Mastering Oatchi's Power: Top Ability Upgrades to Acquire in Pikmin 4

The release of Pikmin 4 introduced gamers to Oatchi, the adorable and useful Rescue Pup that assists players to traverse difficult terrains, combat enemies, and more. Tapping into Oatchi's full potential involves unlocking and upgrading his abilities. Let's explore the best upgrades you should prioritize to optimize your gameplay.

Unlocking Oatchi's Ability Upgrades

To start upgrading Oatchi's abilities, players need to locate and rescue one of the lost Rescue Officers on the planet, Russ. He's easily found in the first cave players explore solo. Upon rescuing Russ and consequently unlocking his lab, players can start using the in-game currency to unlock ability upgrades for Oatchi. As Oatchi grows bigger and becomes ridable, you know you're on the right track!

Top Ability Upgrades to Prioritize

When it comes to investing in ability upgrades, some will prove more valuable than others, based on the various game situations.

Buff and Super Buff

This pair of abilities focus on increasing Oatchi's strength, which makes him more efficient at carrying treasure and pushing boxes. This comes in handy throughout the game, allowing Oatchi to transport items to the ship while you and your Pikmin attend to other tasks. On advancing the Super Buff skill, players unlock the Blue Onion earlier, facilitating access to Blue Pikmin and new areas.

Doggy-Paddle

Doggy-Paddle equips Oatchi with swimming skills. This significantly broadens his operational areas to include water bodies. With this upgrade, Oatchi can transport non-Blue Pikmin across bodies of water, facilitating puzzle-solving in these areas. Also, Doggy-Paddle allows Oatchi to attack enemies in the water, making him a formidable defender.

Rush and Mega Rush

Rush comes in handy both for exploring and defending your Pikmin. It makes Oatchi faster and more robust against enemy attacks. The Mega Rush upgrade, an extension of the Rush ability, ensures enemies are stunned for more extended periods, giving players ample time to strategize or retreat from dangerous situations. Further upgrading Mega Rush unlocks the Infinite Rush, a legendary skill that enables Oatchi to rush around the map without fatigue.

Pluck

Although not a top-priority upgrade, Pluck can significantly help players struggling with multitasking or with packed day plans. With Pluck, Oatchi can retrieve Pikmin from the ground once the Onion ejects them, saving vital time for the players.

By understanding these ability upgrades and prioritizing them correctly, players can fully harness Oatchi's potential, optimize their gameplay, and make their Pikmin 4 journey a lot more exciting and less stressful.