Bulborst

The Bulborst is an dangerous grub-dog appearing in Pikmin: The Return, being fought in the Dusk Den. It physically resembles an enlarged Spotty Bulbear, only without spots on its black rump and with red sclerae. The most notable feature the Bulborst possesses is the two long butcher knives strapped to either side of its rotund body. These knives point directly forward at all times and are used for offense.

Any Pikmin can be used to defeat the vicious Bulborst, but the most that should be used at a time is twenty. Although capable of biting, its primary means of attack is charging forward towards Pikmin and leaders, tilting the blades of its knives at ground level to slice and skewer them. Before doing so, however, the Bulborst's eyes will flash with light, signaling its charge, which can be dodged with ease. Upon finishing a charge, it will skid to a stop and then look around for its prey. Should it find them, it will shake its body to readjust the positions of its knives and charge again.

While the Bulborst looks around for Pikmin and leaders, the ropes keeping the knives affixed to its body should be targeted. These ropes fray visibly as they are damaged and will eventually snap, causing the Bulborst's blades to drop to the ground, causing the creature to roar and then begin to attack much like any other grub-dog would, attempting to devour any Pikmin and leaders in its vicinity. Beware of its high vitality, speed, and attack damage.

Once it reaches half-health, the Bulborst will adopt a new method of attack. It will abruptly stop in place and cough violently for a few moments, seemingly providing a window in which to attack the creature, although fleeing is recommended, as it will hack up a large, spiked ball at the end of a chain in its mouth. Whenever it sees its prey it will rear back and attempt to slam the spiked ball on top of them, crushing them. Fast reflexes are required to dodge the attack despite only needing to move to the side. After this, the Bulborst must spend some moments retracting its chain, opening the creature to attack.

At quarter-health, the Bulborst will employ a devastating attack involving it spinning in place in the center of its arena, it swinging its spiked ball around the entire diameter of the chamber. This attack is used only once, but Pikmin and leaders hit by it will respectively die or have half of their health depleted. It can be avoided by hiding in the chamber's only ditch, and the attack ends when the Bulborst's weapon detaches from its mouth and goes flying, never to be seen again. Afterward, the Bulborst will behave as it did immediately after having its knives removed and will maintain this behavior until it is killed.