[Rokrin]

I've modified his Table of Contents slightly, so you can just go Ctrl+F to jump to a section.

Table of Contents
SEC1) Introduction: Playing as Olimar? Why?
SEC2) Pros and Cons
SEC3) Your tiny platoon: Differences between Pikmin
SEC4) Attacks/Moves
SEC5) Damage Chart based on Pikmin
SEC6) Squad, move out! Organizing and effectively using your Pikmin
SEC7) Maps: Where should you go?
SEC8) Matchups: Who pwns and who will be pwn’d?
SEC9) Afterword: Thank you and farewell


SEC1: Introduction: Playing as Olimar? Why?
Olimar is a very unique character in SSBB. He can only perform 6 attacks by himself: Neutral attack (both of the 2 parts), the 3 tilts, his dash attack, and his neutral air. While these attacks are acceptable in their own rights, Olimar really shines as a character when you put his Pikmin into the equation.
Playing Olimar can be a bit of a challenge, especially for newer players to the game. Some of the main challenges an Olimar player must face include:
--)Plucking and organizing your Pikmin
--)Knowing the differences between the Pikmin and how to use each kind to its best form
--)Arranging the order of your Pikmin in battle.
Among other things…
But why would you want to play as the little guy? Although he has a steep learning curve the rewards are unmatched. It’s quite difficult for an opponent to guess what you’re doing first of all. Your one of the smallest characters in the game (you’re also one of the lightest!), so actually hitting you can be difficult. Unless an opponent uses Olimar countering the mate can be difficult what with his mechanics and those of the Pikmin. He’s a force to be reckoned with if you can play with him effectively.

SEC2: Pros and Cons

PROS…
--) Tilts and Smashes have large range and are pretty useful for comboing, knockback, etc.
--) Wonderful aerial attacks
--) Can be difficult for opponent to tell what Olimar is doing
--) Surprisingly fast
--) Small
--) Grab range can be longest in the game. Also has very little lag if missed

CONS…
--) Dependant on Pikmin for almost all attacks
--) Difficult to learn; one of the most challenging characters to master
--) Recovery is a tether recovery, allowing for nasty edgeguard abuse
--) Very light, one of the lightest in the game I believe
--) Pikmin are very vulnerable to damage.
--) Difficult to manage Pikmin effectively

SEC3: Your tiny platoon: Differences between Pikmin

RED…
--) Does the most damage of all Pikmin when Olimar uses an aerial attack
--) Attacks imbued with fire properties such as burning
--) Immune to fire and fire attacks
--) Destroyed as soon as they come in contact with deep enough water
--) This Pikmin has approximately 9% stamina. What that means is if 9% is dealt to this Pikmin the Pikmin dies.
Red Pikmin should be your main aerial offense. However, they are sort of glass cannons in the sense that they have the 2nd lowest health of all Pikmin. If you like to fight in the air and/or are just a generally offensive player, it would be wise to have more reds in your pack.

BLUE…
--) Grab range increased when first in Pikmin line and a grab is initiated
--) 2nd most durable Pikmin
--) Does the most damage of all Pikmin when Olimar uses a throw
--) Only Pikmin that does not drown. Can also swim.
--) This Pikmin has approximately 14% stamina. What that means is if 14% is dealt to this Pikmin the Pikmin dies.
Blue Pikmin are interesting. They don’t really have any major offensive capabilities, and although their defensive capabilities are wonderful, they’re still secondary next to Purples. However, their grabbing and throwing abilities are the cream of the crop. They do the most damage on all throws, have the highest grab range, and have some extra armor should they be attacked while reaching for an enemy. Grabbers and defensive players should have more Blues in their squad.

YELLOW…
--) Range of attack is larger than other Pikmin
--) Travel in arcs when thrown
--) Attacks imbued with electrical properties such as shocks
--) Immune to electricity and electrical attacks
--) When used to throw enemies the enemies travel in arcs
--) This Pikmin has approximately 10% stamina. What that means is if 10% is dealt to this Pikmin the Pikmin dies.
Yellow Pikmin are unique in that they don’t have any special offensive perks aside from electricity, but these guys excel in the range and trajectories of their attacks. Yellows are thrown in a curved trajectory, and throw their opponents in curved paths as well. These guys also have larger areas of damage in addition to range. I can’t see any general strategy or playstyle you should associate these ones with, unless you rely a lot on Pikmin throwing. Just have X amount of these with you to spice it up.

PURPLE (aka Big Boi ^_^)…
--) Doesn’t fly far when thrown
--) Only Pikmin that knocks back enemy instead of latching on when thrown
--) Does the most damage of all Pikmin when Olimar uses a smash attack
--) Average attack power is generally higher than other Pikmin
--) Most durable Pikmin
--) This Pikmin has approximately 16% stamina. What that means is if 16% is dealt to this Pikmin the Pikmin dies.
Purple Pikmin are your tanks. They’re slow, and can’t be thrown far, but their attacks almost always have superior knockback and they’re in the upper tier of damage. Rather than latching on like the other Pikmin, Purples are just like “Hey, stupid! I ain’t gonna hug you like my brotha Pikmin. I just knock you silly and come back. Yeah boyyye ^_^” and knock the opponent away rather than latch on for damage. They also deal the most damage and knockback for all smash attacks, but they also have the least range. These are definitely high-risk, high-reward soldiers. Best used in an aggressive playstyle, especially if associated with some reds.

WHITE…
--) Flies very far and at a faster speed than other Pikmin when thrown
--) Least durable Pikmin
--) All normal attacks do less damage compared to other Pikmin
--) Most damaging Pikmin when thrown
--) Does the most damage of all Pikmin when Olimar grabs and pummels an opponent
--) This Pikmin has approximately 4% stamina. What that means is if 4% is dealt to this Pikmin the Pikmin dies.
White Pikmin, are basically the opposite of Purples. They’re the fastest when thrown, execute the most damage when latched on, and do twice the damage when pummeling in a grab, but everything else is lacking. They deal little damage, have small knockback, and have less range in attacks than the other ones. It’s always nice to have at least one in your arsenal for throwing purposes, but don’t have your whole squad full of these things. Best used in a throwing-type strategy, but should be mixed in with any other Pikmin colors.

One more thing: if you’ve played (against) an Olimar you may have noticed that the longer a Pikmin is out the Pikmin “evolves” between a leaf, bud, or flower. As far as I know these evolutions make no difference in the Pikmin’s abilities. If anyone has information on whether the evolutions actually do anything other than look pretty please alert.