Arm Cannon
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The Arm Cannon is the primary weapon of Samus Aran in the Metroid series. It is a gun of alien design affixed to the right arm of the Chozo Power Suit. The Arm Cannon doubles as a Missile Launcher and can be adapted to other foreign technologies. It can be used to download information at Map Stations, or recharge energy and missiles at Recharge and Missile Stations.
Beams
The Arm Cannon can play host to a variety of energy beams. In the original "Metroid" and "Metroid II: Return of Samus", the beams are separate weapons that can be switched at Chozo Statues or by recollecting them from their original location. This is continued in "Metroid Prime" and "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes", though the beams can be switched at will. In "Metroid: Zero Mission," "Super Metroid," and "Metroid Fusion," the effects of the beams combine into one.
Power Beam
The initial beam in every Metroid game and a constant companion for Samus through most, the Power Beam can rapid-fire small yellow orbs of damaging energy. This energy is also able to deactivate force fields commonly placed over doors in this region of the galaxy. In "Metroid: Zero Mission," the Power Beam can only fire a short distance and must be upgraded with the Long Beam; this upgrade is automatic in all other games. Likewise, Samus cannot charge the Power Beam without first collecting an upgrade in "Metroid: Zero Mission," "Super Metroid," and "Metroid Fusion;" the Metroid Prime series allows for immediate charging and the original "Metroid" and "Metroid II: Return of Samus" avoid it altogether.
In the Metroid Prime series, the Power Beam can be switched to at will and often has the highest firing ratio and weakest strength of any weapon. A charged Power Beam shot can be combined with the Missile Launcher to create a Super Missile. The remaining games will either replace or upgrade the Power Beam with new functions, appearances, and a new name.
It is interesting to note that in "Metroid Prime," the Space Pirates have successfully reverse-engineered the Power Beam to create Power Troopers, yellow-armored Space Pirates who are weak to their own weapon of choice. Additionally, the other six bounty hunters in "Metroid Prime Hunters" use a Power Beam (or Power Beam-like) weapon when played as in Multiplayer Mode. The color of the beam changes to match the color of the particular hunter's affinity weapon.
The Power Beam can only be used in "Metroid Prime Pinball" after Samus has entered Combat Mode via the Combat Saucer in the center of each board.
- Entire Series
Long Beam
The Long Beam is an upgrade found early on in "Metroid" and "Metroid: Zero Mission;" it is being held by a Chozo Statue in Brinstar in both games. It increases the range of the Power Beam so that the weapon can be fired up to and beyond the length of the screen. It also increases the strength of the Power Beam. In later games, the Long Beam is made irrelevant by the fact that the Power Beam always fires to the length of the screen.
Charge Beam
The Charge Beam is only an upgrade in the later half of the 2-D Metroid games. While holding down the fire button, the presently equipped beam will build energy within the Arm Cannon to create a much more potent blast; a charged Power Beam is roughly the strength equivalent of a Missile.
Shortly after collecting the first Missile Tank in "Metroid: Zero Mission," Samus is attacked by a Beam Beast; killing the beast will net her the Charge Beam. Samus begins with the Charge Beam in "Metroid Prime," but loses it during the escape from the Pirate Frigate in the beginning; she can reobtain it in the Watery Hall of the Chozo Ruins. The Charge Beam is found early in Brinstar in "Super Metroid." It is being held by a Core-X in Sector 1 of "Metroid Fusion;" the Core-X fires the Charge Beam at Samus until it is destroyed, after which it can be reclaimed.
In the Metroid Prime series, a charged beam will draw power-ups to itself and allow for easy collection in a 3-D environment. Charged beams can also be combined with the Missile Launcher for more potent Combo Attacks. Super Metroid uses similar combos, though they are powered by Power Bombs and act as shields instead of weapons. In the remaining games, charging the Arm Cannon and then somersaulting creates an effect similar to the Screw Attack. Samus will retain the charge after somersaulting unless she bumps into an enemy, in which case the charge is redirected into the enemy and destroys it.
Ice Beam
A frequent upgrade from the Power Beam, the Ice Beam, as its name implies, fires shards of ice that can freeze enemies in their tracks--even while floating in midair. Frozen enemies can be safely touched (even if they bear spikes) and used as platforms. The weapon is invaluable against the namesakes of the Metroid series, who are particularly weak to frigid temperatures.
In "Metroid" and "Metroid II: Return of Samus," Samus switches between the Ice Beam and one or three others at Chozo Statues or by recollecting the original; it is found near the entrance to Norfair in the first game and in the First Chozo City (for the first time) in the second game. "Metroid: Zero Mission" and "Super Metroid" simply upgrade the Power Beam with ice capabilities, which are retained after later upgrades as well; both games provide the Ice Beam shortly after entering Norfair. In "Super Metroid," when Samus charges the Ice Beam while Power Bombs are also selected she will become surrounded by four shards of ice that freeze enemies on contact.
"Metroid Prime" allows for the Power Beam and Ice Beam to be instantaneously swapped between after the latter is collected; it is found in the Antechamber of the Chozo Ruins. The Ice Beam is the third most powerful beam, but is also the slowest. Additionally, it will only freeze enemies when charged. It is only required to open doors with a white force-field around them, but also helpful against stronger enemies; a frozen enemy can be destroyed with a single missile. A charged Ice Beam can be combined with the Missile Launcher to create the Ice Spreader. Like the Power Beam, Space Pirates have reverse-engineered the Ice Beam to create the white-armored Ice Troopers.
The Ice Beam is replaced by the Ice Missiles in "Metroid Fusion" due to storyline elements; since Samus is infected with Metroid DNA, she is particularly weak to ice and it is considered unwise for her to download the beam. The SA-X that stalks Samus throughout most of the game uses the Ice Beam against Samus, increasing its threat toward her. Near the end of the game, Samus destroys the SA-X, but is unable to reclaim the Ice Beam from it. After confronted by an Omega Metroid, the SA-X presumably sacrifices itself to Samus so that she can use the Ice Beam to finish the beast off.
- Metroid, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Prime, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion
Wave Beam
Another constant of Samus's arsenal is the Wave Beam. Unlike the Ice Beam, the Wave Beam's abilities are ever-shifting between the games it appears in. Most commonly, the Wave Beam appears as its name suggests; it is a beam that travels in an arcing wave to allow Samus a wider spread of attack. It is often useful for its ability to pass through walls and hit switches or enemies previously unreachable.
In "Metroid" and "Metroid II: Return of Samus," the Wave Beam replaces and is replaced by other beams, requiring Samus to switch between them at Chozo Statues or by recollecting them; it is found near the entrance to Ridley's Lair in the first and in the Second Chozo City (for the first time) in the second. "Metroid: Zero Mission," "Super Metroid," and "Metroid Fusion" combine the effects of the Wave Beam with the current Power Beam; it is found in Norfair just prior to the Spore Spawn battle in Zero Mission, it can be obtained just prior or post to grabbing the Speed Booster in Super, and must be earned by killing the Security Robot in Sector 6 of Fusion. In "Super Metroid," Samus can charge the Wave Beam while the Power Bomb is also selected to generate a shield comprised of four bolts around herself.
The Wave Beam can be switched between the Power Beam and others at will in "Metroid Prime;" it is being guarded by a Sheegoth in the Chapel of the Elders of Phendrana Drifts. The Wave Beam is only slightly more powerful than the Power Beam, but it sends out three shots rather than one to increase attack range. The ability to pass through walls has been removed in favor of an electrical charge; the Wave Beam can be used to power machines, and a charged shot will paralyze an enemy momentarily. It will also open doors with purple force-fields. A charged Wave Beam combined with the Missile Launcher creates the Wavebuster. As with the other beams in "Metroid Prime," the Wave Beam has been reverse engineered by Space Pirates to create Wave Troopers, special ops Pirates with purple-tinged armor.
Though the Wave Beam does not reappear in "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption," the Nova Beam has the ability to pass through walls, akin to the Wave Beam's ability in the 2-D adventures.
- Metroid, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Prime, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion
Plasma Beam
- Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Metroid II: Return of Samus, Super Metroid, Metroid Fusion
Phazon Beam
Dark Beam
Light Beam
Annihilator Beam
Nova Beam
Wide Beam
Missiles
Missile Launcher
- Entire Series
Super Missile
Wavebuster
Ice Spreader
Flamethrower
Seeker Missile Launcher
Darkburst
Sunburst
Sonic Boom
Ice Missile
Hyper Missile
Diffusion Missile
Other
Battlehammer
Judicator
Volt Driver
Shock Coil
Magmaul
Imperialist
Omega Cannon
Grapple Beam
As shown in the Metroid Prime series, the Grapple Beam is not actually a part of Samus's Arm Cannon, but is a unique device on her left arm. In most incarnations it has the effect to fire a blue beam that latches onto certain airborne objects so that Samus can swing across gaps. "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption" increases the usefulness of the Grapple Beam by adding several stacking effects.
Grapple Lasso
The Grapple Lasso is the first of the Grapple Beam upgrades found in "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption." Samus can obtain it at the Docking Hub Alpha on Norion. The Grapple Lasso is useful for moving certain objects or enemies, and can also be used to pull shields or armor away from some enemies.
Grapple Swing
The most common version of the Grapple Beam, the Grapple Swing appears as the only form of the Grapple Beam in games outside of "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption." The Grapple Beam is first found in "Metroid Prime" in Storage Depot B of the Phazon Mines. She retains it to the start of "Metroid Prime 2: Echoes," but it is stolen by the Ing early in the game; Samus must defeat the Grapple Guardian in the Sacrificial Chamber of Dark Tovrus Bog to get it back. The Grapple Swing is the second of the Grapple Beam upgrades in "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption," found in Reliquary I of the Bryyo Cliffside. In "Super Metroid," the Grappling Beam can be obtained from a Chozo Statue in Norfair shortly after killing Crocomire. In all of its appearances, the Grapple Swing is used to lock on to special targets (including blocks, hooks, and some enemies); Samus can then swing from the end of the beam to cross large gaps.
Grapple Voltage
The Grapple Voltage is the third of the Grapple Beam upgrades found in "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption." It is in the possession of Gandrayda at the start of the game; she uses it against Samus in the Proving Grounds of the Research Facility on the Pirate Homeworld. Samus can take it for herself after defeating the fellow hunter in combat. The Grapple Voltage allows Samus to latch onto objects and enemies with her Grapple Beam and either drain energy from them and into herself, or drain energy from herself and into them; this is required to power some devices.
Hyper Grapple
The Hyper Grapple is an updated version of the Grapple Voltage. It is hidden in the Leviathan Core of the Pirate Homeworld. If Samus uses the Grapple Voltage while in her Phazon-producing Hyper Mode, she sends phazon from herself into whatever the Grapple Beam is attached to. This increases the strength against enemies and is necessary for overloading certain objects with Phazon to the point of disintegration.