Grounding Blowhog

The Grounding Blowhog is a relative of the Withering Blowhog and appears in Pikmin 251. Unlike the Withering Blowhog, which blows Pikmin over and reverts the maturities of any Pikmin its breath hits to the leaf stage, the Flourishing Blowhog causes Pikmin it breathes on to become buried and flowered. This makes them a useful creature to have around, especially if the Pluckaphone has been obtained. They can be extremely annoying, however, if it continues burying Pikmin that are being used to carry out a task or battle another enemy. Grounding Blowhogs can be found floating gracefully through the air. They care not for leaders, but when Pikmin come near, a Grounding Blowhog will inhale air and blow wind onto them that causes them to become buried and flowered. In this way, this creature is similar to a Mamuta.

Grounding Blowhogs look like vivid, green Withering Blowhogs. They have white undersides, and their bodies are primarily green except for their black eyes and the yellow tops of their bodies.

Defeating a Grounding Blowhog is no harder than defeating a Withering Blowhog. Coax it into attacking, and immediately run underneath of it, rapidly throwing Pikmin onto its underside while it inhales and blows air. By the time it finishes attacking, it should fall to the ground, where it can be swarmed or have even more Pikmin thrown onto it. Call Pikmin off of the creature before it shakes them off so they aren't deflowered or thrown into other hazards or enemies. Throw Pikmin onto the creature as it lifts up, and it should fall to the ground again before it can move or retaliate, usually dying at this point if enough Pikmin are attacking it. If on the surface, a Grounding Blowhog may drop some randomly-colored pellets upon death. Purple Pikmin can be used to instantly weigh a Grounding Blowhog down and also stun it.

=In other games=

In Pikmin: Wide World
The Flourishing Blowhog appears in Pikmin: Wide World as a relative of the Withering Blowhog and the Poisonous Blowhog. No blowlet counterpart of them is encountered in the game. Flourishing Blowhogs are found in lush locations that are rich in vegetation, such as Balmy Highlands and one of its caves, Grassy Grotto. Some caves in other areas, such as Dim Greenhouse in Ancient Metalworks and Overgrown Garden in Endless Sea, are known to contain Flourishing Blowhogs as well. Flourishing Blowhogs are always found hovering gracefully in the air, idly exploring their small territories. They care not for leaders or flowered Pikmin, but when a leaf or bud Pikmin comes by, a Flourishing Blowhog will attempt to blow air onto them. Its breath attack has an effect opposite that of the Withering Blowhog's breath, flowering Pikmin instead of reducing their maturities to the leaf stage. Unlike in Pikmin 251, this breath does not bury Pikmin, only flower them. A Flourishing Blowhog's breath can knock leaders and Pikmin down, but not often as its breath is weaker than a Puffy Blowhog's. Its breath can still push them around, however. The Traction Cleats allow leaders a chance of not being blown over or away by an airborne blowhog's breath, and that chance increases as the Traction Cleats are refined. Purple Pikmin are naturally immune to being blown over or away by a blowhog's breath. A Flourishing Blowhog will giggle in a soft, high-pitched voice every time at least one Pikmin is affected by its breath attack.

Flourishing Blowhogs resemble the Withering Blowhog and the Poisonous Blowhog in shape and size but are primarily green in color instead of red or purple, respectively. They have a pair of beady black eyes, a white belly, and a yellow back. Their fins and snout are green and their whiskers are white.

Flourishing Blowhogs should be kept alive, as the only harm they do is blowing Pikmin around and over and temporarily leaving them susceptible to other enemies. Must one be killed, a Flourishing Blowhog can be coaxed into attacking, presenting the opportunity to run underneath it and throw Pikmin at its underside. Winged Pikmin are most effective against a Flourishing Blowhog as it is an airborne enemy, but a single Purple Pikmin can instantly bring it to the ground, where Pikmin can be charged into it. Much like other airborne blowhogs, the Flourishing Blowhog may instantly inflate upon touching the ground. This causes any latched-on Pikmin to be thrown off. If it does not do this, it will eventually shake off any latched-on Pikmin before rising into the air again. If there are no such Pikmin, the creature will simply rise into the air without first attempting to shake them off. While a Flourishing Blowhog is returning to the air, Pikmin can be thrown onto it to bring it back to the ground again, where it can be finished off. When a Flourishing Blowhog is killed, it will rapidly deflate and leave behind. On the surface, the corpse of a Flourishing Blowhog can be brought to either the Master Onion for five Pikmin seeds or the Dolphin Lander for. Underground, its corpse can be brought to the Lander Pod to either gain immediately or be saved for later to gain five Pikmin seeds of any discovered color of choice when the surface is returned to using a escape geyser.

Olimar's notes

 * "The breath of this withering blowhog relative contains a plant hormone that promotes growth, explaining why Pikmin that are in the range of its attack become flowered. Its bright green coloration sets it apart from the withering blowhog and the poisonous blowhog, both of which the creature is related to."

Shacho's notes

 * "I could open up a gardening business using these creatures! I can only imagine how successful it would be and how many Pokos those beautiful flowers would get me... Me and my wife, Dorris, I mean. She likes flowers, so she would be thrilled. She never likes any flowers I buy her, though!"

Marie's notes

 * "The flourishing blowhog is every farmer's dream! Its breath can instantly fully mature any plant, meaning they are immediately ready for harvest. Not to mention that they make such a cute sound after they do it! These creatures are sure to make someone happy."

Louie's notes

 * "Set out to sun-dry on a hot day. Makes for a crispy, earthy treat! Can also be ground up using a pestle and mortar and used as fertilizer."

Dolphin Lander's notes

 * "Flourishing blowhogs seem to really enjoy flowers and nature. Every Pikmin it sees that don't have a flower are a target of the creature, but it doesn't intend to be aggressive. Instead, it's being courteous and making the sure Pikmin is as gorgeous as it can be. What a fascinating creature..."