Pikmin 4 differs from its predecessors by allowing players to upgrade their character with gear to help them survive the dangerous world. There are multiple pieces of gear to collect as players progress, and knowing which ones to get first will help tremendously in the early days. All the gear will cost raw materials, so prioritizing buying the best gear first will help you save precious resources. Here is a list of the best gear in Pikmin 4 in no particular order.
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How to Unlock The Lab
Players will be able to buy gear once they unlock The Lab in the home base. To unlock The Base, players must first rescue one of the castaways, Russ. Russ can be found by exploring the caves in the Sun-Speckled Terrace. The Lab will be available after bringing him back to the home base.
In order to buy the gear from The Lab, players will have to spend on raw materials. Raw materials are found in multiple ways through Pikmin 4. It can be found in piles above ground, dirt mounds, breaking walls, and killing enemies. Once players have enough raw material, they can buy gear from The Lab. More gear will be available the more Sparklium players obtain by collecting the various Treasures found in the world and in caves.
Russ will use raw material to make new gear
Best Gear to Get
Charging Horn
The Charging Horn unlocks after collecting 450 Sparklium and costs 20 raw materials. This should be one of the first purchases players make in Pikmin 4. The Charging Horn allows players to charge their Pikmin to rush down enemies or pick up treasure quickly. The ability to rush with a squad of Pikmin is helpful since players will not have to throw Pikmin individually to complete a task. Another upside is that if players are able to charge all of their Pikmin into an enemy, massive damage will be dealt.
Treasure Gauge/ Treasure Gauge+
The Treasure Gauge unlocks after collecting 1000 Sparklium and costs 40 raw minerals. The upgraded Treasure Gauge+ unlocks after collecting 11500 Sparklium and costs 100 raw materials. Finding every treasure in a location can be challenging since some are hidden pretty well. The gauge will give players a meter on the screen that will fill up the closer they are to a treasure. The Treasure Gauge+ will detect treasure further away. Even though Oatch has the ability to sniff out treasure and lead you to it, having the meter as you explore is super convenient and worth the purchase.
Gameboy Treasure in Pikmin 4
Survey Drone
The Survey Drone allows players to view the surrounding area from a top-down view. With the new camera angle in Pikmin 4, visibility is limited. The Survey Drone is perfect for scouting the general area and planning the next move. It is also helpful to find the best route to an upper level or see if nearby enemies exist. Using the Survey Drone pauses time so players do not have to worry about wasting time looking around.
Homesick Signal
The Homesick Signal is available after collecting 3500 Sparklium and costs 80 raw materials. This might be the most helpful new addition to Pikmin 4. One of the worst feelings is trying to finish that last task of the day only for the countdown to finish and realizing that some Pikmin have been left behind and did not return to base. The Homesick Signal summons Pikmin back to the base after they have completed a task, such as building a bridge or knocking down a wall.
Rush Boots
The Rush Boots are available after collecting 5100 Sparklium and cost 120 raw materials. Running around the world can initially seem tedious, but the Rush Boots increases movement speed. Having a faster movement speed allows for getting tasks done faster and more efficiently to make the most of each day in Pikmin 4. The Rush Boots are also helpful for running around enemies to get the perfect angle to attack them or even to run away from them if things get too heated.
Headlamp/ Headlamp+
The Headlamp is unlocked after collecting 2000 Sparklium and costs 30 raw materials. Its upgraded version, the Headlamp+, unlocks after collecting 5500 Sparklium and costs 1000 raw materials. The Headlamp increases vision in dark areas, while the Headlamp+ illuminates any dark area. This piece of gear makes exploring the various caves much easier. Players can often get lost or lose their sense of direction in the caves with such limited visibility. Not only is this item helpful, but it is necessary when exploring the caves.
Honorable Mentions
Idle Counter/ Idler’s Alert
The Idle Counter is unlocked after collecting 2500 Sparklium and costs 40 raw materials. While the Idle’s Alert is unlocked after collecting 3500 Sparklium and costs 80 raw materials. Although these are two different pieces of gear, they work closely together, so they are grouped in this list. The Counter keeps count of all Pikmin outside the party. The Alert summons Pikmin outside the party, who have completed their task. Both of these help make sure Pikmin are not standing around doing nothing once their job has been completed. It can be hard to keep track of all the Pikmin, especially if you have them spread out, completing multiple tasks.
Power Whistle
The Power Whistle unlocks after collecting 12500 Sparklium and costs 120 raw materials. This upgraded version of the whistle increases the range that Pikmin can be called back from. This can be especially helpful in Dandori Battles. The battles can be hectic, and players will constantly be on the move, so having the ability to call Pikmin from a further distance will help tremendously. The Power Whistle can also be helpful for calling Pikmin back when there is an enemy that will kill them.
Conclusion
The Lab and being able to purchase new upgrades for your character in Pikmin 4 is a welcome addition to the series. Having the best gear will make exploring the world much easier, especially in the earlier days. Make sure to collect enough Sparklium and raw materials by collecting treasure and exploring the world. Once players have enough resources, prioritizing the best gear will make these tasks a breeze.
