Every Pikmin type ranked from best to worst
Pikmin is Shigeru Miyamoto’s own action-RTS hybrid, and it includes some hybrid creatures of its own: the titular Pikmin. Pikmin are plant-ant combinations that can be raised and commanded to help struggling spacefarers find what they need in order to get home.
Each game has introduced a few new Pikmin types, and each game has also changed the abilities of the included Pikmin. There are a few things that have always remained constant, but the fact is that the spread of Pikmin abilities has changed multiple times.
In this list we’re ranking each of the new Pikmin types based on their unique abilities throughout the series. They might’ve lost a few of their talents over time, but that doesn’t matter for our purposes here: these Pikmin are objectively the most useful overall.
Just read below for our Pikmin ranking which starts at the best, and ends at the worst.
Yellow Pikmin
Yellow Pikmin
Nintendo
Yellow Pikmin are the best of the best, and this is why: in the original game, they were the only type that could carry bomb rocks. That changed in Pikmin 2, but instead, they gained the ability to resist and conduct electricity. They even gained the ability to dig faster in Pikmin 3, which is all on top of the fact that their throw height is taller than any other type, allowing them to grab objects from high places. They’re pretty much perfect.
Blue Pikmin
Blue Pikmin
Nintendo
Blue Pikmin are arguably one of the simplest in terms of abilities: they can survive in water. That’s pretty much it, but that’s actually a pretty brilliant ability in this game. Being able to survive in water means that Blue Pikmin are often the only type that can open up certain paths and routes through the game, making them an essential part of your team in every Pikmin game – yes, even Hey! Pikmin.
Ice Pikmin
Ice Pikmin
Nintendo
Ice Pikmin are brand new to Pikmin 4, and might just usurp the usefulness of the Blue Pikmin in some cases. Ice Pikmin are brilliant in battle, as they can rack up a freeze meter which freezes foes in place, giving other Pikmin the chance to smash them down. On top of that, they can freeze bodies of water when enough are gathered in place, allowing other creatures to walk across the icy surface.
Purple Pikmin
Purple Pikmin
Nintendo
Purple Pikmin are slow, but they’re heavy and strong. Their weight can crush smaller foes and stun big ones, and they have the strength and weight of 10 ordinary Pikmin. This means they can be used to solve some weight puzzles in Pikmin 2, or carry absurdly heavy treasures. They will carry things very slowly, though, so they could use some help from White Pikmin.
Bulbmin
Bulbmin
Nintendo
Now wait, hold on: Bulbmin count. Bulbmin are tiny Bulborbs that have become infected by a parasite which just happens to make the creature behave a lot like a Pikmin. Take out the adult Bulbmin, and after you’ll be able to round up and command its tiny followers like ordinary Pikmin. Best of all, they’re resistant to fire, water, electricity, and poison. The bad news is that they can’t be taken out of caves. Still, this makes the Bulbmin incredibly useful, if you are ever able to add them to your party.
Glow Pikmin
Glow Pikmin
Nintendo
Glow Pikmin can only be used at night during Pikmin 4’s new night exploration segments. Their Glowmob ability allows them to stun and attack enemies rapidly, making them fearsome fighters. Shame they’re restricted to night, mind.
Winged Pikmin
Winged Pikmin
Nintendo
Winged Pikmin: they do exactly what you expect. They fly. They’re great for fighting against aerial enemies and carrying items over water, but they’re not as strong as other Pikmin types when on the ground. Despite that, Winged Pikmin are possibly the best in the game when it comes to transporting objects, and are essential for watery expeditions if you haven’t got enough Blue Pikmin.
White Pikmin
White Pikmin
Nintendo
White Pikmin are smaller than all of the other types, but they have a few useful skills. For one, they’re completely resistant to poison, and better yet, they will poison and kill (or at least damage) any enemies that eat them. Their best ability is that they can location items hidden underground and start digging them up, but the ability you’ll probably use the most if their speed. They’re fast, and will get things back to your ship or the onion in record time.
Rock Pikmin
Rock Pikmin
Nintendo
You can’t crush or stab a Rock Pikmin, and they hit hard when thrown. This instantly makes the Rock Pikmin a solid choice for your party, especially when combat gets rough. There are some glass walls that require Rock Pikmin to break, but other than that specific instance, their abilities don’t have too much specific use.
Red Pikmin
Red Pikmin
Nintendo
Red Pikmin aren’t bad, okay? In fact, they’re necessary for acquiring certain items thanks to their ability to resist fire. It also means some fire-based enemies will find it almost impossible to kill them, which is handy. They also have a higher attack strength than any of the other Pikmin when using their standard attack, which is a nice bonus, but not likely to be something you take much notice of. They are the standard Pikmin, the default, and they do what they do well. March a bunch of them to war and let ‘em rip.
Mushroom Pikmin
Mushroom Pikmin
Nintendo
The rarest and only actively hostile Pikmin is the Mushroom Pikmin. When attacked by a Puffstool in the original Pikmin game, your Pikmin could turn purple and have a mushroom on its head. On top of that, they will attack Olimar. You can add them to your party thanks to a glitch in the original game, but they simply have the abilities of whichever Pikmin type they took control of. All in all, you’re better off never encountering Mushroom Pikmin.
