The Distant Spring

The Distant Spring
Ship parts	10
Requirements	Collect 12 ship parts
Music	The Distant Spring

The Distant Spring (大水源^?, lit.: "Big Spring") is the fourth area in Pikmin. It is set in a huge wetland, with sandy and grassy terrain, many lakes and islands, and several hollow tree stumps. It contains 10 ship parts and is unlocked by collecting 12 ship parts in the previous areas. The enemies in this area are challenging and are often found in water, with several Spotty Bulbears, Water Dumples, and Yellow Wollyhops. This area was re-used in Pikmin 2 as the Perplexing Pool.

General layout

File:DS texture.png

Map of all ship parts and the location of the ship in The Distant Spring.

The Distant Spring is the largest area in the first Pikmin game. Water covers a great portion of the area. In the center lies the landing site, along with several hollow tree stumps. To the north is a small pond where the #2 Ionium Jet and the Chronos Reactor can be found. To the east, there is a wall maze with the UV Lamp, blocked by a small path filled with Spotty Bulbears, Puffy Blowhogs, and Dwarf Bulbears. To the west are the areas with the Gluon Drive, Zirconium Rotor, and Pilot's Seat, which are located in large tree stumps. Finally, to the south lies a small river with some islands where the Smoky Progg (before day 15) and the Interstellar Radio (inside a Puffy Blowhog) can be found. There are several Water Dumples in this area.

In this area, bomb-rocks in groups of 5 (though sometimes 4 appear instead) are found in giant skulls; the creatures they once belonged to being as of yet unknown. One of them is inside a hollow tree stump guarded by a Spotty Bulbear near the landing site, and another one in the beach where the Massage Machine is found. There is another skull near the pool with Wolpoles to the West.

In the main story mode, the area is laid out with Spotty Bulbears, Dwarf Bulbears, Yellow Wollyhops, and Water Dumples. After day 4, two Swooping Snitchbugs survey the area, looking for Pikmin to capture and throw into the ground.

In Challenge Mode, Spotty Bulborbs are found all over the land area, instead of Spotty Bulbears. Pearly Clamclamps are also found in different locations, and two Puffstools walk around in different areas.

Key sections

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Pikmin.

Landing site

This section is normally clear of any creatures in the area unless the Smoky Progg is out and about or the nearby Puffy Blowhog involves itself in the undertakings of Captain Olimar and his Pikmin. Shearwigs close to the landing site also prove to be a nuisance but they are easily disposed of.

Smoky Progg's islands

Directly south of the landing site is a cluster of small islands that surround the egg of the Smoky Progg, a secret boss that can only be fought on or before day fifteen.

The Northeast

Practically the entire northeastern portion of The Distant Spring's central landmass is heavily congested by the area's native wildlife, primarily Spotty Bulbears and Dwarf Bulbears. Extreme caution should be exercised whilst exploring this hostile territory, for one wrong move can result in heavy Pikmin casualties.

Objects

Ship parts

Repair-type Bolt: Immediately beside the landing site is a ledge. Guiding Pikmin along this ledge leads to the part.
Massage Machine: Near the landing site, going straight from the Dolphin, is a bridge leading to a beach containing a Spotty Bulbear, two skulls containing ten bomb rocks total, a blue Candypop Bud and this part.
Interstellar Radio: Going into the vast water, past the Smoky Progg egg are several Water Dumples and a Puffy Blowhog. The Blowhog has the part.
Gluon Drive: Going past the two Bulbears and two Blowhogs behind the Dolphin leads to a river that has bridges on both sides. The part on the other side of these bridges.
UV Lamp: Beyond the reinforced gate near the landing site is a complex structure, found to the right. The part is at the end of the series of ledges that form a path.
Zirconium Rotor: Beyond the Gluon Drive is a gate guarded by two Yellow Wollywogs. Destroying this gate allows access to this part.
Pilot's Seat: There are three tree trunks opposite the Zirconium Rotor. This part is located inside one of the trunks.
Bowsprit: Near the landing site are a series of large tree trunks that can only be accessed from the opposite side. Inside the one nearest the landing site is an Armored Cannon Beetle that has the part.
Chronos Reactor: Traveling in a straight line from the reinforced wall beside the landing site leads to this part, atop a tall ledge. Both a blue and yellow Candypop Bud are located nearby.
#2 Ionium Jet: Directly beside the Chronos Reactor is this part, sitting atop a stone structure.

Enemies

Puffy Blowhog × 3 (+1 starting day 5; the one carrying Interstellar Radio and the one by the Blue Onion never return when defeated; if the one by the Blue Onion survives after day 15, then it disappears)
Dwarf Bulbear × 11, starting day 16
Spotty Bulbear × 6 (only the one by the yellow 10-pellet and the one by Massage Machine return when defeated; if the one by the Red Onion survives after day 15, then it disappears)
Water Dumple × 10
Shearwig × 11
Yellow Wollyhop × 7 (3 never return when defeated)
Wolpole × 7, starting day 16
Swooping Snitchbug × 2, starting day 5
Armored Cannon Beetle × 1 (after defeated, it never returns)
Smoky Progg × 1, before day 16 (after awakened, it never returns)

Obstacles

Tools

Climbing stick × 3
Bridge × 3 (2 of them become one bridge after being built.)

Vegetation

Shoot (small) × 13
Shoot (large) × 8
Clover × 4
Candypop Bud (Red) × 1
Candypop Bud (Yellow) × 1
Candypop Bud (Blue) × 2
Nectar weed × 8

Other

Rubble × 2

Guide

The following article or section contains guides.
The strategies shown are just suggestions.

The following article or section is in need of assistance from someone who plays Pikmin.

In Challenge Mode

Fighting a Puffstool in Challenge Mode.

The Distant Spring is the hardest stage in Challenge Mode, giving the player 18 minutes and 54 seconds to reach a maximum score of 752 Pikmin. While it is theoretically possible to reach this score,^[1] no human has reached it, with the highest recorded score being 728.^[2] The reason for its difficulty is the large number of dangerous enemies compared to the other Challenge Mode stages, and the fact that most enemies drop randomly-colored pellets which have to be carried to the right Onion to get the most Pikmin.

Object breakdown

Pikmin source	Seeds	Amount	Total
Starting Reds		5	5
Starting Yellows		5	5
Starting Blues		5	5
Red 1 pellets	2	3	6
Red 5 pellets	5	1	5
Red 10 pellets	10	4	40
Yellow 1 pellets	2	3	6
Yellow 5 pellets	5	1	5
Yellow 10 pellets	10	2	20
Yellow 20 pellets	20	1	20
Blue 1 pellets	2	3	6
Blue 5 pellets	5	1	5
Blue 10 pellets	10	2	20
Blue 20 Pellets	20	1	20
Pellet Posy	2	4	8
Dwarf Bulborb	4	19	76
Fiery Blowhog	8	3	24
Iridescent Flint Beetle	14	2	28
Mamuta	15	1	15
Pearly Clamclamp	50	3	150
Puffstool	30	2	60
Puffy Blowhog	15	3	45
Spotty Bulborb	12	4	48
Yellow Wollyhop	13	10	130
Total	752

Gallery

Overview of the landing site.
The landing site.
The path that leads to the Repair-type Bolt.
The path that leads to the southernmost section.
The southernmost section of the area.
Close-up of one of the skulls at the south, with what appears to be a spinal cord.
The place where the Smoky Progg can be found.
Part of the large body of water that makes for most of the southern part.
Another part of the large body of water.
The location of the Zirconium Rotor.
The location of the Pilot's Seat.
The grassy area before the northern section of the area.
A closeup of one of the skulls in the area.
The northeasternmost section.
The northernmost section.
The tree stump where the Bowsprit can be found.
The large open area next to the landing zone.
The path that leads to the UV Lamp.
The Pikmin encounter Dwarf Bulborbs and a Spotty Bulborb in the enemy reel. These Bulborbs, however, are not present in actual gameplay, and could be prerelease content.
Preview image on the area selection menu.

Maps

Aerial view.
Official map from the Official Nintendo Player's Guide.
The area's radar map.

Trivia

The enemy reel shows The Distant Spring having different enemies, ship parts, and being more plain, without the hollow tree stumps. This is most likely a prototype version leftover.
In the Formidable Oak, the area where the Plasm Wraith is fought in has a pattern on the floor similar to the pattern of the ground where the Smoky Progg's egg is found.
The theme of the Serene Shores in Olimar's Shipwreck Tale is partially based on that of The Distant Spring.

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	大水源^? Dai suigen	Big Spring
French (NoA)	La Source lointaine La Source Lointaine (loading screen)	The Distant spring The Distant Spring
French (NoE)	La Source Lointaine	The Distant Spring
German	Die Ferne Quelle (GameCube and Wii version) Die ferne Quelle (Switch version)	The Distant Spring The distant Spring
Italian	Fonte Remota	Remote Spring
Korean	거대한 샘 geodaehan saem	Huge Spring
Spanish	La Gran Laguna	The Great Lagoon

References

^ YouTube video of a tool-assisted superplay of the level in which 752 points are reached
^ YouTube video of a Challenge Mode run with 728 points

[1] YouTube video of a tool-assisted superplay of the level in which 752 points are reached

[2] YouTube video of a Challenge Mode run with 728 points

[1]

[2]

The Distant Spring

Contents

General layout