All Pikmin Types

As you set off with your Red Pikmin to explore your first area, it's not long before you encounter Wild Pikmin of varying colors. Each Pikmin type has its own strengths and weaknesses, encouraging you to use them in different scenarios to maximize your results. On this page of IGN's Pikmin 4 guide, we'll cover all of the Pikmin types and when to use them.

There are 8 different Pikmin types in the game, not including Glow Pikmin, which are picked up from Night Expeditions.

Red Pikmin
Yellow Pikmin
Blue Pikmin
Ice Pikmin
Rock Pikmin
Winged Pikmin
Purple Pikmin
White Pikmin

Red Pikmin

These are the very first Pikmin you'll encounter at the Rescue Command Post and make up a significant portion of your team early in your exploration. They're resistant to fire, and their attacks are slightly stronger than the other Pikmin types.

Yellow Pikmin

These Yellow Pikmin aren't as good as Red Pikmin when it comes to fighting, but they are resistant to electricity so should always be deployed when you've got a charged-up creature to go against. On top of that, they're good at being thrown up high, so will get treasures down easily, and they're excellent at digging things up quickly.

Blue Pikmin

If you're going underwater, you're going to need Blue Pikmin. They're resistant to water attacks and should be your go-to for transporting anything across and through the water.

Ice Pikmin

Create shortcuts for other Pikmin by getting these little ones to freeze the water. They float easily, and when you have the correct number for each body of water, it will freeze instantly. On top of that, they can take down ice walls in no time. Just don't let them get hit by things like sprinklers, as although they're happy to float in the water, they don't like being sprayed with it.

Rock Pikmin

These Pikmin are tough as nails and are the only thing that can break through crystal walls. They're resistant to being pierced by anything sharp and can be stepped on and body slammed without a scratch. They're not invincible though, as some creatures will be able to crush them and if they collide with hard surfaces, it's game over.

Winged Pikmin

Looking for a way to save time? Then Winged Pikmin are the way to go. They can fly, making transporting treasures, gold, and Raw Material a painless experience. Use them against other flying creatures to see them excel, and avoid using them for ground attacks.

Purple Pikmin

Purple Pikmin are the heavyweights. Each one weighs up to and is as strong as 10 Pikmin. Because of this, they emit gravitational waves when they're thrown, causing huge impacts on enemies and making them vulnerable to attack. The only downside to these Pikmin are they're much slower than the rest.

White Pikmin

They're incredibly fast, but unfortunately not that strong. The best places to use these Pikmin are against smaller creatures, as they release poison. They're also resistant to poisonous attacks, so they can clear areas with poisonous mushrooms or take down specific creatures.