Crystal wall

A crystal wall.

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Pikmin 3.
Particularly: Investigate further how resistant each gate is. Take in consideration hitting the same quadrant or different quadrants.

Crystal walls are a type of gate in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4 that require Rock Pikmin to break.

In Pikmin 3, the gate itself is made of a piece of glass (identified as "crystal") stuck between 2 clamps, and will crack as Rock Pikmin hit it. Once enough damage has occurred, the wall will shatter altogether rather than break gradually or sink in the ground. The cracks are split in quadrants, and once a quadrant has been damaged enough, the whole structure breaks. As such, hitting the same quadrant repeatedly will take the wall down faster than hitting several quadrants. Although uncertain, it appears that all crystal walls in Story Mode take 24 direct hits to break if the same quadrant is hit every time, and 28 direct hits if a different quadrant is hit each time. Most crystal gates needs 2 bomb rock explosions in order to shatter, regardless of health value. Some crystal walls are placed in locations where an iron ball can be pushed down a slope to break the wall. In Pikmin 3 Deluxe, there are 3 designs of this wall: one with the standard dark rusted metal on the sides, one with much lighter rusted metal, and one with rust-free metal.

In Pikmin 4, the glass comprising the gate is now similar in appearance to crystals such as crystal nodules. Crystal walls in Pikmin 4 act as one surface instead of being split into four quadrants, and damage is the same regardless of location struck. It is the only destructible gate that Oatchi is incapable of demolishing by himself.

In a prerelease version of Pikmin 3, this gate was called a "crystallized wall". It may have been changed at some point in the game's development to shorten and simplify it.

Locations

Pikmin 3

Story Mode

Garden of Hope: One beside where Rock Pikmin are first discovered, one guarding access to Brittany, and one by the landing site.
Distant Tundra: One near the two Pyroclasmic Slooches (one of which holds a Sunseed Berry), and one near the bomb rocks by the Spotty Bulbear.
Formidable Oak: One near a pathway containing an iron ball, which can be used to break the wall.

Mission Mode: Collect Treasure!

Tropical Forest: One blocks off the dried off area with the two Pyroclasmic Slooches.
Shaded Garden: One is found south of the base, separating the south-west and south-east portions of the map.
Twilight Hollow Remix: Two are found in the west potion of the map with the Bulborb and the Swooping Snitchbug. One leads inwards to two piles of nuggets, and one leads into the north section of the map directly to Winged Pikmin sprouts.
Clockwork Chasm: One appears in sight of the player when they start the stage next to a body of water and acts as a shortcut.

Mission Mode: Battle Enemies!

Thirsty Desert: Two are found here, one directly east of the Red Onion down a ledge, and one directly south of the Rock Onion across a body of water.
Twilight Hollow: Two are found here, one directly behind Alph when he starts, and one to the left of the area with Pyroclasmic Slooches.
Shaded Garden: One appears west of the Blue Onion, separating the land and the water.
Garden of Hope Remix: One is found directly in front of the player where one is found in Story Mode leading into a Burrowing Snagret fight.
Distant Tundra Remix: One appears in the same place as Story Mode, this time blocking off two Swooping Snitchbugs, two Whiptongue Bulborbs and a Fiery Blowhog.
Twilight River Remix: One is found in place of the electric gate that's found in Story Mode, in this instance blocking off a Flighty Joustmite and a Calcified Crushblat along with two Blue Candypop Buds.
Formidable Oak Remix: Three appear in this stage. One is placed in front of a group of Blue Pikmin, one is placed in front a room with a Whiptongue Bulborb and two Red Candypop Buds (that can be destroyed by an iron ball), and one on one side of the room containing a large amount of Bulborbs and Dwarf Bulborbs (also destroyable by an iron ball).
Fortress of Festivity: One blocks off a small room with a Skutterchuck and Burgeoning Spiderwort. Another wall blocks off a room with three Watery Blowhogs.
The Rustyard: One wall is found right next to the Rock Onion blocking a geyser to the other side of the stage.
Beastly Caverns: One is found in the northeast corner of the central area with the Blue Onion.

Side Stories

Creature Hunting: Two crystal walls can be destroyed to access to the Calcified Crushblats, with neither being strictly necessary.
Team Monster Hunt: A crystal wall appears next to Olimar's starting position.
Another Part Found: A crystal wall defends a dirt mound with some bomb rocks.

Bingo Battle

Twisted Cavern layout A: Two walls can be found, one to the right of player 1's Onion and one to the left of player 2's Onion, which both lead into the same room with Skutterchucks.
Arid Metropolis layout A: Ten walls are found scattered across the stage. They are symmetrical on each side; one in front of the Onion, two in nearby pathways, one to the side, and one that guards either a Citrus Lump or an Insect Condo.
Arid Metropolis layout B: Six walls are found here. The two pairs of two are symmetrical on each side; one blocking the furthest right corridor and one blocking the second furthest to the left corridor. The other two block off their own respective team's Pikmin sprouts on the north side of the map.
Rusted Labyrinth layout C: Two crystals walls are found on opposite sides of the map, right of each team's Onion blocking off once again a Citrus Lump or an Insect Condo.
Jigsaw Colosseum layout B: Two crystal walls appear at the entrances to the middle section filled with Bulborbs.
Jigsaw Colosseum layout C: Eight crystal walls appear scattered around the map, four close to the four corners of the map, and four found on different sides of the central area.

Pikmin 4

Areas and caves

Kingdom of Beasts: Three are found on sublevel 2, one next to base acting as a shortcut, one blocking off the Ambiguous Goo, and one blocking off the exit. One is found on sublevel 4 blocking off a pup tunnel which leads to a white switch. Two are found on sublevel 5, one blocking the exit corridor and one blocking a white switch.
Plunder Palace: Two are found on sublevel 2 adjacent to the base, one leading to a group of Skutterchucks and another leading to a Whiptongue Bulborb fighting wild Rock Pikmin. One is found on sublevel 4, immediately left of the base and serves as a shortcut between areas. One is found on sublevel 5, blocking an entrance into the central area of the sublevel.
Giant's Hearth: One is found blocking a shortcut into the area where the Spotty Bulbear patrols, left of both the Abandoned Throne and The Central Flame landing sites.

Dandori Challenge

Rockaway Cellars: Three are presented in this Dandori Challenge.
Cliff-Hanger's Hold: Two are present in this Dandori Challenge.
Trial of the Sage Leaf – Final Story: The Purple Key: A crystal wall is found in the northeast hallway, acting as a shortcut when broken. Due to this challenge not giving Rock Pikmin, the player must use a bomb rock provided to destroy the wall.

Dandori Battle

Leafy Showdown: Two are present on opposite sides of the stage, to the right of each team's Onion.

Gallery

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Images of the obstacle in Pikmin 4.
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Alph and some Pikmin near a crystal wall.
The 3 designs of crystal walls in Pikmin 3 Deluxe.
The crystal wall in an earlier version of Pikmin 3.
The wall locked on in an earlier version of Pikmin 3. Notice the different name.