Exploration Day 18: Blossoming Arcadia Night Expedition and First Ending

In order to cure Leaflings in Pikmin 4, you'll have to complete Night Expeditions. These become available after finding Yonny the Doctor and are necessary in order to open up new areas and reach the game's first ending. On this page of IGN's Pikmin 4 Guide, we'll walk you through the Night Expedition you'll need to complete to save Captain Olimar and experience the game's first ending.

Blossoming Arcadia Night Expeditions

After opening up Hero's Hideaway by completing 3 Night Expeditions on Days 12, 13, and 14, you'll then be free to explore the area to 100% completion. One of the most important caves in Hero's Hideaway is the Leafy Showdown cave, which can only be opened by collecting 3 Playing Card treasures and finding the secret code.

Once it's open, you'll take part in a Dandori Battle against a Leafling. When you recover this Leafling, it's suspected to be Olimar. You'll then be encouraged to complete another Night Expedition to find a cure.

What to Do on Night Expeditions

Night Expeditions are all focused around Luminknoll and keeping it protected from the creatures that will stir during the night. There will be either one or two Lumiknoll on each level.

You will begin with a set number of Glow Pikmin and then need to collect star fragments that will be turned into more Glow Pikmin. The idea of Night Expeditions is to spend the beginning getting as many Glow Pikmin as you can, then switch to defending the Lumiknoll.

Lumiknoll

As mentioned, you can have either one or two Lumiknolls per level. These much be protected before the night ends, or you've killed a certain number of creatures. Sap is then extracted from the Lumiknoll to be used to cure Leaflings.

When there are two Lumiknolls, the best defense method is to divide up. Have Oatchi defend one of the Lumiknolls while you protect the other.

Defeating Creatures

Creatures will begin to stir, with their eyes glowing red, as the night progresses. They will then charge towards the Lumiknoll and you'll need to stop them before they destroy it entirely.

Tricknoll

As well as Lumiknolls, there are mini versions of them called Tricknolls scattered around. These can be used as checkpoints, to have Glow Pikmin drop start fragments in when you're further away from the Lumiknoll. They also act as decoys, so the more of these you have lit up, the better, as creatures will aim for these when they're close by and not go straight for the Lumiknoll itself.

Night Expedition Areas

Night Expeditions will have you revisiting each of the areas you've explored as part of the main story missions. Below we've listed the threat level for each one.

Exploration Day 18: Blossoming Arcadia Night Expedition - Fragrant Ravine

First Ending

After completing the Night Expedition, the cure is administered to the red Leafling and it turns out that it is Captain Olimar. With Olimar rescued and returned to the crew, it's time to leave behind the Pikmin and the planet and get Olimar home.

Unfortunately, everything is not so simple. Oatchi sprouted a leaf during his time on the planet, and that's preventing him from being able to leave. Without wanting to leave Oatchi behind, Olimar and the team decide to return and focus on a new mission of curing Oatchi.