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- Not to be confused with the Horned Cannon Beetle.
The Armored Cannon Beetle (フタクチカブト) is a boss in Pikmin. The beetle is first discovered during Olimar's first visit to the Pikmin Planet and is seen again in Pikmin 2 and in Pikmin 3, although only the larval stage is present in those games. It is a huge, black, shiny beetle with a thick, rounded shell of armor, and a blowhole above its head. It attacks by inhaling through this blowhole and subsequently firing a rolling rock from its mouth that travels in a straight path, which crushes any Pikmin in its wake.
This enemy appears twice in the game: once in The Forest of Hope, where one is guarding the Radiation Canopy, and once The Distant Spring, where one has ingested the Bowsprit. As a side-note, Olimar can destroy the rocks by punching them; however, this does not work with the rock-shooting Lithopods in Pikmin 2.
Notes[]
Olimar's Notes[]
"This creature spits out massive rocks and boasts an impenetrable shell that repels all Pikmin attacks. Just before spitting out a boulder, it sucks in large breaths of air... Perhaps its air hole will provide a clue to it's weakness."
Guide Book[]
"This member of the lithopod family migrated to the area during a global climate shift in the atmosphere within the last century. The continental breed of this beast, known as the Greater Lithopod, had the ability to compress inhaled air in a bladder and use the pressure to expel partially digested fragments of stone. This migrant lithopod has developed a stronger carapace then its relatives."
Reel Notes[]
"This migrant lithopod has developed a stronger carapace than its relatives."
Battle Strategy[]
The only way one can be defeated is by clogging the blowhole during air intake (Pikmin are impervious to harm when inhaled). This causes the beetle's internal temperature to rise dramatically, and in response the beetle will expose its burning abdomen underneath the armor to vent. The exposed abdomen leaves the beetle vulnerable to attack. However, the beetle will quickly unclog its blowhole, shield its backside, and continue its attack after excess heat has been drained. After closing its back up, your Pikmin will be knocked down, and the Armored Cannon Beetle will shoot a boulder out of its front.
If you bring 30 to 50 Red Pikmin with buds or flowers and throw quickly, the beast can be taken down on the first or second cycle. When it fires its rock, make sure you whistle your Pikmin quickly or they will be crushed. Also, Pikmin that miss the abdomen will attack the creature's armored legs. They will also be thrown out in front of the beast when it shakes off other Pikmin attacking its back. Whistle them back quickly as well.
Alternately, you may carry the Radiation Canopy without fighting the boss. Distract the beetle by making it shoot a rock at a wall, and while it's busy on its shooting animation, order some Pikmin to carry the object. You can now either continue distracting the enemy with Olimar, or go away and leave the Pikmin to it. If you choose to leave, switch the camera to the top-down view and the closest zoom level. This will make the Armored Cannon Beetle go off-camera and not attack the Pikmin as a result.
Gallery[]
