Bomb rock

Official Art of a Bomb Rock.

Bomb Rocks are explosive rocks in the Pikmin games. They are used as an explosive force or weapon in the games they are found in, both for the player and by certain enemies.

Differences Between Games

Pikmin

In Pikmin, the bomb rocks are much smaller than in future games. They can be carried only by Yellow Pikmin, where their main purpose is to destroy Reinforced Walls. They can also be used to defeat enemies, and are particularly useful for doing so with bosses. When an enemy eats a Pikmin that is holding a bomb rock, it explodes inside the enemy, which will harm or even kill it. They are usually found inside tin cans, pipes, or large animal skulls. If there are idle Pikmin near the spot a Yellow Pikmin leaves its bomb rock for detonation, the thrown Yellow Pikmin will "call" these idle ones to him as he runs back to Olimar. The idle Pikmin will join Olimar, exactly as if the captain himself had whistled them.

Pikmin 2

In Pikmin 2, they are much larger and cannot be carried by Yellow Pikmin, but can be detonated by attacking them or by coming over to where it falls. In certain caves, you can trick nearby Emperor Bulblaxes into swallowing them, which will stun the beast and deal considerable damage. Bomb rocks are also produced by Careening Dirigibugs. Volatile Dweevils carry bomb rocks on their backs, presumably for protection, even though they themselves are killed in the blast.  Bomb rocks can even be petrified, so do that if you are in a pinch, but keep in mind that they will not release nectar or spray like many beasts do if killed in that state. In the 2-player battle stage Hostile Territory, bomb rocks can be picked up and thrown by your captain, which you can use to defeat enemies, or deal a serious blow to your opponent's Pikmin count. To perform this action, run into a bomb rock and then press A again to throw it, or B to drop it.

Pikmin 3

In Pikmin 3, Bomb Rocks are in between the sizes of Pikmin and Pikmin 2. In this game, all types of Pikmin are capable of carrying them. Though Pikmin may once again wield the explosives, they will now instantly drop the Bomb Rocks upon be thrown, as opposed to them waiting to be thrown at a wall or an enemy, as they do in the first game. This makes them harder to be transported. Pikmin will also never throw bomb rocks at enemies, like they did in Pikmin. If an enemy seizes a Pikmin that is holding a bomb rock, they will grab/eat the bomb rock, (sometimes even sparing the Pikmin) which will explode and deal a massive amount of damage to the creature. They also have a stronger blast than they did in the first game, since it only takes one blast to kill a Red Bulborb, whereas it takes at least two in the first game. In this game, Bomb Rocks can also be used to instantly unearth burried items by exploding them near said buried item, instantly destroy Dirt Walls, and 2 of them can also take out a Crystal Wall. While they are very useful items in this game, the player must take caution, as any on-screen sleeping enemies will be awoken by the blast. Bomb Rocks are scattered across the maps in Story Mode, and are in Bingo Battle as a possible outcome of the cherry roulette. Proper Bomb Rock usage often is a deciding factor in getting a high rank in Mission Mode stages.

Instant Explosion

A Bomb Rock Exploding.

Bomb Rocks will explode with a shorter fuse when a Purple Pikmin is thrown directly onto them: be warned, though, that the Pikmin in question is most likely going to be engulfed in the blast. Using a one-hit kill code from game-enhancing devices like Action Replay will also cause the bomb rock to explode instantly, as its health is instantly diminished.

Minor Glitch

In Pikmin 2, there is a small glitch regarding bomb rocks. In places where a Bomb rock falls near a Mitite, such as the sixth sublevel of the Bulblax Kingdom, there is a chance of the rock being launched back into the air if it lands on one, landing somewhere else on the Sublevel. It is also possible in the first two games that a yellow pikmin, when picking up a bomb rock, will attempt to pick it up, but will simply continue doing the pick-up animation. It will just stand there, lifting it up and dropping it until you call the pikmin back without the bomb rock. You can then throw the pikmin back and it should then pick it up fine. 

Controlling

The controls when dealing with bomb-rock-yielding Yellow Pikmin are a bit complex. Pikmin holding bomb-rocks will not interact with objects when C / Paddown is used. Throwing Pikmin with bomb-rocks will make them idle, but ready to attack. If an enemy is close, they'll step back and throw the bomb-rock at it. When called back using the whistle, they'll drop and activate the bomb, and run towards Olimar. If, however, one wants the Pikmin to join the party without dropping and activating the bomb, one should touch them directly. When called to the yellow Onion, Pikmin yielding bomb-rocks will drop them without detonating them. When using X / to dismiss the Pikmin, those carrying bomb-rocks will stay in a different group from the other Yellow Pikmin. When called back in any way after being dismissed, they'll keep their bomb-rock and join the group. In the New Play Control! version, switching to a different Pikmin while holding one (i.e. pressing when holding ) will treat Yellow Pikmin as being different from bomb-rock-holding Yellow Pikmin. Also in this version, whistling a thrown bomb-carrying Pikmin will not make it drop its bomb.

Curiously, when a Yellow Pikmin throws a bomb-rock, it'll warn nearby Pikmin to rejoin Olimar in order to stay away from the blast. However, if one throws a bomb-rock-holding Pikmin next to a group of idle Yellow Pikmin, and calls the bomb-rock-yielding Pikmin back with the whistle (i.e. make it drop the bomb-rock), it will not call the idle Yellow Pikmin.

In the Pikmin 2 2-Player Battle stage Hostile Territory, bomb-rocks can be picked up and thrown by a captain, which can be used to defeat enemies, or deal a serious blow to the opponent's Pikmin count. To perform this, one merely needs to run into a bomb-rock for around one second, and then press A / to throw it (the distance is around twice as far as the reach of the cursor), or B / to drop it. In both cases, the bomb-rock will be activated. In every other point in the game where bomb-rocks are found, they can be activated by being attacked, provoked (in the case of Volatile Dweevils), or dropped (in the case of Careening Dirigibugs).

In Pikmin 3, the bomb-rocks return, now able to be held by Pikmin once more. They can be found inside eggs, Dirt Mounds, or in Mission Mode and Bingo Battle, Medusal Slurkers. All Pikmin types can now carry bomb-rocks. They can once again be used to destroy stone walls and defeat enemies. This time, all Pikmin are capable of carrying them. Controlling the way Pikmin behave with the bomb-rocks is much simpler in this game - the Pikmin will always keep hold of its bomb until it is thrown, in which case it will drop the rock exactly where it landed. When dismissed, any bomb-rock wielding Pikmin will separate from the group of their color, making it easier to get only the bombers.

Bomb-rock locations in Pikmin

Story mode

• The Impact Site: Inside the box that the Pikmin have to push on the first day.
• The Forest of Hope: In a tin can, near the great plain with Red Bulborbs, in another one near the place where the Yellow Onion is originally found. The last can is in the place where the Nova Blaster is found. On the first day the area is visited, some are found out of the cans, such as in front of the wall closing in between the Yellow Onion and the Whimsical Radar.
• The Forest Navel: In a pipe, near the pool where the Number 1 Ionium Jet is found. There's another one next to the place the Gravity Jumper lies.
• The Distant Spring: In a giant skull, inside a hollow tree stump guarded by a Spotty Bulbear and in the beach where the Massage Machine is found. There is another skull near the pool with Wogpoles to the west.
• The Final Trial: In a pipe, on a high place to the right of the starting point. There are three other pipes in the cliffs surrounding the arena where Emperor Bulblax is fought. Overall, there are 50 bomb-rocks in this stage.

Challenge Mode

• The Impact Site: Inside the box that the Pikmin have to push on the first day.
• The Forest of Hope: In a tin can, near the place where the Yellow Onion is originally found. There are also some in the ledge that leads to the arena where the Armored Cannon Beetle was.
• The Forest Navel: There are no bomb-rocks in the level.
• The Distant Spring: There are no bomb-rocks in the level.
• The Final Trial: In the walkway around the Emperor Bulblax arena where the pipes are normally. There aren't any inside pipes.

Bomb-rock locations in Pikmin 2

Story mode

• Subterranean Complex: On almost every floor, there is at least one bomb-rock or bomb-rock-related enemy (Volatile Dweevil or Careening Drigibug).
• Bulblax Kingdom: On some floors, especially near buried or partially buried treasure, bomb-rocks may spawn.
• Cavern of Chaos: On sublevels 1 and 4, they are present, and in the latter, can be used to defeat Emperor Bulblax.
• Submerged Castle: Many bomb-rocks and Careening Dirigibugs are present on Sublevels 2 and 4.
• Hole of Heroes: Bomb-rocks, Careening Dirigibugs, and Volatile Dweevils are found on sublevel 2.
• Frontier Cavern: Bomb-rocks can spawn on sublevel 3.
• Shower Room: Some Volatile Dweevils can be in the pipes on Sublevel 6.
• Dream Den: Bomb-rocks and Careening Dirigibugs are found on Sublevel 3.

Challenge Mode

• Concrete Maze: Many bomb-rocks and Volatile Dweevils fall from the ceiling.
• Abduction Den: Careening Dirigibugs can spawn bomb-rocks.
• Cave of Pain: Many Volatile Dweevils and bomb-rocks fall from the ceiling.
• Bully Den: Two Volatile Dweevils are found in the pipe structures.

2-Player Battle

• Hostile Territory: Many bomb-rocks are littered here. Interestingly, captains can pick up bomb-rocks and use them.

Note: a Volatile Dweevil can appear in any 2-player stage as a roulette item.

Bomb-rock locations on Pikmin 3

To do: Add locations. Care to do so?

In Pikmin 3, Bomb Rocks are commonly found in Dirt Mounds, and need Pikmin to dig them out.

Technical information

Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Internal name			bomb
Global properties (List)
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
s000	friction(not used)	Friction	0.5
s001	wallReflection	Unknown (wall bounce speed multiplier?)	0.5
s002	faceDirAdjust	Unknown	0.25
s003	accel	Acceleration	0.1
s004	bounceFactor	Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?)	0.3
fp00	ライフ	HP	4.5
fp01	マップとの当り	Unknown (related to slopes)	25
fp02	ダメージスケールXZ	Horizontal damage scale	0.2
fp03	ダメージスケールY	Vertical damage scale	0.25
fp04	ダメージフレーム	Damage scale duration	0.35
fp05	質量	Unknown (weight?)	0.5
fp06	速度	Move speed	30
fp08	回転速度率	Rotation acceleration	0.1
fp09	テリトリー	Territory radius	300
fp10	ホーム範囲	"Home" radius	30
fp11	プライベート距離	"Private" radius	30
fp12	視界距離	Sight radius	700
fp13	視界角度	FOV	180
fp14	探索距離	Unknown (exploration radius?)	0
fp15	探索角度	Unknown (exploration angle?)	0
fp16	振り払い率	Successful shake rate	1
fp17	振り払い力	Shake knockback	0
fp18	振り払いダメージ	Shake damage	0
fp19	振り払い範囲	Shake range	0
fp20	攻撃可能範囲	Unknown (shock attack max range?)	30
fp21	攻撃可能角度	Unknown (shock attack max angle?)	15
fp22	攻撃ヒット範囲	Unknown (attack hit range?)	90
fp23	攻撃ヒット角度	Unknown (attack hit angle?)	15
fp24	攻撃力	Attack damage	10
fp25	視界高	Unknown (height visibility?)	50
fp26	探索高	Unknown (exploration height?)	0
fp27	ライフの高さ	HP wheel height	35
fp28	回転最大速度	Rotation speed	10
fp29	警戒時間	Unknown (warning time?)	0
fp30	警戒ライフ	Unknown	0
fp31	ライフ回復率	Regeneration rate	0
fp32	LOD半径	Off-camera radius	25
fp33	マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定	Collision processing radius	25
fp34	ピクミンとのあたり	Pikmin damage radius	25
fp35	石化時間	Petrification duration	1
fp36	ヒップドロップダメージ	Purple Pikmin drop damage	10
fp37	地震気絶確立	Purple Pikmin stun chance	0 (0%)
fp38	地震気絶時間	Purple Pikmin stun time	10
ip01	振り払い打撃Ａ	Shake mode 1 – hit count	1
ip02	振り払い張付１	Shake mode 1 – Pikmin requirement	1
ip03	振り払い打撃Ｂ	Shake mode 2 – hit count	2
ip04	振り払い張付２	Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement	2
ip05	振り払い打撃Ｃ	Shake mode 3 – hit count	5
ip06	振り払い張付３	Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement	3
ip07	振り払い打撃Ｄ	Shake mode 4 – hit count	10
Specific properties
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
fp01	敵へのダメージ	Enemy damage	500
fp02	爆風範囲高さ+-	Unknown (vertical explosion radius?)	50
ip01	ダメージリミット	Unknown (max damage multiplier?)	1
ip02	誘爆リミット	Unknown	15

Gallery

• Yellow pikmin with bomb rock.jpg

  A Yellow Pikmin with a Bomb Rock.

• BombrocksCan.jpg

  A few Bomb-rocks in a can.

• Pikmin2BombRock.jpg

  A Bomb Rock that is about to explode in Pikmin 2.

• Pikmin-pellet-bomb-rock-screenshot-big.jpg

  Olimar standing next to some bomb rocks.

• 

  A Bomb Rock as seen in Pikmin 3.

• Screen Shot 2013-06-23 at 3.39.22 PM.png

  A Blue Pikmin carrying a Bomb Rock.

• Screenshot 1.png

  A Red Pikmin using a bomb rock on a Red Bulborb in Pikmin 3.

• Guirlande-de-pommes-de-pin-1.jpg

  Cypress cones.

• ZlCfzRE4WRIj4 RYWN.jpg

Trivia

• It is suggested that Red Pikmin and Blue Pikmin could once carry bomb rocks along with the Yellow Pikmin in the original Pikmin. All Pikmin gain this ability in Pikmin 3.
• In Pikmin, if a Yellow Pikmin is holding a Bomb Rock when it is called to the Onion, it will leave it beneath the pillar of light.
• Bomb Rocks may have been inspired by cypress cones.

Unused Pikmin Textures Gallery

• Redleafbomb.png
• Redbudbomb.png
• Redflowerbomb.png
• Blueleafbomb.png
• Bluebudbomb.png
• Blueflowerbomb.png

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Portuguese (NoE)	Rocha-bomba	Bomb-rock	Translation taken from the Pikmin instruction manual.