Red Pikmin

Red Pikmin
Resistance	Fire
Attack strength	: Above average (15) ; : Above average (15)
Mobility	Average
Throw	Average
Digging speed	: Above average (≈1.5× the norm) ; : Above average (≈1.5× the norm)
Carrying capacity	1
Size	Body length: 33mm
Voice actor	Hajime Wakai

Red Pikmin (赤ピクミン^?) are the first variety of Pikmin discovered by the leaders in all games. They are usually considered the "main" type of Pikmin due to their relatively simple traits and early discovery. Aside from their color, the distinguishing features of Red Pikmin are their pointed noses, resistance to fire, and high attack power. Same as most other types of Pikmin, their buds and flowers are white, and they are harvested through their Red Onion (or the Master Onion). These Pikmin are present in all games of the series, and make an appearance in all game modes. In 2-Player Battle, they belong to player 1's army, although their strength is reduced for the sake of fairness.

Traits and abilities

Red Pikmin are immune to fire, as seen here.

Red Pikmin have spiked noses, and above average attack power, at 1.5× that of normal Pikmin. This gives them the highest attack stat of any "normal" Pikmin type, when latched onto an enemy, making them especially useful in battle.

Red Pikmin also exhibit an immunity to fire, in that they ignore the heat whereas other Pikmin (besides Bulbmin) would have their leaf, bud, or flower catch on fire and run off in a panic. No explanation to their immunity is ever revealed. This invulnerability is most useful in Pikmin and Pikmin 3, mostly because of the Fiery Blowhogs and the fact that fire geysers are indestructible. Their ability is less useful in Pikmin 2, where the geysers can be destroyed by any Pikmin, and Fiery Blowhogs can easily be defeated with Purple Pikmin. Their main use in the second game is for taking care of Fiery Bulblaxes, though this task doesn't always require them. In Hey! Pikmin, they act just like in all other games, except they also have the ability to stomp out small fires, allowing Olimar or other Pikmin safe passage.

Discovery

Alph first finding a Red Pikmin in Pikmin 3.

In Pikmin, Red Pikmin are the first type of Pikmin ever discovered, and they keep this trait in the sequel. They are discovered in The Impact Site, along with their Onion, just a small walk away from the landing zone. When the dormant Onion wakes up and ejects a seed, and Olimar plucks said seed, it marks the first time Olimar ever sees a Pikmin. Here, at least 20 Red Pikmin must be grown in order to carry back the Main Engine, so that Olimar can exit the planet's surface during the night. However, it's possible to grow up to 25 Red Pikmin on the first day.

In Pikmin 2, the first Red Pikmin, and indeed, the first Pikmin in this trip, are found by Captain Olimar. There are 5 Pikmin fighting a Dwarf Red Bulborb in the Valley of Repose right next to where Olimar lands. Whistling them gives Olimar control over them, which he uses to defeat the beast. After the battle, once Louie has regained consciousness, he walks a short distance and finds the Red Onion. From there, Louie builds up the population in order to crush a paper bag separating him from Olimar, reunite with him, and collect the Courage Reactor.

In Pikmin 3, the story begins with Charlie discovering Yellow Pikmin and ending up captured by the Vehemoth Phosbat. After this prologue, Alph wakes up in a small puddle at the Tropical Wilds. He walks a short distance before seeing a Red Pikmin, which surprises both of them. After walking a bit more, he finds three wild Red Pikmin trying to free their Onion from a branch. Alph throws the Pikmin at it and succeeds in freeing it. He then proceeds to grow his army up to 20 (21 if the one sitting on the pot is obtained), so that he can push the cardboard box and get back to the S.S. Drake, as well as try to rescue Brittany. Although Yellow Pikmin are seen first, Red Pikmin are the first type to have their Onion discovered, and thus, formally introduced.

In Hey! Pikmin, after Captain Olimar crash-lands on the planet and comes to, he explores the area he's in for a bit until he stumbles upon a lone Red Pikmin. After he and the S.S. Dolphin II's pod stare at it for a bit, it runs away. After moving forward some more, Olimar and his ship find the Pikmin's hiding spot, a bush. After using the whistle here, the Pikmin that was hiding behind, along with three of his friends, pop out of the bush and join him. These Pikmin are used shortly after to bring down some Sparklium Seeds that are out of reach. Eventually, Olimar finishes exploring this starting area, and leaves the Pikmin he found behind. The adventure proper then starts, with the area First Expedition, where he once again meets the Red Pikmin, again, hiding behind a bush. This time, and from here on out, he takes any Red Pikmin he finds and salvages at the end of the area with him, and leaves them in the Pikmin Park.

Uses

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Hey! Pikmin.

There is no task in any game that can only be completed with Red Pikmin in particular. However, as the first type of Pikmin discovered in all three games, they are by default required until a second Pikmin type can be obtained.

Red Pikmin are important, but not required, for the completion of the following tasks. Although for some tasks, Red Pikmin are optional on purpose, others rely on exploits.

Pikmin

Ship parts
- Libra: They are needed to carry the piece through fire geysers, unless careful timing, whistles, and a large number of carriers are used.
- Analog Computer: Same as the Libra.
- Omega Stabilizer: Same as the Libra.
- Bowsprit: Same as the Libra, but if a nearby bridge is extended and the gate that is out of the path of any other ship part is destroyed, the Pikmin will carry it that way instead, and avoid the geysers.
- Secret Safe: Red Pikmin are the only ones that can cross the path of fire geysers, but with accurate aiming and a long throw, one can throw Yellow Pikmin from the northern bridge onto the end of the geyser path.
Enemies
- None

Pikmin 2

Treasures
- Gyroid Bust: They are needed to carry the piece through fire geysers, unless careful timing, whistles, and fast carrying strategies are used.
- Essence of Despair: There is no water around to defeat the Fiery Bulblax with other Pikmin, so Red Pikmin are needed. But it can be killed using the alternative methods listed below.
- Frosty Bauble: Same as the Essence of Despair.
- Gemstar Wife: Same as the Essence of Despair.
- Dimensional Slicer (US) / Patience Tester (Europe): Same as the Essence of Despair.
- Insect Condo: Same as the Essence of Despair.
Enemies
- Fiery Bulblax: Only Red Pikmin can withstand its flames. However, if the enemy is submerged, its fire goes out. Even with the fire active, Purple Pikmin can damage it with their impact damage, and White Pikmin can be ingested to poison it. In certain caves, it can be lured into walking into the abyss as well.

Pikmin 3

Fruits
- Sunseed Berry: The one in the Distant Tundra is inside of a Pyroclasmic Slooch. This Slooch is not near any water, so Red Pikmin must be used. Other types can attack it as detailed below, though.
Enemies
- Pyroclasmic Slooch: The Pyroclasmic Slooch is a slug that is cloaked in flames. By luring one into water, however, its flames temporarily go out while it remains in the water, and can be attacked by any Pikmin type. Other than that, Rock Pikmin deal impact damage to Slooches even if they are cloaked in fire, although the player should whistle them right afterwards to save them. There is also a glitch that allows other types of Pikmin to attack a Slooch without catching fire.

Notes

Hey! Pikmin logs

“What a joy it was to meet these Pikmin again upon crash-landing here! Working with them is as comforting as eating my beloved pikpik carrots, for whom I named the species. Their pointy noses are a bit carrot-shaped, aren't they? These particular Pikmin are the strongest of the bunch and make short work of any dangerous creatures. I'm not sure how, but they're also impervious to fire, making them good candidates to send into a hot situation.”

In the Super Smash Bros. series

This article or section is a short summary on Pikmin as fighters.
SmashWiki features more in-depth content.

Red Pikmin appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U as a trophy and a type of Pikmin Olimar can pull from the ground via Pikmin Pluck. Red Pikmin, like in the games, deal a high amount of damage in most attacks; Purple Pikmin only have higher knockback, but do less damage to foes than Red Pikmin. Also, Red Pikmin have fire effects on their attacks, and are immune to fire attacks such as Bowser's Fire Breath or Mario's Fireballs. In Brawl, two stickers exist with Red Pikmin on them, one with a reclining Pikmin, and one with a posing Pikmin.

Brawl trophy

	Description: “A type of Pikmin—which are odd beings who grow like plants yet are as mobile as animals. Red ones are heat and fire resistant and are strong attackers, which makes them valuable when facing dangerous foes. Purple Pikmin are also tough fighters, but since it's difficult to increase their numbers, red Pikmin are easier to manage. Red Pikmin have distinct pointed noses. Pikmin Pikmin 2”
How to obtain: Clear the "Sproutage of the Flower Pikmin" event.		Type: Fighter

Smash 4 trophy

3DS
Red Pikmin

	US description: “This Pikmin has a red body and a long, pointy nose. It was the first type of Pikmin Olimar ever met. In Smash Bros., they have the second highest attack power among the Pikmin. Like their fiery color suggests, they can attack with flames and withstand them.”
	EU description: “Telling Red Pikmin apart from the other Pikmin is easy: these ones have long, pointy noises. Also, they're red. They're the very first kind of Pikmin Olimar finds on their planet, and their high attack power makes them very useful. In this game, they can deal powerful attacks, and they're very resistant to fire damage.”
How to obtain: Random appearance.		Type: Fighter

Wii U

	US description: “This Pikmin has a red body and a long, pointy nose. It was the first type of Pikmin Olimar ever met. In Smash Bros., they have the second highest attack power among the Pikmin. Like their fiery color suggests, they can attack with flames and withstand them. Appears in: Pikmin (12/2001) Pikmin 2 (08/2004)”
	EU description: “Telling Red Pikmin apart from the other Pikmin is easy: these ones have long, pointy noses. Also, they're red. They're the very first kind of Pikmin Olimar finds on their planet, and their high attack power makes them very useful. In this game, they can deal powerful attacks, and they're very resistant to fire damage. Related Games Pikmin (06/2002) Pikmin 2 (10/2004)”
How to obtain: Random appearance.		Type: Fighter	Trophy Box: 60. Pikmin