Waterwraith
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Appears in | Pikmin 2 | ||
Scientific name | Amphibio sapiens | ||
Family | Unknown | ||
Areas | None | ||
Caves | Submerged Castle | ||
Challenge Mode stages | Bully Den | ||
2-Player Battle stages | None | ||
Attacks | Crushes Pikmin |
The Waterwraith (アメボウズ?, lit.: "Candy Bald Head") is a boss from Pikmin 2, found in all sublevels of the Submerged Castle. It can only be damaged by Purple Pikmin; however, the entrance to the cave is flooded, making them impossible to bring along. Since Purple Pikmin are only obtainable in the cave's final floor, the Waterwraith is completely invincible and immune to attacks in the first four sublevels. The Waterwraith is also found in the Bully Den in Challenge Mode.
Its appearance is generally humanoid in shape, with the suggestion of a head, body, arms, and legs, but without distinct characteristics, and with a watery, transparent body. As a matter of fact, its scientific name is Amphibio sapiens, which is similar to the human's scientific name: Homo sapiens. The Hocotate ship notes that although it can be seen, its sensors somehow detect nothing, leading to the conclusion that the Waterwraith's physical form is anchored in another dimension. It is one of the most dangerous enemies, as it can instantly kill Pikmin by just rolling over them, and cannot be deterred or defeated until the final floor. However, it does not appear immediately, instead giving the player a five minute period before appearing. In the Bully Den, both Waterwraiths will fall when the seconds counter falls to 270, leaving only 30 seconds for preparation.
The Waterwraith is one of the few bosses in Pikmin 2 which has its own background music, along with the Titan Dweevil and the Giant Breadbug. In the Submerged Castle, when it appears, its own theme plays. When it is fought in the last sublevel, the normal boss music plays, and when it has no rollers, a special, crazy, funky lighthearted version of the boss music plays.
Stats
Weight | Max. carriers |
Seeds | Value | Health | Regen. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1800[note 1] | No |
- ^ 1800 HP on the rollers phase, 1500 HP on the walking phase.
Strategy
The following article or section contains guides. |
While wandering
The Waterwraith will come on any sublevel of the Submerged Castle, after 5 minutes. When encountered, the beast falls from the sky. This will give two falling noises followed by two heavy thuds and then a noise like a scream underwater. It lifts up its front roller, and smashes it on the ground, crushing any Pikmin underneath. It then commences moving around on its stone rollers. However, before sublevel 5, there is no way at all to harm it; not even bomb rocks or attacking with Pikmin after using an ultra-bitter spray will have any effect. With that in mind, there are a few things to remember:
- The Waterwraith can kill other enemies and disable traps. This can be used to your advantage.
- It follows the active leader. This can be used to your advantage, similar to the fight with the Ranging Bloyster.
- The Waterwraith does not go into small corners, crevices, dead-ends, and areas with Candypop Buds (even if it has been used) making these places safe to hide in.
- If you're having a difficult time avoiding the Waterwraith, you can always reset in an attempt to get an easier or more exploitable floor layout.
- A cloud of dust is visible behind the Waterwraith, allowing you to keep better track of it.
The following tips can also be used for story mode:
- You should collect treasures as quickly as possible and avoid collecting corpses. If you're fast enough, you can avoid facing the Waterwraith entirely. Remember that you can return to the cave and collect anything you missed the first time around.
- It is advised to at least have the Rush Boots power up, which can allow leaders to quickly escape the Waterwraith. The Stellar Orb also helps to illuminate the area, giving you a good view of where the beast is.
Battle
Since it can only be damaged by Purple Pikmin, the only way to combat it in the Submerged Castle is to survive until the final sublevel, where you can get Purple Pikmin via Violet Candypop Buds. When a Purple Pikmin lands on or near the Waterwraith in a fashion that would stun any other beast, it turns a deep shade of purple not dissimilar to that of the Pikmin that cause this state to come about. In this state, it is vulnerable to all Pikmin attacks. When the Wraith's health has been fully depleted, the rollers crumble and the Waterwraith will run aimlessly around the cave, no longer a threat to your Pikmin. Attack with more Purple Pikmin and then you can easily attack it with other Pikmin. When defeated, it will vanish into nothing, and you will be troubled no more. It drops the Professional Noisemaker, a useful addition to the Exploration Kit, the first time you beat it in the Submerged Castle.
The Waterwraith can be petrified, which is useful to stop it if it is coming towards you, but while in this state, it cannot be damaged with normal attacks – Pikmin that attack will just cause an effect similar to attacking a reinforced wall in other games. Purple Pikmin that land with a thud on the petrified creature have a different behavior, however. When the boss has its rollers, a thud can cause the health wheel to appear, if it hasn't already. In the state without rollers, these thuds will actually cause a small amount of damage, and make it possible to kill the creature when petrified.
Notes
Ship's dialogs
“What is this?!? I can see it with my optical receptors, but my sensors cannot detect it!
Could its physical form be anchored in another dimension? ...Attacking it is futile!
If only we could force it to take on physical form... But in its current state... Krzzzt-zrrrk!
Danger! Danger! Danger!”Olimar's notes
Louie's notes
Nintendo Player's Guide
Glitches
The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Pikmin 2. |
The Waterwraith is the cause of a few glitches in Pikmin 2.
- Struggling Waterwraith: by petrifying the creature on the Piklopedia just as its archive is opened, and then petrifying it again just as the rollers break free will result in only the rollers getting petrified, but not the boss.
- Sliding Waterwraith: By switching between a leader close to a vulnerable Waterwraith and to a leader far away from it, the creature will be seen stuck in the same pose, but moving around like normal.
- It is likely that if the Waterwraith's head comes into contact with the Research Pod after having lost its rollers, another glitch will occur. The outcome is a change in the way it moves: instead of walking, the creature glides along; and any Pikmin that touch it are thrown out-of-the-way, though unharmed. The amount of health it had previous to the glitch occurring determines whether or not it can be damaged in this state.
- Another glitch may occur when the Waterwraith attempts to turn around sharp corners. Instead of successfully completing a 360 degrees turn, it may get wedged in the middle of a tight space. This could either be helpful, allowing the player to avoid the Waterwraith, but this glitch could also block crucial pathways, such as a pathway to the next floor. Unfortunately, the only solution for this is to reset.
- Yet another glitch happens when the Waterwraith is hit with a Purple Pikmin while running. The Waterwraith may turn clear while in the crouching position, instead of it having a purple hue.
- In Bully Den, the Waterwraiths will never pay attention to Louie, when playing in 2-player mode. This can result in a rollerless Waterwraith to casually walk or even stand still near Louie, instead of panicking. It can still be attacked by Louie, though.
Technical information
Creature
Pikmin 2 technical information (?) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Internal name | blackman
| ||
Global properties (List) | |||
ID | Japanese comment | Property | Value |
s000 | friction(not used) | Friction | 0.5 |
s001 | wallReflection | Unknown (wall bounce speed multiplier?) | 0.5 |
s002 | faceDirAdjust | Unknown | 0.25 |
s003 | accel | Acceleration | 0.1 |
s004 | bounceFactor | Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?) | 0.3 |
fp00 | ライフ | HP | 1500 |
fp01 | マップとの当り | Unknown (related to slopes) | 50 |
fp02 | ダメージスケールXZ | Horizontal damage scale | 0.2 |
fp03 | ダメージスケールY | Vertical damage scale | 0.25 |
fp04 | ダメージフレーム | Damage scale duration | 0.35 |
fp05 | 質量 | Unknown (weight?) | 0.01 |
fp06 | 速度 | Move speed | 80 |
fp08 | 回転速度率 | Rotation acceleration | 0.04 |
fp09 | テリトリー | Territory radius | 300 |
fp10 | ホーム範囲 | "Home" radius | 10 |
fp11 | プライベート距離 | "Private" radius | 50 |
fp12 | 視界距離 | Sight radius | 700 |
fp13 | 視界角度 | FOV | 180 |
fp14 | 探索距離 | Unknown (exploration radius?) | 250 |
fp15 | 探索角度 | Unknown (exploration angle?) | 0 |
fp16 | 振り払い率 | Successful shake rate | 1 |
fp17 | 振り払い力 | Shake knockback | 250 |
fp18 | 振り払いダメージ | Shake damage | 0 |
fp19 | 振り払い範囲 | Shake range | 50 |
fp20 | 攻撃可能範囲 | Unknown (shock attack max range?) | 30 |
fp21 | 攻撃可能角度 | Unknown (shock attack max angle?) | 15 |
fp22 | 攻撃ヒット範囲 | Unknown (attack hit range?) | 30 |
fp23 | 攻撃ヒット角度 | Unknown (attack hit angle?) | 15 |
fp24 | 攻撃力 | Attack damage | 10 |
fp25 | 視界高 | Unknown (height visibility?) | 50 |
fp26 | 探索高 | Unknown (exploration height?) | 0 |
fp27 | ライフの高さ | HP wheel height | 100 |
fp28 | 回転最大速度 | Rotation speed | 3 |
fp29 | 警戒時間 | Unknown (warning time?) | 0 |
fp30 | 警戒ライフ | Unknown | 0 |
fp31 | ライフ回復率 | Regeneration rate | 0 |
fp32 | LOD半径 | Off-camera radius | 70 |
fp33 | マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定 | Collision processing radius | 50 |
fp34 | ピクミンとのあたり | Pikmin damage radius | 30 |
fp35 | 石化時間 | Petrification duration | 1 |
fp36 | ヒップドロップダメージ | Purple Pikmin drop damage | 10 |
fp37 | 地震気絶確立 | Purple Pikmin stun chance | 0 (0%) |
fp38 | 地震気絶時間 | Purple Pikmin stun time | 60 |
ip01 | 振り払い打撃A | Shake mode 1 – hit count | 10 |
ip02 | 振り払い張付1 | Shake mode 1 – Pikmin requirement | 5 |
ip03 | 振り払い打撃B | Shake mode 2 – hit count | 13 |
ip04 | 振り払い張付2 | Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement | 6 |
ip05 | 振り払い打撃C | Shake mode 3 – hit count | 16 |
ip06 | 振り払い張付3 | Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement | 9 |
ip07 | 振り払い打撃D | Shake mode 4 – hit count | 20 |
Specific properties | |||
ID | Japanese comment | Property | Value |
fp01 | ポッド移動速度 | Unknown (roller speed?) | 20 |
fp02 | 逃げ速度 | Unknown (running speed?) | 250 |
fp03 | 逃げ回転速度率 | Unknown (rotation speed rate while walking?) | 0.2 |
fp04 | 逃げ回転最大速度 | Unknown (max rotation speed while walking?) | 30 |
fp05 | 2段階速度 | Unknown (second stage speed?) | 120 |
fp06 | 2段階回転速度率 | Unknown (second stage rotation speed?) | 0.04 |
fp07 | 2段階回転最大速度 | Unknown (second stage max rotation speed?) | 3 |
fp11 | 歩き速度 | Unknown (walking speed?) | 50 |
ip01 | 2段階へのタイマー | Unknown (time until second stage?) | 0 |
ip03 | ドシン停止タイマー | Unknown | 200 |
ip04 | 逃げ停止タイマー | Unknown (walk time?) | 200 |
ip05 | 連続逃げタイマー | Unknown (running time?) | 200 |
ip06 | つかれ停止タイマー | Unknown (rest time?) | 200 |
Rollers
Pikmin 2 technical information (?) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Internal name | tyre
| ||
Global properties (List) | |||
ID | Japanese comment | Property | Value |
s000 | friction(not used) | Friction | 0.5 |
s001 | wallReflection | Unknown (wall bounce speed multiplier?) | 0.5 |
s002 | faceDirAdjust | Unknown | 0.25 |
s003 | accel | Acceleration | 0.1 |
s004 | bounceFactor | Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?) | 0.3 |
fp00 | ライフ | HP | 1800 |
fp01 | マップとの当り | Unknown (related to slopes) | 50 |
fp02 | ダメージスケールXZ | Horizontal damage scale | 0.2 |
fp03 | ダメージスケールY | Vertical damage scale | 0.25 |
fp04 | ダメージフレーム | Damage scale duration | 0.35 |
fp05 | 質量 | Unknown (weight?) | 0.01 |
fp06 | 速度 | Move speed | 30 |
fp08 | 回転速度率 | Rotation acceleration | 0.1 |
fp09 | テリトリー | Territory radius | 300 |
fp10 | ホーム範囲 | "Home" radius | 30 |
fp11 | プライベート距離 | "Private" radius | 50 |
fp12 | 視界距離 | Sight radius | 700 |
fp13 | 視界角度 | FOV | 180 |
fp14 | 探索距離 | Unknown (exploration radius?) | 0 |
fp15 | 探索角度 | Unknown (exploration angle?) | 0 |
fp16 | 振り払い率 | Successful shake rate | 1 |
fp17 | 振り払い力 | Shake knockback | 150 |
fp18 | 振り払いダメージ | Shake damage | 0 |
fp19 | 振り払い範囲 | Shake range | 50 |
fp20 | 攻撃可能範囲 | Unknown (shock attack max range?) | 30 |
fp21 | 攻撃可能角度 | Unknown (shock attack max angle?) | 15 |
fp22 | 攻撃ヒット範囲 | Unknown (attack hit range?) | 30 |
fp23 | 攻撃ヒット角度 | Unknown (attack hit angle?) | 15 |
fp24 | 攻撃力 | Attack damage | 10 |
fp25 | 視界高 | Unknown (height visibility?) | 50 |
fp26 | 探索高 | Unknown (exploration height?) | 0 |
fp27 | ライフの高さ | HP wheel height | 100 |
fp28 | 回転最大速度 | Rotation speed | 10 |
fp29 | 警戒時間 | Unknown (warning time?) | 0 |
fp30 | 警戒ライフ | Unknown | 0 |
fp31 | ライフ回復率 | Regeneration rate | 0 |
fp32 | LOD半径 | Off-camera radius | 120 |
fp33 | マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定 | Collision processing radius | 50 |
fp34 | ピクミンとのあたり | Pikmin damage radius | 10 |
fp35 | 石化時間 | Petrification duration | 1 |
fp36 | ヒップドロップダメージ | Purple Pikmin drop damage | 10 |
fp37 | 地震気絶確立 | Purple Pikmin stun chance | 0.05 (5%) |
fp38 | 地震気絶時間 | Purple Pikmin stun time | 60 |
ip01 | 振り払い打撃A | Shake mode 1 – hit count | 1 |
ip02 | 振り払い張付1 | Shake mode 1 – Pikmin requirement | 1 |
ip03 | 振り払い打撃B | Shake mode 2 – hit count | 2 |
ip04 | 振り払い張付2 | Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement | 2 |
ip05 | 振り払い打撃C | Shake mode 3 – hit count | 5 |
ip06 | 振り払い張付3 | Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement | 3 |
ip07 | 振り払い打撃D | Shake mode 4 – hit count | 10 |
Specific properties | |||
ID | Japanese comment | Property | Value |
fp01 | 回転スピード | Rotation speed | 25 |
Other information
- Size: Roller width: 112mm, as per the e-card
- Pikmin 2 Piklopedia number: #78
- Musical theme: Waterwraith appears, Waterwraith attacks
Naming
- Common name: Waterwraith. The name is a portmanteau of "water" and "wraith", where a "wraith" is a spirit, or a ghost.
- Japanese nickname: アメボウズ?. ボウズ? translates to "Bald Head", though incidentally it also translates to "monk", and most Japanese monks are bald. アメ? translates to "candy", referring to the creature's gelatinous body and also the fact that the majority of the treasures in the cave are candies. To note is that 雨? means "rain", though it is not used to describe a texture in the same way "candy" is being used. In addition, the name could be a portmanteau of "amoeba" (written in katakana like "ameba"), an unicellular organism usually found in water, and "umibōzu", which is, in Japanese folklore, a watery creature with a bald head similar to a monk.
- Japanese name: ヤマトアメビト?, lit.: "Yamato Rain Man".
- Scientific name: Its scientific name, Amphibio sapiens, uses the word amphibio, similar to the English word "amphibious", and sapiens, meaning "discerning" or "wise", and which is also part of the species name for the real world human, Homo sapiens. This can be construed as both a reference to its humanoid shape, as well as it being essentially "living water".
- Internal names: Its internal name is
blackman
. The "man" part is naturally because of its human-like frame, and "black" is presumably due to the fact that it can turn purple when attacked by Purple Pikmin – during development, Purple Pikmin were given the name "black". Interestingly, the names of the creature's animations inside the game's files refer to it as "Kagebōzu" (かげボウズ?), which means "Shadow Bald Head". This indicates that, during development, the Waterwraith's Japanese name was meant to be different. - Prerelease: None.
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Japanese | アメボウズ? Ame Bouzu |
Candy Bald Head |
French (NoE) | Spectreau | Portmanteau of "spectre" (specter) and "eau" (water). |
German | Wassergespenst | Waterwraith |
Italian | Spettro d'Acqua | Water Specter |
Spanish | Espectro acuático | Aquatic specter |
Gallery
The creature's e-card, #63 (16th red card).
Trivia
- The Waterwraith is similar to the Goolix, in that both enemies are watery in appearance and can only be defeated by a certain type of Pikmin.
- In the Piklopedia, it is possible that the Waterwraith will roll out-of-bounds.
- The Waterwraith is one of three enemies to not appear in the Wistful Wild or any of its caves, the others being the Giant Breadbug and the Toady Bloyster. All three can be found in the Perplexing Pool.
- The Waterwraith seems to be related to the Plasm Wraith, in both appearance and name. In addition, a possible translation for the Japanese common name of both is "Candy Priest".
- The Waterwraith is mentioned in Olimar's Piklopedia entry for the Plasm Wraith in Pikmin 3 Deluxe, though it just highlights how they are different.
- In the game's files, the Waterwraith's model contains a dummy texture that reads "fb dum". This is a dummy texture applied to the model before the framebuffer is used to texture it:
- Since the Waterwraith disappears after defeat it is unknown how Louie collected and experimented for food purposes.
- If Purple Pikmin are forced to appear in the cave earlier than sublevel 5 and the monster is defeated then, it will still drop the treasure. Speaking of which, the monster's treasure will not be detected by radar until the showdown with the beast in the final floor; if all treasures in an earlier sublevel are collected, the radar will deactivate and remain that way, even if the Waterwraith had shown up.
- After taking out the Waterwraith's rollers and entering the second stage of the fight, if the player is sufficiently far away from the boss, it will stop walking randomly and will instead stand in place. In this animation, it also occasionally turns around back and forth. This elusive animation can only be seen by being far enough away, by using the zoomed-out or ground-level camera settings, and by being on sublevel 5 of the Submerged Castle, since it is too dark to see that far away on the Bully Den.
- The helpess phase of the Waterwraith, along with the Giant Breadbug and the Titan Dweevil, are the only bosses in Pikmin 2 that have their own boss theme.
- If the player reaches the final floor before the Waterwraith makes its first appearance, the boss battle with play out as usual, but the ship will not trigger the cutscene to declare it a danger.[1]
See also
References
- ^ YouTube video of a speedrunner discovering the Submerged Castle for the first time, but not encountering the Waterwraith until the final floor (at 1:54:12), published on November 29th, 2018, retrieved on June 4th, 2020