Arachnorb family
The Arachnorb family is a species of enemies in the Pikmin games which resemble giant spiders. The first member of the family that was introduced is the Beady Long Legs, as an official boss in the first game; it is found just once in the game, excluding Challenge Mode, and has its own music. The Man-at-Legs and Raging Long Legs made their debut in Pikmin 2, and the Shaggy Long Legs and Baldy Long Legs were discovered in Pikmin 3. Their names are derived from the daddy longlegs, except for the Man-at-Legs (man-at-arms). The family name itself is derived from "arachnid" and "orb", as all the arachnorbs' bodies are shaped like orbs; their Japanese names also follow the scheme "Ball Spider" (ダマグモ?).
Baldy Long Legs
- Main article: Baldy Long Legs.
The Baldy Long Legs is a Mission Mode and Bingo Battle mode exclusive enemy in Pikmin 3. Like its hairy counterpart, it it also considered a mini-boss, however due to never appearing in Story Mode, it does not play the remixed Pikmin 2 boss theme. It is the only Arachnorb that never stops to rest, save to shake off Pikmin.
Although simpler to defeat than the Shaggy Long Legs, its lack of resting and constant roaming make it a little harder.
Beady Long Legs
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- Main article: Beady Long Legs.
The Beady Long Legs first appears as a boss in Pikmin, and reappears in Pikmin 2 as a more common boss, in the main game and Challenge Mode. The only attack it has is stomping around, but its large feet make this more dangerous than it sounds. Its body is its primary weak point; therefore, defeating it is easiest with Yellow Pikmin, because they can be thrown higher. This point is a bit more moot in Pikmin 2 given the lower altitude at which the orb reaches. The alternative strategy is to throw Purple Pikmin at its legs. When defeated, it instantly disintegrates into dust, releasing the contents from its orbular torso.
Man-at-Legs
- Main article: Man-at-Legs.
The Man-at-Legs first appeared as a boss in Pikmin 2. Unlike the two other known Arachnorbs, it is a biomechanical creature and has very spindly feet that can't squash Pikmin, making its battle strategy different. It moves around quickly, and stops only to use its blaster-like weapon to attack when it has been agitated with attacks. It has its flaws, though; there is a visible laser it uses to target the Pikmin, making it obvious where it's going to shoot. These enemies are usually found in arenas that have barriers and obstacles that can be used as shields against the blasts.
The best way to defeat it is to run for cover when it begins firing, attack when it lowers its body, and hide again when it shakes the Pikmin off. Another great way to defeat this beast is to take a large mob of Purple Pikmin, and while it lays dormant in the ground, pummel it with all of them by throwing them; this should lower its health substantially if done correctly. When it dies, it hisses loudly, then explodes spectacularly, quite differently from its relatives. As a side note, this enemy cannot be petrified while it is dormant.
Raging Long Legs
- Main article: Raging Long Legs.
The Raging Long Legs is a boss in Pikmin 2. It bears a resemblance to the Beady Long Legs in overall body structure, but has bigger, hairier feet, a larger body, is shiny and black with purple bands, and moves more slowly. Like the Beady Long Legs, if it is harmed enough that it becomes agitated, it shakes any attacking Pikmin off and starts stomping madly. This is extremely dangerous since its feet are very large, and Pikmin take a little time to get up after they are shaken off. Its body is so large, however, that any kind of Pikmin can be thrown without waiting, and dodging it should be a rather trivial thing, so it isn't hard to defeat as long as Pikmin are called back before it rages. It dies in the same manner as the Beady Long Legs, ejecting its possessions from its body and crumbling into dust. If this creature does not have any treasure to drop, it will instead drop 30 Mitites.
Shaggy Long Legs
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- Main article: Shaggy Long Legs.
The Shaggy Long Legs is a mini-boss in Pikmin 3 with a general body structure similar to that of the Beady Long Legs, only black, like the Raging Long Legs. It is unique in that it has hair covering its joints, feet, and body. The hair and overall body color varies depending on the area it is found, and can also spawn without any hair on both the feet and spherical body. When it spawns without hair, the spherical body is completely exposed, revealing spots of whatever color it is. The tell-tale opening possessed by Arachnorbs is also exposed, only slightly opened and horizontal, while other Arachnorb's openings are completely closed shut and vertical. Its opening is also marked by two "lips".
In order to defeat this beast, Pikmin must climb up its legs, and when they reach a hairy joint, they will stop to attack it. Once the hairs are cleared, the Pikmin can move on to the leg's other joint and remove the hairs there. When a joint is cleared, however, the creature will shake its leg, throwing the Pikmin down. After the main torso's hair falls off, it finally becomes vulnerable to heavy damage.