Scorchcake

Scorchcake
Appears in	Pikmin 4
Scientific name	Conchcrustus emberio
Family	Shellcake
Areas	None
Caves	Crackling Cauldron, Cradle of the Beast
Dandori Challenge stages	Rockaway Cellars
Dandori Battle stages	Hot Sandy Duel
Attacks	Crush Pikmin, burn Pikmin

The Scorchcake (ヤキオオバン^?, lit.: "Burning Ōban-yaki") is a disc-shaped enemy in Pikmin 4. On one side it has a hard brown carapace, while on the other side it is constantly aflame and can burn Pikmin. It flips between these sides and can crush Pikmin while doing so.

Stats

Weight	Max. carriers	Seeds	Value	Health
7	14	10	× 7	1000

Behavior

The Scorchcake will lie in wait for prey, occasionally sticking its eyestalks out. When Pikmin or a leader draw near, it will rotate its body 90 degrees so it rests on its side. After a short delay, it will turn another 90 degrees, attempting to crush and/or burn prey depending on which side is touched. If the creature lands on its fiery side, it releases a burst of flames around itself, igniting and damaging anything in its way, so care should be taken when getting too close. Regardless of the side it lands on as it dies, its corpse will always end up fire-side up with the fire extinguished.

Appearance

The Scorchcake is a cylindrical rock-covered mollusc-like creature with its underside being covered in flames. It has blue snail-like eyes that are able to retract and hide within its shell.

Locations

One Scorchcake is found on sublevel 2 of the Crackling Cauldron, and another is found on sublevel 1 of the Cradle of the Beast. The Dandori Challenge Rockaway Cellars has two, and they can spawn in the Dandori Battle Hot Sandy Duel.

Strategy

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

Despite its appearance, the Scorchcake's "crust" is soft enough to be damaged, though the fiery underbelly can only be damaged by Red Pikmin. If the player character or Oatchi have equipped the Scorch Guard, this minimizes the risk of harm from the creature's fire. Even with a small squad, the Scorchcake is simple enough to deal with, as long as you ensure no Pikmin are vulnerable in its path. If they are about to be crushed, or are on fire, simply whistle them to your side. If the Scorchcake loses all of its health while on its side, all Pikmin should be immediately called away, or they will be crushed as the creature topples over to become a corpse. Both throwing and charging are effective methods of attack when fighting this creature.

Notes

Dalmo's Notes

“In a way, it looks kind of like a tasty treat. But in actuality, this burning bivalve relative is a fierce hunter, squashing its prey with a fiery flourish! The beauty of its popping, crackling flames and the dynamic cartwheels it can perform in battle is a spectacle to behold!”

Olimar's Notes

“Related to bivalves, it uses its internal muscles to dexterously manipilate its upper and lower shells. This ability allows it to squash eggs and small Ambuloradices like Pikmin, thus returning nectar to the ground. It then feeds off the microorganisms and moss that benefit from the nectar.

To further facilitate the growth of its food, the Scorchcake will secrete oils from its body through its shell and onto the ground. It then sets that area on fire, perhaos as a way to improve soil fertility.”

Louie's Notes

“Remove the internal meat, and place directly on the shell while it's still smoldering to cook. It almost smells better than it tastes.”

Naming

See more: Shellcake family#Naming.

Common name: Scorchcake. The name comes from its cake-like shape and scorching flames.
Japanese nickname: ヤキオオバン^?. This phrase could be an anagram of "ōban-yaki (大判焼き)", a Kansai-dialect derived name for a type of cylindrical cake cooked on a flippable, indented pan, like a waffle iron. It is also a pun on 焼く^? (lit.: "to burn").
Japanese name: セキタンオオバンガイ^?, lit.: "Coal Ōban-yaki Shellfish".
Scientific name: Conchcrustus emberio. "Conch" may refer to the real life marine mollusk of the same name, and "crustus" may stem from "crust" or the Latin root word "crustae" meaning "rind, shell, crust". "Emberio" is derived from "ember".
Internal names: Unknown.
Prerelease: None.

Names in other languages

The following article or section needs help from someone who can translate Italian text.

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ヤキオオバン^? Yakiōban	Burning Ōban-yaki	From 焼き^? (lit.: "burning") and 大判焼き^? (lit.: "ōban-yaki")
Chinese (traditional)	燃燒車輪 Ránshāo Chēlún	Flaming Wheel
Chinese (simplified)	燃烧车轮 Ránshāo Chēlún	Flaming Wheel
Dutch	Vurige koekeloerdraaier	Fiery cakelurkflipper
French	Mastocrêpe brûlant	Burning blockrepe	From "mastoc" (bulky, blocky), "crêpe" (crepe)
German	Schmorkuchen	Braise Cake
Italian	Mitil brulé
Korean	불빵 Bulbbang	Firebread
Portuguese	Chamusbolo	Scorchcake	The name is a portmanteau of "chamuscar" (to scorch) and "bolo" (cake)
Spanish	Chamustarta	Scorchcake	From "chamuscar" (scorch) and "tarta" (cake)