Kraid

Kraid
Affiliation	Space Pirates
Base	Zebes
Debut	Metroid

Kraid is a massive reptilian monster that has appeared as a recurring boss character in the early games of the Metroid series.

Background

Not much is known about the origins of Kraid, but he has long been one of the chief guardians employed by the Space Pirates on the planet Zebes. His domain has always been within the volcanic depths of Brinstar. Originally, it was a second area of Brinstar that was simply named "Kraid" after him. He was an incredibly large creature, far larger than most of Samus's other foes. In appearance, he resembled a very thick, upright dinosaur that walked on two legs with a long tail as support. His stomach area had three odd 'holes' that were capable of producing long 'spikes' that could be propelled out. His head was lined with a few horns forming a crown on the top of his head, as well as one on the end of his snout. Kraid had three eyes, and his two hands have only two single fingers and are often used offensively. Battling Kraid typically consisted of avoiding his attacks and focusing attacks on his mouth to injure him.

Samus Aran's first known encounter with Kraid on Zebes was in Metroid and Metroid: Zero Mission. Kraid's position was rather important, as he and Ridley were the two enemies who had to be defeated in order to access Tourian, where the Space Pirates were based. Samus was able to best him in battle and destroyed him. Kraid was back in action in Super Metroid, where he now acted as one of four guardians who had to be defeated to reach Tourian. There was also a smaller "Mini-Kraid" that was stationed outside of his lair. Samus defeated Kraid once more. The entire planet Zebes was destroyed at the end of this adventure, and it was initially believed that Kraid's remains were destroyed with the planet.

In Metroid Dread, it turned out that the Mawkin Tribe of the Chozo had somehow captured Kraid and brought him to the planet ZDR, although it was also possible that their Kraid was a clone that they created. Kraid was kept chained in a chamber of the planet's Cataris region. During the events of Dread, Samus came across him and battled him once more, with Kraid breaking free of his restraints in the process. Kraid was defeated once again and disappeared into the lava. The X Parasite ended up infecting most of the planet's lifeforms, and a resemblance to Kraid was seen in the final enemy formed by the X at the end of the game, Raven Beak X, implying that the X infected and destroyed Kraid as well. The planet ZDR was destroyed minutes afterwards. Between the X and the planet's destruction, Kraid was less likely to have survived this one.

Other Appearances

Video Games

• Within the Super Smash Bros. series, Kraid appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee in the Brinstar Depths level as a colossal background enemy that caused the stage to rotate with his attacks. He returned with the stage in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with graphical enhancements. Kraid has also been represented by a trophy in Melee, a sticker (using art from Zero Mission) in Brawl and as a Master Spirit in the Adventure Mode of Ultimate. In his Spirit battle, Kraid's Spirit possessed a giant King K. Rool with heightened strength and lowered speed, and he was fought in a stamina battle. After being defeated, Kraid's Spirit ran a nearby dojo where he could teach other Spirits the Tank Style, which increased offense and defense at the cost of movement speed and jumping ability. He communicated only in growls, with guesses at what he was saying in parentheses.
• In Nintendo Land, an animatronic version of Kraid appeared as a boss faced within the Assault Mission mode of the game's Metroid Blast attraction. He is the first boss faced in the mode and is faced several times, including the mode's final battle in which he is battled alongside Ridley.

Other Media

• Kraid, as seen in Metroid, appeared in Issue 4 of the Captain N comics. He was shown as weak and runty, and during her escape from Prisonworld, Samus coerced Kraid (who was also a prisoner) into acting as a decoy during her escape. He also made a cameo appearance with Ridley in a flashback of Samus's in Issue 5.
• Kraid made an appearance in the Metroid manga during the chapters adapting Zero Mission. Introduced as "Ridley's comrade", Kraid is shown battling Samus while Mother Brain communicates with her, and Samus ultimately defeats him.

Canceled Appearances

• Kraid was apparently planned to appear in Metroid Prime, and a 3-D model of Kraid was made, but he was ultimately not included due to time constraints.

Trivia

• In his original Metroid appearance, he was depicted as being around the same size as Samus Aran was, due to the NES's graphical limitations. The Mini-Kraid in Super Metroid is a reference to this. His original NES appearance also had only two eyes.
• Metroid Dread marks the first game that Kraid has appeared in without Ridley.