Smoky Progg

Smoky Progg
File:Smoky Progg(PikminNPC).jpg
Appears in	Pikmin
Scientific name	Unknown
Family	Unknown
Areas	The Distant Spring
Challenge Mode stages	None
Attacks	Suffocates Pikmin, uproots sprouts

The Smoky Progg is a hidden boss found only in the first Pikmin game, and is considered one of the toughest. The only way to encounter it is to visit The Distant Spring on or before day 15. It resides in the large watery area located to the east of the landing site, in the center of a small group of islands. The Progg is in an egg and if it is touched in any way, even with Olimar, it will break out within four to eight seconds. When the egg breaks open the Progg will go directly to the landing site, ignoring Olimar and possibly walking through the Pikmin squad if not careful. Swarming the unopened egg with a large number of Pikmin can easily defeat the Progg, but does not produce any reward.

The Progg itself is a dark green and black creature with glowing white eyes, and constantly emits a cloud of poison gas that is poisonous to both the Pikmin and Olimar, which is usually behind the Progg. It is also able to uproot Pikmin sprouts. The Smoky Progg will make its way towards the landing site upon emerging, so it is necessary to kill it to avoid interference with the day's plans. It has an incredibly high defense, so it takes a while to kill. When killed, however, it drops a golden pearl which, if carried to an Onion, will produce 100 Pikmin seeds.

Olimar's belief that the creature is a malformed larval Mamuta is most likely based upon the fact that both creatures affect Pikmin on a different end of the same spectrum; the Mamuta plants the Pikmin and upgrades them to flower state, while the Progg uproots them and proceeds, then, to kill them.

Notes

Olimar's voyage log

“This hideous beast comes from a strange, hard egg. Its mollusk-like body is wrapped in an unpleasant gas that suffocates any Pikmin that inhales it. Attacking its head is successful, but it's best to eliminate in egg form.”

Reel notes

“Thought to be a malformed larval Mamuta.”

Strategy

File:Proggegg.JPG

The Progg inside its egg.

There are several methods of defeating the Smoky Progg, some riskier than others. Swarming is utterly useless and will only result in all the Pikmin dying. One method is to withdraw 100 Red Pikmin, wait until it uses its uprooting ability and becomes still, then using the C-stick and A to throw Pikmin onto its face as fast as possible (Precise aiming is required so that the Pikmin do not hit the Onion instead of the Progg). If done correctly, the Smoky Progg will be so distracted shaking off Pikmin that it will not be able to move and will eventually die. Another method is to bring out 10-20 reds at a time and continuously attack until it is dead; naturally this method takes longer, but may be less risky.

An alternate way to hurt it would be to use Yellow Pikmin with bomb-rocks, aiming well and not hitting the Progg on the rear with the Yellow that is thrown. Any Pikmin left walking in its trail will succumb to the poison. Occasionally, it will chase Olimar around and not give up until his Pikmin are dead or he gets far enough away, at which point the creature will ignore the player temporarily and it can be attacked again. A group of 15-20 yellow Pikmin with bomb-rocks can also be disbanded near the shore between the Progg's egg and the Onions, keeping the rest of the Pikmin stashed away to avoid excessive casualties. The Progg egg should be attacked with a single Blue Pikmin until the creature hatches, then the player must hightail back to the shore. The Progg will home in on the Yellows, and the combined explosions will instantly kill or at least severely damage it.

It is possible to take advantage of the fact that the Progg can get stuck behind an Onion's leg in battling it. After it completes its uprooting move, it can get stuck in this way from a few seconds up to several minutes. Pikmin can be tossed on its head without the enemy even being able to shake them off, and with luck, it can be killed before it frees itself from the glitch.

Glitches

In a rare case, if Olimar walks up to the egg with no Pikmin, circles the egg and tries to attack it, the egg won't take any damage, yet if he goes back to an Onion to get some Pikmin and return to the cluster of islands, the egg will be gone. The only way to reset the egg is to reset the entire day. Going to sunset and continuing to the next day will not bring the egg back.

In another rare case, there is a glitch where a Pikmin that is thrown at the egg right when it hatches will float in mid-air while doing its 'hitting' sequence, damaging the Progg. After about ten seconds the Pikmin will start vibrating faster and faster and eventually fall off.

The Progg is also especially likely to glitch the Pikmin counter for unknown reasons.

Artwork

• 

  The Smoky Progg, as seen on the Enemy reel.

• 

  The Smoky Progg at The Distant Spring.

External Links

• Video of awakening and fighting the Smoky Progg

This article was a featured article from 12th April 2011 to 19th August 2011.