Frontier Cavern

Frontier Cavern
Location	Valley of Repose
Sublevels	8
Treasures	15
Hazards

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

The Frontier Cavern (辺境の洞窟^?, lit.: "Cave of Frontier") is the farthest cave found in the Valley of Repose area. It is of above-average difficulty, featuring most major types of grub-dog and rocks of both the falling and lithopod kind. The cave features a distinct "festive" theme, with Christmas-themed treasures, sublevels with snow hallways that have red brick walls (as if the player were in a chimney), and unique music featuring idiophone instruments for two sublevels. The cave's final boss is the Empress Bulblax, which is slightly different than the one in Hole of Beasts in that it gives birth to Bulborb Larva every few seconds. In this cave, there are × 1395 worth of treasures.

How to reach

File:VoR texture.png

Location of the cave.

Like the Subterranean Complex, it is impossible to reach the cave before getting Blue Pikmin. Use Blue Pikmin to remove the clog in the first pond and build a bridge over the second. Once this is done, Pikmin of all types can be brought across. Traveling in a straight line from the bridge will lead to the snowman with the Unspeakable Wonder on its head. Nearby is a slanted bridge that can be built to reach the cave. Defeating the Decorated Cannon Beetles, the various Blowhogs and the Cloaking Burrow-Nit is recommended, but not strictly necessary.

The cave features all hazards, so a Pikmin squad featuring all types of Pikmin is recommended. The Worthless Statue and the Priceless Statue have a high chance of spawning in water, so bringing at least ten Blue Pikmin, or leaving enough room in your squad to obtain the cave's Bulbmin, is highly recommended. Many treasures are underground, so White Pikmin are a must.

Notes

Ship's dialogs

“Yet another cave discovered! Venturing to the farthest reaches has proven rewarding!

You may be tired of walking, but now just one last leap remains! Now, go get that treasure!”

Sublevel 1

Sublevel 1.

Theme: Snow
Music: Snow 3
Treasures:
- Essence of Rage (buried)
- Essential Furnishing (buried)
Enemies:
- Doodlebug × 3
- Hairy Bulborb × 2
- Snow Bulborb × 6
Obstacles:
- Bomb-rock × 4 (drop from the sky in dead ends)
Plants and fungi:
- Figwort (small) × 15*
- Figwort (large) × 24*
- Shoot × 1*
- Violet Candypop Bud × 1 (in a dead end, and only if the Purple Pikmin total is less than 20)
Others:
- None

Technical sublevel information
Internal cave name			tutorial_3
"Main" object maximum (?)			35
"Treasure" object maximum (?)			2
"Gate" object maximum (?)			0
Dead end unit probability (?)			50
Number of rooms (?)			3
Corridor-to-room ratio (?)			0
Escape geyser (?)			No
Clogged hole (?)			No
Cave units file (?)			3_MAT_nor4_hit2_blk1_snow.txt
Lighting file (?)			normal_light_lv1.ini
Background (?)			None
Cave units (?)

Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor

Circular room with lumber	Room with 5 exits	Room with hole in wall

An excerpt from the level's music

An excerpt from the level's music (enemy variant)

This sublevel has many Snow Bulborbs and a couple of Hairy Bulborbs. Before engaging the Hairy Bulborbs, take out any Snow Bulborbs near it then attack the hairy monstrosities. Explore the area and have your White Pikmin unearth any buried treasures.

There is a Violet Candypop Bud if you have less than 20 total Purple Pikmin. When wandering about the area, you may encounter Doodlebugs. After they have emerged from their cover, they may skitter into a Figwort. If this happens you can wait until they move and release flatulence to locate them. This is a good time to stock up on ultra-bitter sprays.

*On New Play Control! Pikmin 2, the Figworts are absent, and there are 12 shoots instead.

Sublevel 2

Theme: Snow
Music: Snow 3
Treasures:
- Joy Receptacle
- Icon of Progress
Enemies:
- Decorated Cannon Beetle × 2
- Hairy Bulborb × 1
- Snow Bulborb × 6
Obstacles:
- None
Plants and fungi:
- Figwort (large) × 2
- Figwort (small) × 4
Others:
- None

Technical sublevel information
Internal cave name			tutorial_3
"Main" object maximum (?)			9
"Treasure" object maximum (?)			2
"Gate" object maximum (?)			0
Dead end unit probability (?)			50
Number of rooms (?)			3
Corridor-to-room ratio (?)			0
Escape geyser (?)			No
Clogged hole (?)			No
Cave units file (?)			3_MAT_ike3_mid2_sak1_snow.txt
Lighting file (?)			tutorial_1_light.ini
Background (?)			None
Cave units (?)

Dead end	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor

Room with ramp and thin ledge	Y-shaped room	Room with trunk in center

You are likely to fall where there is a large stump. Shelter all of your Pikmin behind it to protect them. Venture out into the sublevel without any Pikmin and use the Decorated Cannon Beetles to clear out any enemies. Then use one of the rocky projectiles to kill the other Decorated Cannon Beetle. Then have the rock-hurling creature kill itself by having the boulder home in on itself. Afterwards, take your comrades and collect the Christmas-themed treasures.

Sublevel 3

Theme: Snow
Music: Snow 2
Treasures:
- Danger Chime (inside Spotty Bulbear)
- Fleeting Art Form
- Gemstar Husband (buried)
Enemies:
- Bulbmin × 1
- Dwarf Bulbear × 6
- Spotty Bulbear × 1
Obstacles:
- Bomb-rock × 4 (drop from the sky in dead ends)
- Electrical wire × 2
- Fire geyser × 2
- [icon] Gas pipe × 2
Plants and fungi:
- Figwort (small) × 6
- Ivory Candypop Bud × 1 (in a dead end)
Others:
- Egg × 2 (in dead ends, 1 drops from the sky)

Technical sublevel information
Internal cave name			tutorial_3
"Main" object maximum (?)			14
"Treasure" object maximum (?)			2
"Gate" object maximum (?)			0
Dead end unit probability (?)			50
Number of rooms (?)			4
Corridor-to-room ratio (?)			0
Escape geyser (?)			Yes
Clogged hole (?)			No
Cave units file (?)			3_MAT_d_g_m_renga.txt
Lighting file (?)			tutorial_1_light.ini
Background (?)			None
Cave units (?)

Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor

Room with 4 exits	Room with 5 exits and 2 walls	Room with 4 exits and 2 walls

When landing on this sublevel, be warned that two wandering Grub-dogs will be patrolling the area so it is advised you don't take your time. Gather all of your Pikmin and scout the level, deactivating any electrical wires and Dwarf Bulbears. If you can, locate the Bulbmin and kill it before the Spotty Bulbear as it will make things easier.

If there are any, gather the juvenile Bulbmin and locate the Spotty Bulbear. Use whatever killing strategy you want, just make sure you bring its corpse back if it did not disintegrate and the Danger Chime. Explore the area once all the hazards are cleared and collect and unearth any treasures.

Sublevel 4

Theme: Snow
Music: Concrete 2
Treasures:
- Innocence Lost
- Omniscient Sphere
Enemies:
- Anode Beetle × 8
- Bumbling Snitchbug × 3 (1 drops from the sky when you touch the Omniscient Sphere)
- Swooping Snitchbug × 2
Obstacles:
- Bomb-rock × 2 (drop from the sky in dead ends)
- Electrical wire × 2
Plants and fungi:
- Figwort (large) × 2
- Figwort (small) × 8
- Violet Candypop Bud × 1 (in a dead end)
Others:
- Egg × 3 (in dead ends, 2 drop from the sky)

Technical sublevel information
Internal cave name			tutorial_3
"Main" object maximum (?)			14
"Treasure" object maximum (?)			2
"Gate" object maximum (?)			0
Dead end unit probability (?)			0
Number of rooms (?)			3
Corridor-to-room ratio (?)			0
Escape geyser (?)			No
Clogged hole (?)			No
Cave units file (?)			3_MAT_a_h_m_renga.txt
Lighting file (?)			tutorial_1_light.ini
Background (?)			None
Cave units (?)

Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor

Gather all your Yellow Pikmin and kill all the Anode Beetles, but watch out for the Swooping Snitchbugs and Bumbling Snitchbug. After all the Anode Beetles are massacred, take out the Swooping Snitchbugs and the Bumbling Snitchbug and proceed to collect the treasures. When you attempt to collect a treasure in an alcove, however, another Bumbling Snitchbug will drop from the ceiling. Kill it then continue collecting the treasure. There is a Violet Candypop Bud here to harvest more Purple Pikmin, but note that there is a chance that it will not spawn at all, as detailed here and here.

Sublevel 5

Theme: Soil
Music: Rest
Treasures:
- Brute Knuckles (inside a Mamuta)
Enemies:
- [icon] Caustic Dweevil × 2
- Mamuta × 4
- Unmarked Spectralids × 1 (number of groups)
Obstacles:
- None
Plants and fungi:
- Clover × 8
- Figwort (large) × 3
- Figwort (small) × 12
- Ivory Candypop Bud × 1 (in a dead end)
- Lapis Lazuli Candypop Bud × 1 (in a dead end)
- Margaret × 4
- Shoot (large) × 1
- Shoot (small) × 1
- Violet Candypop Bud × 1 (in a dead end)
Others:
- Egg × 1 (in a dead end)

Technical sublevel information
Internal cave name			tutorial_3
"Main" object maximum (?)			7
"Treasure" object maximum (?)			0
"Gate" object maximum (?)			0
Dead end unit probability (?)			100
Number of rooms (?)			2
Corridor-to-room ratio (?)			0
Escape geyser (?)			Yes
Clogged hole (?)			No
Cave units file (?)			1_MAT_cent2_tsuchi.txt
Lighting file (?)			normal_light_lv0.ini
Background (?)			None
Cave units (?)

Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor

Four-way circular room

A rest sublevel, but unique as it is one of the only 3 rest sublevels to possess a treasure. There are some Mamutas here, so you can take any leaf or bud Pikmin you have to the Mamuta, and let it pound all of them into the ground, so they become flower Pikmin. Now kill the Mamutas until one of them drops the Brute Knuckles. Also kill the Caustic Dweevil before you collect the treasure as the four-legged nuisance will attempt to carry the Brute Knuckles on its back.

The Brute Knuckles allows you to use the Rocket Fist when collected. There are some Lapis Lazuli Candypop Buds and a Violet Candypop Bud here if you are low on Blue Pikmin and Purple Pikmin, or you can use the Violet Candypop Bud to harvest 5 more Purple Pikmin. Killing the Unmarked Spectralids will cause them to drop nectar to power up your leaf Pikmin and occasionally sprays.

Sublevel 6

Theme: Soil
Music: Soil 3
Treasures:
- Priceless Statue
- Worthless Statue
Enemies:
- Bulbmin × 1
- Decorated Cannon Beetle × 3
- Water Dumple × 4
Obstacles:
- Fire geyser × 5
Plants and fungi:
- Common Glowcap × 8
Others:
- Egg × 1 (in a dead end)

Technical sublevel information
Internal cave name			tutorial_3
"Main" object maximum (?)			13
"Treasure" object maximum (?)			2
"Gate" object maximum (?)			0
Dead end unit probability (?)			2
Number of rooms (?)			3
Corridor-to-room ratio (?)			0
Escape geyser (?)			No
Clogged hole (?)			No
Cave units file (?)			3_MAT_nor4_ike1_ike2_tsuchi.txt
Lighting file (?)			normal_light_lv4.ini
Background (?)			None
Cave units (?)

Dead end	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor

Room with a pond	Room with a ramp, thin ledge, and water	Circular room with lumber

The reason why there was a Lapis Lazuli Candypop Bud on the previous sublevel is this sublevel. Before taking your Blue Pikmin to collect treasure, have the Decorated Cannon Beetles kill the enemies, flame geysers, and each other then collected the two chess pieces with your Blue Pikmin and Bulbmin.

It is possible, although uncommon, for this sublevel to generate a layout with a second circular room with lumber and without the watery room with a ramp, and thus, require no Blue Pikmin to collect the treasures.

Sublevel 7

Theme: Soil
Music: Soil 1
Treasures:
- Flame Tiller (buried)
- Spouse Alert
Enemies:
- Dwarf Orange Bulborb × 10
- Iridescent Glint Beetle × 1 (in a dead end)
- Orange Bulborb × 3
Obstacles:
- Boulder × 13 (drop from the sky)
Plants and fungi:
- Common Glowcap × 8
- Ivory Candypop Bud × 1 (in a dead end)
Others:
- None

Technical sublevel information
Internal cave name			tutorial_3
"Main" object maximum (?)			26
"Treasure" object maximum (?)			2
"Gate" object maximum (?)			0
Dead end unit probability (?)			50
Number of rooms (?)			3
Corridor-to-room ratio (?)			0
Escape geyser (?)			Yes
Clogged hole (?)			No
Cave units file (?)			3_MAT_cent_mid1_mid2_tsuchi.txt
Lighting file (?)			normal_light_lv4.ini
Background (?)			None
Cave units (?)

Dead end with item	Three-way crossing	Four-way crossing	Turning corridor	Corridor	Long corridor

Four-way circular room	Room with 6 exits	Y-shaped room

This sublevel has boulders falling from the ceiling, so when going from place to place, be cautious. Have a single leader cause the boulders to fall, preferably on the Dwarf Orange Bulborbs and Orange Bulborbs to kill or severely damage them. After they all have fallen, take your Pikmin and kill any stragglers and collect the treasures. Then have your White Pikmin dig up the Flame Tiller and collect it. There is also an Iridescent Glint Beetle on this sublevel that can be used to harness ultra-spicy sprays for the boss.

Sublevel 8

Theme: Soil
Music: Boss (only when combating)
Treasures:
- Repugnant Appendage (inside the Empress Bulblax)
Enemies:
- Bulborb Larva (18 spawned at start)
- Empress Bulblax × 1
Obstacles:
- None
Plants and fungi:
- None
Others:
- None

Technical sublevel information
Internal cave name			tutorial_3
"Main" object maximum (?)			10
"Treasure" object maximum (?)			0
"Gate" object maximum (?)			0
Dead end unit probability (?)			0
Number of rooms (?)			1
Corridor-to-room ratio (?)			0
Escape geyser (?)			Yes
Clogged hole (?)			No
Cave units file (?)			1_units_queen_b_tsuchi.txt
Lighting file (?)			qchap_light.ini
Background (?)			None
Cave units (?)

Empress Bulblax arena

Gallery

The cave entrance.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	辺境の洞窟^? Henkyō no Dōkutsu	Cave of Frontier
French	Grotte des Confins	Cave of the Confines
German	Grenzlandhöhle	Borderland Cave
Italian	Grotta di Confine	Frontier Cave
Spanish (NoA)	Caverna Fronteriza	Frontier Cavern

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