Onion

Onions are the large, round lifeforms that act as nests for the Pikmin. Each Onion has a unique coloration corresponding to the Pikmin they house, but certain Pikmin species do not have Onions. On top is a big flower resembling the flowers that Pikmin have, and underneath are three stilt-like legs that suspend the Onions out of the reach of predators and provide access to the inside for Pikmin. In and, the main body is shaped like that of a real-world onion and has tan legs that fold in while airborne, but in  in , the main body is shaped like a berry and has three metal joints from which its glowing yellow legs extend or retract, and while flying, blue flames burst. In Pikmin 3, Onions can display their Pikmin type's characteristic element upon activation, as the Yellow Onion creates a small burst of electricity, water drains from the Blue Onion, and the Winged Onion's flower flutters erratically.

During the daytime, Pikmin hunt and bring food, such as pellets or slain beasts, to their Onion, which in turn produces new Pikmin seeds. If there are few enough Pikmin on the field, the seeds are ejected and take root in the ground; if not, they are stored inside the Onion, along with any other Pikmin not on the field. Unlike in an area, however, the number of Pikmin that can be stored inside an Onion is unlimited. Onions seem to have some level of sentience, in that if all Pikmin of the same color are lost, the corresponding Onion will produce a single seed the following day to prevent extinction. They know not to suck in leaders that are being carried.

When the Onions are first discovered in Pikmin1  and Pikmin 3, they are dormant. What triggers this hibernation is unknown, though it's possible that a loss of Pikmin or food shortage may prompt the Onion to become dormant until conditions improve. Onions can hibernate even with the presence of their Pikmin still somewhere on the field. It seems that this dormancy does not hinder their awareness, however, as they can be seen struggling to dislodge themselves from the traps they are found in. Onions also appear to require light to function.

In Pikmin 3, all discovered Onions merge together the night after they are discovered, and become a single, universal Onion. If a new Onion color is discovered, and Pikmin from that new type are left on the landing site at the end of the day, the Master Onion there will accommodate them until the Onions fuse at the end of the day. When multiple Onions are discovered, they fuse together to become an even larger universal Onion that swirls different colors, depending on the type of Pikmin it holds.

In New Pikmin IV
Onions appear in New Pikmin IV in many different varieties. The new Onions are, listed in no particular order: Additionally, Onions can merge together, and each of the six stages of this game's version of the Master Onion has its own name:
 * Pineapple Onion are edible and are home to Pineapple Pikmin, specifically Baby Pineapple Pikmin. Ultimate Pineapple Pikmin do not inhabit it because they are large enough that enemies leave them alone.
 * Nuclear Onion is home to Nuclear Pikmin. It is veiled in a cloud of harmless radiation.
 * Spectral Onion is see-through, light blue, and is home to Spectral Pikmin. Spectral Pikmin can be seen within if no living Pikmin are in existence.
 * Cuddly Onion is home for Cuddly Pikmin. It has spikes growing all around it and will produce more Cuddly Pikmin when cuddled.
 * Merged Onion is the first stage.
 * Super Merged is the second stage. It pulls in its legs and uses its tractor beam to pull Pikmin inside.
 * Mega Merged is the third stage. When Pikmin are near it, they become invulnerable and gain a lime-green- and royal-blue-tinted, transparent aura.
 * Omega Onion is the fourth stage. It will emit rainbow light every other day, which gives rainbow flowers to any Pikmin that touch it.
 * Storm Onion is the fifth stage. Every other day will be stormy.
 * Titan Onion is the sixth and final stage. It has no new special effects.

In Pikmin 2... Again?
Onion return in Pikmin 2... Again?, just as they always have, with the same purpose of being a Pikmin mothership. However, only Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, and Original Pikmin have Onions, and the rest are obtained only from candypop buds in caves.

In Pikmin 5 (MPA version)
Onions are bulbous plants in Pikmin 5 that propagate and store Pikmin. Just like they produce Pikmin seeds, Onions can expel seeds that grow into candypop buds, then either Onions if successfully grown or Flarlics if they starve. Like in and, Onions have stiff legs, but they have joints that can bend to allow the Onion to land. When beginning to fly, its legs straighten out and rapidly retract into its main body, emitting metallic clanking noises. After a day, any Onion, except the Glow Onion, found on that day will merge with any previously discovered Onions by absorbing it; the Onion will also grow after this process.

In Pikmin Forever
Onions play a pivotal role in Pikmin Forever. A large cluster of Onions hangs over a specific location high above PNF-404, with which both the KHA Lander and Captain Olimar's rescue ship collide. Captain Olimar is saved by a Red Onion, which becomes the first Onion to join him in the game.

Onions have a similar appearance to their design in, but the triangle pattern on their side is no longer present, and their legs are now roots that actually root into the ground. Onions can dematerialize into their roots and travel their essence through the ground; this allows Onions to rematerialize inside of caves alongside Olimar's ship. Onions retract their roots to fly up with Olimar's ship at night; Onions merge at this time with the same sort of dematerializing effect. There are five Onions in the game for the five major Pikmin types: Red Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, Mushroom Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, and Lichen Pikmin.

In Pikmin V
A wide variety of Onions appears in Pikmin V.

In Pikmin: Attack of the Breadbugs
Onions make an obvious reappearance in Pikmin: Attack of the Breadbugs. As before, Onions will follow the Captain's ship into the sky when night falls. Onions merge together as they do in when night falls and the ship flies off. However, Onions can only hold a million of each species. By farming one million of each type of Pikmin, it is possible to earn seven million Pikmin in total.

In Pikmin: Echoes of Eternity
A new Onion named the Super Onion appears in Pikmin: Echoes of Eternity. It is green and grey and is a hybrid of plant and metal, and is discovered in Placid Plains.

In Pikmin: Infection in Progress
Onions reappear in Pikmin: Infection in Progress, and act as they once did in. Once two Onions are discovered, they fuse together and act as one Onion when they take off towards the end of the day. This applies to additional Onions as well. There are five different Onions that are seen in the game, each belonging to the five Pikmin reunited with: Red Pikmin, Blue Pikmin, Yellow Pikmin, White Pikmin, and Purple Pikmin.

In Pikmin: Wide World
An Onion, in Pikmin: Wide World, is a living vehicle used by many types of Pikmin for reproduction, as well as shelter and protection from the various creatures inhabiting PNF-404. They share the color of the Pikmin it produces and the Pikmin that can inhabit it. Much like in, after sunset, two Onions can morph together to form the Master Onion, which can create and store several Pikmin types. If the Master Onion already exists, other Onions will merge with it. Some Onions are dormant when initially discovered, but approaching them will activate them and cause them to dispense a single Pikmin seed that matches its color. Some Onions are also discovered separately from their respective Pikmin type. The more Onions that assimilate into the Master Onion, the more efficient of a Pikmin storage device it is. Parasitic Pikmin hosts do not have Onions and can only be found, but they can be stored in the PikHold, a ship part that allows the Dolphin Lander to act as a storage device for them. The PikHold can also house Purple Pikmin and White Pikmin until their Onions are found and have been merged into the Master Onion. Additionally, the Master Onion's petals change color to reflect how many Onions have been merged into it. The petals initially will be white in color, but they will change to a pink color when five Onions total have been merged together, and they will change again to an indigo color when all eight Onions have been merged together. Pictured to the right is the Master Onion in its final phase.