Water

Water is the most common hazard and obstacle, since it is presented mostly through bodies of water that are a part of the terrain itself. Water is a hazard to most Pikmin types, given that they cannot swim nor breathe underwater. Two exceptions are Blue Pikmin and Bulbmin, making these types of Pikmin ideal in handling underwater tasks. Some flying Pikmin, like Winged Pikmin, can also fly above the surface, making it possible to transverse bodies of water with them in the group.

Water in and of itself is not harmful to Pikmin. Some bodies may be too shallow for the Pikmin to drown in, in which case they are completely harmless. Geysers also spew out water with immense force, but the Pikmin simply ride them in order to leave an otherwise inaccessible area such as a cave. Rain also has no adverse effects on Pikmin.

Blue Pikmin have the ability to swim in bodies of water, allowing them the freedom to move vertically, such as when chasing aquatic enemies. Leaders remain on the ground, however, unless certain upgrades are collected that permit swimming.

Water can also be lethal to non-aquatic enemies, causing them to either lose health or die quickly.

As a hazard
Any inapt Pikmin type that touches a body of water will begin flailing at the surface, eventually stopping struggling and drowning. Pikmin in this state can potentially be saved by having them slowly flail towards leaders and luring them to dry land. Drowning Pikmin will follow leaders automatically but can be empowered to swim faster if they are whistled at. Leaders and nearby idle Blue Pikmin can toss drowning Pikmin onto land. Bulbmin can only nudge drowning Pikmin back to land.

Bodies of water are not the only way Pikmin can suffer from a water hazard. Some enemies have attacks that wet vulnerable Pikmin in such a way that a bubble of water forms around the top of their stem. This is enough to leave them gasping for air and running in panic. If they're whistled at in time, they will return to normal; if not, they will eventually collapse and die. These water attacks can cause damage to leaders as well and can knock them down.

Some bodies of water may cover the way to an important part of the area, where non-Blue Pikmin are needed. These pools might have a clog, which can be destroyed in order to drain the water, a bridge that can be built and used to cross over, or some lily pads can be taken to ride through and across a stream. Alternately, Winged Pikmin may be used, as they can fly above the surface of the water.

Enemies and water
Enemies generally are not affected by water, but some exceptions exist:
 * Fiery Bulblaxes and Pyroclasmic Slooches will lose their fire if they touch water. The former will reignite if it leaves the water, but the latter needs to touch a source of fire such as another Slooch's fire trail.
 * Many members of the mandiblard family will lose health at a steady pace as long as they are underwater.
 * Wogpoles and Puckering Blinnows will swim freely in water but will begin flailing around if they find themselves on dry land.
 * If a Mockiwi falls underwater, it will quickly lose all its health and drown.
 * Young Yellow Wollywogs hop around on land, but swim when in water.
 * Large Splurchins can slowly move underwater, but can't move at all when they're on land.

Pikmin: Attack of the Breadbugs
Water is an element found in the Pikmin game Series, and found in many, many Fanon games. Blue Pikmin work well with water based enemies and obstacles, since they drown other pikmin types. Blue Pikmin quite well against water-based enemies, since they are immune to the liquid the enemies and obstacles produce.