Pyroclasmic Slooch

Pyroclasmic Slooch
Appears in	Pikmin 3
Scientific name	Unknown
Family	Unknown
Areas	Pikmin 3 Tropical Wilds (x4) Distant Tundra (x4)
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages	None
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages	None
Side Story days	None
Bingo Battle stages	None
Attacks	Eats Pikmin

The Pyroclasmic Slooch is an enemy introduced in Pikmin 3, first shown at Nintendo's E3 2012 presentation. It is a slug-like creature that leaves behind a dangerous trail of fire.

They are black in appearance, with stripes of yellow looping around their body in a pattern resembling that of flowing lava. They have two antennae near the top of their cone-shaped bodies. The Pyroclasmic Slooch is also covered in a combustible slime which it leaves behind as it moves. When killed, the Slooch shrinks considerably and loses it's bright red stripes. It will also cease to burn, allowing all types of Pikmin to carry it.

Notes

Pikmin 3 Website

"These slow-moving creatures use fire to keep away potential predators. They also use their tongues to reel in prey."

Pikmin 3 Prima Guide

"Pyroclasmic Slooches are flame-covered creatures that produce trails of fire as they move around an area, In addition to these very effective defense qualities, these creatures are able to devour any Pikmin standing directly in front of them. When battling a Pyroclasmic Slooch, use a squad of Red Pikmin to charge the creature from the rear, or throw Red Pikmin onto its back."

Behavior

The Pyroclasmic Slooch's only threatening quality is its fire. It has very few hit points, moves at a sluggish pace, and its tongue attack is relatively slow, predictable, and can get only a few Pikmin at a time. Red Pikmin are the only type of Pikmin that can be used to consistently damage it when it sports its coat of fire. If a Slooch is lead into water, however, it can easily be attacked by any type. Though it is not too threatening when it is confronted directly, the Slooch's trail of fire can became a dangerous hazard for any non-red Pikmin carrying items anywhere, as they will not attempt to avoid it. After being defeated, the creature's body will shrink and the trail of fire will linger behind it for a few seconds before fading.

Strategy

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

The Slooch is easy prey for Red Pikmin. Due to the creature's low speed and incredibly weak defense, you can take it out with ease with only a few Red Pikmin. It may try to shake them off, but it will likely not succeed in this provided you have at least five Pikmin on the creature, and if you swarm it with a group of 10 or more, it will likely not even be able to begin this animation. Provided you have Red Pikmin with you, its best to defeat any Pyroclasmic Slooch the first time you see it, as overlooking it may result in it catching a few Pikmin as you pass by or its fire trail later harming Pikmin on their way back to the Onion.

Other types of Pikmin cannot attack the creature due to its coat of fire, though Rock Pikmin will cause impact damage if thrown at it. They will also survive if called back before burning to death.

The captains can actually damage the Slooch, however, you must position yourself just right; the punch range is short, but getting too close will result in a damaging burn, provided you don't have the Scorch Guard. If done correctly, you can defeat a Pyroclasmic Slooch relatively quickly with only Captains, due to its few hit points.

Gallery

• Pyroplasmic Slooch.jpg

  Two Pyroclasmic Slooches being attacked by Charlie and his group of Red Pikmin.

• Pyroplasmic slooch.JPG

  A Pyroclasmic Slooch in the demo, showing the beta name, Pyroplasmic Slooch.

• UE1.png

  Alph and group of Rock Pikmin near a group of Pyroclasmic Slooches.

• Zoom Pyroplasmic Slooch.png

  Zooming in on a Pyroclasmic Slooch.

• 

  Pyroclasmic Slooch at the Distant Tundra.

Trivia

• It is possible that the name may be a pun of a pyroclastic flow, a fast moving current of hot gas or rock commonly found in volcanoes. This would make sense as these appear to be made of magma.
• Its beta name was "Pyroplasmic Slooch," a one-letter difference between its final name.