Bulblax Colosseum

"It seems my quest for the 9-Pieced Star has led me to this desert palace. My scanners indicate that the sounds of red radiate from these stone gates. I believe that if I want to survive down here I need to orange."

- Azure's log

The Bulblax Colosseum is a den appearing in Pikmin Evolution. This den is part of the questline The 9-Piece Star, as this den contains the Lapis Shard. The cave itself is located in the Bleached Dunes and is usually the first den to be explored in the area, though depending on various circumstances, the Thieves' Den may be the first of the area's dens to be completed. It is a medium-difficulty den and among the earliest of the "Battle Rush" dens, which focus on completing combat encounters before progressing to the next level. This den is themed around a Roman colosseum and commonly features refuse themed around vintage artifacts and pieces of meat. The den also has a major focus on defeating members of the Grub-dog family, featuring several bouts with different bulborb species, ending with a back-to-back fight against the Empress Bulblax and Emperor Bulblax.

Floor 1

 * Name: Opening Chamber
 * Music: Cliff 1
 * Enemies:
 * Dwarf Red Bulborb
 * Obstacles:
 * Wall shooter (fire)
 * Dirt wall
 * Numbered gate (defeat all enemies)

This floor acts like a simple tutorial for the "Battle Rush" dens. The basic floor layout is reminiscent of the infamous sublevel 9 of the Hole of Heroes, though the floor lacks elevation, being a completely flat plane. A dirt wall blocks the room beyond it to battle the enemies, and the entrance to the next floor is blocked by a numbered gate. Upon entering the room with all the Dwarf Red Bulborbs, one wall shooter each will appear on the left and right walls, attached to a rail, moving in opposite directions of each other. These shooters shoot fireballs, meaning Elixer Pikmin are most likely the best type to use on this floor. When all the enemies are defeated, the numbered wall will open, and the shooters will deactivate, allowing safe collection of the refuse behind the numbered gate.

Floor 2

 * Name: Scarlet Chamber
 * Music: Fortress 1
 * Enemies:
 * Dwarf Red Bulborb
 * Red Bulborb
 * Jumbo Red Bulborb
 * Obstacles:
 * Dirt wall
 * Stone wall
 * Electric gate
 * Numbered gate (defeat all enemies)

The floor is structured like a large open plain, with hidden pieces of refuse locked behind electric gates off in the distance. The starting point is a small room blocked off from the rest of the level by a dirt wall blocking the main hall, where there are a small handful of Dwarf Red Bulborbs, a Red Bulborb, and a Jumbo Red Bulborb. The Dwarf Red Bulborbs are on the right side of the room while the Red Bulborb is on the left, several pieces of either the Chipped Discus or Chipped Aquaduct scattered around it. The Jumbo Red Bulborb is located behind a stone wall and will automatically break free when all the other enemies in the room are defeated. Defeat all the enemies to unlock the numbered gate and proceed to the next floor.

Floor 3

 * Name: The Moat
 * Music: Ruins 2
 * Enemies:
 * Dwarf Orange Bulborb
 * Orange Bulborb
 * Obstacles:
 * Water
 * Wall shooter (electricity)
 * Button
 * Bridge piece
 * Iron gate
 * Numbered gate (defeat all enemies)

A small river that winds across this chamber, meaning Kelp Pikmin must cross it and then find pieces to make four small bridges to allow other types to cross. Each bridge needs two pieces, each dropped by one of the Dwarf Orange Bulborbs. Build the bridges while dodging the volts of electricity coming from the wall shooters then gather the Pikmin to find the button needed to both deactivate the shooters and lower the iron gate to the Orange Bulborb. Defeat every enemy to open the gate to the next floor.

Floor 4

 * Name: Mess Hall
 * Music: Fortress 2
 * Enemies:
 * Dwarf Bulbear
 * Spotty Bulbear (drops a Meat Satchel)
 * Obstacles:
 * Water
 * Electric pylon
 * Lava floor
 * Numbered gate (defeat all enemies)

This maze-like floor features small puddles of water only Kelp Pikmin can cross and several electric pylons only Wisp Pikmin can neutralize. A Spotty Bulbear is on patrol, it can be fought after clearing the obstacles to minimize distractions or beforehand with limited space. Three random spots in the chamber will have a dead-end with a molten lava floor, each having a piece of refuse, one of which will be the first one covered in a specific elemental hazard, this being a Molten Loin cloaked in fire, meaning only Elixer Pikmin can carry it. Defeat all the enemies to move on to the next floor.

Floor 5

 * Name: Rest Quarters
 * Music: Rest 1
 * Enemies:
 * Nectarous Dandelfly
 * Mamuta
 * Obstacles:
 * Water

This is potentially the first rest floor encountered. It is a small circular room with a puddle of water in the middle housing a relaxing Mamuta. Two Nectarous Dandelflies are also present, providing nectar when hit. An exit vent is present for those unsure about taking on the next two floors.

Floor 6

 * Name: Queen's Throne
 * Music: Battle Against A Bewildering Foe
 * Enemies:
 * Empress Bulblax (drops a Lesser Mighty Meat)
 * Princess Bulblax
 * Obstacles:
 * Numbered gate (defeat Princess Bulblax)
 * Numbered gate (defeat Empress Bulblax)

This floor is the first of two boss floors in the den. It's split into three rooms. The one in the middle contains a single Princess Bublax that must be defeated to open the door to the main boss of the floor. This Princess lacks the ability for her gemstones to hatch into Bulborb Larvae when broken, so they act as normal armor. The main boss is a sleeping Empress Bulblax, also lacking the ability to generate larvae, so it only rolls across its chamber. After both royals are defeated, the gate to the next and final floor opens.

Floor 7

 * Name: King's Throne
 * Music: Battle Against A Powerful Foe
 * Enemies:
 * Emperor Bulblax (medium-sized) (drops a Great Mighty Meat)
 * Prince Bulblax
 * Obstacles:
 * Dirt wall
 * Bomb rock
 * Numbered gate (defeat all enemies)

A condensed version of the Final Trial, only having the areas resembling the landing site and the arena for the boss. Breaking down a dirt wall reveals a Prince Bulblax behind it, which notably has less health than usual for its species. After defeating it, either with the nearby bomb rocks or pure brawn, the creature summons its father, the Emperor Bulblax, this one of medium size. If the bomb rocks remained untouched, the Emperor can be defeated without tossing a single Pikmin. After its defeat, the final numbered gate is unlocked, granting access to the Lapis Shard, the third piece of the 9-Piece Star, as well as the exit vent to the surface.