Pikmin 2

Bulbmin

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Bulbmin In-game icon.
Bulbmin.png
Appears in Pikmin 2
Scientific name Parasiticus pikminicus
Family Pikmin
Areas None
Caves Frontier Cavern, Submerged Castle, Hole of Heroes
Challenge Mode stages Green Hole, Hidden Garden
2-Player Battle stages None
Attacks Eat Pikmin

Bulbmin (adults: ハチャッピー?, lit.: "Leaf Chappy", juvenile: コッパチャッピー?, lit.: "Small Leaf Chappy") are a parasitic species of Pikmin in Pikmin 2 that infect Bulborbs, hence the name. They are only found in caves and there is no way to store them, meaning Bulbmin can only be used in the cave they are found in. They are resistant to all four hazards defined by the game, and are one of the only ways to gain Pikmin in a cave, making them a valuable asset.

Uniquely for a Pikmin type, they start out as enemies when they appear in a cave. An adult Bulbmin, closely resembling a Red Bulborb, is followed by up to 10 juvenile Bulbmin, which take on a more unique appearance (having completely black eyes rather than the blue or purple eyes of the dwarf and adult Bulborbs, uniquely proportioned and colored legs, and relatively fewer and larger white spots which are positioned differently than those of other Bulborbs) with a stem and leaf (or bud or flower) atop their back. They can be found wandering the floors of certain caves and behave much like the Spotty Bulbear, patrolling an established path. The adult Bulbmin is quite aggressive, but can be defeated quickly. When the adult Bulbmin is defeated, the juvenile Bulbmin will panic until whistled, at which point they will join the player's squad. At this point, they can be used like normal Pikmin. When the player uses a geyser to exit the cave, all Bulbmin in their squad are left behind.

As Pikmin

Bulbmin (juvenile) In-game icon.
A close-up screenshot of a Bulbmin.
Scientific name Parasiticus pikminicus
Family Pikmin (parasitic)
Resistance Fire, electricity, water, poison, and tripping
Attack strength Average(?)
Mobility Average(?)
Throw Average
Digging speed Average(?)
Carrying capacity 1
Size Body length: 15mm

As Pikmin that the player's leaders can use, the Bulbmin are identical to other Pikmin types, but look like Bulborbs and sound different. They have average capabilities in terms of mobility and strength, but are immune to all elemental hazards (fire, electricity, water, poison) and non-elemental hazards, and also cannot trip. As beneficial as their abilities may seem, they cannot leave the caves with the group, for an unknown reason. Instead, they stay behind and watch the leaders and fellow Pikmin leave. Because of this, they will not count towards the overall Pikmin count, although any deaths do count towards the lost Pikmin total. Them being left behind when a cave is exited does not count as a death, however. This makes them ideal for use in Candypop Buds.

These Pikmin infect Bulborbs and take control of them, but it is implied by Olimar that they can take on other hosts as well. There is no information regarding what Bulbmin without a host actually look like. It is possible that they are green, since they appear as green dots on the radar, and since their leaves glow green when idle. Although they may also be orange, given the color of their stem, as well as the color of the conical aiming cursor when a Bulbmin is in hand, and the color of the trail they produce when thrown. That said, what is known is that their buds and flowers are white, just like Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin and Blue Pikmin.

The only way that Bulbmin can be killed before ever being whistled is if they are crushed or they fall over the side of a level into the abyss when shaken by an enemy attack, explosion or other sufficient force. When that happens, their deaths will not count for the player's death tally.

Up to 10 juvenile Bulbmin can spawn with an adult Bulbmin, but they count towards the one hundred Pikmin limit when they spawn, so if the squad has more than ninety Pikmin when entering the sublevel, not all of the juvenile Bulbmin will spawn. They would be referenced later in resistances as Glow Pikmin in Pikmin 4.

Stats

Weight Max.
carriers
Seeds Value Health Regen.
7 14 10[note 1] Poko × 3 300 No
  1. ^ This enemy cannot be delivered to Onions in-game. This information is obtained from the game files.

Notes

Ship's dialogs

The confused bulborb has fallen in with the Pikmin. They appear to coexist peacefully.

Strange... this bulborb has a leaf sprouting from its spine, much like the leaf on a Pikmin's head.

Olimar's notes

This loathsome creature is in fact a parasitic form of Pikmin that has infected a bulborb. Unlike Pikmin that nest in Pikmin Onions, this parasitic relative spends its life inside the body of a host, usually a bulborb. Juveniles fall in line and mimic the actions of their parent until maturing to full independence. By burying its rootlike limbs into the nervous system of the host bulborb and infusing it with natural hormonal excretions, the bulbmin is able to control virtually all of the host's bodily functions. However, the host's voracious appetite seems impossible to suppress.

Louie's notes

Grind the meat and season with allspice, salt, and ground white pepper. Press the seasoned meat into meat satchels, then panfry them with onions. Prior to serving, smother the brats with dijon mustard and sauerkraut. Buns are optional.

Pikmin 2 Nintendo Player's Guide

Large Bulbmin have a voracious appetite and can gobble up your Pikmin in a hurry. To avoid their mouths, attack them from their sides, and use purple Pikmin for maximum power. Once you've dealt with a Bulbmin leader, use your whistle to call its followers and bring them to your fold.

Strategy

Pikmin

To ensure a low Pikmin loss, if not zero, wait until it approaches the active leader, then throw Pikmin rapidly on top of the beast, further to the back than the front. If done correctly and with good aim, it should shake them off and turn around slowly: it has been distracted, leaving a large time gap in which to swarm it. Do it, then, and it should die before any of the Pikmin it manages to swallow do. Also if it is attacked by other Bulbmin it will hesitate slightly before attacking allowing more time to deal damage.

As extra precautions or for an easier fight, use Purple Pikmin or an ultra-bitter spray if it captures any Pikmin.

Leaders

Approach the Bulbmin like a roaming Bulbear, attacking it from behind and avoiding its bite. Although its health is significantly lower than a Bulbear's, it can still take a substantial amount of time to kill without the Rocket Fist.

Technical information

Enemy

Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Internal name leafchappy
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 300
fp01 マップとの当り Unknown (related to slopes) 20
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 0.2
fp04 ダメージフレーム Damage scale duration 0.35
fp05 質量 Unknown (weight?) 0.001
fp06 速度 Move speed 50
fp08 回転速度率 Rotation acceleration 0.2
fp09 テリトリー Territory radius 400
fp10 ホーム範囲 "Home" radius 50
fp11 プライベート距離 "Private" radius 70
fp12 視界距離 Sight radius 300
fp13 視界角度 FOV 90
fp14 探索距離 Unknown (exploration radius?) 300
fp15 探索角度 Unknown (exploration angle?) 90
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 1
fp19 振り払い範囲 Shake range 25
fp20 攻撃可能範囲 Unknown (shock attack max range?) 40
fp21 攻撃可能角度 Unknown (shock attack max angle?) 30
fp22 攻撃ヒット範囲 Unknown (attack hit range?) 50
fp23 攻撃ヒット角度 Unknown (attack hit angle?) 35
fp24 攻撃力 Attack damage 10
fp25 視界高 Unknown (height visibility?) 50
fp26 探索高 Unknown (exploration height?) 50
fp27 ライフの高さ HP wheel height 90
fp28 回転最大速度 Rotation speed 4
fp29 警戒時間 Unknown (warning time?) 15
fp30 警戒ライフ Unknown 50
fp31 ライフ回復率 Regeneration rate 0
fp32 LOD半径 Off-camera radius 35
fp33 マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定 Collision processing radius 30
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 50
fp37 地震気絶確立 Purple Pikmin stun chance 0.3 (30%)
fp38 地震気絶時間 Purple Pikmin stun time 5
ip01 振り払い打撃A Shake mode 1 – hit count 8
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 15
ip04 振り払い張付2 Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement 10
ip05 振り払い打撃C Shake mode 3 – hit count 20
ip06 振り払い張付3 Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement 20
ip07 振り払い打撃D Shake mode 4 – hit count 25
Specific properties
ID Japanese comment Property Value
fp01 白ピクミン White Pikmin poison damage 500

Pikmin

Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Attack strength 10
Running speed 120 leaf, 140 bud, 170 flower
Digging speed 1× the norm

Other information

  • Size: Body length: 50mm, as per the e-card
  • Pikmin 2 Piklopedia number: #12

Naming

See more: Grub-dog family#Naming.
  • Common name: Bulbmin. It is a combination of "Bulborb" and "Pikmin".
  • Japanese nickname: The mature Bulbmin is called ハチャッピー?, which means "Leaf Chappy"; "leaf" is because of the leaf coming out of their backs, and Chappy is the Japanese name for Bulborb. The juvenile Bulbmin is called コッパチャッピー?.
  • Japanese name: ヤドリピクミンとその宿主?, lit.: "Parasitic Pikmin and its host". The name ヤドリピクミン? (lit.: "Parasitic Pikmin") is translated in Pikmin 4 as "Hermikmin".
  • Scientific name: Parasiticus pikminicus. It is made up of Parasiticus, Latin for "parasitic", given that the Bulbmin itself is a parasitic life-form, and pikminicus, like "Pikmin".
  • Internal names: Internally, they are known as leafchappy, which is the translation of their Japanese name.
  • Prerelease: None.

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning
Flag of Japan Japanese ハチャッピー; コッパチャッピー?
Ha Chappī; Koppa Chappī
Leaf Chappy; Small Leaf Chappy
Flag of France French Bulbikmin From "Bulborb" and "Pikmin"
Flag of Germany German Punktmin Dotmin; Portmanteau of "Punktkäfer" ("Dot Beetle", the Bulborbs German name) and "Pikmin".
Flag of Italy Italian Colmin Portmanteau of "Coleto" (Bulborb in the Italian translations) and "Pikmin"
Flag of Mexico Spanish (NoA) Bulbikmin Portmanteau of "Bulbo" (Bulborb in the Spanish translations) and "Pikmin"

Gallery

Trivia

The three maturities of Bulbmin sprout.
The three stages of Bulbmin sprouts in the ground.
  • The only place where Bulbmin can be buried – and hence, the only place where one can observe Bulbmin with buds – is the Frontier Cavern, on its fourth and fifth sublevels. Swooping Snitchbugs can plant them in the ground on the former and they can be planted by Mamutas on the latter.
  • If the game is altered such that it allows Bulbmin on the surface, they will take refuge in the ship's storage when the day ends, just like Purple Pikmin and White Pikmin. They will still count towards Olimar's Pikmin count, but they cannot be taken out of the ship the next morning. Like the other ship-dwelling types, they will take fallen foes or pellets to a random Onion and will tote any other objects, like berries, to their correct location. They will still be immune to all hazards.
  • Although all Bulbmin are immune to poison gas, the adult Bulbmin will take a fair amount of damage upon eating a White Pikmin.
  • Bulbmin can actually be found in the game files of Pikmin 3, despite them being absent in-game. Because of their model being identical to the one in Pikmin 2, it can be assumed that the idea of them returning was scrapped early in development.
  • It seems that the only Bulborb that the Bulbmin tends to take hostage is the Red Bulborb, even when it would make more sense to take control of a Hairy Bulborb in cold caves. This is generally in line with real-life biology, where a parasite will be specialized to take only one specific species as a host.
  • Bulbmin are the only Pikmin that were created before Super Smash Bros. Brawl and do not appear in that game in any way, or in any other subsequent Smash title.
  • A Bulbmin appears on the New Play Control! Pikmin 2 Channel Screen.
  • Strangely enough, the young Bulbmin do not die when caught in an explosion while under the control of the mature Bulbmin. However, when under the player's control, they can die by explosions. This is more of a useful tip, since the mature Bulbmin can die from it, and the young will remain fine.
  • When juvenile Bulbmin perish, their souls appear as any other enemies' souls, not as Pikmin souls. This may likely be due to how the Bulbmin find a bulborb host, in which the host ends up losing its life as well.
  • Bulbmin are the first type to have a unique voice, and are the only type with unique voice samples in Pikmin 2
  • They, along with Breadbugs, can be cannibalistic, as the adult Bulbmin will eat juvenile Bulbmin following a leader.
  • The Pikmin appear to be orange, as hinted by the picture above, and by the orange coloration seen at the tip where the stem meets the leaf/bud/flower. If this is the case, they would be the only Pikmin type to have a separate idle glow/map icon color than their main coloration.
    • That being said, the orange coloration of the stem could be explained to be a translation of the orange gradient that separates the yellow front and the red back of the Bulbmin, or simply an arbitrary aesthetic choice to distinguish their stems from Red Pikmin.
  • Besides the size, adult Bulbmin and juvenile Bulbmin can be distinguished by the number of spots on their backs.
  • According to the Japanese version of Olimar's notes on the Bulbmin, the Pikmin attaches its limbs to the host's ganglia and secretes endocrine disruptors. Additionally, it is mentioned that a recent theory suggests that it might be symbiotic rather than parasitic.
  • Although Bulbmin are not present in Pikmin 4, they are mentioned by Olimar to be Ambuloradicis akin to the Startle Spore.

See also


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 December 3rd, 2008 to January 26th, 2009.

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.