Decorated Cannon Beetle

Decorated Cannon Beetle
File:Decorated Cannon Beetle.jpg
Appears in	Pikmin 2
Scientific name	Granitus decorum
Family	Lithopod
Areas	Valley of Repose, Wistful Wild
Caves	Frontier Cavern, Hole of Heroes
Challenge Mode stages	Brawny Abyss, Sniper Room
2-Player Battle stages	None
Attacks	Launches magnetic boulders

Decorated Cannon Beetles are enemies in Pikmin 2. They have an appearance similar to Armored Cannon Beetle Larvae, but are red instead of green, and have orange eyes. Also, this particular species is never found buried in the ground like Armored Cannon Beetle Larvae. They, too, spit out stones, but their rocks home in on the currently active captain due to the magnetic field which envelops the boulders. However, the stones have odd characteristics. First of all, when they are found in caves which are made of metal (which is rusty, indicating it contains iron), the spacesuits are the only thing the boulders home in on. The rocks are also surprisingly frail. If slowed by water, a rock can be destroyed by a punch or a Purple pikmin.

Glitches

Activate the Piklopedia. Select the archive for this creature. Throw Pikpik carrots at the Beetle, making sure that they land in front and to the side of it. The Beetle will then spit out a rock, which will roll around to hit the Beetle if done correctly. When the rock crashes on the Beetle, the Beetle doesn't die, no matter how many times this is performed.

In the end of day sequence at the Valley of Repose, a Decorated Cannon Beetle often appears. Sometimes it will shoot rocks (which occasionally strike and injure/kill other enemies), inhale, and walk much faster than normal.

Go to any area that has a Decorated Cannon Beetle. Kill it, and pause as it makes it first dying sound. When you pause, the Beetle will make strange noises that get lower and lower. The same will happen with a Armored Cannon Beetle Larva.

Notes

Olimar's notes

“This creature is the larval form of a cannon beetle variant known for a diet consisting entirely of eating stones. The decorated cannon beetle favors stones with high iron content, which contributes to its brilliant red torso. The stones these creatures launch are wrapped in a powerful magnetic field which causes the stones to stray from their launch trajectory when other objects with high metal content, such as space suits, are nearby. Extreme caution is recommended for explorers wearing steel-plated armor in close proximity to this fearsome creature.”

Louie's notes

“Slice the meat into tender cutlets and vigorously apply a lime and pepper rub. Panfry until lightly crusted. Accompany with watercress and drizzle with freshly prepared tamarind sauce.”

Strategy

Pikmin

It is advised not to use Pikmin to attack this creature, because there can be a humongous number of Pikmin killed by getting shaked of his back, and then the stone could roll right over the fallen Pikmin. But instead, it is highly recommended using the captain-strategy. But if there's not enough room to kill it with its own attack, the Armored Cannon Beetle Larva strategy should be used.

Captains

The best way to defeat a Beetle is to use it's own boulders against itself. Since the rocks follow the captain, they can be manipulated. However, it is impossible to get a rock out of most lower water-filled areas. The rocks can be tricked into hitting the same Beetle that shot them. This is the easiest way to kill them. As a note, the rocks it shoots cannot be petrified. The boulders also act quite well against other enemies as well, killing small ones instantly and larger ones in one or two hits. Damage is determined by the speed of the stone and where the enemy is hit: hitting an enemy in the head will do more damage. If there is not enough room to do this, use the Armored Cannon Beetle Larva strategy.

Gallery

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  Concept art of a Decorated Cannon Beetle.

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  A Decorated Cannon Beetle in the Piklopedia.