This article is about the obstacle in Pikmin 3. For the treasure, see Crystal King.
The leaf texture used in Pikmin 2's Challenge Mode menu. (Used on Pikipedia in the {{stub}} template.)

This article is a stub. You can help Pikipedia by expanding it.

The first Crystal found in Pikmin 3, in the Distant Tundra.

Crystals are obstacles that appear only in Pikmin 3. Crystals can contain objects like fragments, pellets and also fruits, but their main purpose is to serve as blockades. Different types of crystal appear in the game, but all of them need Rock Pikmin to be broken – other Pikmin types will just tap away, only to give up after a bit.

Large crystals

 
Three gray pellets inside a large crystal.

Large crystals are relatively big crystals. This the most common type of crystal; it appears in every area, except the Tropical Wilds. By throwing 10 Rock Pikmin at them, they will break. They can contain fruit, fragments, data files, and even blobs of ultra-spicy spray in Mission Mode. In addition, the gray Onion is found in a large crystal.

Locations

To do: Double-check to see if any locations are missing.
Care to do so?

Garden of Hope

  • There are 3 large crystals in the cave with the Rock Pikmin. One holds a data file, another holds some pellets, and the final holds the Rock Pikmin's Onion.
  • One large crystal is near the brown bridge, and holds the remaining 20 fragments to the bridge.
  • A large crystal can be found near the Burgeoning Spiderwort in the second half of the area, and it holds a Searing Acidshock.

Distant Tundra

  • A large crystal is present in the room where the yellow Onion is discovered, and contains a Disguised Delicacy.
  • Two large crystals are found in the area with the 2 Joustmites and the flower pot. One holds some fragments, while another blocks a path which avoids contact with the Joustmites.
  • The Zest Bomb is encased in a large crystal, and is guarded by an Arctic Cannon Larva on a high ledge.
  • A Large Crystal is located nearby the Fiery Blowhog, and holds a Data File.

Twilight River

Formidable Oak

  • A large crystal blocks off a small area with a pile of 20 brown fragments, causing the Pikmin to go around.
  • Another large crystal blocks off the path to the area with the reinforced wall.

Small crystals

 
Two Pikmin in front of a small crystal, which blocks a geyser.

Small crystals are crystals that only need 3 hits from a Rock Pikmin to break. These crystals don't contain major objects, usually just pellets, but they can block geysers.

Locations

To do: Add the list of small crystals in every area.
Care to do so?

Garden of Hope

  • There is a small crystal in the cave where the Rock Pikmin are found, and it contains a gray Pellet.

Distant Tundra

Crystal nodule

 
Three Red Pikmin trying to break a crystal nodule.

To do: Specify if the crystal nodules themselves respawn from day to day.
Care to do so?

Crystal nodules aren't like other crystals: they don't block paths, contains objects or block geysers, but are the main weapon of Skutterchucks. Crystal nodules are very small, white crystals, and only need one single hit from a Rock Pikmin to break. If all crystal nodules in an area are broken, Skutterchucks will not respawn in the area.

Locations

Tropical Wilds

Garden of Hope

  • There are 5 Crystal Nodules alongside two Skutterchucks in front of the red bridge which connects the S.S. Drake and the place where Brittany is found.

Other types

The crystal on the Quaggled Mireclops is referred to as a "Mireclops Crystal", and needs 40 hits from Rock Pikmin to take down. While not given any specific name, the bodies of the Calcified Crushblat and Armored Mawdad are also covered in a thin layer of crystal. In addition, the Peckish Aristocrab's larger claw is made out of crystal. Finally, the Plasm Wraith can spit out an Elemental Plasm that transforms into a huge crystal cube, which must be broken down bit by bit until it collapses into a pool of plasm.

Gallery

Trivia

 
One of the two large crystals that contain 50 fragments.
  • In the E3 2012 demo of Pikmin 3, all crystals were referred to as crystal nodules. In addition, large crystals back then were translucent, while the ones in the final version are roughly opaque.
  • In the Silver Lake Remix, there are two abnormally big large crystals – their size is due to them storing 50 Nuggets, which would be too much for a "normal" large crystal. However, it still takes 10 hits from a Rock Pikmin to break, regardless of size.

See also