Iron Battlefield

Pikmin 251 This article or section presents information pertaining to Pikmin 251, a Pikmin 2 ROM hack created by PikHacker.

Stage preview.

The Iron Battlefield is the first stage in Pikmin 251's 2-Player Battle Mode. It features two simple layouts, both metal-themed. One layout is unique in that it uses random generation to achieve a variable design that can sometimes benefit one player or rarely be detrimental to both.

Overview

This stage takes place in rusted tunnels that turn at sharp edges from one room to the next. From each Onion, there are three or four routes that a player can take. Two typically lead to a row of eggs and gyro blocks before reaching a room, Onion, or a dead end. Other paths lead directly to other wide rooms with no objects in between. The Iron Battlefield is simple in that there are no unique geographical points except for an occasional patch of pink substrate seen in some metal caves.

Layout A

Resources are few in this small arena. The Onions are positioned so close that players could easily raid one another at a moment’s notice. Rounds may not last long in Layout A, but its symmetry and consistency makes this stage pattern the better option for a fair fight.

• Theme: Metal
• Enemies:
  •  Female Sheargrub × 5
  •  Shearwig (group of 1-3) × 0-7 (under marbles)
• Obstacles:
  • None
• Vegetation:
  •  1-Pellet Posy × 10
• Others:
  •  Nectar egg × 5

Layout B

Four Careening Dirigibugs appear on this layout, sometimes in near enough an Onion to cause trouble. Layout B is built partially by mild cave generation, which rarely makes a symmetrical arena. This may create instances where one player has a slight advantage, say if more gyro blocks are put on their side, or if their Onion shares a room with two Careening Dirigibugs. At the cost of fairness, players are given more objects to work with.

• Theme: Metal
• Enemies:
  •  Female Sheargrub × 11
  •  Shearwig (group of 1-3) × 0-7 (under marbles)
  •  Careening Dirigibug × 4
• Obstacles:
  • None
• Vegetation:
  •  1-Pellet Posy × 10
• Others:
  •  Nectar egg × 5

Strategies

The small, static layout has limited resources and little room to maneuver in. Even if the opponent is not looking at the other's screen, they will very likely catch a stealthy assault. With few objects to work with, it does well to play aggressively and place Pikmin on many gyro blocks immediately. The distance between both onions is short, which makes direct assaults easy whenever one player has significantly more Pikmin. The second layout can be approached with more creativity, as Careening Dirigibugs have a lot of functionality in a hostile environment. They can be used as sentries, and their bombs can be carried by players. Dirigibug bombs start off ignited and are difficult to avoid when in the opponent's hands.