Bomb rock
Bomb-rocks are explosive rocks in the Pikmin games. Upon being activated, their fuse starts going down (represented by a colored wheel), and when it reaches zero, the rock causes a violent explosion, capable of killing Pikmin and severely hurting leaders and enemes. In the first game, they can be carried by Yellow Pikmin, where their main purpose is to destroy rock walls. They can also be used to defeat enemies, and are particularly useful for doing so with bosses. When an enemy eats a Pikmin holding a bomb-rock, it explodes inside the enemy, harming it. They are usually found inside tin cans, pipes, or large animal skulls. In Pikmin 3 they can be found in Dirt Mounds and eggs.
In Pikmin 2, they are much larger and cannot be carried by Yellow Pikmin, but can be detonated by attacking them. They are also produced by Careening Dirigibugs. Volatile Dweevils carry bomb-rocks on their backs, presumably for protection, even though they themselves are killed in the blast. One should never throw Purple Pikmin onto a bomb-rock, as that can cause near-instant detonation, which will likely kill the Pikmin. Bomb-rocks can even be petrified, so one should do that if in peril, but they will not release nectar or spray like many beasts do if destroyed in that state.
Emperor Bulblaxes can be tricked into eating bomb-rocks. In Pikmin, if one makes a Yellow Pikmin drop a bomb-rock just as the creature is preparing its tongue, it'll swallow it and take some damage, as well as being temporarily stunned. If the explosion occurs when the tongue touches the bomb-rock, it'll stun the Emperor even further. In Pikmin 2, the same strategy can be used, although it is harder because of the Pikmin being unable to carry bomb-rocks themselves. In Pikmin 3, other enemies can be tricked into eating bomb-rocks, such as the Peckish Aristocrab.
Controlling
The controls when dealing with bomb-rock-yielding Yellow Pikmin are a bit complex. Pikmin holding bomb-rocks will not interact with objects when C / Paddown is used. Throwing Pikmin with bomb-rocks will make them idle, but ready to attack. If an enemy is close, they'll step back and throw the bomb-rock at it. When called back using the whistle, they'll drop and activate the bomb, and run towards Olimar. If, however, one wants the Pikmin to join the party without dropping and activating the bomb, one should touch them directly. When called to the yellow Onion, Pikmin yielding bomb-rocks will drop them without detonating them. When using X / 
to dismiss the Pikmin, those carrying bomb-rocks will stay in a different group from the other Yellow Pikmin. When called back in any way after being dismissed, they'll keep their bomb-rock and join the group. In the New Play Control! version, switching to a different Pikmin while holding one (i.e. pressing 
when holding 
) will treat Yellow Pikmin as being different from bomb-rock-holding Yellow Pikmin. Also in this version, whistling a thrown bomb-carrying Pikmin will not make it drop its bomb.
Curiously, when a Yellow Pikmin throws a bomb-rock, it'll warn nearby Pikmin to rejoin Olimar in order to stay away from the blast. However, if one throws a bomb-rock-holding Pikmin next to a group of idle Yellow Pikmin, and calls the bomb-rock-yielding Pikmin back with the whistle (i.e. make it drop the bomb-rock), it will not call the idle Yellow Pikmin.
In the Pikmin 2 2-Player Battle stage Hostile Territory, bomb-rocks can be picked up and thrown by a captain, which can be used to defeat enemies, or deal a serious blow to the opponent's Pikmin count. To perform this, one merely needs to run into a bomb-rock for around one second, and then press A / to throw it (the distance is around twice as far as the reach of the cursor), or B / to drop it. In both cases, the bomb-rock will be activated. In every other point in the game where bomb-rocks are found, they can be activated by being attacked, provoked (in the case of Volatile Dweevils), or dropped (in the case of Careening Dirigibugs).
In Pikmin 3, the bomb-rocks return, now able to be held by Pikmin once more. They can be found inside eggs, Dirt Mounds, or in Mission Mode and Bingo Battle, Medusal Slurkers. All Pikmin types can now carry bomb-rocks. They can once again be used to destroy stone walls and defeat enemies. This time, all Pikmin are capable of carrying them. Controlling the way Pikmin behave with the bomb-rocks is much simpler in this game - the Pikmin will always keep hold of its bomb until it is thrown, in which case it will drop the rock exactly where it landed. When dismissed, any bomb-rock wielding Pikmin will separate from the group of their color, making it easier to get only the bombers.
Minor glitch
In places where a bomb-rock falls near Mitites, such as sublevel 6 of Bulblax Kingdom, there is a chance of it being launched back into the air if it lands on one, landing somewhere else on the level.
Bomb-rock locations in Pikmin
Story mode
- The Impact Site: Inside the box that the Pikmin have to push on the first day.
- The Forest of Hope: In a tin can, near the great plain with Red Bulborbs, in another one near the place where the Yellow Onion is originally found. The last can is in the place where the Nova Blaster is found. On the first day the area is visited, some are found out of the cans, such as in front of the wall closing in between the Yellow Onion and the Whimsical Radar.
- The Forest Navel: In a pipe, near the pool where the Number 1 Ionium Jet is found. There's another one next to the place the Gravity Jumper lies.
- The Distant Spring: In a giant skull, inside a hollow tree stump guarded by a Spotty Bulbear and in the beach where the Massage Machine is found. There is another skull near the pool with Wogpoles to the west.
- The Final Trial: In a pipe, on a high place to the right of the starting point. There are three other pipes in the cliffs surrounding the arena where Emperor Bulblax is fought. Overall, there are 50 bomb-rocks in this stage.
Challenge Mode
- The Impact Site: Inside the box that the Pikmin have to push on the first day.
- The Forest of Hope: In a tin can, near the place where the Yellow Onion is originally found. There are also some in the ledge that leads to the arena where the Armored Cannon Beetle was.
- The Forest Navel: There are no bomb-rocks in the level.
- The Distant Spring: There are no bomb-rocks in the level.
- The Final Trial: In the walkway around the Emperor Bulblax arena where the pipes are normally. There aren't any inside pipes.
Bomb-rock locations in Pikmin 2
Story mode
- Subterranean Complex: On almost every floor, there is at least one bomb-rock or bomb-rock-related enemy (Volatile Dweevil or Careening Drigibug).
- Bulblax Kingdom: On some floors, especially near buried or partially buried treasure, bomb-rocks may spawn.
- Cavern of Chaos: On sublevels 1 and 4, they are present, and in the latter, can be used to defeat Emperor Bulblax.
- Submerged Castle: Many bomb-rocks and Careening Dirigibugs are present on Sublevels 2 and 4.
- Hole of Heroes: Bomb-rocks, Careening Dirigibugs, and Volatile Dweevils are found on sublevel 2.
- Frontier Cavern: Bomb-rocks can spawn on sublevel 3.
- Shower Room: Some Volatile Dweevils can be in the pipes on Sublevel 6.
- Dream Den: Bomb-rocks and Careening Dirigibugs are found on Sublevel 3.
Challenge Mode
- Concrete Maze: Many bomb-rocks and Volatile Dweevils fall from the ceiling.
- Abduction Den: Careening Dirigibugs can spawn bomb-rocks.
- Cave of Pain: Many Volatile Dweevils and bomb-rocks fall from the ceiling.
- Bully Den: Two Volatile Dweevils are found in the pipe structures.
2-Player Battle
- Hostile Territory: Many bomb-rocks are littered here. Interestingly, captains can pick up bomb-rocks and use them.
Note: a Volatile Dweevil can appear in any 2-player stage as a roulette item.
Bomb-rock locations on Pikmin 3
in Pikmin 3 Bomb-Rocks are found in Dirt Mounds and need Pikmin need to do dig up.
Gallery
- Yellow pikmin with bomb rock.jpg
A Yellow Pikmin with a bomb-rock.
- Bombrock.jpg
Concept art of a bomb-rock.
- Pikmin-1.jpg
A few bomb-rocks in a can.
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Portuguese (NoE) |
Rocha-bomba | Bomb-rock | Translation taken from the instruction manual. |