Oatchi Skills Guide: Costs, Requirements and Useful Upgrades

How should you choose your next upgrade?

Start with the task that repeatedly interrupts your expedition. If a heavy delivery consumes the whole squad, examine carrying strength. If you spend time gathering scattered workers, investigate Command. If an encounter is the obstacle, compare combat training with a better squad assignment rather than assuming damage is the only answer.

This is a situational planning method, not a universal best build. The Oatchi Skill Planner lets you enter current and target levels so already purchased training is not charged twice.

What do the main training chains cost?

These costs are community documented by Pikipedia and were source-checked on 3 November 2026. They are not a claim of personal game testing.

What does carrying training change?

Buff’s three levels provide strength of 3, 5 and 10; Super Buff raises that to 20, 30 and 100. Capacity solves a different problem from travel distance. A stronger carrier still needs a usable route and time to complete it. Compare how many Pikmin the upgrade frees for another job, not just the largest number in the table.

How do swimming and exploration abilities differ?

Doggy-Paddle’s first level follows progression and costs no Pup Drive; its later levels cost 2 each. Jump is also automatic after the relevant story event. Neither should be described as a purchase you can force early with spare points. Pluck costs 1 per level, Heal costs 3 per level and Dig’s purchased levels cost 1 each.

Command’s later levels add navigation and gathering uses. Test whether those uses address your actual repeated problem before moving points away from carrying or combat. The beginner guide gives a simple two-job expedition routine to evaluate first.

Which late abilities need extra care?

Swallow requires Olimar’s rescue and Super Buff 3; it has no Pup Drive purchase cost. Infinite Rush costs 8 and requires the other skills, including Swallow. A calculator can flag the skill chain, but it cannot inspect your story save. Check the trainer and story eligibility in-game before treating a budget as permission to unlock an ability.

Microphone commands are a separate Switch 2 Edition feature. They are not bought with Pup Drive and are unavailable in its demo. Read the voice-command guide before troubleshooting the wrong system.

Which sources were checked?

Verified 3 November 2026. Official confirmations and community references are labeled below. Advice is original editorial planning guidance; no personal gameplay test or optimal route is claimed.

• Pikipedia Oatchi reference — community documentation
• Nintendo Switch 2 Edition product details
• Nintendo demo announcement (Japanese)