Bulborb

Bulborb
Appears in	Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3
Scientific name	Oculus kageyamii russus
Family	Grub-dog
Areas	The Forest of Hope, Valley of Repose, Awakening Wood, Garden of Hope, Formidable Oak
Caves	Hole of Beasts, Hole of Heroes, Dream Den
Challenge Mode stages	The Forest of Hope, The Distant Spring, Explorer's Cave, Lost Toy Box, Red Chasm, Collector's Room, Breeding Ground, Emperor's Realm
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages	None
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages	None
Side Story days	None
2-Player Battle stages	Angle Maze
Bingo Battle stages	None
Attacks	Eats Pikmin

Red Bulborbs are among the most well-known enemies in the Pikmin games and are often just as much a staple for the games as Pikmin themselves. They were originally known as Spotty Bulborbs until various other subspecies, all with spots, were discovered in Pikmin 2.

It seems that the young Red Bulborb is the favored host of the parasitic Pikmin known as Bulbmin. This type of Pikmin appears to control its host, causing the animal to behave less like a Bulborb and more like a Pikmin, following a Captain (which is naturally an older Bulbmin) and predating in packs. Red Bulborbs are not observed at the two stages of development displayed by Bulbmin (between Bulborb Larva and their full size) anywhere else in-game (unlike the Spotty Bulbear and Emperor Bulblax), so it is unknown whether Bulbmin are a common stage in Red Bulborb development or not, as symbiotic cooperation from the parasite would give this slightly weaker form of Grub-dog an advantage in the subterranean environment that all stages of the Red Bulborb species are found in. The best known form, the large adults, also venture to the surface.

Most have a very slow reaction time when attacked. If rushed by a large enough force, they can be overcome before they can counterattack. It is also true that throwing numerous Purple Pikmin will work exceedingly well in defeating it without fail. Their mouths are large enough to be able to gobble up as many as five Pikmin with one bite, so attacking from behind is recommended for the best results.

Bulborbs in general are surprisingly apathetic creatures and won't arise from their sleep even if one of their own is under attack. That being said, however, Dwarf Bulborbs in Pikmin will let out a screech when agitated, awaking any nearby Bulborbs. This does not happen in Pikmin 2.

Notes

Olimar's voyage log

“The most plentiful species on the planet, they are quite ferocious despite their appearance, using their massive jaws to swallow Pikmin whole. Frontal assaults result in disaster; attacks from behind are more successful. Attacking their legs is also effective.”

Reel notes

“This nocturnal hunter feeds mostly on small animals returning to their nests at night.”

Olimar's notes

“This large organism has the familiar mandibles and cranial morphology of the grub-dog family, as well as the characteristic bulging eyes. As with most grub-dogs, the creature's cranium comprises half of its total length and girth. Showing a scarlet abdomen with white spots, this creature is primarily nocturnal, choosing to prey upon smaller creatures returning to their nests. Originally classified as the spotty bulborb, further research has reclassified this species as the red bulborb. Subspecies of varied colors have recently been discovered, but academics are divided into two rival camps over how to handle their classification.”

Louie's notes

“Plump specimens are best spit-roasted whole, stuffed with a lime and a slab of bacon. Baste frequently to ensure a magnificently moist haunch.”

Brawl Trophy Description

"A creature whose Japanese name translates as "spotted crimson bug-eye." These bulky nocturnal animals have white-and-red-flecked rumps that resemble strawberries. Red bulborbs sleep in the day and wake in the evening to feed on small animals. Several colors of bulborb subspecies have been discovered--their classification is a hot subject for scholars."

Strategy

File:Pikmin 002.jpg

Several Pikmin attacking a mature Red Bulborb.

Pikmin

Swarming it with a large group of 50 or so Pikmin, preferably Reds due to their high attack power, proves quite effective. If only a few Pikmin are available, they should be thrown onto the Bulborb's back repeatedly while retreating if the enemy starts charging at them. Waiting until it goes back to sleep takes longer, but is a lot safer. If bomb-rocks are used, the Bulborb will die with two blasts. If you attack its back it will usually do a quarter-turn right, hiding some of its back from your current position.

Pikmin 2

Rather than swarming it, continuously tossing Pikmin onto its back is preferable when the army is at least 30 Pikmin strong, even if some are shaken off. A few purple Pikmin can cause serious damage, especially if they stun the Bulborb. If it is accidentally awakened before being attacked by Pikmin, the player should run away until it turns around, then make a new pass at it.

If the Pikmin army is very small, the creature can also be woken up and made to chase the leader until it leaves its territory, at which point it will turn around and return to its original sleeping spot. At this point the player must follow it and wait for it to reach its spot. Once there it will yawn, fall asleep, then wake up and attack again if provoked. Beginning the attack at the moment the creature yawns provides the player with a few crucial seconds in which the Bulborb is entirely immobilized and harmless.

Pikmin 3

The first game's tactic of swarming the creature from behind returns in this game, though here it is far more effective. If the Pikmin are swarmed at the creatures behind, they will flawlessly cling to it as it rises and continue attacking, making 20 Red Pikmin enough to take it down before it has any chance of resistance.

Trivia

• In the Nintendogs games, at the second-hand shop, there is a Red Bulborb toy on a shelf of products in a pre-rendered background shot.
• Along with Olimar, the Pikmin and Louie, the Red Bulborb is available as a plush toy, along with being a secret figurine in the first volume of Pikmin Figures.
• The Red Bulborb's Japanese name literally translates to "spotted crimson bug-eye".
• On the title screen of Pikmin 2, pressing and holding Y / will summon a Red Bulborb onto the screen. The player can control it by using C / and can eat Pikmin using Z / .
• In New Play Control! Pikmin, it uses completely different sound clips, making it "whistle" and "squeak" instead of roar.
• The first and last words of its scientific name translate to "eye" and "red" respectively, likely making its scientific name similar or identical to its Japanese name translation.

Gallery

• NPC Red Bulborb.jpg

  Artwork of a Red Bulborb from Pikmin.

• 

  Artwork of a Red Bulborb from Pikmin 3. Note the elongated face as compared to earlier games.

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  Promotional clay artwork of a Red Bulborb fighting some Pikmin.

• 

  A Red Bulborb asleep in the Valley of Repose.

• Brawl Bulborb.PNG

  A Red Bulborb, as it appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

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  Olimar and his Pikmin fighting a Bulborb in Pikmin.

• 100i.jpg

  A Red Bulborb being carried off in an early version of Pikmin.

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  An animation showing the dots on its back oscillating in size, in Pikmin.

See Also

• Spotty Bulbear
• Hairy Bulborb
• Orange Bulborb

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	アカチャッピー? Aka Chappī	Red Chappy
German	Roter Punktkäfer	Red Dot Beetle