Pricklepuff

Pricklepuff
Appears in	Pikmin 4
Scientific name	Piscpineous pardos
Family	Pricklepuff
Areas	Serene Shores
Caves	Seafloor Resort, Doppelgänger's Den
Dandori Challenge stages	Planning Pools
Dandori Battle stages	None
Attacks	Stabs Pikmin

The Pricklepuff (トゲハゼ^?, lit.: "Thorn Goby") is an aquatic enemy in Pikmin 4. The front of their face will protrude spikes which they use to stab threats, like a pufferfish. As they are typically in fully submerged water, attacking them with the stab-immune Rock Pikmin is not always possible, needing Blue Pikmin to defeat them with extra caution.

Stats

Weight	Max. carriers	Seeds	Value	Health
7	14	8	× 5	300

Behavior

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Particularly: Describe its behavior when it sees Pikmin, when it attacks, when it shakes, when it loses interest, etc.

The Pricklepuff will swim around in an area passively. If it is approached by the player and their Pikmin, it swims over and attempts to impale them by extending the spikes on its front. It keeps the spikes out for about a second before retracting them; Pikmin that touch the spikes while they're out after the initial attack will simply be knocked away rather than being killed. It can kill up to 6 Pikmin in a single attack. If it swims toward land, including slopes that stick out of the water, they can be seen "walking" with their fins, sitting on land. They then make their way into water seconds later.

Appearance

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Pikmin 4.
Particularly: Describe the appearance of the creature and, if it applies, how it compares to similar creatures.

The Pricklepuff is a light cream fish-like creature with spikes protruding from the front of its body and darker colored spots lining much of its body. It has cyan eyes and light blue, translucent fins.

Locations

Strategy

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

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Pikmin 4.
Particularly: Add a guide on how to beat it.

In water, due to their relatively low health, a decent sized squad of Blue pikmin (about 20 or so) should be enough to take them out quickly if you simply charge them at its back. You may charge the front of its face as well, since its attack takes a while to come out. However, be cautious while charging Pikmin at its face (especially if it spotted you before you charged) as it may unleash an attack before the Pikmin manage to get to it. This is almost guaranteed to skewer and kill several of your Pikmin as, while the charge up for the attack is quite long, the attack itself is near instant and covers a large amount of space in front of it. It will kill any Pikmin that was caught by the spikes.

Outside of water, they are pretty much helpless and can't really attack, so any Pikmin type can take them out with relative ease.

Notes

Dalmo's Notes

“To watch it swimming dreamily along, then spot it again walking plop-plop in tidal flats... The contrast is so great I can only admire its adaptability. But don't be drawn in by its cute, round little peepers. Much like a rose, the Pricklepuff has very sharp thorns!”

Olimar's Notes

“Its hidden spikes evolved from scales that were once on its forehead. The Pricklepuff uses them to charge and chase off unknown creatures that entire its territory.

Its liver and ovaries contain powerful nerve toxins, accumulated from ingesting shellfish and algae with trace amounts of poison. These toxins not only function as alternative pheromones but also seem to keep predators at bay.

However, once it's dead, the Pikmin have no issues carrying this creature back to the Onion, where the poison is broken down into valuable nutrients.”

Louie's Notes

“Remove the poisonous internal organs, then slice thinly and serve as sashimi. The firm meat is brimming with umami flavor. Pairs well with a light, refreshing citrus vinaigrette.”

Naming

See more: Pricklepuff family#Naming.

Common name: Pricklepuff. It is a portmanteau of "prickle" and "puff" from "pufferfish".
Japanese nickname: トゲハゼ^?, lit.: "Thorn Goby". It could refer to the way it attacks and the creature it resembles.
Japanese name: ゴマダラトゲハゼ^?, lit.: "Speckled Thorn Goby". "Speckled" could be referring to its spotted design.
Scientific name: Piscpineous pardos. Pardos means spotted in Greek, referring to the spotted design of the creature.
Internal names: HARIUO. It directly translates into "Needle Fish".
Prerelease: None.

Names in other languages

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Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	トゲハゼ^? Toge Haze	Thorn Goby
Chinese (traditional)	刺蝦虎 Cì Xiāhǔ	Thorn Goby
Chinese (simplified)	刺虾虎 Cì Xiāhǔ	Thorn Goby
Dutch	Prikkelploffer	Prickle popper
French	Globépine	From "globe" and "épine" (thorn)
German	Nadler	Needler
Italian	Sferispido	From sfera (sphere) and ispido (prickly)
Korean	가시망둥이 Gasi-Mangdung'i	Thorn Goby
Portuguese	Baiagulha	From "baiacu" (blowfish) and "agulha" (needle)
Spanish	Globopúas	From "globo" (balloon) and "púas" (spikes)

Gallery

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images of wild Pricklepuffs.
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A Pricklepuff attacking pikpik carrots in Pikmin 4's Piklopedia.
The corpse of a Pricklepuff in the Piklopedia.