Gate

Because this subject has no official name, the name "Gate" is conjectural.

A simple white gate in Pikmin.

Gates are found in a number of different forms in both Pikmin games, which require different strategies to overcome them. They are the most common type of obstacle in Pikmin. Gates block paths to different areas and can be destroyed by Pikmin; one just needs to swarm them onto the structure. As time passes, the length of which depends on the number and type of Pikmin working on razing the gate and the type of gate, it will lower in three distinct stages, finally collapsing to the ground with the characteristic 'completion sound'.

Variations

There are four major variations in gate structure:

White gates (also known as White bramble gates) are the most basic, and take a relatively short amount of time to destroy. Two bomb rocks can also destroy a white gate in Pikmin.
Black gates (also known as Black bramble gates) are made up of a lattice-like pattern, and are stronger than a white gate. However, all Pikmin types are still capable of removing them. Four bomb rocks will demolish a black gate in Pikmin.
Electric fences consist of metal and have electricity running through them; as such, only Yellow Pikmin can help with clearing these out of the way. Unlike black and white gates, each of which has a varying durability above ground, all electric gates have exactly 16,000 hit-points. These gates are only found in Pikmin 2.
Stone gates, found only in Pikmin, require the Yellow Pikmin due to their affinity for bomb-rocks. Each blast from a bomb-rock makes the wall fall to a lower stage. There are three colour variations here: white stone gates, which require only three bomb-rocks, gray ones, which require six, and black stone gates, which require nine bomb-rocks.

A black poison gate.

Ordinary black and white gates can also be found with pipes emitting poison gas within, found only in Pikmin 2. These require the resistance of White Pikmin.

Locations

This is a list of the locations of each type of gate (above ground only: underground numbers vary).

Pikmin

The Impact Site:

1 white gate
1 white stone gate

The Forest of Hope:

3 white gates
2 black gates
3 white stone gates
1 black stone gate

The Forest Navel:

1 white gate
2 black gates
3 gray stone gates
2 black stone gates

The Distant Spring:

2 white gates
1 black gate
1 grey stone gate
1 black stone gate

The Final Trial:

2 white gates
1 white stone gate

Pikmin 2

Valley of Repose:

1 white gate
1 poison white gate

Awakening Wood:

1 white gate
1 black gate
2 poison white gates
2 electric fences

Perplexing Pool:

2 black gates
1 poison white gate
3 electric fences

Wistful Wild:

1 white gate
2 poison black gates
1 electric fence

Gate strength

The strength of both colors of normal gate varies greatly through both Pikmin games, though those above ground tend in general to be much sturdier than the randomly generated ones in caves in Pikmin 2. The black gates in Pikmin take twice the amount of bomb-rocks as the white gates, the black gates take about twice as long with the same amount of Pikmin as said Pikmin demolishing a white gate. An exception to this is the white gates that enclose the Emperor Bulblax arena at the Final Trial in the first Pikmin game, which are exceptionally frail for above-ground gates.

Minor glitch

File:Gate Glitch.JPG

The submerged part is seen next to the "10".

A visual glitch that occurs with certain gates allows them still to be visible underground when parts are submerged. Once the entire gate has been torn down, everything appears normal again. This is best seen underground in Pikmin 2, and in The Forest Navel in Pikmin. In the latter case, it is a simple black gate near a Fiery Blowhog and a Pellet Posy growing in the pool.