The Onion acts as a home for all the Pikmin that players collect and grow. In order to grow more Pikmin, nutrients must be carried back to the Onion. These nutrients can come from colored pellets or from the creatures players defeat. After Pikmin bring the corpses or pellets back to the Onion, Pikmin seeds sprout.
However, the Onion will only sprout Pikmin for the colored Onions the player has collected. This means sprouting Pikmin other than the original three, Red, Yellow, and Blue, can be difficult. Pikmin 4 is the first game to have an onion for every Pikmin except the new Glow Pikmin, which do not live in an Onion. Although there are some duplicate Onions, we are only going over the locations where they are acquired first.
Before we get started, it should be noted that Flarics are a new addition to Pikmin 4. They look just like Onions but have a pale color to them. When Pikmin bring back Flarics to the home base, the Onion will absorb it. Afterwards, the number of Pikmin that can be in a party increases. Where Colored Onions only allow that type of Pikmin to be sprouted.
Red Onion (Red Pikmin)
Onion Location: Rescue Command Post
Red Onion
Like most other Pikmin games, Red Pikmin is the first to encounter. Red Pikmin are fire resistant since they have a big nose and are the strongest attackers of any Pikmin type. The Red Onion is also the first Onion players will encounter after finishing the Burrow of Beginnings. After Captain Shepard has been rescued, the Red Onion is accessed in the Rescue Command Post.
Yellow Onion (Yellow Pikmin)
Onion Locations: Sun-Speckled Terrace & Blossoming Arcadia
Yellow Onion
Yellow Pikmin are the second type players will encounter. They are resistant to electricity, can be thrown higher due to their long ears, and can dig the fastest out of any Pikmin. The Yellow Onion is located in Sun-Speckled Terrace to the East. It will be near the breakable pots and the Dandori Cave. There will be a paper bag that will need to be flattened, and behind it will be the Yellow Onion.
Blue Onion (Blue Pikmin)
Onion Locations: Sun-Speckled Terrace & Serene Shores
Blue Onion
The Blue Onion will be the next one available to collect. Blue Pikmin can swim and breathe under the water due to the gill on their face (it is not a mouth). In order to obtain the Blue Onion, players will first need to have the ability to have 50 Pikmin in the party. To do this, players will also have to collect a few Flarics before doing this.
Located near the central base in Sun-Speckled Terrace is a body of water with the Blue Onion on top of a ledge. 30 Ice Pikmin are required to freeze the water. After the water is frozen, Pikmin can build a climbable wall to access the Onion. It will take 20 other Pikmin to carry the Onion back to base.
Light Blue Onion (Ice Pikmin)
Onion Location: Hero’s Hideaway
Ice Onion
The Light Blue Onion or the Ice Onion can be found in the fourth stage, Hero’s Hideaway. Ice Pikmin have the ability to freeze bodies of water and enemies. The Onion is located on the North end of the map in the freezer. To access the freezer, players will have to go through the Frozen Inferno cave on the stove. For an easier time in the cave, buy the Scorch Guard and Scorch Guard (Oatchi). After finishing the Frozen Inferno players arrive near the freezer and can collect the Light Blue Onion.
Black Onion (Rock Pikmin)
Onion Location: Giant’s Heart
Black Onion
The Black or Rock Onion is in the Giant’s Heart. Rock Pikmin are immune to being crushing and stab attacks. They also have the ability to break glass and crystals when players throw them. The Onion is located to the East near the Dandori Battle. There is a wall that players can destroy with Bomb Rocks, so make sure to purchase some extras from The Lab. On the way to the Onion, players must defeat a Bulblax. Having some extra Bomb Rocks will help with the battle. After that, The Black Onion is now accessible.
Pink Onion (Winged Pikmin)
Onion Location: Primordial Thicket
Pink Onion
The Pink Onion is in the Primordial Thicket stage. Winged Pikmin or Pink Pikmin have wings that allow them to fly. This makes them quick and able to carry items above ground and cut across entire areas in stages. The Onion is located to the East of the map by the Oasis of Order Dandori Challenge. There are poison geysers which require White Pikmin to destroy. After the geyser, there is a box that requires ten Pikmin to push that allows access to the Pink Onion.
White Onion (White Pikmin)
Onion Location: Rescue Command Post (After Quest)
White Onion
The White Onion is available after completing a side quest in the postgame. White Pikmin are immune to poison and poison any enemy that eats them. After completing the main story of Pikmin 4, Players have access to play the side story Olimars Shipwreck Tale. Upon completing the side story, a new cave will appear behind the Onion at the Rescue Command Post. Inside the cave is the Trial of the Sage Leaf quest, which is a series of Dandori Challenges labeled as Stories. There are a total of ten different stories to the quest. The White Onion will be available after the competition of the 5th Story: The White Key.
Purple Onion (Purple Pikmin)
Onion Location: Rescue Command Post (After Quest)
Purple Onion
Like the White Onion, The Purple Onion is available after completing the Trial of the Sage Leaf quest. Purple Pikmin are heavier and stronger than any other Pikmin, with them being the equivalent of ten. The Purple Onion is available after completing the final stage, Final Story: The Purple Key. There is a Waterwraith in this final stage, so taking that out first will make beating the stage easier.
