Iridescent Flint Beetle
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Appears in | Pikmin, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3 | ||
| Scientific name | Pilli envelopens | ||
| Family | Flint beetle | ||
| Areas | The Impact Site, The Forest of Hope, The Forest Navel, Awakening Wood, Garden of Hope, Twilight River | ||
| Caves | Citadel of Spiders, Cavern of Chaos, Hole of Heroes, Dream Den | ||
| Challenge Mode stages | The Impact Site, The Distant Spring, Novice Training | ||
| Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages | Tropical Forest, Thirsty Desert, The Rustyard | ||
| Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages | None | ||
| Side Story days | None | ||
| 2-Player Battle stages | None | ||
| Bingo Battle stages | None | ||
| Attacks | N/A | ||
The Iridescent Flint Beetle (コガネモチ?, lit.: "Golden Rice Cake") is an enemy in all three Pikmin games. Attack one by throwing a Pikmin on top of it, at which it glows red while overturning and drops a useful object; Pikmin attacking from on the ground cannot harm it. This creature disappears after a certain amount of time has passed or it has been overturned enough times.
Stats
| Game | Weight | Max. carriers |
Seeds | Value | Health | Regen. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No |
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1000 | 0.3 HP/s |
 (?)
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A[note 1] | No |
- ^ The game files specify that this enemy has 1 HP.
Pikmin
In Pikmin, these bugs look rather larger than in the second game and have a different coloration. They are more common, and are somewhat helpful. They are mostly found in foliage or in corners. When hit, they first drop a 1-pellet, then, when hit again, they drop two doses of nectar. Upon the next direct hit more doses of nectar are released, and then a 5-pellet. This cycle repeats once more, ending after the second 5 -and swift movement. It also poses an indirect threat to Pikmin, as it will often run through Olimar's army. This results in the Pikmin automatically attacking and chasing it unless called back, which can lead them into danger.
Pikmin 2
In Pikmin 2, its appearance was slightly changed. Pikmin no longer attack Iridescent Flint Beetles automatically as they do in the original game. In all Pikmin 2 Challenge Mode levels they're in, these creatures drop treasures. They are found in similar locations, but only drop three things: a 1-pellet (a dose of nectar if it's underground), 2 doses of nectar, and then a dose of ultra-spicy spray (3 doses of nectar if the ultra-spicy spray hasn't been discovered yet). Using Purple Pikmin, it is easier to fight them due to the shockwaves that the heavy Purple Pikmin produce when thrown.
As a side note, it is possible to defeat these creatures while petrified, but they drop neither nectar nor spray and leave no corpse.
On the main menu, if the player presses 
/ 
, an Iridescent Flint Beetle may appear that can be controlled with 
/ 
. The beetle will be swarmed if it gets close to the Pikmin. This is just one of the main menu easter eggs.
Pikmin 3
In Pikmin 3, this creature's appearance is greatly altered. Its eyes are still on stalks, but it sports two horizontally-facing antennae that look almost like a mustache, its shiny exoskeleton seems to have layers and appears less vibrant, and its underside appears to have four glowing, blue spots. The only way to harm one of these creatures, as with previous games, is by throwing Pikmin on its back, upon which it drops nectar or pellets.
Notes
Olimar's voyage log
Reel notes
Olimar's notes
Louie's notes
Nintendo Player's Guide
“Squirrely Flint Beetles hold nectar. They won't harm your Pikmin, but they won't stand and let you defeat them, either. If you're on the trail of an Iridescent Flint Beetle, anticipate when it will stop moving, aim, then hit it with a quick accurate toss.”
Pikmin 3 Prima Guide
“The Iridescent Flint Beetle is a harmless burrowing creature. Attacking the creature generally yields a nice supply of pellets and Nectar. The Iridescent Flint Beetle is a fast-moving creature. When the creature emerges, allow it to scurry around the area. When the creature stops moving, you have a brief window to attack. Toss a single Pikmin directly onto the Iridescent Flint Beetle to yield a nice reward. Repeat the process as many times as possible before the Iridescent Flint Beetle burrows back underground.”
Behavior
The Flint Beetle is harmless and will remain underground until a leader or Pikmin approaches its resting spot. Once active, the Flint Beetle will scurry about in no particular direction; only away from the player after being hit. It moves quickly and can be difficult to hit at times, but repeatedly flipping it over for up to three times will provide increasingly valuable rewards. After being hit three times, or being active for a certain amount of time, the creature will scurry back underground. Though it does not die, it will not return for the rest of the day/challenge.
Strategy
|
The following article or section contains guides. |
While the Flint Beetle cannot be killed, it can have certain items knocked out of it. The creature can only be attacked with Pikmin, as leaders have no way of damaging this creature aside from ultra-bitter spray. Pikmin must be thrown at the Beetle's shell to flip it, knocking out useful items. The Iridescent Glint Beetle and the Doodlebug are damaged in the same way.
Purple Pikmin in Pikmin 2 can home in, making them easier to hit with. With proper timing, or by repeatedly throwing Pikmin, one can hit the beetle before it begins running again, resulting in the creature staying in the same place.
In the Super Smash Bros. series
The Iridescent Flint Beetle appears in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U as a trophy.
Brawl trophy
| File:FlintBeetleTrophy.jpg | Description:
“A member of the flint beetle family featuring an iridescent, shining shell that is also prized for its strength. These beetles are packed with nectar and pellets, which they drop when attacked. These can be collected, although the reason for doing so is unknown. Apparently, Pikmin are quite attracted to these beetles—the sight of one will send them running after it.
| |
| How to obtain: Random appearance. | Type: Fighter Related | |
Smash 4 trophy
|
 US description:
“These guys appear in the Pikmin series, dropping rare items and fleeing nearby Pikmin. Purple Pikmin can flip them over, making the whole "getting rare items" process a lot easier. According to Louie, cooking one of these guys yields a meal with a distinct and delicious flavor.
| ||
 EU description:
“These rare bugs from the Pikmin series have a unique and delicious flavour. (That's what Louie says, anyway.) They also hold on to some valuable items, which might explain why they run away as soon as you find them. To make things easier, throw a Purple Pikmin at one to flip it onto its back, then send the rest of your squad to attack.
| |||
| How to obtain: Random appearance. | Type: Series Related | Trophy Box: 61. Distant Planet & Indigenous Creatures | |
Technical information
| Pikmin technical information (?) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal name | kogane
| ||
| HP | N/A | ||
| Pikmin 2 technical information (?) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal name | kogane
| ||
| 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 | 0.15 |
| s004 | bounceFactor | Unknown (bounce when it hits the ground?) | 0.3 |
| fp00 | ライフ | HP | 1000 |
| fp01 | マップとの当り | Unknown (related to slopes) | 15 |
| fp02 | ダメージスケールXZ | Horizontal damage scale | 0 |
| fp03 | ダメージスケールY | Vertical damage scale | 0 |
| fp04 | ダメージフレーム | Damage scale duration | 0 |
| fp05 | 質量 | Unknown (weight?) | 0.01 |
| fp06 | 速度 | Move speed | 200 |
| fp08 | 回転速度率 | Rotation acceleration | 0.4 |
| 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 | 50 |
| fp13 | 視界角度 | FOV | 180 |
| fp14 | 探索距離 | Unknown (exploration radius?) | 0 |
| 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?) | 0 |
| fp21 | 攻撃可能角度 | Unknown (shock attack max angle?) | 0 |
| fp22 | 攻撃ヒット範囲 | Unknown (attack hit range?) | 0 |
| fp23 | 攻撃ヒット角度 | Unknown (attack hit angle?) | 0 |
| fp24 | 攻撃力 | Attack damage | 0 |
| fp25 | 視界高 | Unknown (height visibility?) | 50 |
| 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 | 360 |
| 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 | 0.00001 |
| fp32 | LOD半径 | Off-camera radius | 50 |
| fp33 | マップとのあたりポリゴンの選定 | Collision processing radius | 30 |
| fp34 | ピクミンとのあたり | Pikmin damage radius | 15 |
| 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 | 0.3 (30%) |
| 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 |
| fp01 | 出現時間(Min) | Min time spent out of the ground | 20 |
| fp02 | 出現時間(Max) | Max time spent out of the ground | 30 |
| fp10 | 移動時間(Min) | Min time spent walking | 0.3 |
| fp11 | 移動時間(Max) | Max time spent walking | 0.7 |
| fp20 | 停止時間(Min) | Min time spent stopped | 0.5 |
| fp21 | 停止時間(Max) | Max time spent stopped | 2 |
| fp30 | 向き変え角度 | Max angle change between walks | 90 |
| fp40 | スケール | Scale | 0.8 |
| Pikmin 3 technical information (?) | |
|---|---|
| Internal name | kogane
|
| HP | 1 |
| Rock Pikmin throw hits to kill | 0 |
| White Pikmin ingestions to kill | 0 |
| Bomb rock explosions to kill | 0 |
| Bomb rock ingestions to kill | 0 |
| Number of direct hits on top to kill | 0 |
| Damage to leaders | 0 |
| Territory radius | 100 |
| Mission Mode value | 0 |
Other information
- Technical name in The Official Nintendo Player's Guide: Steeliprax
- Size: Body length: 30mm, as per the e-card
- Pikmin 2 Piklopedia number: #20
Naming
The word "iridescent" in the Iridescent Flint Beetle's name means "shiny", referring to its shiny carapace. Flint is a type of rock, and this beetle was named after it. Its Japanese name is コガネモチ?. コガネ? means "golden", likely referring to how it sparkles, and モチ? is a Japanese rice cake. A marumochi is a round variant of the rice cake, which looks similar to the shape of the Iridescent Flint Beetle in the first two games. So, this creature's Japanese name is "Golden Rice Cake".
In its scientific name, Pilli envelopens, Pilli is close to the Latin word pili, which means "pikes". This word was possibly chosen because primitive pikes were made using flint stones. Envelopens is based on the English word "envelop", which means "to cover", possibly chosen due to the creature being mostly covered in a flint-hard shell. Its internal name in the all games in kogane, the first word of its Japanese name.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Japanese |
コガネモチ? Kogane Mochi |
Golden Rice Cake | |
 French |
Scarabée Iridescent | Iridescent Beetle | |
 Italian |
Iridococco | Iris Coccus | |
 Portuguese (NoE) |
Besouro Iridescente | Iridescent Beetle | Name taken from the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy. |
 Spanish (NoA) |
Escarabajo de sílex iridescente | Iridescent flint beetle |
Gallery
- Iridescent Flint Beatle.png
Close-up of an Iridescent Flint Beetle in Pikmin 2.
- FlintBeetle.jpeg
A better look at the Iridescent Flint Beetle in Pikmin 3.
- Flint Beetle.jpg
A detailed side view of the Flint Beetle from Pikmin 3.
- Flinty.jpg
The Iridescent Flint Beetle right outside the base in the Garden of Hope.
- Cnp2.JPG
The creature's e-card, #24.
- Pikmin3IridFlintBeetle.png
Art of the Pikmin 3 Iridescent Flint Beetle from the Official Nintendo Magazine.
Trivia
- There are two enemies in the Pikmin games similar to the Iridescent Flint Beetle. All are in different families while their genera are the same. In real life, however, it is impossible for members of different families to share a genus.
- The European version of the Super Smash Bros. for Wii U trophy advises players to flip the creature over with a Purple Pikmin and then having them attack it. This strategy doesn't make much sense, and was likely mistaken for the Anode Beetle instead, which lacks a trophy.
- In Pikmin 3, the Iridescent Flint Beetle has 6 legs, making it the first anatomically-correct insectoid in the Pikmin franchise.
- In the Japanese version of Pikmin 2, the Iridescent Flint Beetle and the Doodlebug share the same family. However, in the English version, they differ between "Flint beetle" and "Flint bug" respectively.
- In Pikmin 3, when an Iridescent Flint Beetle is hit with a Pikmin and lands on the ground, it makes a clink like a coin hitting the ground.
