Pearly Clamclamp

Pearly Clamclamp
Appears in	Pikmin
Scientific name	Lapis regrettabilis
Family	Unknown
Areas	The Impact Site
Challenge Mode stages	The Forest of Hope, The Forest Navel, The Distant Spring
Attacks	Eats Pikmin

The Pearly Clamclamp (ヤマシンジュ "Yamashinju") is an enemy in Pikmin. This large bivalve has a pinkish shell and a small pearl surrounded by a clear blue membrane. When Pikmin are thrown on it, they will attack the membrane to reveal the pearl. Its only defense is acting like a Venus flytrap. The Clamclamp will stretch its mouth wide open, creaking like a poorly-oiled hinge, and chomp. When it does this, you need to call the Pikmin so they won't be eaten. This is obviously a very simple predatory tactic for the creature. You will have to sum up the remaining skill in you to destroy the membrane and get the fifty Pikmin prize without losing any Pikmin. If the Clamclamp is on land, two bomb-rocks can also be used for a quick and easy kill. This creature is one of the two second leading creatures in Pikmin production, succeeded by the Smoky Progg and tied with the Armored Cannon Beetle.

Oddly, the Clamclamp has been known to take slight damage for a short time after the Pikmin have been called back, meaning that if the creature is already near death, the player can simply withdraw his or her Pikmin and the Clamclamp will die on its own.

Beware, the Pearly Clamclamp can eat Pikmin after its death so be sure to call your Pikmin back the second you kill it.

Notes

Olimar's voyage log

“One would expect this creature to be a mollusk of the sea, but the fact that it is also found in the forest is typical of this planet's oddities. The pearl that rests inside appears to be one of great value, but it is actually a trap.”

Reel notes

“Though beautiful, this mollusk's pearls are thin and fragile.”

Guide Book

"To lure then trap creatures that are attracted to small shiny objects, the Ploister turns undigested foodstuffs into round beads with the same secretion that makes up its shell. The pearl-like substance has a layering that is thinner and weaker then a real Pearl, reducing it in value."

Locations

The enemy as seen at The Impact Site.

Story mode

They only appear in The Impact Site. There are three and one is submerged in water and another has the Positron Generator.

Challenge Mode

These are the locations of the Pearly Clamclamp in Challenge Mode. These places are in specific hard to reach places and surrounded by enemies.

• The Forest of Hope: one where the Radiation Canopy is in the main game, and another where the Burrowing Snagrets are in the main game.
• The Forest Navel: where the Libra is found.
• The Distant Spring: where the Massage Machine is, where the Gluon Drive is, and where the Chronos Reactor is.

Strategy

Pikmin

There are three ways to kill the Pearly Clamclamp:

• The first and most dangerous way to defeat this enemy is to gather about 20 to 30 Pikmin and throw them into the mouth of the Pearly Clamclamp, then when the Pearly Clamclamp starts to open its mouth wider call them back.
• The second and easiest way is to gather up 2 Yellow Pikmin, get them bomb-rocks, and the throw them at the Pearly Clamclamp at a reasonable distance and once they've thrown their bomb-rocks, repeat the process.
• The third way is probably the most time consuming, but is the best for zero-death challenges. Bring about 5 Pikmin (any type for Pearly Clamclamps on land), then throw 3 to 5 in the mouth. When the creaking sound of the Clamclamp stops, call the Pikmin back. Repeat until the membrane covering the treasure (seed, machine part, etc.) is defeated.

Note that it can still attack after its pearl has been taken out.

With enough throwing speed, it is possible to defeat the enemy in a single cycle (i.e. before it closes its shell the first time), although this is mostly only feasible in tool-assisted superplays.

Captains

There is only one way to kill a Pearly Clamclamp and only one location in the whole game. Go to the Distant Spring in Challenge Mode. Then, go to the area where Submerged Castle is in Pikmin 2. There is a Yellow Wollywog nearby. Lure it right next to the Clamclamp, and lay down right next to it. After a few attempts, you'll be in the Clamclamp. It will try to shut on you, like how a Pikmin would be on the Clamclamp. Attack the pearl with your captain's punch then lay down if the Clamclamp and/or the Yellow Wollywog tries to attack. If you sucessfully do all these tactics, you will have defeated the membrane surrounding the pearl. Then get out of it, as the enemies will still try to attack. It was originally thought that this could only be done on the New Play Control! version of Pikmin, but they can be done on both games.

Technical information

Creature

Pikmin technical information (?)
Internal name	shell
HP	500

Pearl

Pikmin technical information (?)
Internal name	pearl
HP	N/A

Positron Generator

Pikmin technical information (?)
Internal name	rocpe
HP	N/A

Gallery

• Pearly Clam Clamp(PikminNPC).jpg

  Artwork from New Play Control! Pikmin.

Trivia

• In New Play Control! Pikmin's Enemy reel and in the Olimar's voyage log, The Pearly Clamclamp is named "Clampshell". It is unknown whether this is an inaccuracy or an intended change.
• When you take out its pearl, interestingly, it makes the sound the Honeywisp makes when hit and a spirit floats up yet the Pearly Clamclamp can still attack and eat your Pikmin.
• Using an Action Replay to access a model test menu in Pikmin, the Pearly Clamclamp's code name is "shell", while its pearl is simply called "pearl".
• It is the only enemy that has a ship part that you can see before you kill it.