Save the Hocotatian! Walkthrough

This is a story walkthrough for Save the Hocotatian! in Pikmin 3 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch. This guide will cover defeating the Quaggled Mireclops, the boss of the Garden of Hope, as well as retrieving Louie and collecting all fruits. Read on for more tips and strategy!

Fruit That Can Be Recovered
Dusk Pustules	Stellar Extrusion	Zest Bomb
Wayward Moon	Astringent Clump

Save the Hocotatian! Walkthrough

Objectives List

1: Defeat the Quaggled Mireclops

With the path open to the Garden of Hope's second boss, the Quaggled Mireclops, it's time to head for battle. As one of the harder boss fights in the game, it's important to know the correct way to fight this creature, or else you will lose a lot of Pikmin.

The main trick to battling the Quaggled Mireclops is to charge at its feet using either Winged or Blue Pikmin, which will cause the Quaggled Mireclops to fall down. Climb up its back and attack the bulb, which is its weak point (you'll first need to use Rock Pikmin in order to break the crystal).

The Quaggled Mireclops's tongue attack is very annoying to deal with, so be sure and use the Dodge Whistle when you see it coming to avoid any casualties.

Boss Battle Guide: How to Beat the Quaggled Mireclops

First, break the crystal on its back with rock pikmin

When you first climb up its back, you'll need to throw about 20-25 Rock Pikmin at the large crystal to break it and expose its weak point. After breaking this, you can have the Rock Pikmin wait in a safe area while you attack using only Winged or Blue Pikmin. Have your Pikmin types divided into two teams, with one waiting toward the entrance, then switch leaders when it is time to use the other Pikmin type. Once defeated, it will drop a Wayward Moon.

2: Use the elevator platforms to the west to recover the fruit

To the west, there are some elevator platforms, which can be used to recover two fruit. If you were able to defeat the Quaggled Mireclops with plenty of time remaining, head over to obtain them. One of them is behind an electric gate, so it would be best to bring both Yellow Pikmin and Winged Pikmin.

You can even avoid doing the elevator puzzle altogether by throwing your Winged Pikmin at it, so it is not too difficult to obtain.

By completing this puzzle, you can get both a Zest Bomb and an Astringent Clump.

3: Use the elevator platforms to the north to recover the fruit

There is another elevator section in the north part of the map, with another fruit just waiting for you to recover it. Throw two Pikmin on the left platform, and cross over the lifted platform, making sure not to cause it to fall (you can do this by throwing leaders and pikmin to the other side). In order to avoid accidentally dropping the platform, use the Winged Pikmin, which can fly straight over the platform without weighing it down. By completing this puzzle, you can recover Dusk Pustules.

4: Defeat the Bug-Eyed Crawmad if you have time

Right past where you got the Dusk Pustules from the elevator platforms, there is another Bug-Eyed Crawmad that can be defeated to obtain a Stellar Extrusion . After they return from recovering the Dusk Pustules, gather your Winged Pikmin up and proceed to the cave. Like before, use Ultra-Spicy Spray on the Winged Pikmin, then have them charge directly at the Crawmad's eyes to make quick work of it. Recover the fruit it drops before ending the day (if you still had time).

Related Guides

Complete Story Walkthrough

Prologue
Exploration Day 1	-
Garden of Hope
Where's Brittany?	The Captain's Signal?
Defeat the Armored Mawdad!	-
Distant Tundra
Reunite With Brittany!	Where's the Captain?
Defeat the Vehemoth Phosbat!	-
Tropical Wilds
Find the Cosmic-Drive Key!	-
Twilight River
To Twilight River!	Save Olimar!
Defeat the Scornet Maestro!	-
Garden of Hope (Revisited)
Follow Olimar!	Find the Hocotatian!
Save the Hocotatian!	-
Formidable Oak
Head to the Formidable Oak	Find Captain Olimar!
Save Captain Olimar!	-