Glacial Studded Beeb

The Glacial Studded Beeb is a dangerous boss that appears in Pikmin: Infection in Progress. It prowls within the fog of Noxious Expanse. It is one of the most difficult bosses in the game, but is completely optional. Luck, chance, and awareness decide whether the President is faced against this arctic mechanical menace. The Glacial Studded Beeb emits loud mechanical wails and shrieks as it wanders the area, their volume changing depending on the distance from it. The boss can be hear emitting monstrous roars as it engages other creatures in combat, which it will do if it comes across any that do not flee. The sounds of its footsteps are not very noticeable due to the soft snow in the area, although it is very obvious once spotted. The President can assist in carrying the several chunks of the Glacial Studded Beeb.

Appearance

The Glacial Studded Beeb has a very similar appearance to a praying mantis; it has a head and an abdomen, with two pairs of legs that are connected to the abdomen, and a pair of limbs that end with frozen spiked balls that are attached to the base of its head. On the top of its head and the back end of its abdomen are purple glowing domes that act as the boss's weak points. On the rim of the head where the dome and the base of the head connect are its eye stalks and actual eyes. The boss is mainly light grey with black highlights spread across most parts of its body. Its eyes are black and its pupils blink cyan and white.

Combat

The Glacial Studded Beeb is exceptionally difficult and resilient, although its remains are well worth the fight. Once initiated into combat, the Glacial Studded Beeb will charge towards its prey, and attempt to crush them with the dual spike balls at the end of its frontal limbs. If dodged quickly enough, the attack can be avoided which will render the boss helpless briefly. The Glacial Studded Beeb will yank its spike balls out from the snow, and attempt to swing its weapons to and fro in an attempt to crush and fling Pikmin away from their Leader. It finishes this move by dragging its weapons around itself swiftly, at which point it will become dizzy and be rendered helpless for a short time. Making contact with certain parts of the Glacial Studded Beeb, like its dual spike balls, will chill and eventually freeze the President or his Pikmin.

The Glacial Studded Beeb's weak points are the purple domes on its head and posterior; attacking these will slowly drain the boss's health. After destroying one of the domes, the boss enters its rage state in which it will attack faster and deliver more damage. The upside to this is that the boss is more vulnerable because it is now frequently helpless, although the boss is increasingly deadlier.

Upon being defeated, the Glacial Studded Beeb will stand straight up, shake with increasing intensity while emanating a screech that rises in pitch, and ultimately self-destruct, which can kill any Pikmin caught in the radius. Its eyes go dim and blacken, and it produces a mechanical groan that quickly lowers in volume.

Trivia

• Seeing the silhouette of the Glacial Studded Beep is the closest one can get before it initiates combat; approaching any closer will begin the fight.
• The idea for this boss was based off of a boss that's part of Nintendo Land's attraction, Pikmin Adventure, in which a boss named Greater Studded Beeb is part of.