Metroids

The Chozo created Metroids as a solution to the X parasite, a deadly organism that assimilates creatures. Metroids absorb body energy, efficiently consuming X-infested beings. However, they proved uncontrollable and hungry. After the Chozo’s extinction, Metroids became central to galactic conflicts, sought by the Federation for power, weaponized by Space Pirates, and targeted by Samus for annihilation.

General

• As enemies throughout the series, all forms of Metroid are capable of taking hits from Samus’ weaponry before dying (source) (I)
• Are capable of absorbing energy in general, not just body energy (source) (Manga)
• Being exposed to beta rays allows them to multiply, as well as reawakens them if held in suspended animation (source) (I)
• This happens in seconds (source) (SM)
• Are apparently very intelligent (source) (SM)
• A vaccine made of their cells instantly cured Samus of the X Parasite cells infecting her (source) (F)

Infant

• Newborn Metroids can quickly imprint on the first figure they see, leading to one following Samus around and helping her out (source) (SR)
• Destroys notable amounts of stone or crystal at once (source) (SR)
• Saps Ridley of his energy, paining him and stopping him from killing Samus (source) (SR)
• Sends this energy to Samus to re-energize her suit (source) (SR)

Larva - Physicals

• A larger one lifts a large space pirate into the air while absorbing its energy (source) (FF)
• For scaling, the pirates are of a similar size to the Federation Force’s mech suits, which are over twice as tall as a regular human (source) (FF)
• Were seemingly unaffected by beam rifles off-screen (source) (Manga)
• Are usually completely unharmed by attacks unless frozen. In the original game, after being frozen they can only be defeated with missiles (source) (I)
• In spite of this weakness, much like other enemies they recover after a few seconds (source) (SM)
• One batch created by a branch of the Galactic Federation were likely modified to no longer have this weakness (source) (OM)
• A giant Metroid takes a number of attacks from Mother Brain before being killed (source) (SM)
• In Other M’s version of events, it appears to tank Mother Brain’s attacks with no visible injury, but her final attack overwhelms its durability and pierces through it (source) (OM)
• Can sometimes dodge Samus’ beams (source) (OM)
• Quickly flies in from the background to attack a creature (source) (SR)

Larva - Energy Absorption

• This form of Metroid attacks by latching onto a creature, draining them of energy (source) (I)
• Drains a creature in seconds, turning it into a husk (source) (SR)
• A larger Metroid very quickly kills a large space pirate after latching on (source) (FF)
• For scaling, the pirates are of a similar size to the Federation Force’s mech suits, which are over twice as tall as a regular human (source) (FF)
• A giant Metroid reduces a creature to bones in seconds (source) (SM)
• A giant Metroid was able to stop Mother Brain before she launched a killing attack on Samus, draining her energy to knock her out (source) (SM)

Larva - Other

• Can transfer energy to those they latch onto, if they so wish (source) (SM)
• On the death of the large friendly Metroid, it imbued Samus’ suit with energy that allowed her to shoot high power blasts for a time (source) (SM)
• Instantly kills and pierces through Space Pirates (source) (SM)
• Destroys metal shutters (source) (SM)

Queen Metroid - Physicals

• Breaks chunks off a stone floor by slamming its head onto it (source) (SR)
• Stomps on the floor, creating a shockwave around the room (source) (OM)
• Samus’ beam bounces off of its hide (source) (OM)
• Withstands being bombed from inside its stomach (source) (II)
• Takes Samus’ power bombs from inside its stomach (source) (SR)

Queen Metroid - Offensive abilities

• Breathes a beam of fire, causing whatever surface it runs along to catch fire for a while (source) (SR)
• Spits out three spiked, bouncing projectiles (source) (II)
• Releases a mass of large, slow moving green balls which float around the room (source) (SR)
• Grows crystals on its neck before breathing fire (source) (OM)
• Off-screen, attacks a clone of Ridley after he was weakened from a fight with Samus (source) (OM)
• Kills him, draining him of his energy (source) (OM)

Queen Metroid - Other

• Can stretch its neck out (source) (II)
• Roars long and hard enough to push Samus back (source) (SR)
• Spawns Metroid larvas from its back (source) (OM)

Metroid Prime - Physicals

• With a stomp, shatters a stone pillar (source) (P1)
• Destroys a cave wall (source) (P1)
• Quickly digs a hole in a cave (source) (P1)
• Is described as only its head being vulnerable, calling hits anywhere else just ‘a nuisance’, with Samus’ weapons bouncing off when shot anywhere else (source) (P1)
• Samus’ weapons bouncing off when shot anywhere else (source) (P1)

Metroid Prime - Energy Attacks

• Releases balls of fire or ice, slowly descending to the ground. If not destroyed, they burst into their element (source) (P1)
• Releases balls of fire or ice, slowly descending to the ground. If not destroyed, they burst into their element (source) (P1)
• Releases a burst of fire (source) (P1)
• Shoots forwards a pair of green beams (source) (P1)
• Shoots a large yellow energy beam from its bottom mouth (source) (P1)
• Fires a large ice beam from its bottom mouth (source) (P1)
• Fires what appears to be, when compared with Samus’ attack, a beam of plasma (source) (P1)
• Stomps, sending a line of spiked ice along the ground which can freeze Samus (source) (P1)

Metroid Prime - Other

• Once its outer shell is destroyed, its inner core emerges to fight, flying around (source) (P1)
• Shoots out a wave of fire (source) (P1)
• Can only be harmed by Samus’ phazon-infused arm cannon attacks, which occur by her standing in the pools of the energy it creates (source) (P1)
• As its final attack, pulls the phazon from Samus’ suit, creating Dark Samus (source) (P1)
• Creates phazon, a highly radioactive substance and source of great energy (source) (P1)
• Assimilated several space pirate weapons and defense systems, quickly being able to use them for itself (source) (P1)

Other Forms

• Alpha Metroid - The next stage of a Metroid’s life, emerging from the Larva’s body like a cocoon. Like this, and in all further evolved forms, it is vulnerable to all weapons and doesn’t require freezing first (source) (II)
• Can release balls of electricity as well as charge its shell with electricity to charge Samus (source) (SR)
• Has a fire variant (source) (SR)
• Gamma Metroid - The stage after the Alpha Metroid, breaking out of their previous shell in Samus Returns or simply metamorphosing in Return of Samus, capable of swinging a line of electricity in front of it to attack (source) (II)
• Shoots beams or bolts of electricity, and can charge itself with electricity before diving (source) (SR)
• Covers a floor it’s standing on in electricity (source)
• Also has a fire variant, covering the floor by dropping fireballs instead (source) (SR)
• Zeta Metroid - Emerging from the husk of their Gamma Metroid form with a more humanoid appearance, the Zeta Metroid can shoot fireballs while it flies (source) (II)
• Breathes a stream of fire and spits out fast green fireballs while climbing a wall (source) (SR)
• Sprays an arc of slow moving green fireballs which bounce off of surfaces (source) (SR)
• Omega Metroid - The final stage of a regular Metroid’s life cycle, the Omega Metroid again either just grows into its form or sheds its prior form in Samus Returns. It flies while spitting energy blasts and spikes (source) (II)
• Wipes out all but a single point of Samus’ energy with a single claw swing (source) (F)
• Slaps its tail on the ground, causing rocks to fall from the ceiling (source) (SR)
• Breathes a long beam of fire (source) (SR)
• Shoots fire on the ground, covering it (source) (SR)
• Fission Metroid - A phazon mutated Metroid capable of instantly splitting into two copies, each one gaining an invulnerability to one type of energy attack as well as a weakness to another (source) (P1)
• Hunter Metroid - A phazon mutated Metroid with a long tentacle used to drain the energy of enemies (source) (P1)
• Tallon Metroid - A variant of Metroid from Tallon IV that is killed through dark energy (source) (P2)
• Dark Tallon Metroid - A Tallon Metroid possessed by Darklings, making it stronger and turning its weakness to dark energy into one of light energy (source) (P2)
• Phazon Metroid - Is capable of phasing and becoming intangible for a period, as well as creating a short ranged electrical attack around it while doing so (source) (P3)
• Metroid Hatcher - The next stage of a Phazon Metroid’s life cycle, it can no longer phase but has a hardened shell to protect its interior as well as long, energy draining tentacles (source) (P3)
• Stabs Samus with its tentacles to drain energy (source) (P3)
• Can also spin rapidly with its tentacles to attack (source) (P3)
• Spawns Phazon Metroids (source) (P3)
• Can be killed with a single shot to the brain, should someone have a weapon capable of piercing its shell (source) (P3)
• Hopping Metroid - A highly mutated Metroid without the ability to fly but with powerful legs and sharp talons it can use to attack, alongside a ranged energy attack (source) (P3)