Pikmin 2
Pikmin 4

Waterwraith

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Waterwraith In-game icon.
Appears in Pikmin 2Pikmin 4
Scientific name Amphibio sapiens
Family Unknown
Areas None
Caves Submerged Castle, Engulfed Castle, Trial of the Sage Leaf, Cavern for a King
Challenge Mode stages Bully Den
Dandori Challenge stages None
Dandori Battle stages None
2-Player Battle stages None
Attacks Crushes Pikmin

The Waterwraith (アメボウズ?, lit.: "Rain Bouzu") is a boss from Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 4, found in all sublevels of the Submerged Castle and Engulfed Castle, respectively.

It can only be damaged by Purple Pikmin's space-warping stomps; however, the entrances to both the Submerged Castle and the Engulfed Castle are flooded, making them impossible to bring along. Since Purple Pikmin are only obtainable in both cave's final floors, the Waterwraith is completely invincible and immune to attacks in the first four sublevels.

The Waterwraith is one of the few non-final bosses in the series which has its own unique background music, along with the Giant Breadbug, Groovy Long Legs, and Man-at-Legs (Pikmin 4 only). 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. In Pikmin 4, all these themes return, except the chase theme is replaced by a more abstract theme.

Stats

Game Weight Max.
carriers
Seeds Value Health Regen.
Pikmin 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A 1800[note 1] No
Pikmin 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A 1800 [note 2] No
  1. ^ 1800 HP on the rollers phase, 1500 HP on the walking phase.
  2. ^ 1800 HP on the rollers phase, 1500 HP on the walking phase.

Behavior

The Waterwraith is one of the most dangerous enemies, as it can instantly kill Pikmin by just rolling over them, and cannot be deterred or defeated without Purple Pikmin.

Appearance

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. This is implied further in Pikmin 4, where both Olimar and Dalmo describe the creature's watery form as "nonexistent".

Locations

As stated before, the Waterwraith appears in all 5 sublevels of the Submerged Castle in Pikmin 2 and the Engulfed Castle in Pikmin 4. In the first 4 sublevels, it will drop from the ceiling after a five minute period. In the 5th and final sublevel, it will only fall when in range of its spawning point, similar to other bosses.

Once defeated in the Engulfed Castle, it will not respawn in any sublevel, replaced in the final encounter with a swarm of mitites.

The Waterwraith only appears a few time outside of its caves. In Pikmin 2's Challenge Mode, two Waterwraiths will spawn in the Bully Den when the seconds counter falls to 270, leaving only 30 seconds for preparation. In Pikmin 4, one can be found in the final story of the Trial of the Sage Leaf, The Purple Key. And, much like Bully Den, two will spawn immediately in Sublevel 16 of Cavern for a King. These are, however, intended to be fought with Purple Pikmin.

Strategy

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

This is a Waterwraith as seen in the ingame Piklopedia at the Valley of Repose
The Waterwraith in the Piklopedia.

While wandering

The Waterwraith will come on any sublevel of the Submerged Castle or Engulfed 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. In Pikmin 4, there are specially marked crevices with grass and metal archways that the Wraith will be unable to access.
  • In Pikmin 2, 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. Similarly, in Pikmin 4, the Rewind mechanic can be essential to making more efficient movements around the sublevels or making up for heavy losses.
  • 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.
  • In Pikmin 4, The Water Wraith presents very little issue to Oatchi due to his compactness and precise handling, making him ideal for Pikmin transportation instead of letting the Pikmin squad roam free.

Battle

A stunned Waterwraith.
A stunned Waterwraith, vulnerable to attacks.

Since it can only be damaged by Purple Pikmin, the only way to combat it in the Submerged Castle and Engulfed 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

All that is known about this creature stems from a few sightings deep underground. All reported sightings feature the same core set of details: a giant, viscous form with a clear, hazy sheen not unlike hard candy. One theory holds that it may be the ectoplasmic incarnation of a kind of psychic phenomenon, but as is usually the case with such theories, it is very difficult to prove. All witnesses report being suddenly overcome with fear upon sighting the creature, approaching a state of panic and near insanity. In fact, every report contains an inordinate amount of extremely vague details, which has led to suspicions that exhaustion and fear have caused some simple natural phenomenon to be viewed as a living creature.

Louie's notes

Inedible. Known to cause mass hysteria, followed by leg spasms and internal thunderings.

Pikmin 2 Nintendo Player's Guide

The anxious Waterwraith appears before the final floor of the Submerged Castle, but you won't be able to defeat it until you use Violet Candypop Buds to create purple Pikmin on the cave's lowest level. One touch from a purple will make the beast temporalily vulnerable.

Glitches

The Waterwraith while sitting on petrified rollers.

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Pikmin 2.
Particularly: Confirm these and add them to the glitches page.

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

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 "Buddhist Monk", however this may in fact be referencing a type of yokai known as Bouzu or Oobouzu, Japanese monsters with a shaved head reminescent of monks, alluding to their phantasmagorical existence. アメ? translates to "candy", referring to the creature's hard candy appearance, per Olimar's notes, and also the fact that the majority of the treasures in the cave are candies. To note is that ? 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") and "Bouzu".
  • Japanese name: ヤマトアメビト?, lit.: "Yamato Candy 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 Bouzu". This indicates that, during development, the Waterwraith's Japanese name was meant to be different. Interestingly, there exists another type of yokai known as Oonyuudou, described as an unclear shadow or a giant rather than a monk, if it was originally called shadow, it may be in reference to this other yokai. Pikmin 3's Plasm Wraith is named after this other yokai in the Japanese version, アメニュウドウ?, lit.: "Candy Nyuudou".
  • Prerelease: None.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Flag of Japan Japanese アメボウズ?
Ame Bouzu
Rain Bouzu
Flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Chinese
(traditional)
膠雨小子 Plastic Rain Guy
Flag of the Netherlands Dutch Fantoomwals Phantom (Steam)roller
Flag of France French (NoE) Spectreau Portmanteau of "spectre" (specter) and "eau" (water).
Flag of Germany German Wassergespenst Waterwraith
Flag of Italy Italian Spettro d'Acqua Water Specter
Flag of Brazil Portuguese (NoA) Hidrospectro Hydrospecter
Flag of Spain Spanish Espectro acuático Aquatic specter

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Trivia

Animation of the Waterwraith standing still, achieved by being far enough away and zooming in on Submerged Castle sublevel 5.
Animation of the Waterwraith standing still.
  • In Pikmin 2's 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: Waterwraith dummy texture.png
  • 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 helpless 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, and the ship will not trigger the cutscene to declare it a danger.[1]
  • The Waterwraith is one of the two enemies in the Pikmin series to have a sequential health meter, the other being the Ancient Sirehound.
  • Interestingly, while the Waterwraith is still unaffected by bomb rocks in Pikmin 4, it can still be frozen by Ice Blasts, their icy equivalent. However it breaks free very quickly and can't be damaged by non Purple Pikmin in this state.
    • Similarly, Lighting strikes will stun it very briefly, but not nearly as long as other enemies.
  • In Cavern for a King, if a Waterwraith with its rollers approaches one without, the rollerless Wraith will duck to let the other one over.[2]
  • The Waterwraith’s theme is in the 5/4 time signature.

See also

References

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ YouTube video of the Waterwraith with its rollers running over a rollerless Waterwraith, causing the latter to duck (at 00:24), published on August 7th, 2023, retrieved on August 7th, 2023


Icon of a white flower in the Challenge Mode of Pikmin 2. It represents a course that is beaten, but with Pikmin who were lost.

This article was a featured article from March 24th to September 23rd, 2010.

Icon of a white flower in the Challenge Mode of Pikmin 2. It represents a course that is beaten, but with Pikmin who were lost.