User:Twins1105/Electrode Merge

The electrode is a type of hazard and tool that appears in Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3, Pikmin 4 and Hey! Pikmin. The general concept of the electrode is that it is an object or pair of objects that transmits an electric current.

In Pikmin 2 and Pikmin 4 the electrode is a hazard that functions in a similar manner to the fire geyser, occasionally discharging electricity. They are meant to be destroyed in order for other Pikmin types to navigate caves without risk. In Pikmin 3 and Hey! Pikmin, the leaders are meant to throw Yellow Pikmin at the gap in the electrode. The first Pikmin thrown will grab one of the ends and stretch its other arm out. Any Pikmin that come next will join hands with the Pikmin next to them, or grab the other end of the electrode, and when the final Pikmin is added, it will close the gap and the electrical current, starting the circuit and turning on the light bulb in the process. At this point, the Pikmin no longer need to feed the circuit with their bodies, as the gap between the two ends gets filled with an arc of electricity flowing through the air. This arc is an electrical hazard, though it causes no damage to leaders or Pikmin, besides knocking them back. The wire ends prior to the connection do not cause any sort of damage. The Pikmin that jump-started the circuit will also be flowered up when the current passes through them.

An active pair of electrodes in Pikmin 2.

In Pikmin 2, the electrode is used as an electric hazard, with a pair of two nodes protruding from the ground with conductors sticking out of them. At regular intervals it will start to spark before an arc of electricity is discharged between the two nodes. After a bit, the discharge will stop, before repeating the process. It is possible to damage it using any Pikmin type if it is not actively discharging electricity, but Yellow Pikmin and Bulbmin can damage it even if it is active.

A completed electrode in Pikmin 3.

In Pikmin 3, the electrode is used as a tool to light up the area area around it, which can, in turn, cause a number of things to happen: light activates the Yellow Onion, makes Bloominous Stemples bloom, and stuns the Vehemoth Phosbat temporarily. Most electrodes take the form of a simple electric circuit, consisting of a battery and a light bulb, connected by two pieces of wire. One of the wires is cut, leaving a gap in the circuit. In the Vehemoth Phosbat's arena, a large battery connected to a light bulb can also be found, and acts the same as the usual electrode, with the difference being that the circuit is opened between the two battery posts.

An active electrode in Pikmin 4.

In Pikmin 4, the electrode appears as a hazard, with a single base with three prongs to discharge electricity. The discharge is emitted around the electrode in a wide radius in a similar manner to the fire geyser, stunning and eventually killing any Pikmin who aren't immune to the electricity. Like in Pikmin 2 any Pikmin type can damage an inactive electrode, but only Yellow Pikmin and Glow Pikmin can damage it if it is active.

An active electrode in Hey! Pikmin.

In Hey! Pikmin, electrodes are actually parts of a thorny plant with occasional magenta flowers, said flowers emitting light when the electrode is closed, and only need about 4 Pikmin to complete the connection. The flowers will automatically bloom if the Pikmin are conducting, but as soon as they detach, the flower will shrink again. As with most light emitting objects, these can cause Bloominous Stemples to bloom.

Locations

Pikmin 2

Valley of Repose (does not appear above ground)
- Frontier Cavern
  - Sublevel 3: × 2
  - Sublevel 4: × 2

Awakening Wood (does not appear above ground)
- Bulblax Kingdom
  - Sublevel 4: × 2
- Snagret Hole
  - Sublevel 4: × 3

Perplexing Pool (does not appear above ground)
- Glutton's Kitchen
  - Sublevel 3: × 5
  - Sublevel 6: × 5
- Shower Room
  - Sublevel 1: × 3
- Submerged Castle
  - Sublevel 3: × 5

Wistful Wild (does not appear above ground)
- Cavern of Chaos
  - Sublevel 6: × 2
- Dream Den
  - Sublevel 3: × 4
  - Sublevel 8: × 5
  - Sublevel 11: × 2

Challenge Mode
- Hot House
  - Sublevel 2: × 4
- Breeding Ground
  - Sublevel 3: × 6

Pikmin 3

Distant Tundra

An electrode requiring 5 Pikmin is found near the Yellow Onion. It is required to awaken it.
An electrode requiring 10 Pikmin is found in the Spotty Bulbear cave. It expands the Bloominous Stemples such that the Citrus Lump in the room is able to be collected.
An electrode requiring 10 Pikmin is found in the room where Charlie is initially attacked by the Vehemoth Phosbat. It expands the Bloominous Stemples such that Alph and Brittany are able to give chase, and confront the Vehemoth Phosbat. Notably, Yellow Pikmin that complete this electrode at the leaf stage of maturity will not be flowered up, either due to a glitch when the cutscene is played or possibly intended by developers to encourage using the nearby Phosbat Pod for nectar.
Four electrodes requiring 10 Pikmin are found in the Vehemoth Phosbat arena. Each is able to stun the Vehemoth Phosbat, allowing the player to attack it. They continue to work when the room is light.
An electrode requiring 20 Pikmin is also found in the Vehemoth Phosbat arena. When connected, the entire Phosbat arena is lit up, making it impossible for Phosbats to spawn, and making the Vehemoth Phosbat nigh helpless. Instead of two loose wire ends, these are actually two posts of a battery.

Twilight River

An electrode requiring 20 Pikmin is found in the cave with the Juicy Gaggles. It expands the Bloominous Stemples such that the pile of 30 light blue fragments can be reached, allowing the bridge leading to the Winged Onion to be accessed.

Formidable Oak

Three electrodes requiring 10 Pikmin are found in the second room. Each expand the Bloominous Stemples to create paths to escape the room. The first and third are required to reach the exit, while the second merely grants access to the third.

The Rustyard

An already completed electrode serves as a barrier to a bunch of Dusk Pustules in the Collect treasure! version of the stage, preventing non-Yellows from taking its pieces back to base.

Pikmin 4

Serene Shores (does not appear above ground)
- Engulfed Castle
  - Sublevel 3 × 6

Hey! Pikmin

Technical information

Pikmin 2 technical information (?)
Internal name			`elechiba`
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	150
fp01	マップとの当り	Unknown (related to slopes)	10
fp02	ダメージスケールXZ	Horizontal damage scale	0.5
fp03	ダメージスケールY	Vertical damage scale	0.7
fp04	ダメージフレーム	Damage scale duration	0.3
fp05	質量	Unknown (weight?)	1
fp06	速度	Move speed	0
fp08	回転速度率	Rotation acceleration	0
fp09	テリトリー	Territory radius	1
fp10	ホーム範囲	"Home" radius	1
fp11	プライベート距離	"Private" radius	0
fp12	視界距離	Sight radius	0
fp13	視界角度	FOV	0
fp14	探索距離	Unknown (exploration radius?)	200
fp15	探索角度	Unknown (exploration angle?)	0
fp16	振り払い率	Successful shake rate	0
fp17	振り払い力	Shake knockback	0
fp18	振り払いダメージ	Shake damage	0
fp19	振り払い範囲	Shake range	0
fp20	攻撃可能範囲	Unknown (shock attack max range?)	10
fp21	攻撃可能角度	Unknown (shock attack max angle?)	5
fp22	攻撃ヒット範囲	Unknown (attack hit range?)	10
fp23	攻撃ヒット角度	Unknown (attack hit angle?)	15
fp24	攻撃力	Attack damage	10
fp25	視界高	Unknown (height visibility?)	0
fp26	探索高	Unknown (exploration height?)	0
fp27	ライフの高さ	HP wheel height	50
fp28	回転最大速度	Rotation speed	0
fp29	警戒時間	Unknown (warning time?)	0
fp30	警戒ライフ	Unknown	0
fp31	ライフ回復率	Regeneration rate	0.0065
fp32	LOD半径	Off-camera radius	30
fp33	マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定	Collision processing radius	15
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 (0%)
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	0
ip02	振り払い張付１	Shake mode 1 – Pikmin requirement	0
ip03	振り払い打撃Ｂ	Shake mode 2 – hit count	0
ip04	振り払い張付２	Shake mode 2 – Pikmin requirement	0
ip05	振り払い打撃Ｃ	Shake mode 3 – hit count	0
ip06	振り払い張付３	Shake mode 3 – Pikmin requirement	0
ip07	振り払い打撃Ｄ	Shake mode 4 – hit count	0
Specific properties
ID	Japanese comment	Property	Value
fp02	ウェイト時間	Idle duration	1.5
fp03	予兆時間	Sparking duration	1.5
fp01	放電時間	Electric current duration	2.5
fp04	停止時間	Unknown (stop duration?)	30

Gallery

Pikmin 2

A pair of electrodes in Pikmin 2.
A deactivated pair of electrodes in the Shower Room.
A pair of electrodes being deactivated by a Yellow Pikmin.
An inactive pair of electrodes.
A pair of electrodes starting to emit electricity.
A pair of active electrodes.

Pikmin 3

The data file explaining electrodes.
The curved electrode in the Twilight River.
An electrode that hasn't been completed.
Yellow Pikmin attempting to complete an electrode.

Pikmin 4

An inactive electrode in the Engulfed Castle.
An electrode in Pikmin 4 starting to discharge electricity.
An electrode actively discharging electricity.
A deactivated electrode.
Artwork of a Yellow Pikmin standing within the discharge of an electrode.

Hey! Pikmin

An electrode in Hey! Pikmin.

Trivia

A slanted pair of electrodes.

Each of the conducting nodes of electrodes are programmed to snap to the ground, and the electrical arc between two wires will change angle accordingly so that the discharge still connects both nodes in a straight line. However, this feature of electrodes is nearly impossible to see in normal gameplay because in almost all of the spots that electrodes can spawn at in-game are flat. It is possible, though extremely rare, for an electrode to spawn on the curved stump in sublevel 11 of the Dream Den, showing off this otherwise-unused feature.
Although Pikmin 4 does not feature conducting electricity as a mechanic, one of the game's trailers features a Yellow Pikmin conducting electricity to turn on the lights of a Christmas tree.^[1]
Despite going unnamed ingame, the electrode in Pikmin 4 is named in an unused localization file in all supported languages.