Night Expeditions Survival Guide

As you explore Dandori Challenge and Battle caves throughout the areas, you'll gather curious-looking rescues that are named Leaflings. These Leaflings can only be cured by finding Yonny the Doctor, who will unlock Night Expeditions for you when he's recovered. On this page of IGN's Pikmin 4 Guide, we'll explain how to unlock Night Expeditions, explain how they work, plus, the role of Glow Pikmin and Lumiknoll in them.

How to Unlock Night Expeditions

To unlock Night Expeditions, you'll have to find Yonny the Doctor. Once Yonny is settled into the Rescue Command Post, he'll arrange for you to go out on Night Expeditions and find cures for Leaflings.

When you've searched and completed the Sun-Speckled Terrace, Blossoming Arcadia, and Serene Shores, you won't be able to progress further until you complete 3 Night Expeditions. This is so you can recover Bernard the Pilot. Once you've completed the first three Night Expeditions at the Sun-Speckled Terrace, you can do the rest at any point you prefer.

How to Find Yonny

You won't be able to find Yonny until you head to Blossoming Arcadia. He's then found on Level 3 of the Kingdom of Beasts cave. This level features a mini-boss fight, where you'll have to beat a huge worm-like creature called the Empress Bulblax using Rock Pikmin to get it to drop Yonny.

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.