Clay

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Russ explaining how clay works.

Clay is a material in Pikmin 4 that can be used to build structures in areas and caves. To build with clay, Pikmin must be sent to the base of a structure, from which they will walk to the S.S. Beagle and take out a single piece of clay each, with each piece of clay converted from 1 raw material. Then they will carry the clay to the site of the structure, smack it with their stem to mold it, and throw the piece towards the structure.

If the player does not have enough raw materials, any Pikmin that goes to the S.S. Beagle to receive clay will stand under the ship, waiting for the clay to be available. Calling a Pikmin carrying a piece of clay will have it drop it, which makes it disappear, and be refunded as raw material instantly.

If Pikmin deliver part of the clay needed for a structure, and there are other Pikmin with the remaining clay on the way, they will wait on or by the structure; these Pikmin can be whistled back into the squad freely. If a structure doesn't end up being completed immediately by the group of Pikmin assigned to the task, the necessary amount of those Pikmin will return to the ship to get more clay until the required amount is met. Once all necessary pieces have been delivered, the structure will glow and then harden, becoming usable by the player.

Clay structures appear in both Dandori Challenges and Olimar's Shipwreck Tale. Both modes use their own raw material counts, separate from those of the main adventure, so constructing those structures requires collecting raw material found within those challenges.

Clay bridge

A completed clay bridge in Pikmin 4.

A clay bridge is a bridge made of clay. These allow gaps to be crossed. Clay pieces in bridges are laid in a grid, each row being made of 6 pieces, 4 as the floor and 2 as walls. Some clay bridges sit at an angle while unbuilt, and cannot be walked off the unfinished end until the bridge is finished. Bridges must be built from the side the pre-existing clay is emerging from.

Locations

Sun-Speckled Terrace

• Next to the Rugged Scaffold base, connecting the base directly to the area next to the Hectic Hollows. Requires 22 clay.
• North of the Rugged Scaffold base, connecting the main area of the terrace to the far corner, where the Distant Summit base is located. Requires 39 clay.
• On top of a plateau next to the Meandering Slope base, allowing access to the Dandori Battle cave. Requires 23 clay.

Blossoming Arcadia

• North of the Fragrant Ravine base, connecting the landing site to the Misshapen Pond base. Requires 40 clay.
• Next to the Dandori Battle cave, connecting it to the Drafty Gallery. Requires 29 clay.
• Next to the Sunwashed Plateau base, granting access to the west section of the area. Requires 33 clay.
• Drafty Gallery sublevel 3: A bridge must be completed to reach the next sublevel. Requires 29 clay.

Serene Shores

• Leading to the Dandori Battle cave. Requires 17 clay.
• West of the Water's Edge base, over the entrance to the Engulfed Castle, granting easy access to the west side of the area for non-Blue Pikmin during high tide, although the lower route is open to Pikmin during low tide. Requires 27 clay.
• East of the Water's Edge base, blocked by hydro jelly and partially submerged during high tide, allows treasures to be easily collected from the deep water. Requires 34 clay.
• Seafloor Resort sublevel 3: A bridge next to the base can be built to allow access for the captain to reach the switch to turn off the sublevel's iron bars. Requires 27 clay.

Giant's Hearth

• Next to the Dream Home connecting it to the Abandoned Throne base. Requires 40 clay.
• Ultimate Testing Range sublevel 1: A bridge connects the north and south halves of the sublevel, allowing treasures to be retrieved to the S.S. Beagle. Although it is next to the S.S. Beagle, Pikmin must assemble it from the far side. Requires 27 clay.
• Ultimate Testing Range sublevel 3: A bridge connects the central part of the sublevel to the S.S. Beagle, allowing a route for the north treasures to take regardless of the direction of the moving walkways. Must be built from the side opposite the S.S. Beagle. Requires 23 clay.

Primordial Thicket

• The bridge for which the Maple Bridge base is named for is on top of the plateau to its south, guarded by a Flighty Joustmite and some sticky mold. Requires 75 clay.
• The Mud Pit sublevel 2: A bridge next to the second landing site allows access to the hole to the next sublevel. Requires 34 clay.

Dandori Challenges

• Strategic Freezeway: A bridge connects the S.S. Beagle to the segment directly opposite, containing the 50 nugget pile. Requires 25 clay.

Olimar's Shipwreck Tale

• Sun-Speckled Terrace:
  • A bridge connects the Ancient Arches to the Rugged Scaffold, in the same location as a bridge in the main story, but must be built from the opposite side. Requires 11 clay.
  • A bridge north of the Meandering Slope grants the most convenient access to the Puffy Blowhog that has ingested an Ionium Jet. Requires 34 clay.
• Blossoming Arcadia:
  • A bridge connects the area with the Blue Onion to the Meandering Slope. A bridge existed in the same place in the main game, although this one must be built from the opposite side. Requires 21 clay.
• Serene Shores:
  • A bridge to the west of the Water's Edge connects it to the west area of the map. This bridge is in the same place as one in the main game, and both bridges are built from the same direction. Requires 21 clay.

Clay mound

A clay mound is a ramp made of clay. These allow high ledges to be ascended. Clay pieces are thrown on from the base, gradually forming a pile. Mounds must be build from their base.

Locations

Sun-Speckled Terrace

• Aquiferous Summit sublevel 2: A mound must be built to reach the exit vent at the top of the sublevel. Requires 22 clay.

Blossoming Arcadia

• Sightless Passage sublevel 1: A mound must be completed to reach the exit vent. Requires 20 clay.

Serene Shores

• Below-Grade Discotheque sublevel 1: A mound must be built to reach the next sublevel and the Sphere of Truth. Requires 15 clay.
• Engulfed Castle sublevel 4: A clay mound east of the Beagle allows easy access to the east side of the map, although the same area can be reached by circling around from the west. Requires 21 clay.

Hero's Hideaway

• A clay mound can be built in order to climb up the bottom of the two stairs separating the north and south halves of the map. It must be built from the bottom side, despite the closest base being on the top side. Requires 21 clay.
• Frozen Inferno sublevel 2: A mound must be built to access the top room of the sublevel, which contains the entrance to the next level. Cold air requires either Ice Pikmin to build the mound, or the bonfire altars be lit to allow other Pikmin to complete it safely. Requires 20 clay.
• Plunder Palace sublevel 5: A mound must be built in order to connect the Giant Breadbug dragging around the leafling to the rest of the stage, and thus the S.S. Beagle. Requires 22 clay.

Giant's Hearth

• North of the Line of Logs base, allowing access to the main area, particularly the Arachnode blocking access to the Abandoned Throne base. Requires 25 clay.
• East of the Abandoned Throne base, and must be built to reach the Ultimate Testing Range. Requires 38 clay.
• Cradle of the Beast sublevel 2: A mound must be built to reach the Porquillon with the King of Meats, as well as the entrance to the next sublevel. Requires 25 clay.

Primordial Thicket

• In the north of the area, surrounded by sticky mold, granting access to a Flarlic and, when open, the Cavern for a King. Requires 15 clay.

Dandori Challenges

• Trial of the Sage Leaf – 2nd Story: Snow Problem: A clay mound next to the S.S. Beagle must be built to reach the Sage Leaf and complete the mission. Requires 45 clay.

Olimar's Shipwreck Tale

• Sun-Speckled Terrace:
  • A clay mound next to the Rugged Scaffold can be built as one choice on the route to reach the Flarlic on the highest point of the map. Requires 20 clay.
• Blossoming Arcadia:
  • A clay mound south of the Fragrant Ravine allows access to the Burgeoning Spiderwort, and the shortest route to the Omega Stabilizer. Requires 24 clay.
• Serene Shores:
  • A climbing wall on top of the Sand Keep gives access to an Automatic Gear. A wall exists in the same location in the main story. Requires 11 clay.
• Hero's Hideaway:
  • A clay mound in the northwest corner of the map allows access to an Extraordinary Bolt and the button required to turn on the fan leading to the Man-at-Legs, although in order to build it, the switch on top of the lit stove must be pressed by a Red Pikmin. Requires 20 clay.

Climbing wall

A climbing wall is a vertical wall made of clay. These can be climbed by the leader and by Pikmin, but cannot be climbed by Oatchi. Clay pieces are thrown on from the base in a grid pattern, but the squares in the grid pattern do not correspond with individual pieces of raw material. Like mounds, climbing walls must be built from their base.

Locations

Sun-Speckled Terrace

• In the water next to the Rugged Scaffold base, allowing access to the Blue Onion. Requires 15 clay.
• Hectic Hollows sublevel 1: A climbing wall must be built to access a large portion of the sublevel. Requires 14 clay.

Blossoming Arcadia

• On the far-east side of the map, a short walk from the Misshapen Pond base, allows access to the Kingdom of Beasts. Requires 11 clay.

Serene Shores

• Near the Sand Keep base, allowing access to the Blue Onion. Requires 13 clay.

Hero's Hideaway

• On the south wall, on the west side, allowing access to the Doppelgänger's Den. Requires 30 clay.
• Doppelgänger's Den sublevel 3: A climbing wall north of the second site for the S.S. Beagle allows easy access to the moving walkway buttons and the Pocked Airhead. Requires 15 clay.

Giant's Hearth

• On the north side of the central hearth, allowing access to the treasures on the top. Pikmin are unable to gather treasures until the wall is built. Requires 7 clay.
• Dream Home sublevel 1: A climbing wall must be built in order to access the east side of the sublevel, from the north side. Requires 15 clay.

Primordial Thicket

• Near the Puffstool, best accessible via a narrow tunnel from the Autumnal Gully base, allowing access to the plateau on which the Golden Vaulting Table sits. Requires 21 clay.
• The Mud Pit sublevel 1: A climbing wall allows access to the two Winged Candypop Buds on the central plateau. Requires 13 clay.

Dandori Challenges

• Oasis of Order: A climbing wall allows easy access to collect the Love Nugget, Anxious Sprout and 30 nuggets on the top plateau immediately next to the S.S. Beagle. Requires 15 clay.

Olimar's Shipwreck Tale

• Blossoming Arcadia:
  • A climbing wall behind some dried plants allows access to Moss. Requires 7 clay.

Clay valve

A clay valve is a hexagonal valve handle made from clay, starting out as a misshapen pile of clay pieces while unbuilt. Once completed, 12 Pikmin can work together to rotate it anti-clockwise to turn off a sprinkler.

Locations

Blossoming Arcadia

• Between the Sunwashed Plateau and the Burgeoning Spiderworts. Turns off the sprinklers next to the Wayward Moon. Requires 16 clay.

Serene Shores

• Seafloor Resort sublevel 1: A clay valve opposite the base can be built to turn off the sprinklers near the cave exit. Requires 12 clay.
• Below-Grade Discotheque sublevel 4: A valve can be built to turn on the sprinklers and soak a sizzling floor, allowing Pikmin to retrieve the Sphere of Beginnings. Requires 16 clay.

Giant's Hearth

• North of the Cradle of the Beast. Turns off the sprinklers near the Masterhops, allowing quick passage between the Line of Logs and Abandoned Throne areas, and also exposing a bonfire altar that cannot otherwise be lit. Requires 16 clay.
• In the west. Turns off a sprinkler blocking access to a Dandori Challenge, and cannot be reached by non-Blue Pikmin. Since there are dried plants here, it must be turned off to bring over a fire starter. Requires 16 clay.
• In the north, behind a clipboard north of the Abandoned Throne and near a Dandori Challenge. Turns off the sprinkler surrounding the Bug-Eyed Crawmad to its immediate south. Requires 16 clay.

Gallery

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  A group of Pikmin building a clay bridge.

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  An unbuilt clay bridge.

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  An unbuilt climbing wall.

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  An unbuilt clay valve.

Names in other languages

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Pikmin 4. Particularly: Fill in the names in other languages, for the main languages at least.

Clay

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ネンド? Nendo	Clay
Italian	Argilla	Clay
Portuguese	Argila	Clay

Clay bridge

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ネンド橋? Nendo Hashi	Clay bridge
Italian	Ponte d'argilla	Clay bridge

Clay mound

Language	Name	Meaning

Climbing wall

Language	Name	Meaning

Clay valve

Language	Name	Meaning

See also

• Raw material
• Fragment