Explosion

Explosions are a common and extremely dangerous hazard appearing in Pikmin games. Explosions usually appear in the form of a destructive, fiery cloud that instantly kills or significantly harms anything nearby, although different explosions have different colors, effects, and sizes. Explosions can also be used to destroy some obstacles, and some obstacles require explosions to be destroyed. Most Pikmin that are caught in an explosion will be thrown back and die as soon as they hit the ground, but Orange Pikmin are immune to explosions and usually can withstand the force generated by one. Explosions can be caused by any type of bomb rock, as well as some hazards and enemies. Enemies can utilize explosions using bomb rocks or other explosives. Some enemies, usually ones that are mechanical, may explode shortly after death.

In Pikmin: Wide World
Explosions are a frequent hazard in Pikmin: Wide World. Sources of explosions, usually a type of bomb rock, are found in every area, with the highest concentration being present in Ancient Metalworks. Which Pikmin type has a resistance to what explosion type depends on the hazard the explosion is based on, and leaders can only reduce the damage they take from normal explosions by equipping the Metal Suit Z. Most enemies that directly or indirectly create explosions are mechanical in nature. Explosions can be as useful as they are dangerous, as they can be used to kill or severely injure enemies and completely destroy many obstacles, even other sources of explosions. Enemies that happen to ingest an explosive will usually suffer critical damage, although some enemies, like the Medusal Slurker, will merely hold them safely within their bodies. Some obstacles require explosions to be destroyed, with some examples being cobblestone blocks and reinforced gates. Boulders and clogs must usually be destroyed using an explosion, but there are other methods for destroying them.

There exist a number of explosion types, all of which have different effects. Normal explosions, which launch nearby Pikmin away and kill them as soon as they land, are the most common. They are caused by normal bomb rocks, mines, mine rocks, and almost every enemy that utilizes explosions. Rock Pikmin have partial resistance to normal explosions, being able to survive them a quarter of the time. Flash-based explosions, like ones caused by dazzling bomb rocks, temporarily blind anything nearby and cause nearby Pikmin, other than Purple Pikmin, to panic. Fire-based explosions, such as ones from incendiary bomb rocks, can be resisted by Red Pikmin but ignite other Pikmin types, and the force produced will cause them to fly back. Fire-based explosions also leave flames in their wake. Cryogenic bomb rocks will freeze mostly anything around them when they detonate and will cover the immediate area in slippery ice. No Pikmin type is resistant to this type of explosion. Although Smoke bomb rocks are a type of bomb rock, they do not explode whatsoever, only emitting poison gas for a short time before becoming inert, making White Pikmin useful for clearing them out or carrying them. As stated before, explosions can be used against enemies with varying degrees of effectiveness depending on a variety of factors, such as what hazard the enemy utilizes or whether it ingested the explosive or was simply hit by it.

Careening Dirigibugs float around and spit out an ordinary bomb rock to toss towards Pikmin or leaders when they come near, much like how Blazing Dirigibugs and Freezing Dirigibugs in the same situation respectively produce an incendiary bomb rock and a cryogenic bomb rock. Juggling Dirigibugs may regurgitate up to three normal bomb rocks at once and juggle them before tossing them in a volley at its prey. Bombardier Beebs charge at Pikmin and leaders, beeping and flashing before exploding violently to try and take them out. Gatling Groinks shoot explosive mortar shells from their mouth-cannons. Unlike in Pikmin 2, Gatling Groinks do not explode upon death, and instead drop to the ground as part of an emergency sleep mode routine, much like other shot-fish in Pikmin: Wide World do. Green Bulbots, Red Bulbots, Yellow Bulbots, Bilious Bulbots, Emperor Bulbots, Greater Bulbots, the Emperor Pinchipede, the Monochromatic Pinchipede, the Man-at-Legs, the Translucent Wollybot, and Yellow Wollybots all explode shortly after death. Telescoping Pumphogs also explode after death, but their invincible relative, the Stone Pumphog, does not, because it lacks a weakpoint and therefore cannot die. Both the Greater Bladed Beeb and Greater Studded Beeb explode shortly after their weakpoints are destroyed, but their relatives, the Worker Beeb and King Beeb, do not. Rocket Beetles scuttle around a small area when idle, but rapidly flap their wings and just as quickly accelerate towards Pikmin and leaders they see. They violently explode upon hitting an obstacle in their way, be it another enemy or a wall. Volatile Dweevils carry a normal bomb rock on their back, hiding under it until Pikmin or leaders come close, and rising to walk towards them and blow them up after they engage their bomb rock's timer. Volatile Splurchins are aquatic creatures that, when they detect Pikmin or leader nearby, flash red progressively faster the closer they are to detonating before finally exploding.

Pikmin: Spark
In Pikmin: Spark, explosions are renamed as Explosives and are the only hazard that can kill Pikmin instantly regardless of circumstances. Captains also receive heavy damage if they don't have the 'Blast-Shell upgrade. Goo Pikmin are the only ones that can resist explosions and are the only ones to carry and use Bomb-Rocks. Several new hazards appear as well:

Blast Pipe: A pipe that constantly shoots exploding gas like fire gesyers and poison vents.

Blast Gate: A gate that explodes when damaged due to unstable chemicals inside, meaning Goo Pikmin can only destroy it.

Blast Mines: Mines that explode when in close proximity of a creature, Goo Pikmin can disarm these machines.

Tar: A slowing substance that can explode when touched by another element, Goo Pikmin can destroy this surface.