of game mode, a Blue Onion weighs 20 units.

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.

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=== Rock Onion ===
[[File:Rock Onion P3.jpg|thumb|100x|The Rock Onion in ''Pikmin 3''.]]
The Rock 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 Rock Onion, and it is holding six Rock Pikmin inside of it. Near the Rock 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. In ''Pikmin 4'', a single Rock Onion can be found in the [[Giant's Hearth]], guarded by a [[Sovereign Bulblax]]. It weighs 30 units.

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=== Winged Onion ===
[[File:Winged Onion P3 screenshot.jpg|thumb|left|100x|The Winged Onion in ''Pikmin 3''.]]
The Winged Onion{{cite quote|Save the Winged Onion!|Title of a day where the player has discovered but not saved the Winged Onion|the [[day selection menu]]}} is home to the [[Winged Pikmin]]. Upon reaching the [[Twilight River]] and walking around, the player will get a [[cutscene]] showing that the Winged Onion is trapped in an [[Arachnode]] web. However, the Onion is located across the River, and a rather large [[bridge]] must be built 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 [[Flukeweed]]s, which hold 1-pellets, 5-pellets, [[nectar egg]]s, and [[Female Sheargrub]]s underneath them. There is also a [[Glitches in Pikmin 3#Early Winged Pikmin|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.

In ''Pikmin 4'', a single Winged Onion can be found in the [[Primordial Thicket]], on a ledge next to a [[Dandori Challenge]] and a bottomless bog. It is one of the few in the game that is not buried when it is discovered. It weighs 10 units.

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=== White Onion ===
In ''Pikmin 2'' and ''Pikmin 3'', White Pikmin were only available by converting other-colored Pikmin into them with [[Ivory Candypop Bud]]s. However, the existence of a White Onion was proven in ''Pikmin 4''. After the player completes [[Olimar's Shipwreck Tale]], they will unlock a special [[cave]] in the [[Rescue Command Post]], called the [[Trial of the Sage Leaf]]. In its 5th story, [[Trial of the Sage Leaf#5th Story: The White Key|The White Key]], the White Onion can be discovered behind a numbered [[gate]], requiring [[Pikmin 4 player character|the player]] to collect the "[[Sacred Sphere Series|nine dragon jewels]]" to open it. Once the player transports the Onion to the [[S.S. Beagle]] and completes the story (with any rank), they will unlock the White Onion for use above ground. This Onion weighs 10 units.

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=== Purple Onion ===
Similar to the White Pikmin, Purple Pikmin were only available via [[Violet Candypop Bud]]s prior to ''Pikmin 4'' and were believed to not have an Onion. Like the White Onion, it can be unlocked in the [[Trial of the Sage Leaf]], this time within its 10th and final story, [[Trial of the Sage Leaf#Final Story: The Purple Key|The Purple Key]]. The Onion is on a ledge near the [[S.S. Beagle]], but across a small opening only [[Pikmin 4 player character|the player]] can go through, meaning the Onion must be carried through a maze of obstacles (including a patrolling [[Waterwraith]]). Once the player transports the Onion to the S.S. Beagle and completes the story (with any rank), they will unlock the Purple Onion for use above ground.

The Purple Onion is by far the heaviest one in ''Pikmin 4'', with a weight of 100 units.

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=== Ice Onion ===
The Ice Onion is home to ''Pikmin 4'''s [[Ice Pikmin]]. It can be found encased in [[hydro jelly]] in the north of the [[Hero's Hideaway]]. The Onion cannot be reached without traversing through the [[Frozen Inferno]], which by extension requires the player to have unlocked the [[Scorch Guard]] for both their character and [[Oatchi]]. This makes the Ice Onion in ''Pikmin 4'' the only Onion in the series to require an upgrade to obtain. The Ice Onion weighs 30 units.

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=== Master Onion ===
[[File:Pikmin MasterOnion.jpg|thumb|100x|The Master Onion's completed form.]]
In ''Pikmin 3'', the Rock Onion fuses with the Red Onion at the end of the day in which the player discovers 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 [[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 [[Bulborb|Red Bulborb]] to the Onion, Rock Pikmin will be produced. This compound Onion is never given an official name, but is commonly referred to by fans as "Master Onion".

The Master Onion returns in ''Pikmin 4'', but with a new design. It also works differently from the previous game, as individual Onions can only be activated upon being brought back to any active [[base]] to be absorbed by the Master Onion, and remains completely dormant otherwise. Pikmin that do not have Onions yet and [[Oatchi]] will prioritize growing the Pikmin type that has the least amount of Pikmin, unlike the “onionless” types in ''[[Pikmin 2]]''
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=== Flarlic ===
{{main|Flarlic}}
Flarlic is introduced in ''Pikmin 4''. It does not fulfil the role of Onions in a typical sense, but the game's Piklopedia and completion counters count Flarlics as Onions. They simply increase the maximum Pikmin limit of an Onion by ten when brought back to the Master Onion, up to a maximum of 100. More Flarlics after that will instead force the Onion to produce [[nectar]] and [[ultra-spicy spray]].
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=== Other types ===
{{Spoiler section|
[[File:Pikmin Secret Onions.png|thumb|Various colors of Onions.]]
In the best ending of ''Pikmin'', there is a scene where a group of fourteen different colored Onions fly above the atmosphere of [[PNF-404]]. It is unknown whether they are trying to follow Captain Olimar, or merely hovering for the night. It is also unknown if these colors refer to Pikmin types that were planned to be included later in the franchise, or if they are random colors picked just to add aesthetic value to the ending cutscene. The following Onions are seen:
* Four black, or possibly dark gray, akin to [[Rock Pikmin]].
* Three pink, similar to the [[Winged Pikmin]] Onion.
* Two purple. While [[Purple Pikmin]] were introduced in {{p2}}, they did not have an Onion until {{p4}}.
* Two cyan, similar to the [[Ice Pikmin]].
* One orange. The only Onion to have no known associated Pikmin as of {{p4}}.
* One lime-green. While [[Glow Pikmin]] are lime-green, they do not interact with Onions.
* One blue, the same as the [[Blue Pikmin]] Onion.
|the best ending in ''Pikmin''|collapsed=y}}
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== In 2-Player Battle, Bingo Battle and Dandori Battles ==
In ''Pikmin 2''{{'s}} [[2-Player Battle]], ''Pikmin 3''{{'s}} [[Bingo Battle]] and ''Pikmin 4''{{'s}} [[Dandori Battle]]s, each player has one Onion in their base. To earn points, a player must carry back objects to their assigned Onion which, unlike other game modes, will also accept [[treasure]]s and [[fruit]]s. These Onions act differently from any game's [[Story Mode]]: they cannot store extra Pikmin, and leaders cannot take Pikmin out or put them in. In the former two battle modes, they also spit out Pikmin to replace those that have been lost to enemy Pikmin without needing nutrients to do so.

In 2-Player Battles, the first player gets a Red Onion, while the second player owns a Blue Onion. In Bingo Battles the first player is assigned a cyan-colored Onion that pulses yellow, and the second player receives a magenta-colored Onion that pulses orange; these colors are merely used to tell teams apart and do not indicate which Pikmin types will be used in the battle.

In Dandori Battles, the first player (the protagonist in Story Mode) receives a cyan Onion while the second player is assigned a magenta Onion; like in Bingo Battle, these colors merely tell teams apart. Both players' Onions produce live Pikmin that do not go through the sprout stage. Onions in a Dandori Battle are susceptible to [[Sneak Bomb]]s, which, if delivered by the enemy player, will explode inside the Onion and force it to eject points in the form of a substance called Dandorium.

== 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 [[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 [[Pikmin limit|the limit]]. This is because the Pikmin will be expelled as seeds in case there are less than the limit of 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 [[carry]] a [[lie down|lying]] [[leader]] to an Onion if the player holds {{button|gc|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|gc|padd|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 ''Hey! Pikmin''==
In {{hp}}, there's only one Onion and it is present since the beginning of the game, fully developed. It does, however, not have any impact on gameplay as it can only be seen in cutscenes, [[Pikmin Park]], and the results screen. It looks nearly identical to the Master Onion from ''Pikmin 3'', but unlike ''Pikmin 3'', this Onion contains colored swirls for Purple Pikmin and White Pikmin, which do not appear in the game and did not have Onions at the time of the game's release.

==Notes==
=== Dalmo's notes ===
{{transcript|"The majesty of nature," "the mystery of life"... I feel that these stale clichés can't fully express the extraordinary symbiotic relationship between Pikmin and Onions. Is there a connection here of an affectionate nature, perhaps? There's so much we still don't know!|block=y}}

=== Olimar's notes ===
{{transcript|Sometimes it lies dormant, much like a bulb, but dig it up from the ground and provide it with the right stimulus—for example, a good, hard shake—and it will activate, sprouting three rootlike legs.

It serves a role similar to a nest or an incubator for the Pikmin, absorbing pellets or the bodies of dead creatures for their nutritional value, and then propagating Pikmin the same color as itself.

Onions also seem to greedily attempt to replicate certain characteristics of the matter that they absorb by combining with, or absorbing, other Onions, sometimes of the same type.

It's been confirmed that just like Pikmin, an Onion has muscle fibers in its body, and though it is unable to walk, it is capable of a small range of motion. However, when one breaks down the biological matter it has absorbed, a fuel similar to bioethanol is created. Onions spray this fuel out of the mouths on their underbellies and are able to fly using their flowerlike propellers for stabilization.|block=y}}

=== Louie's notes ===
{{transcript|If you look closely, you'll see its legs are sprouting a dense layer of hair.|block=y}}

===''Hey! Pikmin'' logs===
{{transcript|I call it the Onion after the vegetables back on Hocotate. It was there already when I crash-landed. It acts as a nest for Pikmin; when you bring a pellet back to it, new Pikmin emerge. We may never know what goes on in there.|block=y}}

=== ''Pikmin Bloom'' social media accounts' bio ===
;English
{{transcript|Onion<br>These perplexing objects act as nests for the Pikmin. By absorbing pellets and enemies, the Onion can produce Pikmin seeds. During the evening, the Pikmin enter the Onion and it lifts off from the ground, hovering in the sky until morning.|block=y}}
;Japanese Text
{{transcript|オニヨン<br>ピクミンたちの巣にあたる不思議な物体。 ペレットや原生生物を吸収 させると、 ピクミンの芽を生み出す。 ピクミンは夜になるとオニヨン の中に入り、上空へと飛び立つ。|block=y}}
;Japanese Translation
{{transcript|Onion<br>A mysterious object that serves as a nest for Pikmin. When it absorbs pellets and creatures, it produces Pikmin sprouts. At night, the Pikmin enter the Onion and fly off into the sky.|block=y}}

==Badges==
In {{p3d}}, there is a [[badge (Pikmin 3 Deluxe)|badge]] the player can gain from use of the Onion:
*'''Gardener''': Sprout 1,000 Pikmin in Story Mode.
<gallery>
Badge 50 gardener.png|Gardener. The badge shows all five types of Pikmin from ''Pikmin 3''.
</gallery>

== In the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series ==
[[File:SSBB Mario throws Pellet.jpg|thumb|160px|[[smashwiki:Mario|Mario]] throwing a pellet into an Onion.]]
In ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', the three main Onions appear on the [[PNF-404#In the Super Smash Bros. series|Distant Planet]] stage, and in the case of ''Brawl'', as a random trophy too. On the arena, when a [[pellet]] is thrown into one, items are ejected. The higher the number on the pellet thrown, the higher the amount of items that will appear, with even 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. In ''Brawl'', a Red Onion also appears as a [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl#Stickers|sticker]].

Trophy information:
{{smash trophy
|image  = Onion trophy SSBB.png
|desc   = {{Notes:Onion/ssbb}}
|type   = Stage
|obtain = Random appearance.
}}

{{clear}}

== Naming ==
{{naming
|common     = Onion. The [[Sage Leaf]] (who appears to have been a leafling since long before Olimar's first visit to PNF-404) instead refers to the Purple and White Onions as the "purple jewel" and the "white jewel" respectively.
|jpcommon   = {{j|オニヨン|Oniyon|Onyon}}. It is a corruption of {{j|オニオン|Onion|Onion|f=tp}}.
|jpname     = {{j|ピキノシガンバナ|Piki no Shigan Bana|[[Pikmin family#Naming|Piki]]'s Flower of This World}}.
|scientific = ''Lillium pikminporta''. ''Lillium'' is similar to ''lilium'', Latin for "lily". ''Pikminporta'' is a combination of "Pikmin" and possibly ''portāre'', Latin for "to carry". Therefore, its scientific name could be translated to "Pikmin-Carrying Lily".
|internal = <code>onyon</code>.
}}

=== Names in other languages ===
{{foreignname
|Jap  = オニヨン
|JapR = Oniyon
|JapM = Onyon
|ChiTrad  = 歐擬蛹
|ChiTradR = Ōunǐyǒng
|ChiTradM = Onion
|ChiSimp  = 欧拟蛹
|ChiSimpR = Ōunǐyǒng
|ChiSimpM = Onion
|Dut  = Ui
|DutM = Onion
|Fra  = Oignon
|FraM = Onion
|Ger  = Zwiebel
|GerM = Onion
|Ita  = Cipolla
|ItaM = Onion
|Kor  = 오니용
|KorR = Oniyong
|KorM = Onyon
|Spa  = Cebolla
|SpaM = Onion
|PorB  = Cebola (''Pikmin 4'')
|PorBM = Onion (''Pikmin 4'')
|PorP = Onion
|PorPM = -
|PorPN = Translation taken from the ''Pikmin'' instruction manual.
|notes=y
}}

== Gallery ==
===''Pikmin''===
<gallery>
Red Onion.png|Artwork of a Red Onion.
Red Onion P1 seed.jpg|Artwork of a Red Onion releasing a Pikmin seed.
Yellow Onion.png|Artwork of a Yellow Onion.
Blue Onion.png|Artwork of a Blue Onion.
PikminOnionModels.png|The models of the Onions' bodies.
Dormant Onion.jpg|The Red Onion as it's first discovered.
Red Onion P1.png|The Red Onion upon awakening.
</gallery>

===''Pikmin 2''===
<gallery>
P2 Red Onion.png|Clay model of a Red Onion.
P2 Yellow Onion.png|Clay model of a Yellow Onion.
P2 Blue Onion.png|Clay model of a Blue Onion.
P2 Blue Onion Alternate Art.jpg|Alternate angle of the Blue Onion's clay model.
Red Onionp2.png|The Red Onion at the [[Awakening Wood]]'s landing site.
Yellow Onionp2.png|The Yellow Onion in the wild.
Blue Onionp2.png|A Blue Onion in the wild.
</gallery>

===''Pikmin 3''===
<gallery>
Rock onion crystal.jpeg|A Rock Onion trapped inside a [[large crystal]].
Red Pikmin and Onion P3.png|Red Pikmin looking at their Onion.
P3 Inactive Yellow Onion.jpg|An inactive Yellow Onion.
Winged Onion in Arachnode web P3.png|The Winged Onion caught in an Arachnode's web.
Onionfluke.jpeg|A Blue Onion trapped under a [[Flukeweed]] in ''Pikmin 3''.
Master Onion P3 phase 1.jpg|Master Onion phase #1.
Master Onion P3 phase 2.jpg|Master Onion phase #2.
Master Onion P3 phase 3.jpg|Master Onion phase #3.
Master Onion P3 phase 4.jpg|Master Onion phase #4.
Pikmin3 MasterOnionBest.png|Screenshot of the Master Onion in its second phase.
Pikmin3 BingoBattleOnions.png|The Bingo Battle Onions in ''Pikmin 3''.
OnionGUI.jpg|The [[Onion menu]] in ''Pikmin 3''.
Master Onion from below P3.jpg|The Master Onion seen from below.
WUPP Pikmin3 Ev05 scrn21.png|The Master Onion in a promotional ''Pikmin 3'' video, released on {{date|17|May|2013}}.
Onionmerge1.gif|An animation showing two Onions merging.
P3 Two Onions Merging Screenshot.png|The Red Onion beginning to absorb the Rock Onion while rising after nightfall. Notice the chute glowing as if it is receiving nutrients.
Pikminology1.jpg|The data file explaining Onions generally.
Pikminology2.jpg|The data file explaining how to work an Onion.
Pikminology3.jpg|The data file explaining Onion merging.
</gallery>

===''Pikmin 4''===
<gallery>
Pikmin 4 Red Onion.png|The Red Onion from ''Pikmin 4''.
Pikmin carrying the Ice Onion.jpg|Pikmin carrying the Ice Onion.
Rock Onion Cutscene_P4.jpg|The Rock Onion partially buried.
Winged Onion Cutscene P4.jpg|The Winged Onion in an elevated clearing.
The White Onion partially buried.jpg|The White Onion partially buried.
The Purple Onion on top of a brick.jpg|The Purple Onion on a brick.
Pikmin 4 Multicolored Onion.png|The Master Onion from ''Pikmin 4'' with Red, Yellow, and Blue Onions.
Piklopedia all Onions.jpg|The Master Onion and all Onion types, as seen in the ''Pikmin 4'' Piklopedia.
Piklopedia all Onions (birds-eye view).jpg|The previous image but with a Birds Eye view.
Pikmin 4 Multicolored Onion Flying.png|The Master Onion (with Red, Yellow, and Blue onions sucked up) from ''Pikmin 4'', seen from above.
Pikmin4-onionUI-earlygame.jpeg|The [[Onion menu]] from ''Pikmin 4'' with only 3 Pikmin types available.
P4 Buried Yellow Onion.jpg|A buried Yellow Onion in the [[Blossoming Arcadia]].
P4OnionAbsorbingFlarlic.jpg|An Onion absorbing a Flarlic in the Sun-Speckled Terrace.
</gallery>

===Other===
<gallery>
Red Onion E-Card Wrapper.jpg|Red Onion [[e-card]] pack.
Y pack 1.JPG|Yellow Onion e-card pack.
Blue Onion E-Card Wrapper.jpg|Blue Onion e-card pack.
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
{{game help|p|check how consistent whistling Pikmin when they're coming out of the Onion is in ''New Play Control! Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 1'' on the Nintendo Switch.}}
*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.
*In the original [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]] [[Region|versions]] of ''[[Pikmin (game)|Pikmin]]'', attempting to take out more Pikmin from a Blue Onion than are in it results in the [[Mistake|erroneous]] message "There are no blues Pikmin to take out." The message should be, "There are no ''blue'' Pikmin to take out.". This mistake was fixed in future releases.
*[[Unused content in Pikmin 2|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 files, along with its own unique music cue.
*In ''Pikmin 2'', if a cave is entered the same day wild Pikmin are found, the Onion will be at the landing site when the cave is left, rather than at the location where the wild Pikmin were discovered.
*In ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'', it is possible to whistle Pikmin as they are exiting or entering an Onion. Doing so causes the Pikmin to drop off of the Onion's legs and to the ground. This can be used to either quickly walk back the decision to put away Pikmin, or to get Pikmin into your squad a little faster. Strangely, in the original GameCube version of ''Pikmin'', whistling Pikmin while they're coming out of the Onion seems extremely inconsistent, with it being rare to see even just a few Pikmin drop off of the Onion's legs.
*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.
*If ''Pikmin 3''{{'s}} Master Onion receives nutrients from a type of Pikmin while it is already producing seeds from a different Pikmin type, it will not produce seeds more than one type of Pikmin at once. It will finish producing the type of Pikmin it was already making before moving to a different type.
*In ''Pikmin'' and ''Pikmin 2'', when Pikmin are inside an an Onion, it slightly bounces in place, puffs of smoke come out from its legs, sparkling effects come up from the middle of its flower bumping sounds can be heard, and only in ''Pikmin 2'', Pikmin sounds can also be heard coming from it. A similar thing happens when there are any [[Purple Pikmin]] or [[White Pikmin]] inside the [[Hocotate Ship]].
*In ''Hey! Pikmin'', Olimar mentions climbing into the Onion to entertain himself.{{cite quote|I amuse myself by pretending to be a Pikmin and climbing up into the Onion or burying myself in the dirt.|Captain Olimar|his notes on the [[Anti Routine Screen]]}} Similarly, in ''Pikmin 4'', Collin says he took a peek inside the Onion.
*The Onions in ''Pikmin 3'' have colorful swirls that represent each available Pikmin type. These swirls follow specific patterns and movements, looping roughly every ten seconds.
*The Onions are discovered in entirely new scenarios in each game. In ''Pikmin'', they are first found half-buried in a hibernation-like state, while in ''Pikmin 2'', they are all active with their respective Pikmin types thriving. In ''Pikmin 3'', the Onions are in trouble and require rescuing from the leaders. In ''Pikmin 4'', Onions are found half-buried and, with the exception of the Red Onion, must be brought to the active Onion to combine into it. In addition, two Blue Onions and two Yellow Onions can be found, and each give 20 Pikmin if they're collected while already having that type's Onion be a part of the Master Onion. In ''Hey! Pikmin'', the Master Onion is fully available from the start, although doesn't actually have any function in ''Hey! Pikmin''{{'s}} gameplay. 
**The difference between the hibernation of ''Pikmin'' and activity of ''Pikmin 2'' is possibly meant to represent the Pikmin's newfound independence gained from helping Olimar escape back to [[Hocotate]] after his crash landing.
**''Hey! Pikmin'' is the only game to have the Onion readily accessible from the start, and already in the Master Onion form, but also have no function in-game.
**''Pikmin 4'' is the only game in the [[Pikmin series|''Pikmin'' series]] to feature more than one Onion per color, and that all Onions aren't required to be obtained to beat the game without extensive glitches.
*In ''Pikmin 3'', the Onions, based on their appearance, appear to be mechanical and not organic. However, in ''Pikmin 4'' the Onions appear to be biological, and the [[Piklopedia (Pikmin 4)|Piklopedia]] implies it.

== See also ==
*[[Pikmin family]]
*[[Pellet]]
*[[Carry]]
*[[S.S. Dolphin]]
*[[Hocotate ship]]
*[[S.S. Drake]]
*[[S.S. Shepherd]]
*[[Candypop Bud]]
*[[Flarlic]]
*[[Lumiknoll]]
*[[Candypop family]]

== Notes ==
{{refs}}

{{pikmin}}
{{Plants}}
{{featured|{{date|21|June|2013}}|{{date|25|December|2014}}}}

[[Category:Candypop family]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. series]]