Bulborb

Bulborb
Official artwork of a Bulborb from Pikmin 3.
Universe	Pikmin
Debut	Pikmin (2001)
Smash Bros. appearances	Brawl SSB4 Ultimate
Most recent non-Smash appearance	Pikmin 4 (2023)
Console/platform of origin	Nintendo GameCube
Species	Grub-dog
Gender	Varies
Place of origin	PNF-404
Article on Pikipedia	Bulborb

The Bulborb, also known as the Spotty Bulborb or Red Bulborb (アカチャッピー, Red Chappy), are the most common enemies from the Pikmin series.

Origin

The design for a Bulborb from the original Pikmin, which is used for its appearances in Brawl and for 3DS.

Bulborbs appear in all Pikmin games, and are one of the Pikmin's most common predators. They populate the Distant Planet, and are found in almost every area at dusk and day. They attack Pikmin by chasing them, grabbing them and swallowing them whole. They can be killed with large amounts of Pikmin attacking them from behind and their dead bodies can be brought to the Onions to produce more Pikmin. There are many species related to the Bulborb, including Bulblaxes, Bulbears and Water Dumples.

In the original Pikmin, the Bulborb is known as Spotty Bulborb; in Pikmin 2, it is known as Red Bulborb, which is a name occasionally used in the Smash series. Pikmin 3 and onwards simply refer to it as Bulborb.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

As a stage element

King Dedede and some Pikmin about to be eaten by the Bulborb with Mario looking.

A Red Bulborb can appear on the right side of the Distant Planet stage. It stands in place, looking around and acting as an extra platform. However, standing on it is very dangerous, as it may chomp down on any lingering players and carry them off screen, resulting in a one-hit KO. The Bulborb occasionally opens its wide mouth, similarly quickly eating and one-hit KOing any character who lands in it.

Another Red Bulborb can be seen sleeping in the stage's background. It does not interact with the fighters and is only an aesthetic element.

As a Final Smash element

In Olimar's Final Smash, End of Day, dusk will fall and Olimar will enter his ship to escape the predators of the planet. When Olimar leaves the stage, various Red Bulborbs will constantly attack the players that remain on the field.

Trophy

Red Bulborb's trophy in Brawl

Red Bulborb

A creature whose Japanese name translates as "spotted crimson bug-eye." These bulky nocturnal animals have white-and-red-flecked rumps that resemble strawberries. Red bulborbs sleep in the day and wake in the evening to feed on small animals. Several colors of bulborb subspecies have been discovered--their classification is a hot subject for scholars.

A creature whose Japanese name translates as "spotted crimson bug-eye". These bulky nocturnal animals have white-and-red-flecked rumps that resemble strawberries. Red bulborbs sleep in the day and wake in the evening to feed on small animals. Several colors of bulborb subspecies have been discovered--their classification is a hot subject for scholars.

: Pikmin 2

Sticker

Name	Game	Effect	Fighter(s)
Bulborb	Pikmin 2	AttackPikmin+034 Attack +34	Olimar

Bulborb (Pikmin 2)

In Super Smash Bros. 4

The Bulborb in the background of Garden of Hope while Olimar idles with his Pikmin.

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the Bulborb's model is updated to resemble its more detailed physical appearance in Pikmin 3. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS retains the more simplistic Pikmin design for the Bulborb's appearances in Distant Planet and Smash Run, likley due to technical limitations.

The Bulborb keeps its Brawl roles in Distant Planet and End of Day. A Bulborb can also appear on the left side of Garden of Hope, and while it does not interact with the fighters directly, its presence stops Pikmin from arriving to rebuild any broken structures until it leaves.

In Smash Run

The Bulborb in Smash Run attacking Captain Falcon.

The Bulborb appears as a powerful enemy. It is much smaller than in Distant Planet, now being about the correct size compared to Olimar. Like all strong enemies it has knockback resistance, can appear as a target enemy, and drops several powerups when defeated. Its attacks include:

• running forward to stomp the player
• biting repeatedly
• jumping backwards, rump-first, dealing strong knockback when directly behind it or dealing a weak meteor on the top of the hit.
• leaping into the air and snapping

Trophy

The Bulborb trophy appears in both versions. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U it is part of the Distant Planet & Indigenous Creatures Trophy Box.

Bulborb's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Bulborb's trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

Bulborb

These creatures from the Pikmin series have snail-like protruding eyes, huge mouths, and really bad tempers. They're known for snapping at fighters and trying to trample them underfoot. If you see one in a group of enemies, you should try to take it out fast—it'll shoot off and bounce around, hitting other enemies as it goes!

These creatures from the Pikmin series have snaillike protruding eyes, huge mouths, and really bad tempers. Despite their cute appearance, they'll happily gobble up Pikmin! In Smash Bros., they appear on the Garden of Hope stage, wandering around or chasing the poor Pikmin. Thankfully, they don't seem interested in the fighters duking it out.

: Pikmin (12/2001)

: Pikmin 2 (08/2004)

These creatures from the Pikmin series have snail-like protruding eyes, huge mouths and really bad tempers. They're known for snapping at fighters and trying to trample them underfoot. If you see one in a group of enemies, you should try to take it out first – it'll shoot off and bounce around, hitting other enemies as it goes!

With their spotted backs and big round eyes, Bulborbs are almost cute. But don't be fooled! They have a voracious appetite, and will gladly eat as many Pikmin as they can get their tongues on. In this game, you might spot one in the Garden of Hope stage, getting in the Pikmin's way. Luckily, the Bulborbs won't bother you. Phew!

: Pikmin (06/2002)

: Pikmin 2 (10/2004)

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The Bulborb returns as part of Olimar's Final Smash, as well as on the Distant Planet and Garden of Hope stages. All models now consistently use their current design from Pikmin 3.

As a hazard on Distant Planet, the Red Bulborb no longer carries fighters off the screen in its mouth; instead, its bite causes an instant KO to fighters who get too close. The Bulborb in the background of Distant Planet is now fully-animated instead of a still image, and it can be seen walking around the grassy terrain instead of merely sleeping.

Spirits

Primary spirits

No.	Image	Name	Type	Class	Slots	Base	Max	Base	Max	Base	Max	Ability	Series
810		Bulborb		★★	2	1632	6551	620	2489	1012	4062	Can Be Enhanced at Lv. 99	Pikmin Series
811		Empress Bulblax		★★★★	2	4792	11982	1781	4454	2460	6150	Stats ↑ ↑ after Eating	Pikmin Series

Support spirit

No.	Image	Name	Class	Cost	Ability	Series
812		Emperor Bulblax	★★★	2	Ice-Floor Immunity	Pikmin Series

Trivia

• Bulborb's trophy in Brawl claims the creature first appeared in Pikmin 2. This is incorrect, as the Bulborb is in both Pikmin games. The reason for this may be that in Pikmin, their real name is "Spotty Bulborb", whereas in the sequel, they're known as "Red Bulborbs" although it always refers to the same species.

Gallery

• 

  Olimar and King Dedede on the Red Bulborb.

• 

  A photo taken with a hacked camera showing that the Red Bulborb never actually leaves the stage, it just walks off-screen.

• 

  Olimar standing on top of the Bulborb on the 3DS version of Super Smash Bros. 4

• 

  The Bulborb appearing on the Distant Planet stage in Ultimate.

Names in other languages

Language	Name
Japanese	チャッピー, Chappy
English	Bulborb
French	Bulborbe
German	Punktkäfer
Spanish	Bulbo
Italian	Coleto
Chinese	恰比, Chappy
Korean	차피, Chappy
Dutch	Bulborb
Russian	Клубнеголов