Can a level 16–17 player join a Small mushroom battle in Pikmin Bloom?

What the level gate actually is

Pikmin Bloom limits how many Pikmin you can bring to a mushroom battle by your player level. Battles unlock at level 8, and the cap then rises in steps until it stops at 40 Pikmin at level 20. Separately, every mushroom size has a minimum squad you must field before the battle will start: 1 for a Small mushroom. Joining is simply a comparison of those two numbers. If your cap is at least the minimum, you are in; if it is below, the game refuses you, however strong or well-matched your Pikmin are.

Every level from 16 to 17 has the same cap — 30 Pikmin — which is why this page answers for the whole range rather than one level at a time.

One thing the level gate is not: a limit on players. 5 players can join a mushroom normally, and Mushroom Recharge Tickets open further slots, up to 25 for a Small mushroom. That cap is about room, not level — any player whose squad cap clears the minimum can take a free slot, and each of them brings their own squad.

What changes at the next threshold

At level 18 your squad cap rises to 35 Pikmin. You can already join a Small mushroom, so the answer does not change — but a bigger squad brings more attack power, and attack power is what decides how fast the mushroom falls and how many stars the group earns.

What joining does not depend on

The level gate is the only rule that refuses a join outright. The wrong Pikmin types, low attack power or a rating you would rather not get all still let you in — they only change how quickly the mushroom falls and how many stars the group earns. To see what your own squad would actually do against a Small mushroom, plan it in the squad calculator.

Small mushrooms at every level

• Levels 1–7 — battles not unlocked yet
• Levels 8–9 — can join (squad cap 10)
• Levels 10–11 — can join (squad cap 15)
• Levels 12–13 — can join (squad cap 20)
• Levels 14–15 — can join (squad cap 25)
• Levels 16–17 (this page) — can join (squad cap 30)
• Levels 18–19 — can join (squad cap 35)
• Levels 20–30 — can join (squad cap 40)

Other mushroom sizes at levels 16–17

• Can a level 16–17 player join a Normal mushroom battle in Pikmin Bloom?
• Can a level 16–17 player join a Large mushroom battle in Pikmin Bloom?
• Can a level 16–17 player join a Giant mushroom battle in Pikmin Bloom?

Mushrooms that come in Small

Health, star thresholds and the ticket cap differ by mushroom type. Open one for its full reference page:

• Small Red mushroom
• Small Yellow mushroom
• Small Blue mushroom
• Small Purple mushroom
• Small White mushroom
• Small Pink mushroom
• Small Gray mushroom
• Small Ice Blue mushroom