Cradle of the Beast

Cradle of the Beast
Location	Giant's Hearth
Sublevels	3
Rescues	1
Treasures	12
Onions	0
Suggested Pikmin

The following article or section contains guides. The strategies shown are just suggestions.

The Cradle of the Beast is a cave in the Giant's Hearth in Pikmin 4. It is named for its boss, the Empress Bulblax, which in this cave gives birth to Bulborb Larvae. The second heaviest treasure in the game is found here, so at least 12 Purple Pikmin are required for carrying it. They are also useful for defeating the smaller enemies. This cave has  × 1,305 worth of treasure.

How to reach

The entrance to the Cradle of the Beast resides in the southern part of the Giant's Hearth, guarded by a Bloomcap Bloyster and surrounded by dried plants. There are two paths the player can take to reach this cave, both of which require using fire starters to reach. One path is just south of the Abandoned Throne base and is the shortest of the two. The player will have to deal with a sprinkler system and a Masterhop before they burn away the hay bales leading directly to the cave. The second path is longer but easier. The only obstacles in this path are a pond with Wolpoles that must be drained to get a fire starter to the dried plants on the eastern edge and a pushable box near a Bug-Eyed Crawmad den. The cave can then be accessed by burning the last set of dried plants surrounding it.

Notes

Louie's Voyage Log

“So many creatures came toward me at once, it was like an all-you-can-eat buffet. My belly's so full. I couldn't eat another bite.”

Sublevel 1

Map of sublevel 1.

• Treasures:
  •  Citrus Lump × 1
  •  Delectable Bouquet × 1 (inside Fiery Bulblax)
  •  Memory Fragment (Bottom-ish) × 1
  •  Gold Nugget × 15
• Enemies:
  •  Fiery Bulblax × 1
  •  Puffy Blowhog × 1
  •  Scorchcake × 1
  •  Waddlequaff × 2
• Obstacles:
  •  Dirt wall × 1
  •  Water spout × 2
  •  Bag × 2 (both have a weight of 30)
  •  Dried plant × 12 (3 groups of 2, 2 groups of 3)
  •  Iron fence × 1
• Tools:
  •  Bonfire altar × 1
  •  Unlit bonfire altar × 1
• Wild Pikmin
  •  Candypop Bud (Purple) × 2
  •  Red Pikmin × 10 (2 groups of 5, both groups sprouts)
• Others:
  •  Raw material pile (20 piece pile) × 1
  •  Egg × 2

Most rooms are blocked off by dried plants, so you are going need to use a fire starter to open up the paths. The lit fire starter can be found in the room north of where you start, with the sleeping Fiery Bulblax. The room might appear blocked off by dried plants, but there is a small gap between them and the wall for you and the Pikmin to walk in there. Before defeating the Bulblax, send Oatchi to remove the water spouts before waking the enemy. After that's done, flatten the paper bag (weighing 30) to gain access to the fire starter. Use the fire starter to burn all the nearby dried plants and collect the Delectable Bouquet. Head back to the base and pass through the iron fence, leading to a Waddlequaff. Defeat the Waddlequaff, and head the other direction to destroy the dirt wall. Grab a fire starter again (if it has ran out) and burn the line of dried plants opposite the dirt wall, leading to a Purple Candypop Bud. Convert some Pikmin into Purple Pikmin if you have none, and head back to the dirt wall. Wait until it is destroyed and enter the new segment. Defeat the Puffy Blowhog and the Scorchcake, and then flatten the nearby paper bag. Collect the Citrus Lump and the pile of Gold Nuggets and return back to the base. Use Oatchi to jump up the ledge towards the west and defeat the nearby Waddlequaff. Collect the Memory Fragment (Bottom-ish) and grab another fire starter (if it has ran out). Light the bonfire alter near the base, and return to the area you were just in and follow the path leading to a few dried plants. Burn them, use the nearby Purple Candypop Bud to gain more Purple Pikmin, and finally enter the next sublevel.

Sublevel 2

Map of sublevel 2.

• Treasures:
  •  Mouth of Lies × 1
  •  King of Meats × 1 (inside Porquillion)
  •  Gold Nugget × 20
• Enemies:
  •  Armored Cannon Larva × 2
  •  Porquillion × 1
  •  Skutterchuck × 3
  •  Wollyhop × 2
• Obstacles:
  •  Water spout × 2
  •  Paper bag × 1
  •  Breakable pot × 5 (1 group of 5)
  •  Iron fence × 3
• Tools:
  •  Clay mound (25 raw materials required) × 1
  •  Pup tunnel × 1
• Wild Pikmin:
  •  Candypop Bud (Purple) × 1
  •  Rock Pikmin × 5 (fighting an Armored Cannon Larva)
  •  Rock Pikmin × 5 (fighting a Porquillion)
• Others:
  •  Raw material pile (15 piece pile) × 1

See also: Porquillion strategy.

This sublevel is very dangerous for non-Rock Pikmin, so they are going to be the Pikmin you'll want to use. Dismiss all other Pikmin types and leave them at base where they will be safe. There are two paths you can start exploring, one through a pup tunnel towards the east, where only Oatchi can go, and one through some iron fences towards the west, where only you with the Pikmin can go. The pup tunnel leads to a room with an Armored Cannon Larva, some wild Rock Pikmin (if you brought less than 100 Pikmin), a place to build a clay mound, and some breakable pots that lead to a room with some Wollyhops. Through the iron fence is a room with Skutterchucks and a ramp that leads to the room with the Wollyhops. Playing as Oatchi, enter the pup tunnel and destroy the breakable pots. Then have him destroy the nearby water spouts. Switching back to the rookie Rescue Officer, enter the room full of Skutterchucks and defeat them, head up the ramp and defeat the Wollyhops. Using Rock Pikmin reduces the risk of any Pikmin losses, as they resist the crushing attacks from the enemies. Afterwards, push the paper bag down and enter the room with the Armored Cannon Larva. Defeat the enemy, and have your Pikmin build the clay mound. Once the mound is complete, walk up it and you'll see a Porquillion fighting some more wild Rock Pikmin. Defeat the Porquillion, which attack using spikes - something Rock Pikmin are immune to - and it will drop the King of Meats weighing 300. To collect it, at least 12 Purple Pikmin will be required. Before you collect it, head further north and another Armored Cannon Beetle will appear. Defeat the enemy and continue down the corridor leading to a Purple Candypop Bud. Convert any Pikmin into Purple Pikmin and return to the King of Meats. Collect the treasure and the nearby Gold Nuggets, then enter the next sublevel. If you are not able to collect the King of Meats, you might have to return at a later point with more Purple Pikmin, Oatchi after improving his Buff skill, or with more Pikmin after collecting more Flarlics.

Sublevel 3

Map of sublevel 3.

• Treasures:
  •  Stately Rubber Cutie × 5 (inside Empress Bulblax)
• Enemies:
  •  Empress Bulblax × 1
  •  Bulborb Larva × 9 (also spawns infinitely from the Empress Bulblax until it is defeated)
• Obstacles:
  •  Crystal wall × 1
  •  Dirt wall × 1
  •  Numbered gate × 1 (lowers after 1 Empress Bulblax is defeated)
• Others:
  •  Castaway × 1 (buried)

See also: Empress Bulblax strategy.

There's only one corridor that leads you to the boss of this cave, which will be inhabited by dozens of Bulborb Larvae. Be very careful not to let the larvae too close to the Pikmin since they are fast biters and will eat a Pikmin in only a second. If one manages to grab a Pikmin, you can still react fast and try to kill it before the Pikmin dies. Purple Pikmin are particularly good against them, thanks to their ground stomp killing all nearby larvae, although their slow descend make it harder to rescue Pikmin once they're grabbed. Additionally, the rookie Rescue Officer's punch will defeat the larvae in one hit. The boss is an Empress Bulblax, which will be birthing nonstop larvae that follow and slowly chase you and the Pikmin. Go towards the face of the Empress, and before you start to attack it, clear your surroundings of larvae so they won't eat any Pikmin as you battle. After being attacked for a moment, the Empress will shake off any Pikmin that are on her to the side and then begin doing her roll attack. Whistle early and quickly so the Pikmin escape before being flatten, and try to whistle them before she has a chance to shake them off. Of course, Rock Pikmin won't die from getting rolled over, so you can choose to only send Rocks to attack her, though they are very slow at doing damage. When she rolls, she will squash most, if not all, larvae that are coming towards you, so if you are getting approached by many of them, attack the boss so she begins rolling to clear the ground of the larvae. Continue to attack and dodge the boss and you will eventually defeat it, but be mindful of any larvae that may have stayed alive. Collect the five Stately Rubber Cuties that boss drops and head to the numbered gate, now lowered, to rescue the castaway. After you collected everything, head to the exit fan to leave the cave.

Gallery

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• 

  Oatchi being attacked by several Bulborb Larvae.

• 

  Oatchi looks at an egg.

• 

  A Porquillion sends its spikes upon Oatchi, while also being attacked by wild Rock Pikmin.

• 

  The rookie Rescue Officer takes the place of a castaway.

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  Oatchi is near a Scorchcake and Puffy Blowhog, both of which are trying to hurt it.

• 

  Oatchi near a Violet Candypop Bud.

• 

  Oatchi fighting a Fiery Bulblax.

• 

  Oatchi fighting two Wollyhops.

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  Oatchi fighting the Empress Bulblax wiht some Purple Pikmin.

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  The body of an Empress Bulblax, with Oatchi and some Pikmin near it.

Trivia

• Louie specifically mentions this cave ("something-something the Beast") in his fourth Fit for a Feast quest, when requesting a single Fiery Bulblax.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	けだもののゆりかご? Kedamono no Yurikago	Cradle of the Beast
Chinese (traditional)	野獸的搖籃 Yěshòu de Yáolán	Cradle of the Beast
Chinese (simplified)	野兽的摇篮 Yěshòu de Yáolán	Cradle of the Beast
Dutch	Wieg van het beest	Cradle of the beast
French	Pouponnière royale	Royal nursery
German	Kreaturenwiege	Creature Cradle
Italian	Culla della bestia	Cradle of the beast
Korean	짐승의 요람 Jimseung-ui Yoram	Cradle of the Beast
Portuguese	Berço da fera	Cradle of the beast
Spanish	Cuna de la bestia	Cradle of the beast

See also

• Giant's Hearth
• Empress Bulblax
• Frontier Cavern