Before commanding your first squad of Pikmin, there are a few surprises waiting beneath the surface. From managing night expeditions to mastering Oatchi’s unique abilities, these tips will help you survive-and thrive-in Nintendo’s strangest garden yet.
The core gameplay is still the same as the previous games. You’re tasked with rescuing some folks stranded on a mysterious planet; you do so with the help of Pikmin, obedient little creatures you can fling around (and also command to carry your stuff). Pikmin can take enemies and pellets back to their Onion to grow more Pikmin and carry treasure to your ship to unlock more areas to explore.
This Nintendo IP is beloved for a reason, so if this is your first Pikmin game (or maybe it’s just been a while since you’ve played one), we have a bunch of tips to help you navigate Pikmin 4 below.
Don’t forget about Oatchi
Oatchi isn’t just a companion – he’s your most reliable partner in Pikmin 4. He can carry heavy objects, transport groups of Pikmin across water, and even charge through enemies during combat. Upgrade his abilities whenever possible to make exploration smoother and challenges easier. Keep an eye on his stamina, and don’t forget that he can also help sniff out hidden items during expeditions.
Oatchi (the cute dog) is the main big addition to the game (next to Ice and Glow Pikmin) and he’s absolutely not to be forgotten. Most of the time, you should be riding Oatchi to avoid having a huge crowd of easy-to-target Pikmin trailing you.
Oatchi can also sniff out treasure, swim across water, knock high-up objects down, and even carry massive amounts of weight. At max upgrade, Oatchi can carry 100-Pikmin worth of stuff, which is massively helpful, as this means that he can solo carry almost every item in the game.
It’s easy early on to forget about Oatchi and dive back into older Pikmin habits (despite all the tutorial), so don’t forget about your adorable orange friend.
There’s no need to rush in caves – or at all, to be honest
Caves in Pikmin 4 aren’t timed, so there’s no pressure to rush through them. Take your time to plan your moves, gather treasures, and rescue Pikmin without fear of the clock running out. Moving carefully helps you spot hazards and hidden paths, making your expedition smoother and safer. Patience pays off-slower progress often means fewer losses and more rewards.
Time passes significantly slower in caves, and the day won’t end while you’re inside one. Caves all function more as linear puzzles to solve, so take your time. When you leave the cave, your Pikmin will all be with you, so you don’t have to worry about any dying, even if you emerge from the cave at the end of the day.
That said, there isn’t a day limit in the main campaign of Pikmin 4, so you can take your time playing. Take as many days as you need to explore everything to the max.
Remember ‘dandori:’ always be doing something
Pikmin 4 rewards players who keep tasks moving constantly. Managing your time well-whether you’re gathering resources, growing new Pikmin, or exploring-keeps your progress smooth. Try to line up actions so something is always happening: send Pikmin to carry items while you explore another path, or have them dig while you gather nearby treasures. Momentum keeps your day productive and maximizes what you can accomplish before sunset.
To maximize time both on regular stages and in caves, your Pikmin should always be doing something. Whether it’s taking out a baddy, or carrying simple pellets back to the ship to make more Pikmin, keep them working.
This is especially so in the dandori battles, where you have to keep your Pikmin constantly collecting in order to pass.
Some Pikmin types are a luxury (especially early)
Certain Pikmin like Winged and Glow appear only after unlocking specific upgrades or areas, so you cannot rely on them right away. Early on, stick to Red, Blue, Yellow, and Purple or Rock, which sprout from pellets or enemy corpses scattered around. White Pikmin offer speed and poison immunity but demand extra effort to produce in numbers. Treat these rarer types as bonuses rather than main forces until mid-game, when production ramps up and locations expand.
Pikmin 4 features all the Pikmin types from previous games, alongside two new types of Pikmin: Ice and Glow.
However, the White, Purple, Rock, Pink, and new Ice Pikmin are luxuries early on. While you will find Onions for these Pikmin, they won’t show up for a while, meaning your only way to harvest these Pikmin is via Candypop Bud in the caves. You can re-enter caves just to nab more special Pikmin, but since that’s a pain in the butt, make sure you protect these special types as much as possible.
Clear a path before collecting objects
Before your Pikmin start hauling treasures or enemy remains, make sure the route back to the Onion or ship is safe and open. Clear away walls, hazards, and roaming creatures that could slow or harm your squad. This preparation keeps your Pikmin from getting lost or attacked mid-delivery, saving time and keeping your numbers intact for the next task.
Enemies are everywhere: in the air, underground, on a cliff that’s just out of your vision. They pose a danger to you, your Pikmin, and even Oatchi. The best thing to do is to blitz every enemy you see with as many Pikmin as you can, and clear out the enemies before you send your Pikmin off to collect treasure.
Pikmin will take the shortest paths back to your ship, so sometimes they may cross enemies that you didn’t notice and then. they’ll die! Sad! That said, enemies on the regular stage maps do not respawn at all, so once you beat down a bad guy, it’s gone for good. (Enemies do respawn in caves once you 100% complete the cave and return.)
Talk to everyone at the base camp, not just your crewmates
Talking to everyone at the base camp helps you uncover small but useful details that can make your next expedition smoother. The characters often share hints about hidden treasures, new areas, or how certain Pikmin behave. Some conversations even trigger side objectives or upgrades you might miss otherwise. Take a few minutes between missions to chat-these interactions can reward you with valuable information and a better sense of the world around your team.
As you rescue more and more people, make sure to chat with them twice – once to introduce yourself, and another time to start any side quests they might give out. Completing these side quests isn’t mandatory, but they do reward you with currency for doing things you’re probably already doing, like growing Pikmin, finding Onions, and taking down enemies, so you might as well get that money.
When in doubt, throw Pikmin
Sometimes hesitation can cost you precious time, so don’t overthink-just throw a Pikmin. They’re built to handle nearly any situation, from carrying treasures to fighting creatures. If you’re unsure which type to use, experiment and observe how they react; you’ll quickly figure out which ones suit the task. This instinctive approach keeps the action flowing and helps you rely on your Pikmin’s strengths rather than second-guessing every move.
Did Oatchi take you to a treasure spot and there’s nothing there? Chuck your Pikmin at the ground. Are you struggling against any enemy? Throw all your Pikmin at it. Is a box slightly out of reach? Throw your Pink and Yellow Pikmin. Throw your Pikmin all the time.
Don’t get attached
Pikmin are helpful and loyal, but they’re also fragile. Losing them is part of the experience, so avoid getting too attached to individual ones. Treat your squad as a team rather than focusing on each member, and focus on keeping as many alive as possible while pushing forward. The game rewards players who adapt and recover rather than dwell on losses.
The most important thing about Pikmin games is: Never get attached to your Pikmin. Hundreds, if not thousands, will die during your playthrough. Sometimes a rock will roll down a hill and squash 30 of them at once. Sometimes an enemy will carry one away out of your field of vision. It never stops being distressing, but it is a pretty normal part of the game.
That all said.
Remember: You can rewind time
Time is on your side in Pikmin 4. If things go wrong, you can rewind to earlier points in the day to fix mistakes, save more Pikmin, or try a different strategy. Use this feature often-experimenting without fear lets you learn faster and perfect your approach through trial and error.
New to Pikmin 4, you can actually rewind time to prevent the loss of your Pikmin if you want. If you get blindsided by a huge Bulborb that rolled over 60 of your Pikmin at once, good news! Just rewind that cave and you’ll have all your Pikmin back. This is great for figuring out boss strategy while avoiding the need to scramble back and forth between the Onion.
How to train and upgrade Oatchi effectively
Oatchi serves as a versatile companion in Pikmin 4, aiding in transport, combat, and exploration through targeted training. Effective upgrades rely on earning Pup Drive by rescuing castaways, winning Dandori Battles, completing challenges, and collecting Glow Sap, then spending it with Captain Shepherd at the Rescue Command Post.
Unlock Training Early
Rescue Captain Shepherd on Exploration Day 1 to start her “Train a Rescue Pup” side mission before Day 2. This reveals Oatchi’s skill tree; prioritize speaking to her daily after outings to apply upgrades.
Prioritize Buff and Rush
Buff increases Oatchi’s carrying strength from 3 to 10 Pikmin equivalents (1 Pup Drive per level), unlocking Super Buff at max for sequence-breaking heavy treasures early. Rush (3 Pup Drive per level) lets him charge enemies, with Level 3 Mega Rush extending stuns-ideal after Buff for combat and transport.
Collect Pup Drive Efficiently
Rescue castaways in caves alongside new Pikmin types, replay Dandori Challenges, and use Glow Sap from night expeditions. Early Pup Drive scarcity demands focus on high-impact skills over niche ones like Heal (3 Pup Drive, passive recovery).
Key Complementary Skills
Command (3 Pup Drive per level) sends Oatchi to retrieve stray Pikmin or return them to Onions, preventing losses before night. Swim (2 Pup Drive per level) enables water attacks by Level 3, easing Blue Pikmin reliance; Dig and Pluck speed up tasks but rank lower initially.
Equip Protective Gear
Enhance survivability with Lab-crafted gear like Air Armor++ (damage reduction), Tuff Stuff++ (HP boost), Scorch Guard (fire resistance), and Anti-Electrifier (shock protection) using raw materials. These pair with skills for aggressive play without frequent Scrummy Bone healing.
How to farm Pup Drive quickly
Pup Drive serves as the key resource for upgrading Oatchi in Pikmin 4, earned exclusively through rescues and challenges. Farming it quickly involves prioritizing cave exploration and repeatable activities to maximize returns per day.
Rescue Castaways in Caves
Enter caves across all areas to locate and rescue Castaways, who yield one Pup Drive each upon safe return to the surface. Use Oatchi’s sniff command (X while mounted) to detect nearby ones efficiently, tackling every cave systematically since no day limit applies inside.
Complete Dandori Battles
Challenge Leaflings to Dandori Battles and Challenges scattered on the surface; winning grants a Pup Drive plus the Leafling rescue. Replay these anytime from the menu for repeated farming, as they remain available post-completion.
Cure Leaflings with Glow Sap
Defend Lumiknolls during Night Expeditions to collect Glow Sap, then apply it to petrified Leaflings at the S.S. Beagle for one Pup Drive per cure. Prioritize early nights once unlocked, as this scales with expedition success and provides bulk Pup Drive.
Optimize Daily Runs
Combine cave dives with surface sweeps daily, focusing on unexplored areas first. Each castaway or Leafling cured adds up quickly-aim for 5-10 per outing by Day 10 to unlock high-priority skills like Buff and Rush without grinding later.
