Spotty Bulbear

Spotty Bulbears resemble bulborbs with a different color and stature, and larger mouths with wider lips. They are black with red spots, and their face is a creamy yellow. Its large mouth allows it to eat Pikmin more rapidly and easily, making it a rather formidable foe. These enemies are often found with a number of following Dwarf Bulbears, which are supposed to follow this guardian as a source of protection and general aid.

In , these creatures sleep if left alone, and have bloodshot eyes upon waking up.

In , Spotty Bulbears have far greater maneuverability than other members of the same family, as well as a less focused patrol area; they have the ability to move almost anywhere in most areas, below as well as above ground. If the creature is defeated and its corpse remains, its health will steadily grow back, the creature reviving itself; after what may be minutes, it may return to consciousness, requiring a repeated kill, similar to the Gatling Groink.

In , Spotty Bulbears are more resistant to bomb rocks, and if they can't reach the place their prey is at, they just stomp their foot and give up, instead of trying forever. They keep their sleepless wandering, but they also have a number of new weaknesses: In addition to all this, they can be momentarily stunned by being hit in the eye.
 * They have lost the ability to revive.
 * When a Spotty Bulbear snatches Pikmin, it stops to fling them into the air and land them down its throat. Then, it pauses for about two seconds and may burp. This small sliver of time should be enough for a wary player to escape or attempt an attack.
 * Spotty Bulbears now emit a heavy, snarly breathing noise when giving chase, which can be heard from a distance, alerting players of their presence. When in a dark area, their glowing purple eyes can also be seen from a distance.
 * If a Spotty Bulbear spots the player, it will now give a glance at the group, making it much easier to tell if the bulbear can see its prey or not.

Olimar's notes

 * "A midsize subspecies within the grub-dog family, the spotty bulbear's unique feeding habits set it apart from other grub-dogs. The spotty bulbear patrols a set path searching for prey, instead of passively feeding on creatures that wander into a limited territorial range. When entering bulbear habitat, it is wise to proceed with extreme caution until the bulbear's patrol path can be clearly identified."

Louie's notes

 * "For an unrivaled green curry, peel away the spotty bulbear's skin, pulverize the juicy innards, and stew until curiously fragrant."

Alph's comments

 * "Structural flaw: eyeballs, back / Weight: 12 / It's sort of like... the rare, limited-edition version of regular bulborbs. I'm much too afraid to get close to them in the dark caves where they live, so I'm thinking about bringing a bomb rock next time. Couldn't hurt!"

Brittany's comments

 * "The red-on-black thing is very bold, but it's a vicious predator, soooo points off for that. It's big and tough and never backs down even when it probably should. Like some captains I could name."

Charlie's comments

 * "The first problem with this guy is that he never sleeps. The second problem is that he can gulp a whole platoon of Pikmin in one move. Well, not on my watch, buster! I'll make you wash down that meal with a dessert of pain!"

=In fanon games=

Move list

 * Start - Headbutt
 * Start - Dash
 * Start - Bite
 * Lv. 10 - Crunch
 * Lv. 15 - Flatter
 * Lv. 24 - Nasty Plot
 * Lv. 25 - Creep Out
 * Lv. 30 - Earthquake
 * Lv. 35 - Ground Rumble
 * Lv. 50 - Earth Rumble
 * HM01 - Strength

Evolutions
None

Pre-evolutions
Dwarf Bulbear -> Lv. 25

In Pikmin 4: The World to Free
Spotty Bulbears appear in Pikmin 4: The World to Free.

Tike's notes

 * "Wow, a bulborb that is up in the morning. However, they are a subspecies, so they do have their differences. They have larger mouths, and their saliva is ninety degrees. How does its tongue even last in such heat? Well, it helps the chewing process go faster I suppose. They also seem to act like captains themselves, leading clueless dwarf bulbears the way."

Alice's notes

 * "I at times consider bulborbs to be kind of cute, but this guy easily is the ugly one in the family. They also are very nasty creatures, almost I can compare him to some of the nasty beasts we have in our world. At least I can give it credit for being a good fighter and being really brave. They aren't very smart though..."

Captain Pikmin's notes

 * "Since they tend to roam and then sleep, it's harder to sneak on them. Plus they got those annoying offspring on their tails... or, lack thereof. It best to take the little ones first, but I'll be careful. The leader is packed with power and it best to find a way to distract it."

In Pikmin Continues
In Pikmin Continues, Spotty Bulbears appear in Albino Fields, following behind a Green Bulbear. Each episode, Crabbawabbaspicy gets new variants of Pikmin, and one of them is a parasitic Pikmin that took over a Spotty Bulbear.

In Pikmin Eco
The Spotty Bulbear returns to Pikmin Eco, but unlike in previous adaptations it is a boss, and the first boss encountered in the game. It is located inside the Bulbear Cave in Cloven Gardens, where it has eaten the first Log Tape.

Unlike its previous appearances in the Pikmin games, the Spotty Bulbear in Pikmin Eco is much larger than typical bulbears, but still smaller compared to the Emperor Bulblax. It patrols its sublevel relentlessly in a set path, behaving like a standard bulborb. However, after it shakes off Pikmin that attack it, its eyes turn red and it starts running. Any Pikmin caught in the way will not get eaten, but will get trampled instead and replanted in the ground. The bulbear will remain in this state for up to five seconds before it calms down and resumes patrolling. It can't be damaged in the front due to its tough skin, so the only way to damage it is to attack it from behind.

In-game entry

 * "Despite being classified as the top predator in most of its territories, the species has shown to be steadily declining in population, making this a now rare species. Unlike most related species, the spotty bulbear patrols specific hunting paths rather than a wide range, making it a surprisingly restricted hunter. These paths are taught to its young until they are old enough to fend for themselves and establish their own hunting territories."

In Pikmin Forever
The Spotty Bulbear appears in Pikmin Forever.

In Pikmin V
The Spotty Bulbear returns in Pikmin V, without any major changes in its behavior from Pikmin 3. It does, however, regenerate its health as it did in Pikmin 2, at a rate of three health points, or point five percent, per second, which is faster than it did before. As said in Brittany's notes, it has its own genus separate from the bulborbs, and its scientific name has been corrected to remove the subspecies.

Brittany's notes

 * "A recent push has caused the oculus genus to split into three: one for bulborbs, one for bulbears, and one for bulblaxes. This is the only known bulbear, though, but it's justified by its unique behavior. Upon reaching maturity, it moves into a cave and claims it for itself, patrolling its territory and eating whatever it sees fit."

Olimar's notes

 * "Extreme caution must be taken around this ferocious beast. An ambush is nearly impossible and it can eat large quantities of Pikmin very quickly. Bomb rock ingestion is a good way to dispose of one, but if that is not an option, you will need to carefully time recalling your Pikmin so they can avoid being shaken off and becoming vulnerable to its bite. Patience is essential in wearing it down."

Louie's notes

 * "The rarity and ferocity of the bulbear make it a very expensive delicacy. This, combined with a unique gamey flavor, makes it a prized choice in prestigious restaurants."

In Pikmin: Return to the Distant Planet
Spotty Bulbears, in Pikmin: Return to the Distant Planet, are fearsome members of the grub-dog family. It has a tan face and a black backside with red spots, as well as purple eyes which glow in the dark. Most of the time Spotty Bulbears are found patrolling areas in search of prey, sometimes with Dwarf Spotty Bulbears in tow. Oftentimes these areas are caves, where only their glowing purple eyes give them away, however, they can also be found wandering out in the open in broad daylight.

Due to this creature being diurnal and awake almost every encounter, swarming is very ineffective most of the time, and as such a different approach is encouraged. Its larger mouth and lips allow it to grab more Pikmin with one bite, making it much more dangerous than its bulborb cousins. Its two stalky eyes are still weakpoints, however, and can cause this beast to flinch and release any Pikmin in its hold if a Pikmin is commanded to attack them. Its face is also fairly leathery, and thus, doesn't take any bonus damage from attacks, however, its back is hardened as well, making it take reduced damage, which still makes the face the optimal target. Feeding this creature bomb rocks is also a viable strategy, however, it takes two bomb rock ingestions to kill this creature.

In Pikmin: Treacherous Treasures
In Pikmin: Treacherous Treasures, Spotty Bulbears are large members of the grub-dog family, related to bulborbs and dumples. They have bigger lips, a tan face, and a black rump with red spots. They can eat more Pikmin at a time and are usually found wandering around the map, so they pose more of a threat than Red Bulborbs do. However, they can be defeated in a similar matter; swarm them from behind and aim at their eyes.

Although they are very menacing, if one is found sleeping, it can be easily defeated by swarming its backside before it has the chance to wake up, although it does wake up much faster than other grub-dogs. If one is found awake, patrolling an area, it's best to take it out by throwing Pikmin at and behind its eyes to prevent Pikmin from being eaten. Just avoid its jaws to prevent unnecessary casualties. This grub-dog takes less damage from bomb rocks than any other member of the family.

In Pikmin: Ultimate Doom
In Pikmin: Ultimate Doom, the Spotty Bulbear appears at Sand Fortress on the third floor and in Perilous Cavern on the sixth sublevel. It is quicker than in Pikmin 2, and retreats to water when startled or in danger. If a squad of Pikmin is sent to kill it, the creature may flee farther if the group is large enough. When it does, It goes twice as fast. Also, the body of the Spotty Bulbear deteriorates after its death, leaving a group of Dwarf Bulbears in its place.

In Pikmin: Wide World
The Spotty Bulbear appears in Pikmin: Wide World as a grub-dog that is exclusive to Arid Oasis and its caves. Its dwarf counterpart, the Dwarf Spotty Bulbear, can commonly be found nearby or following it around. Spotty Bulbearmin are the result of parasitic Pikmin taking over the body of a Spotty Bulbear. Spotty Bulbears can be found roaming parts of the area that are accessible to it. Dwarf Spotty Bulbears a Spotty Bulbear walks by will let out an affectionate yip and begin following it. When a Spotty Bulbear detects a leader or their Pikmin, it will glance in their direction, let out a heavy snarl, and begin walking directly towards them. However, should they either flee far enough away or retreat to a location the creature cannot access, it will give up, stamping its foot and grunting, and resume its patrolling behavior. Be warned that, even if a Spotty Bulbear cannot access a location its prey is hiding in, its young may be able to. Like most other bulbears, Spotty Bulbears will flip Pikmin they bite into the air in such a way they land in their mouth before swallowing them. If this is done to a leader instead, a Spotty Bulbear will chew them shortly before spitting them out, alongside any Pikmin in its mouth at the time. Spotty Bulbears do not revive sometime after death, but their subterranean counterpart, the Vampire Bulbear, can, and although almost completely identical in appearance to the Spotty Bulbear, the Sleepy Bulbear has completely different behavioral patterns.

Spotty Bulbears, and bulbears in general, are noticeably larger and wider than other grub-dogs. They have a rounded forehead, and their wide, pronounced lips allow them to eat more of their prey at once. Spotty Bulbears have tan skin, protruding nostrils, short, stocky eyestalks, purple eyes with white sclerae, and a black rump with red spots. Their two-toed feet are also black in color.

Battles against Spotty Bulbears can be grim, depending on the circumstances in which the creatures are encountered. Because they are always awake and moving around, and also because of their unmatched sense of smell, Spotty Bulbears are next to impossible to sneak up behind for a surprise attack. Surprise attacks are made even more difficult because of the dwarf bulbears often following them. As a result, head-on conflicts are to be expected. When faced with a Spotty Bulbear, its eyes should be targetted, as throwing Pikmin at them will not only inflict damage but also make the creature flinch as well as spit out any Pikmin currently in its mouth. Any leaders it bites down on will be chewed up, and then spat out alongside any Pikmin in its mouth at the time. Upon defeat, a Spotty Bulbear will drop to the ground and yield. Aboveground, its body can be brought to either the Dolphin Lander to gain or the Master Onion to receive twelve Pikmin seeds. Underground, its carcass can be carried to the Lander Pod to either gain or be stored to later gain twelve Pikmin seeds of choice from the Master Onion, but only if the cave is exited using an escape geyser.

Olimar's notes

 * "The spotty bulbear is well-known for its sheer viciousness and indefatigability. Its young accompany it during patrols of its territory, and they continue doing so until they are old enough to establish their own territories, which they patrol with their young. Any prey they come across is chased down and brutally devoured."

Shacho's notes

 * "This creature reminds me of myself. We're both big and strong, and... we're both awake all the time. And... we both wander around until we come across someone, but we have our differences in how we interact with them!"

Marie's notes

 * "Spotty bulbears may seem mean on the outside, but deep inside they're pretty soft. If you gain their trust, they're sure to show you their affectionate side. Because they are constantly awake and never seem to tire, it's recommended to buy them a toy that may keep them occupied for long periods of time."

Louie's notes

 * "Remove the beast's innards and flambe over high heat for a spectacular dish that's sure to impress guests!"

Dolphin Lander's notes

 * "Why do spotty bulbears never seem to tire? They constantly wander around but never stop to take, at minimum, a brief rest. I've heard that some people take long walks when they need to clear their head or think something over, so maybe these creatures must have something to really ponder."

In Pikspore
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In Pikspore, Spotty Bulbears often replace normal bulborbs in hard mode, though they occur naturally in Foghorn Wetlands and in a few caves.