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Answer the call to be a hero in Pikmin 4 by embarking on a mission to rescue your colleagues from the Rescue Corps who have crash-landed on PNF-404. Unfortunately, they became stranded on the alien planet while they were attempting to save the also-stranded Captain Olimar.
Oatchi, the adorable space puppy you meet as you land on the planet for the first time, quickly becomes an integral part of your team. This Rescue Pup once obeyed Captain Shepherd, but now he assists you in your rescue efforts. As you progress through Pikmin 4, there are plenty of ways to upgrade your new best friend.
How To Start Upgrading Oatchi
As soon as you befriend Oatchi, he'll start off with several essential skills. These are his Chomp (attack), Rush (charge), Buff (carry strength), Dig, and some Commands that let him track scents.
Early on, you rescue the team's scientist, Russ. After you do so, Oatchi will grow bigger. Now that he's no longer a puppy, Captain Shepherd decides it's time to start training him. She starts off by teaching him how to Jump, allowing you to reach high ground and maneuver through the maps more freely.
Captain Shepherd offers to keep training your Rescue Pup more, and requires Pup Drive in exchange to teach Oatchi new skills. You earn Pup Drive for every new castaway you rescue.
Each time you upgrade Oatchi's skills, Captain Shepherd also rewards you with a Scrummy Bone. This item can heal Oatchi if he gets hurt.
All Gear Upgrades For Oatchi
Once Russ is rescued, he sets up the Lab at your home base. As the resident inventor, he is able to craft different tools and gear for both you and Oatchi in exchange for Raw Materials.
Obtaining gear is a great way to make Oatchi stronger and more defensive for when he fights against enemies.
Gear | Raw Materials Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
Tuff Stuff Collar | 80 | Oatchi's HP increases. |
Scorch Guard Collar | 100 | Oatchi becomes fire-resistant. |
Anti-Electrifier Collar | 100 | Oatchi can't be electrocuted. |
Thermal Defense Collar | 100 | Oatchi can't be frozen. |
All Ability Upgrades For Oatchi
After Oatchi grows up, you have more free rein on which abilities he can learn. Some abilities are more focused on how you engage in combat, while some really open up how you can explore your environments.
Most of Oatchi's skills can be unlocked using Pup Drive, but one needs a specific requirement to be met first before it can be unlocked, and that is Oatchi's Doggy-Paddle.
To learn how to swim, you need to try to take Oatchi into a body of water. This will be a failure the first time, but a couple of days after Oatchi's near-drowning, Captain Shepherd reveals that she has helped teach him how to swim!
It's completely up to you in which order you want to unlock skills, as they all have their uses.
Oatchi's Combat-Related Skills
Skill | Level | Pup Drive Needed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Chomp | Lv. 1 | None | Oatchi starts off with this attack. |
Lv. 2 | 2 Pup Drive | Oatchi's attack increases. | |
Lv. 3 | 2 Pup Drive | Oatchi's attack increases, and can take out a Pellet Posy in one bite. | |
Big Chomp | Lv. 1 | 3 Pup Drive | Oatchi can leap at enemies in the air with his bite. |
Lv. 2 | 3 Pup Drive | Oatchi's attack increases. | |
Lv. 3 | 3 Pup Drive | Oatchi's attack maxes out to deal massive damage. | |
Rush | Lv. 1 | None | Oatchi starts off able to charge at enemies or objects. |
Lv. 2 | 3 Pup Drive | The charge time for Rush slightly decreases. | |
Lv. 3 | 3 Pup Drive | The impact damage of Rush increases. | |
Mega Rush | Lv. 1 | 4 Pup Drive | Oatchi's charge can stun larger creatures, and its charge time decreases. |
Lv. 2 | 4 Pup Drive | Oatchi's Mega Rush damage increases. | |
Lv. 3 | 4 Pup Drive | Mega Rush's stun last longer, is charged quicker, and does more damage. | |
Heal | Lv. 1 | 3 Pup Drive | Oatchi learns to heal himself over time. |
Lv. 2 | 3 Pup Drive | Oatchi can heal faster. | |
Lv. 3 | 3 Pup Drive | Oatchi's heal time becomes faster. |
Oatchi's Exploration and Utility Skills
Skill | Level | Pup Drive Needed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Jump | Lv. 1 | None | After Oatchi grows in size, he can now jump onto ledges. |
Buff | Lv. 1 | None | Oatchi starts off with the strength of three Pikmin. |
Lv. 2 | 1 Pup Drive | Oatchi has the strength of five Pikmin. | |
Lv. 3 | 1 Pup Drive | Oatchi has the strength of ten Pikmin. | |
Super Buff | Lv. 1 | 2 Pup Drive | Oatchi has the strength of 20 Pikmin. |
Lv. 2 | 2 Pup Drive | Oatchi has the strength of 30 Pikmin. | |
Lv. 3 | 2 Pup Drive | Oatchi has the strength of 100 Pikmin. | |
Doggy-Paddle | Lv. 1 | None (other requirement needed) | Oatchi can swim in water with you and your Pikmin on his back. |
Lv. 2 | 2 Pup Drive | Oatchi swims faster. | |
Lv. 3 | 2 Pup Drive | Oatchi can dive underwater to fight enemies or retrieve objects. | |
Dig | Lv. 1 | None | Oatchi begins with the ability to dig up objects. |
Lv. 2 | 1 Pup Drive | Oatchi's dig speed increases. | |
Lv. 3 | 1 Pup Drive | Oatchi's dig speed becomes faster than even Yellow Pikmin. | |
Pluck | Lv. 1 | 1 Pup Drive | Oatchi can pluck Pikmin from the ground. |
Lv. 2 | 1 Pup Drive | Oatchi's pluck speed increases. | |
Lv. 3 | 1 Pup Drive | Oatchi's pluck speed increases. | |
Command | Lv. 1 | None | Oatchi starts off being able to track the scents of things like castaways and treasure. |
Lv. 2 | 3 Pup Drive | You can command Oatchi to return to base or come to you. | |
Lv. 3 | 3 Pup Drive | You can command Oatchi to gather Pikmin it can find. |
Oatchi's Final Skills
Late-game spoilers below.There are two final skills that Oatchi can learn in the later parts of Pikmin 4.
The first is Infinite Rush, which will become available once you unlock all the other skills Captain Shepherd can teach Oatchi.
When that happens, she offers to teach Infinite Rush in exchange for eight Pup Drive. After unlocking this ability, Oatchi can now use Rush to speed around environments at full throttle without stopping.
After you complete your rescue mission and fully rescue Captain Olimar, he will offer to teach Oatchi Swallow. This ability allows Oatchi to swallow any item he can normally carry, which allows him to bring it back to your ship faster.