In this Pikmin 4 guide, we’ll show you where to find the Purple Onion, so that you will be able to add the mighty purple Pikmin to your collection of allies in the game.
What are Purple Pikmin?
Purple Pikmin first debuted in Pikmin 2, as one of two new types introduced in the game. They are the slowest type of Pikmin, but what they lack in speed they make up for in strength, as they are able to lift ten times the weight of other Pikmin, and are immune to being knocked back by enemy attacks.
Pikmin 4 Purple Onion location, where to find
Like White Pikmin, Purple Pikmin are extremely rare, and you may not have found them at all during your explorations in the main story, as they are found in only a handful of optional caves. To get the Purple Onion and add them to your selection of Pikmin, you will first need to complete both the main story and the postgame story “Olimar’s Shipwreck Tale”, which you can do by talking to Captain Olimar at your base.
Completing Olimar’s Shipwreck Tale will unlock the Trial of the Sage Leaf, which consists of ten Dandori trials. You will need to complete the final one, “Final Story: The Purple Key” to acquire the Purple Onion. The goal of this trial is to carry the Purple Onion back to your ship through a small maze of obstacles and strong enemies within the five minute time limit.
For tips on how to complete the trial, it is recommended that you fully upgrade both your character and Oatchi at the lab before attempting this, to make them immune to the various types of hazards you’ll encounter, and to unlock the Pluck Whistle, which will make gathering Pikmin slightly faster, as time is of the essence. You will also need to fully upgrade Oatchi’s Super Buff skill, as he will be transporting the Purple Onion back to the ship whilst you clear the way with your Pikmin.
Gather the Ice Pikmin in the area first. Shortly after the stage begins, a Water Wraith will appear, which you can render harmless with the Purple Pikmin you will be able to gather nearby. After you’ve destroyed its rollers, don’t waste time killing it: instead, retrieve the Purple Onion from the nearby ledge and start moving through the maze ahead of Oatchi, clearing the various obstacles. It is slightly faster to take the long route initially and destroy the burrow, and tackling the poison enemy is faster than destroying the ice gate, although you will want to freeze it with your Ice Pikmin first before sending in your Purple Pikmin to shatter it before it thaws.
Having Oatchi temporarily drop the Onion so that he can assist in defeating the enemy blocking the corridor will help ensure that he doesn’t get knocked back by the oncoming snowballs, but try to keep your Purple Pikmin out of harm’s way: you will need a combined weight of 100 Pikmin to flatten the final obstacle standing between you and your ship.
Pikmin 4 is available now on Switch. You can access the official website here for more information about the game.
