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Just as they do in previous Pikmin games, Onions play a very important role in Pikmin 4. There are two different types of onions in the game: colored onions and Flarlic. Colored onions allow players to grow and harvest new types of Pikmin, with the color of the onion dictating the type of Pikmin that gets unlocked. Flarlic, on the other hand, is used to increase the maximum number of Pikmin that players are able to use at any given time.
There are four onions located in the first stage of the game, two of which are colored. Players can get their hands on the Yellow Onion relatively easily, but getting the Blue Onion in Sun-Speckled Terrace can be a lot more challenging, particularly for those trying to unlock it before visiting any of the game's other main stages. With some careful planning, though, it is definitely possible, even if the Blue Onion gets stuck in the nearby water.
How to Get the Blue Onion in Sun-Speckled Terrace
To get the Blue Onion in Sun-Speckled Terrace, players will need 30 Ice Pikmin. These can be found in the Sublevels beneath the area, with 10 available in the Last Frost Cavern, 20 found down in the Hectic Hollows, and 25 in Aquiferous Summit. Players should be sure to look after these Pikmin, as they won't be able to get an Ice Onion for quite some time, meaning that if they die, getting the Blue Onion in the first stage of Pikmin 4 and unlocking Blue Pikmin early will be incredibly difficult, if not impossible. As such, players should be sure to rewind time if ever they lose any of their Ice Pikmin.
In addition to acquiring 30 Ice Pikmin, players will also need to have found enough Flarlic to increase their maximum number of Pikmin to at least 40. 50 would be better, though it's possible to get the Sun-Speckled Terrace Blue Onion with 40 Pikmin if players level up Oatchi's Buff skill so that he can carry as much weight as ten Pikmin. They'll also need to rescue Russ the scientist from the Last Frost Cavern, which will result in Oatchi going through something of a growth spurt, after which, players will be able to ride him around.
Assuming all of the conditions above have been met, players should make their way over to the large pond to the south of the area and throw 30 Ice Pikmin into the water to freeze it. Next, they should throw their remaining Pikmin at the unfinished climbing wall to their left and then wait for them to return with the raw materials required to complete the construction. Once it's done, they can climb up, defeat the Fiery Blowhog, and use their Pikmin to dig up the Blue Onion. If players are able to use 50 or more Pikmin at a time, they'll simply be able to have 20 Pikmin take the Blue Onion back to their base. Those with only 40 will need to do a bit more work though.
To get the Blue Onion with only 40 Pikmin, players should head out onto the ice and use the whistle to call the Ice Pikmin back. They'll only have a few moments before the ice melts, so they'll need to lead the Ice Pikmin over to the climbing wall as quickly as possible. Assuming they make it in time, they'll be able to have their Ice Pikmin carry the Blue Onion, though they're unable to carry it through water and so will get stuck on the ledge just near the edge of the pond. Thankfully, this isn't a problem.
Once the Blue Onion is on the lowest ledge, players can refreeze the pond with their Ice Pikmin and then ride Oatchi over to the ledge. Pressing the Y button while riding Oatchi will allow players to jump up onto the ledge, after which, they can dismount Oatchi and have him drag the Blue Onion back to base; either by himself if he can carry as much weight as 20 Pikmin or with the help of the player's other ten Pikmin if he can only carry as much as ten. Either way, players will get their Blue Onion, granting them access to Blue Pikmin a lot earlier than they otherwise would.
How to Get the Sun-Speckled Terrace Blue Onion Out of the Water
Due to the slight delay in water unfreezing after the player's Ice Pikmin are recalled, it's possible to get the Blue Onion stuck in the water. Refreezing the water after this happens will lock the Blue Onion in place, making it seemingly impossible to retrieve it without the help of Blue Pikmin. Players could wait until after they've gotten the Blue Onion from Serene Shores and then return, though there is still a way to get the Sun-Speckled Terrace Blue Onion even if it falls in the water. It just involves a little bit of animal cruelty.
After players have unlocked the ability to ride Oatchi, riding him into any pool of water will lead to a cutscene in which he almost drowns. Two in-game days after this cutscene, Oatchi will learn the Doggy Paddle skill, which, as the name suggests, allows him to survive in water. Once players have unlocked this skill, they can either use Oatchi's charge ability to ram the Blue Onion back to shore and then pick it up with regular Pikmin once it's back on dry land or upgrade Oatchi's Doggy Paddle skill so that he can carry items while swimming. Whichever they choose, players will be able to get the Blue Onion out of the water and unlock Blue Pikmin before ever leaving the first stage.
Pikmin 4 is available now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
