What do onions do in Pikmin 4?

These Onions won’t make you cry

Pikmin 4 has players exploring PNF-404 to find the stranded Castaways. Along the way, you’ll discover several strange lifeforms and items, including colorful orbs called Onions. Collect them, as they’ll help you acquire more Pikmin to aid you on your treacherous journey.

This guide will explain what Onions do in Pikmin 4.

What are Onions in Pikmin 4?

Pikmin 4 beginners may be a bit confused about the yellow structure Pikmin enter and leave at your base.  This is your main Onion, and it’s useful to think of it as a nest for the Pikmin.

Pikmin use it for various purposes. Firstly, Onions produce Pikmin seeds. When these seeds blossom, you’ll have new Pikmin to add to your team. What Pikmin are produced by an Onion will depend on what color it is. For example, yellow Onions will produce Yellow Pikmin, and so forth.

Secondly, the main Onion is also where the rest of your Pikmin reside when your party is full. As the game progresses and the puzzles get increasingly complex, you’ll find yourself visiting the base more often to swap out Pikmin and take advantage of their abilities.

How to acquire more Onions in Pikmin 4

You will not be able to produce Pikmin of a certain kind if you don’t have the Onion for them. Fortunately, you can start your collection off with the Yellow and Blue Onions at the Sun-Speckled Terrace level.

If you spot an Onion in the wild, you can bring it base to your base by throwing enough Pikmin at it. When you’re aiming at it, you’ll be able to see precisely how many of the little critters are needed.

Be warned that they aren’t easily obtained and you’ll usually have to solve some kind of tricky environmental puzzle. If you find an Onion that is the same color as one that you’ve already collected, you’ll simply receive 20 Pikmin of that type if you bring it back to base.

If you want more Pikmin, feed Pellets to your main Onion. The color of the Pellet determines what type of Pikmin you’ll score. You can also get more buddies by feeding the dead bodies of defeated creatures to the Onion.

When exploring, you may catch sight of an Onion that doesn’t seem to match any Pikmin type. These are Flarlics, and they should also be collected, as they increase the number of Pikmin you can have out at once.

Onions are just one of several items you’ll be seeking in Pikmin 4. There are also treasures to find and Sparklium to collect, and these resources will help you find lost Castaways and rescue Captain Olimar.