Emperor Bulblax
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| Oculus supremus | |
| Emperor Bulblax | |
| Real Name | Emperor Grub-dog |
| Origin | The Final Trial |
| Type | Grub-dog |
| Size | 130mm |
| Debut | Pikmin |
The Emperor Bulblax is a monstrous creature that appears as a boss in both of the Pikmin games. It is notorious for hiding underground, with only a small bit of itself showing (the fungus on its back in the first game and its eyestalks in the second). When something such as a Pikmin approaches it, it leaps out of the ground and attacks.
In Pikmin
An Emperor Bulblax appears in the Final Trial, and is the only creature present in the area (save for Candypop Buds and the Pikmin themselves). It can only be reached if Olimar has collected 29 of the 30 ship parts he lost. There are also quite a few tasks to finish before the Bulblax can even be reached.
Fighting this Emperor Bulblax can take the better part of a day and a huge chunk of your Pikmin army to defeat. After the beast is awakened, it will stomp around within its arena, using its sticky tongue to gobble up any Pikmin it sees. If its prey is far away, it may also take a giant leap toward them.
The Emperor Bulblax's weak points are its saggy cheeks, but the only safe time to attack is after it has been stunned. The easiest way to stun the creature is to allow it to eat a Yellow Pikmin that is carrying a bomb-rock. However, the Bulblax doesn't stay stunned for long. Once it has finally fallen, the Emperor Bulblax coughs up the Secret Safe, the final missing piece of the S.S. Dolphin.
In Pikmin 2
The Emperor Bulblax returns as a more common boss in Pikmin 2, appearing early on in the Bulblax Kingdom with the Forged Courage in its gut. This time around, it is much easier to defeat thanks to Purple Pikmin. By throwing them at the Bulblax's eyestalks before it has even emerged from the ground, you can stun it and keep it stunned until it has been killed. The Bulblax is slightly slower in this game, so even without stunning it with Purple Pikmin it can be attacked; it retains its weakpoint from the previous game.
A pair of Emperor Bulblaxes also reside on Sublevel 4 of the Cavern of Chaos, usually hidden within the pools of water around that floor to prevent the Purple Pikmin attack. In this case there are over a dozen bomb-rocks laying on the ground, however. Using the captains alone, it is possible to trick the Bulblaxes into eating these bomb-rocks and severly weakening or killing themselves. One of these two holds the Mysterious Remains.
Another pair of Bulblaxes are on Sublevel 10 of the Hole of Heroes. These can be defeated in the same manner as the first one, as there is no water this time. One of the two will cough up the Treasured Gyro Block after it has been killed.
Challenge Mode
- In the Pikmin Challenge Mode, the Emperor Bulblax has been removed from the Final Trial and replaced by a Beady Long Legs.
- In the Pikmin 2 Challenge Mode, the Emperor Bulblax appears in Stage 30: Emperor's Realm. Three of them will appear on the Final Sublevel of that stage.
Scientific Report
- The Emperor Bulblax's remains cannot be carried in Pikmin.
- In Pikmin 2, the Emperor Bulblax's remains can be carried back to the ship pod by 20 Pikmin. It is worth 15 Pokos.
- Olimar's Log: My radar indicates that a gigantic member of the bulborb species has swallowed the Dolphin's final part. Yet how am I to attack this gargantuan beast? Testing the explosive power of the bomb-rocks the yellow Pikmin unearth may prove valuable...
- Olimar's Notes: The largest member of the grub-dog family is normally found buried in the ground, with only the stalks of its eyes exposed. This camouflage allows the predator to surprise smaller creatures and use its long, adhesive tongue to capture prey. The thick hide and angular hump give the organism a distinct rocklike quality. During the rainy season, moss grows freely on its hump, making it nearly impossible to distinguish this lethal predator from a stone.
- Louie's Cooking Notes: To prep the tongue for cooking, marinate in olive oil and chop into cubes. Stir in a pot with carrots, potatoes, and chives, cover, and simmer over low heat for several hours. Accompany this mouthwatering, rustic stew with a hearty roll.