Show that you know how to have the most fun in Pikmin 4.
The Pikmin series is known for its lush settings, unique gameplay, and the titular creatures that help you move wealth from point A to point B. Pikmin 4 brings back all the things people liked about the previous games and adds some new ideas to make it stand out.
During the story of Pikmin 4, you’ll meet figures who want to fight you in a Dandori Battle. In this mode, you play against another player to see who can get the most points before the time runs out. Fans can play this mode locally against a friend, but to get everything, you have to finish Battles in Story Mode, and some are much more fun than others.
Trial Run
Trial Run is the first Dandori Battle you’ll find and finish, as its name suggests. With only a four-minute time limit and a few enemies to slow you down, it’s not too hard and is meant to teach you how the mode works so you’re ready for the next one.
You’ll only have Red Pikmin, so Fiery Blowhogs and Dwarf Bulborbs shouldn’t be too hard to deal with. If you have upgraded Oatchi’s Buff Ability so that he can carry things that weigh up to ten, you should send him out to take the heavier things while the Pikmin work on small treasures and pellets.
Hot Sandy Duel
The Hot Sandy Duel is the second-to-last Dandori Battle in Pikmin 4, which makes it by far one of the hardest. All of the Battles before this one added new features that made the mode more fun, but Hot Sandy Duel is full of annoying enemies and hurdles that can make or break your run.
By the time you get to this Dandori Battle, you will have already used Fire Starters in the main story, so you should know how to use them. Even so, this fight is still hard to win because there are so many things that can be burned, and the five-minute timer goes by quickly when you’re busy juggling Fire Starters with the rest of your Pikmin.
Battle In A Box
The Boxed Battle After you finish Trial Run, you can go to Dandori Battle, which is a lot harder than the first lesson. The map is familiar and open, so it shouldn’t be hard to find the items you need. However, you’ll need to keep an eye on your opponent to make sure they don’t find a way to beat you by one or two points.
Battle in a Box is the first Dandori Battle to have Bonus Finds, which are riches or enemies that give you double to five times as many points for a short time. This means that even if you have a huge lead going into the last minute, your opponent could catch up if they get the right things. If you’re already winning, the best way to make sure you win is to focus on defense.
Final Battle
Final Battle is, unsurprisingly, the last Dandori Battle in Pikmin 4, and it will test all of your Dandori skills. The stage is huge and full of dangers and dangerous enemies, but if your Oatchi is fully upgraded and you have a lot of experience, it shouldn’t be too hard. You might not get it right on the first try, but it’s a fun task, so it shouldn’t be too bad if you have to try again.
Now that you know about Bonus Finds and the other parts of a Dandori Battle that can make or break it, it’s up to you to use them all well to get the best score you can. Taking Oatchi away from the team with a group of Pikmin makes it much easier to do more than one thing at once. Just make sure your opponent doesn’t do anything sneaky when you’re not looking.
Leafy Showdown
By the time you get to Hero’s Hideaway’s Leafy Showdown, you should know enough about Dandori Battles to know how to start the round. Your biggest problem is a big puddle in the middle of the stage, but the final mechanic is also presented here, and if you’re not careful, it can turn Slope Game on its head.
In Leafy Showdown, you’ll see the Sneak Bomb for the first time. It’s an item you can take to your opponent’s base to steal points from their ship. This is very useful, but if your opponent gets to it first, it can totally ruin your chances of winning. You can send your Pikmin to drop a Sneak Bomb, but it’s always safer to use an upgraded Oatchi.
Dandori Castle
The Dandori Battle at Dandori Castle happens between the Battle in a Box and the Leafy Showdown, but it is different in many ways. Not only does this stage make you feel like you’re on a real battlefield, but it’s also where you learn about two important game mechanics: Mystery Capsules and Golden Sniffers.
Golden Sniffers are big, gold things that are worth more points than most, but Mystery Capsules add excitement to Dandori Battles. Like the Item Boxes in Mario Kart, each box gives you an item that helps you or hurts your opponent. There are many things that could happen with these capsules, from lightning to more Pikmin. Even though they don’t change the game as much as Sneak Bombs, they’re a great way to keep Dandori Battles interesting.
