The Hole of Heroes is a cave in Pikmin 2, found in the Wistful Wild, the game's fourth and last area. It is the longest cave in the game with 15 sublevels, but only 13 treasures, and of a difficulty comparable to the other Wistful Wild caves. The later sublevels are based around repeats of encounters with bosses from earlier in Pikmin 2, including the Empress Bulblax, Emperor Bulblax, Burrowing Snagret, Ranging Bloyster, Beady Long Legs, Pileated Snagret, and Man-at-Legs.
The Hole of Heroes is reachable only by the same path used to retrieve the Conifer Spire. The road there involves a Hermit Crawmad, water that needs to be drained, Blowhogs, Shearwigs, and a protective Armored Cannon Beetle Larva. Pass the Conifer Spire's resting place and travel down the half pipe to reach the cave entrance. One should take care not to fall off the tree stump and have to take the journey all over again.
In this cave, the player shall encounter hordes of enemies and all hazards. It is highly recommended the Captains either take 20 of each type of Pikmin to overcome these challenges, or 30 purples, 20 blues and whites, and 15 reds and yellows (for a larger Purple Pikmin count to defeat the many bosses in this cave). However, the threats that this cave holds are very minor, and do not require many resistant Pikmin to eliminate them, but due to the multitude of bosses, the second option is preferable, provided the player has Ultra-bitter Spray to spare. Like the other two caves in the Wistful Wild, the cave contains bosses that prove to be quite challenging, but yields no suit or gameplay upgrade for collecting the final treasure. This is forgivable, though, because the final treasure has a high Poko value (even though the debt has been cleared by this point).
Treasures[]
- Corpulent Nut (sub level 1)
- Essence of True Love (sub level 2)
- Love Sphere (sub level 3)
- Lustrous Element (sub level 4)
- Nutrient Silo (NTSC)/Stringent Container (PAL) (sub level 6)
- Joyless Jewel (sub level 7)
- Dimensional Slicer (NTSC)/Patience Tester (PAL) (sub level 9)
- Treasured Gyro Block (sub level 10)
- Favorite Gyro Block (sub level 11)
- Lost Gyro Block (sub level 12)
- Memorable Gyro Block (sub level 13)
- Fond Gyro Block (sub level 14)
- Remembered Old Buddy (sub level 15)
Enemies[]
- Anode Beetle
- Anode Dweevil
- Antenna Beetle
- Armored Cannon Beetle Larva
- Beady Long Legs
- Bulbmin
- Bulborb Larva
- Bumbling Snitchbug
- Burrowing Snagret
- Careening Dirigibug
- Caustic Dweevil
- Cloaking Burrow-nit
- Creeping Chrysanthemum
- Decorated Cannon Beetle
- Doodlebug
- Dwarf Bulbear
- Dwarf Orange Bulborb
- Dwarf Red Bulborb
- Emperor Bulblax
- Empress Bulblax
- Female Sheargrub
- Fiery Blowhog
- Fiery Bulblax
- Fiery Dweevil
- Greater Spotted Jellyfloat
- Hairy Bulborb
- Hermit Crawmad
- Honeywisp
- Iridescent Flint Beetle
- Iridescent Glint Beetle
- Lesser Spotted Jellyfloat
- Male Sheargrub
- Mamuta
- Man-at-Legs
- Mitite
- Munge Dweevil
- Orange Bulborb
- Pileated Snagret
- Puffy Blowhog
- Ranging Bloyster
- Red Bulborb
- Shearwig
- Skitter Leaf
- Snow Bulborb
- Spotty Bulbear
- Unmarked Spectralid
- Volatile Dweevil
- Water Dumple
- Watery Blowhog
- Withering Blowhog
- Wogpole
- Wollywog
- Yellow Wollywog
- Boss: Raging Long Legs
Music[]
- Green Yards
- Red Chasm
- Dweevil's Dugout
- Rest Area
- Hole of Heroes
- Mystic Marsh
- Shower Room
- Boss Battle
Strategy[]
Sublevel 1[]
Main hazards: Enemies
Needed Pikmin colors: Any
Whatever hopes of having a gentle first sublevel are ruined here. Creeping Chrysanthemums, Sheargrubs, Shearwigs, Skitter Leafs, and Cloaking Burrow-nits are littered across the scenic maze. Purple Pikmin are the best choice, but be wary of the Dwarf Orange Bulborbs that fall from the sky. (Because of this, it is recommended you keep the camera zoomed out above you.) It's also advised that you escort whatever loads your Pikmin are carrying back to the Research Pod. Aside from the Corpulent Nut, the only other items worth grabbing are nectar or sprays, so keep an eye out for eggs.
Sublevel 2[]
Main hazards: Enemies, electricity, bomb-rocks
Needed Pikmin colors: Yellow, white
Both Bumbling Snitchbugs and Swooping Snitchbugs live down here, along with Anode Beetles, the irritating Careening Dirigibugs, and an Antenna Beetle. If this isn't enough all together, bomb rocks drop just like the Dwarf Orange Bulborbs in the last sublevel. Take extreme caution and try to get all of the bombs down with a pilot before bringing your troops in. The Essence of True Love is buried; dig it up with White Pikmin.
Sublevel 3[]
Main hazards: Bomb-rocks, fire, water
Pikmin colors needed: Red, blue
Sublevel three is a maze of all species of the Blowhog family. Barriers make this place a pain, especially when there's a Withering Blowhog right on the other side. All of the Blowhogs can attack through the barriers, so be careful with the two earthbound types and do your best to keep the Withering Blowhogs from blowing away your Pikmin's flowers. You'll probably need flowered Pikmin for the next sublevel. Volatile Dweevils still appear in this level, so be very careful. Try scouting across all the available terrain alone before moving on, but travel with your group while carrying the Love Sphere and the corpses just in case. One mistake could be all it takes to ruin your chances of success. If you're lucky, a Dweevil may appear next to a Blowhog and do damage for you, making your job a little easier.
Sublevel 4[]
Main hazards: Boss x2
Pikmin colors needed: Purples
Here is where you want flower Pikmin. It's the first boss return of the cave. There are two Snagrets, one Pileated Snagret and one Burrowing Snagret, not to mention a sandy sinkhole in the middle of the arena that causes a huge issue when you find yourself retreating from the feathered Snagret. Note that only the Pileated Snagret holds treasure, meaning you can simply bypass the Burrowing Snagret. Find whichever one makes your gauge scream and fight for the Lustrous Element, but be careful not to walk into the Burrowing Snagret. Locate it if you must. You may want to use White Pikmin as a last resort.
Sublevel 5[]
Main hazards: None
Pikmin colors needed: Any
A treasure-less rest level. There aren't any creatures here that can kill, and all four of them could even contribute to your squad. Mamutas pound your Pikmin into the ground, but give them flowers. Honeywisps and Unmarked Spectralids provide nectar or, if you're lucky, a spray. Iridescent Glint Beetles have the same results: 1st hit nectar, 2nd hit sprays. If you have taken severe damage and feel you need to return to the surface, there's a geyser waiting for you here. There's also a Queen Candypop Bud and plenty of nectar just in case there's a couple of leaf or bud Pikmin among your deflowered soldiers.
Sublevel 6[]
Main hazards: Water
Pikmin colors needed: Blue
If your blue Pikmin are low in number, there are some Candypop Buds here in your favor. You are going to need them if you want a safe journey across this place. Interestingly, this level's layout is only seen twice, and the music is unique for the Hole of Heroes. Anyway, find a safe place for your non-aquatic troops. This may involve some fighting for the territory. You will likely have Wollywogs close to where you land watching your every move. The enemies here prove to be chores, aside from the Wogpoles, but the other creatures can be problematic if you're retreating or in a situation where you need all the room you can get without having to call off more soldiers. If you need to, Water Dumples don't take too long to kill with a pilot. After gathering the Nutrient Silo as your treasure, get rid of the seal over the cave and jump in for your next boss fight.
It should be noted that it is possible for the dungeon generator to, in rare cases, give this sublevel an impossible layout, in which the Nutrient Silo is placed atop a stump that is too tall for any color but Yellows to reach; of course, most of the sublevel is flooded, making it impossible for Yellows to access it. Reset and try again. This sub-level also has very distinct music, which can be only heard in Wistful Wild caves.
Sublevel 7[]
Main hazards: Enemies
Needed Pikmin color: Any
This arena is roomy, and you'll find a Ranging Bloyster just waiting to feed. Get your Pikmin safe behind the hole or in a dead-end, and defeat the Decorated Cannon Beetles with their own boulders. Beware of the falling boulders when battling the Bloyster and Cannon Beetle Larvae. Otherwise, the Pikmin will be crushed to death. Then you can move to the big blob. Split into two teams, surround the beast, and alternate between captains to get a good shot at the bulb on the monster's back. Again, you may want to use White Pikmin as a last resort. Soon enough, you'll get the Joyless Jewel as the prize.
Sublevel 8[]
Main hazards: Bulbmin, Doodlebug x3
Needed Pikmin color: White/Purple
Yet another rest level. You're more than halfway through, but you get another chance to go back to the surface here, along with Crimson Candypop Bud and a Queen Candypop Bud. If you've lost Pikmin, you can use that and the Bulbmin wandering down here. Be careful, aside from the Bulbmin, three Doodlebugs may appear to endanger your soldiers. Lastly, there's a good chance to get nectar and sprays here. No treasure is found on this sublevel.
Sublevel 9[]
Main hazards: Bulborbs
Needed Pikmin color: Red
Bulborbs ahoy! Dwarf Red Bulborbs, Snow Bulborbs, Orange Bulborbs, a Red Bulborb, a Hairy Bulborb, Dwarf Orange Bulborbs, a Spotty Bulbear with its followers, and a Fiery Bulblax litter the sublevel. In fact, every breed of Bulborb in the entire game appears here. The Fiery Bulblax has the Dimensional Slicer/Patience Tester, but since the rest of the bulborbs are in close proximity, it is highly likely that you will have to kill every enemy here. A suggestion would be to knock down the gate leading to the main arena, run out with no Pikmin, and hide behind a wall to attract the Spotty Bulbear's attention. While that is happening, you can switch leaders and kill the rest of the bulborbs, then leave, or if the Bulbear is in an awkward position, use a spray (highly recommended, since juvenile Bulbears will be following) then leave. Remember to use Red Pikmin for the Fiery Bulblax. Also, if you are lucky, you can kill the Spotty Bulbear through the wall before the gate by punching, but you need to collect the corpse immediately. You can also punch the enemies on top of the sink part with the President. You can use this strategy to kill all of the enemies in this sublevel (except for Dwarf Bulbears).
Sublevel 10[]
Main hazards: Boss x2
Needed Pikmin color: Any, although purple are recommended
Relive another boss battle as the montage of the bulborb family continues, this time with the previous game's final boss: not one, but two Emperor Bulblaxes. These two are not nearly as big, but they are still deadly. If you're going to scout for nectar and sprays before attacking them, go ahead, but be warned that Mitites may show up. Just like with the two Snagrets, only one of these Bulblaxes holds the Treasured Gyro Block. Purple Pikmin still prove to be the most effective choice. If you have the treasure gauge, find the right Bulblax when it's blinking. Again, if you are low on purples, you can sacrifice some whites.
Sublevel 11[]
Main hazards: Boss
Needed Pikmin color: Any
The bulborb montage reaches a climax with an Empress Bulblax, the last in the family to defeat. You start at its rear, where the Bulborb Larva come out. The Bulborb Larva will be instant trouble. Keep your Pikmin away from them. They can eat your Pikmin lightning fast. Get rid of them all before meeting the Empress and going after the treasure she somehow swallowed. It is possible to petrify her, but you must spray her from the sides; attempting to spray her behind or face will not work. Attack with Purples if you can. If not, Red Pikmin may do just as well, but any Pikmin can do the job. Be careful when dealing with the beast and make sure you know what you're going to do about the offspring when they arrive, if they have time to. In any case, take cover when she starts to roll from side to side, as boulders will plummet from the ceiling whenever she crashes into a wall. If you push all of your pikmin against a wall, the boulders don't usually hit you. Another safe place is behind the hole, so find time to break down the gate. At the end of the fight, feel free to search for any nectar or sprays that were dropped by the larva. If you're having trouble trying to get to the Empress Bulblax's head, have one captain move a little when there's no Bulborb Larvae and the other punch each one. Once you defeat the leviathan, grab the Favorite Gyro Block. This is also a good place to add the Common Glowcap to your Piklopedia if you haven't already.
Sublevel 12[]
Main hazards: Doodlebug
Needed Pikmin color: White
You had the last geyser exit four sublevels ago, and here's your last exit before moving onward to the last three sublevels of the cave. You should use Bulbmin, if you have any, to sprout White Pikmin or throw into the Queen Candypop Bud. Otherwise, you'll lose the Bulbmin as you leave the cave. Be careful with the Doodlebug here, but feel free to attack the other two Iridescent Glint Beetle and Iridescent Flint Beetle. The Iridescent Glint Beetle has the Lost Gyro Block, so keep searching until you catch it. Then you can progress to the last three sublevels of the cave, treating you to a montage of the Arachnorb family.
Sublevel 13[]
Main hazards: Boss
Needed Pikmin color: Blue
The Hole of Heroes, generously named, holds a few final surprises for you, as the creatures you're going to face from now on go from organic to metallic, and the Man-at-Legs here is the bridge between the two. The spider awaits in the middle of a moat of water, so take all the blue Pikmin with you, assuming they survived sublevel six. Best of luck in this fight, and take shelter behind the metal walls and bumps littered around here. It is recommended to use both sprays to defeat this boss. Collect the Memorable Gyro Block and move on.
Sublevel 14[]
Main hazards: Enemies, Boss
Needed Pikmin color: Blue
Sublevel 14 is the second to last level in this extensive cave, and the creatures here are obviously trying to hint at something. But regardless, deal with all of the Dweevils here before tackling the Beady Long Legs. It doesn't matter which type of Pikmin you use against it, but be wary of the water that lies around here. Yellow Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, or Bulbmin are recommended for the best results because they can be thrown high. Throwing Purple Pikmin at its feet is also effective. When and if you finally win, gather the Fond Gyro Block before moving on to the final battle the Hole of Heroes has to offer!
Sublevel 15[]
Main hazards: Enemies, Main boss
Needed Pikmin color: Any, although purple Pikmin are recommended.
The final sublevel should be explored with caution. It is advised to take care of all the Jellyfloats before confronting the boss; a Raging Long Legs. Just stay away from the center, and give the Jellyfloats time to float over to you. A good strategy for the boss is to use a smaller group of Pikmin, so you can avoid the Long Legs' stomping feet. It may be intimidating, but it is also a big target. Always attack the head when it roars the second time, because you have more time to attack it. The Raging Long Legs has a lot of health, and even with 20 Purple Pikmin it will survive at least one round of attacking. However, if you attack it with about 40 purples affected by an ultra spicy spray, then it can die in one cycle. The most important thing is to avoid its giant feet, which can easily smash half your Pikmin squad. For this reason, it is advisable to use a smaller group of Pikmin. Your prize is the Remembered Old Buddy, which is the head of a R.O.B.
Gallery[]
Main Article: Hole of Heroes/Gallery
Trivia[]
- The Hole of Heroes haphazardly acts as the game's boss rush mode.
- The Hole of Heroes was originally going to be named the "Hole of the Heroes."
- The Hole of Heroes is the only cave that has more sublevels than treasures.
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