Arctic Cannon Larva

Arctic Cannon Larva
Appears in	Pikmin 3, Pikmin 4
Scientific name	Granitus frostitum (larva)
Family	Lithopod
Areas	Distant Tundra
Caves	Subzero Sauna, Frozen Inferno
Mission Mode Collect Treasure! stages	Silver Lake Remix
Mission Mode Battle Enemies! stages	Silver Lake, Distant Tundra Remix
Side Story days	None
Dandori Challenge stages	Trial of the Sage Leaf
Dandori Battle stages	None
Bingo Battle stages	None
Attacks	Launch snowballs

The Arctic Cannon Larva (ユキフタクチ^?, lit.: "Snow Two-Mouth") is an enemy in Pikmin 3 and Pikmin 4. Arctic Cannon Larvae are bright green, with lavender underbellies, and are a variant of the Armored Cannon Larva accustomed to cold conditions. They are the larval form of the Arctic Cannon Beetle.

Unlike their rock-spitting relatives, Arctic Cannon Larvae launch giant snowballs. While mostly equivalent to boulders in functionality, snowballs are incapable of killing Pikmin, instead simply picking them up and carrying them along until they crash into something (even other snowballs); Winged Pikmin won't even be picked up by the projectiles, only knocked back. Leaders will be picked up as well, which also traps them until the snowball is destroyed. As a result, the creature is annoying at best, and is only a threat if the Pikmin it rolls away end up next to some other enemy or hazard without the player noticing, but can be killed with relative ease by any Pikmin type.

Stats[edit]

Game	Weight	Max. carriers	Seeds	Value	Health
(?)	7	14 (normally)	8	× 50 × 50	1275
	7	14	8^{[note 1]}	× 7	900

^ This enemy cannot be delivered to Onions in-game. This information is obtained from the Piklopedia.

Behavior[edit]

Pikmin 3[edit]

The Arctic Cannon Larva will either emerge from the ground when a leader or Pikmin is extremely close to it, or it will emerge from a distance and consistently shoot snowballs to hinder the group. In most cases, it will behave the former way, and only a few, notably used in puzzles at the Distant Tundra, will perform the latter. In all cases, the Arctic Cannon Larva behaves the same up-close; it will try to roll its attackers away with snowballs and buck any Pikmin off if they latch onto it. During a battle, it will likely burrow underground, or attempt to, as many times as it can, and when it re-emerges, any leaders or Pikmin standing above will be launched into the air and temporarily immobilized.

Pikmin 4[edit]

While the Arctic Cannon Larva's behavior stays the same, the snowballs' properties have shifted. First of all, the snowballs now deal damage to captains and dogs if they hit a wall, but now can be broken out of by repeatedly pressing the button showcased.

An unfortunate Dwarf Frosty Bulborb stuck in a snowball.

More interestingly, the snowballs are now capable of friendly fire, unlike in Pikmin 3 where they broke on contact with another enemy. Snowballs can damage enemies and trap smaller ones just like how they do with the player. Additionally these snowballs can break frozen Hydro Jellies. They cannot destroy Ice walls.

Locations[edit]

Pikmin 3[edit]

During Pikmin 3's main game they are only found in Distant Tundra. Two reside on the hill in the North-Western corner with the Iron Ball and Whiptongue Bulborb, one up the second step and one on the top step. One of them resides in Charlie's crash site where the Anti-Electrifier is located. The last one in this area is found at the end of a narrow elevated path next to the crystal holding the area's Zest Bomb. It spits snowballs down this path continuously when a leader is present.

In Mission Mode's Collect Treasures Silver Lake Remix, three Arctic Cannon Larvae are found. One resides across the orange bridge in front of the Electric Gate, starting North-West of the base when you load in. The other two are found on the lower section with the buried fruit and Calcified Crushblat. To note, these Arctic Cannon Larva move spots when they bury back underground.

In Battle Enemies! they appear in two stages. In Silver Lake one lone Arctic Cannon Larva appears on the snowy circle directly North-East of where you start.

In Distant Tundra Remix, two Arctic Cannon Larvae appear in the same spots as story mode, one at the end of narrow path (which this time is close to the Red Onion) and one on the second step directly in front of the Rock Onion and where Charlie spawns. The last one is where the Iron Ball spawned in story mode, at the top of the hill in front of where Charlie spawns.

Pikmin 4[edit]

Due to the lack of a snowy area this enemy resides exclusively in caves. It can first be encountered on Sublevel 2 of Subzero Sauna acting as the main challenge of the floor. One can be found in the square room behind the iron gate with five Ice Pikmin sprouts. The second can be found in the room adjacent, in front of a pile of raw materials.

In Frozen Inferno they can be found on Sublevel 3. One appears in the bottom south-east corner on an raised platform next to an Ice block. The other can be found on another raised platform this time with the barracks that contains a Bonfire Altar and the Seed Hive. It shoots snowballs into the room east of itself.

The last place it appears is in two of the stories of Trial of the Sage Leaf. It first appears on the 2nd Story: Snow Problem. The first one appears directly south of the base through the gate on the elevated L-shaped with the Bonfire Altar. The next is found in the hallway connecting the south-west room with the hexagonal room with the Icy Blowhog. The last one is found in the north-west corner on the elevated platform blocked by an ice gate, alongside a Dwarf Frosty Bulborb.

The last Arctic Cannon Larva is found on the 10th Story: The Purple Jewel. It is found south of the player when they spawn in, but is behind a paper bag that weighs 100 Pikmin. Hence it will usually be the last enemy you face in the trial, shooting snowballs down the last hallway. This is also the only non-ice area it appears in.

Strategy[edit]

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

Although harmless, the Arctic Cannon Larva can be quite the nuisance. Any Pikmin type can be used to take it down. Simply charge at the lithopod with your squad and, with time, it will be defeated. Although all Pikmin can get shaken off by its bucking attack, Winged Pikmin are immune to its snowballs, making them slightly more effective for long battles.

To maximize the offensive output, send only a few Pikmin to attack it, and when you realize that it's getting ready to buck them away, send the remainder of your Pikmin to charge at it. This will cause them to attack while the creature is busy blowing a snowball, giving more time for the Pikmin to attack without getting shaken off.

Notes

Alph's comments

“Structural flaw: weak hide
Weight: 7

Snowballs are an ingeniously nonlethal weapon! I'm in love with a design that effectively keeps predators away without overdoing it. Full marks.”

Brittany's comments

“When I saw this one spitting snowballs and sending Pikmin rolling, I thought it looked like a good time. So I walked right into its line of fire, waved my arms to catch its attention, and waited for the fun to start. But all I got was dizzy.”

Charlie's comments

US version

“They're more annoying than dangerous, but if you want to avoid the pushback from their rolling snowballs, it's just a matter of fancy footwork. Remember to do your warm-up exercises first! You wouldn't want to get a Charlie horse! Ha!”

European version

“They're more annoying than dangerous, but if you want to avoid the pushback from their rolling snowballs, it's just a matter of fancy footwork. Float like a skitter leaf, sting like a scornet!”

Louie's comments

“Peel back the shell and sprinkle the tender meat with a dash of salt before slurping it up raw. For a refreshing dessert, pour fruit juice over its snowballs!”

Olimar's comments

US version

“Arctic Cannon Larva
Granitus frostitum
Lithopod family

Like other members of the lithopod family, its internal bacteria are specialized to form ice compounds from ambient moisture, which it then expels as projectiles. It technically doesn't rely on cold temperatures to create this ice, which is formed by pressurized internal fluids that act as a coolant. When the projectiles rapidly expand, they absorb ambient heat, lowering the air temperature enough for the moisture in the air to freeze.”

European version

“Arctic Cannon Larva
Granitus frostitum
Lithopod family

Like other members of the lithopod family, its internal bacteria are specialised to form ice compounds from ambient moisture, which it then expels as projectiles. It technically doesn't rely on cold temperatures to create this ice, which is formed by pressurised internal fluids which act as a coolant. When the projectiles rapidly expand, they absorb ambient heat, lowering the air temperature enough for the moisture in the air to freeze.”

Pikmin 3 Prima Guide[edit]

“The Arctic Cannon Larva is a large, burrowing creature that attacks by launching large Snowballs at its enemies. These Snowballs won't damage your Pikmin directly, but they are capable of incapacitating your Pikmin or carrying them into hazards. When you encounter an Arctic Cannon Larva, dodge its attacks and flank the creature. Throw a steady stream of Rock Pikmin into the creature's back, or send your entire squad charging in to attack.”

Dalmo's notes[edit]

“Whether or not there's snow on the ground, when this surprising sweetie comes around, you can have a snowball fight anytime. But don't expect it to go easy on you. You're in for a one-sided defensive battle, and you might end up looking like a snowman by the end!”

Olimar's notes (Pikmin 4)[edit]

“Like other members of the Lithopod family, its internal bacteria are specialized to form ice compounds from ambient moisture, which it then expels as projectiles.

It technically doesn't rely on cold temperatures to create this ice, which is formed by pressurized internal fluids that act as a coolant.

When the projectiles rapidly expand, they absorb ambient heat, lowering the air temperature enough for the moisture in the air to freeze.”

Louie's notes (Pikmin 4)[edit]

“Peel back the shell, and sprinkle the tender meat with a dash of salt before slurping it up raw. For a refreshing dessert, pour fruit juice over the snowballs!”

Technical information[edit]

Pikmin 3 technical information (?)
Internal name	`futakuchi (yuki)`
HP	1275
Rock Pikmin throw hits to kill	20
White Pikmin ingestions to kill	0
Bomb rock explosions to kill	1
Bomb rock ingestions to kill	0
Number of direct hits on top to kill	0
Damage to leaders	10
Territory radius	200
Mission Mode value	50

Other information[edit]

Pikmin 4 Piklopedia number: #25

Naming[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	ユキフタクチ^? Yuki Futa Kuchi	Snow Two-Mouth
Chinese (traditional)	雪地雙口 Xuědì Shuāng-Kǒu	Snowfield Two-Mouth
Chinese (simplified)	雪地双口 Xuědì Shuāng-Kǒu	Snowfield Two-Mouth
Dutch	Arctische kanonlarve	Arctic cannon larva
French	Scaracanon arctique (Pikmin 3) Scaracanon des neiges (Pikmin 3 Deluxe) Larve de scaracanon des neiges (Pikmin 4)	Arctic cannon beetle (Pikmin 3) Snow cannon beetle (Pikmin 3 Deluxe) Snow cannon beetle larva (Pikmin 4)	"Scaracanon" is a portmanteau of "scarabée" (beetle) and "canon" (cannon)
German	Eis-Crustabitzenlarve	Ice Crustowitzer Larva	"Crustabitze" is a portmanteau of "Crustacea" and "Haubitze" (howitzer)
Italian	Bruco sputaneve	Snowspitting worm
Korean	눈두입호롱 Nun-Du-Ip-Horong	Snow Two-Mouth Oil Lamp
Portuguese	Larva de escaracanhão ártico	Arctic scarannon larva	"Escaracanhão" is a portmanteau of "escaravelho" (scarab) and "canhão" (cannon)
Spanish	Larva de tirador ártico	Arctic shooter larva