Metroid Dread Boss Guide: Tips For How To Beat All 10 Monstrous Foes

Metroid Dread presents some of Samus’ most formidable adversaries in the entire series–success demands peak performance and strategic execution to endure these intense encounters.

While continuing the narrative from Metroid Fusion chronologically, Dread’s combat mechanics evolve directly from Metroid: Samus Returns, creating exceptionally demanding boss confrontations. These battles consistently push players toward aggressive engagement while requiring precise reaction timing to enemy assault patterns through expert application of Samus’ diverse abilities. The game features 10 distinct boss opponents, though several appear multiple times with enhanced capabilities across different encounters.

As the culmination of Samus’ 2D journey, Metroid Dread shifts away from the horror elements established in Fusion, instead delivering a cinematic conclusion through extensive cutscenes and voice performances. The game intensifies themes of apprehension and tension, primarily manifested through the seven EMMI units encountered during the campaign, each specifically engineered with one of Samus’ signature abilities. For newcomers to the Metroid universe, understanding core combat principles proves essential for conquering Dread’s challenges.

GameSpot’s assessment by Steven Petite observes, “More than anything else, Metroid Dread feels like returning to familiar territory after an extended absence. Despite refined gameplay mechanics and new feature integration, Dread maintains strong continuity with its predecessors. Ultimately, for veteran enthusiasts like myself, this continuity proves beneficial. There’s no reason for apprehension here. We’ve returned home.”

Corpius serves as your initial significant antagonist, functioning more as a combat tutorial than an overwhelming obstacle, so approach this encounter with confidence. This boss employs just two primary assaults requiring your attention, both utilizing its barbed tail as the weapon. When Corpius draws its tail backward, anticipate a forward thrusting motion; when it rotates the tail laterally, prepare for a sweeping strike. Evading toward or away from Corpius avoids the thrust, while the sweep is simply dodged with a well-timed jump. An additional acid sphere projectile attack exists that’s exceptionally simple to avoid, though destroying these projectiles provides valuable health restoration and missile replenishment.

Corpius features an unmistakable vulnerability: its cranial region. Standard beam weaponry proves insufficient–you must deploy charged beam attacks or missiles. Maintain consistent targeting of this weak point. Importantly, when Corpius executes its thrust attack, dodging forward positions you advantageously close. The tail becomes temporarily embedded in the terrain behind you, creating a perfect window for multiple uncontested strikes to the head. Inflict sufficient damage to trigger the battle’s secondary phase, where Corpius activates cloaking technology. Your fundamental approach remains identical though evasion and targeting become considerably more challenging.

While continuing to target the head during Corpius’ invisible state remains possible, significantly more effective strategy involves directing beam attacks toward the illuminated section of its tail–this eventually creates an opportunity to slide beneath the creature and counter its subsequent assault, initiating a brief cinematic sequence where Samus lands multiple missile impacts on its head. Post-animation, Corpius attempts to flood the arena floor with corrosive acid, requiring Spider Magnet deployment to adhere to walls and evade the hazard. Maintain evasive maneuvers and sustained offensive pressure for swift victory.

With sufficiently rapid attack deployment, you can complete Kraid’s initial phase within moments. Target his ocular region with charged beams or missiles to trigger a pain response, creating an opening to unleash your full arsenal into his oral cavity. He’ll attempt interruption through talon projections or expelling incendiary spheres and explosive devices–the talons and bombs can be destroyed mid-flight for health and ammunition recovery. Simply maintain relentless assault into his mouth with maximum aggression to rapidly advance past this initial combat stage.

During Phase 2, exercise caution regarding three distinct attacks originating from Kraid’s abdominal orifices. The first involves a violet globule that discharges energy waves upon surface impact, easily avoided by wall-jumping from your left position. Kraid additionally launches ricocheting spherical explosives that can be evaded with proper timing, though they’re worth eliminating as they supply health and missile resources. Finally, Kraid discharges enormous spikes–simply crouch and they’ll pass harmlessly overhead.

Throughout your evasion of these assaults, consistently target his secondary vulnerability, the injured abdominal orifice. Eventually, Kraid will clutch his midsection in agony and discharge spikes toward you–avoid these projectiles and they’ll impact the wall, dislodging a magnetic conduit that Samus can grasp and ascend, enabling you to again target Kraid’s facial region, revealing his primary weakness, his oral cavity. He’ll eventually attempt to dislodge you, allowing you to leap back to his lower extremities to evade the attack. Repeat this sequence until achieving final victory.

Success in Metroid Dread demands more than basic pattern recognition–it requires strategic resource management and advanced movement techniques. One critical mistake players make is conserving missiles during easier phases, leaving them under-equipped for critical moments. Always prioritize destroying enemy projectiles that provide resources, as this creates sustainable combat loops. For advanced players, mastering the slide maneuver during Corpius’ invisible phase can reduce encounter time by 30-40% compared to conventional approaches.

Movement optimization represents another key differentiator between novice and expert play. The Spider Magnet isn’t merely for traversal–it’s an essential combat tool for creating safe positioning during area-wide attacks. Similarly, understanding exactly when to deploy charged beams versus standard missiles based on enemy vulnerability windows significantly increases damage output efficiency.

Environmental awareness proves equally crucial. Many bosses, including Kraid, incorporate destructible environmental elements that create new attack opportunities. Learning to quickly identify and utilize these elements separates competent players from masters. Typical boss encounters last 3-5 minutes for experienced players, while newcomers might require 8-12 minutes initially. With practice, these times can be dramatically reduced through precise execution of advanced techniques.

Drogyga employs two distinct tentacle assault patterns that require different evasion techniques. When the creature positions one tentacle to obstruct the overhead magnetic panel, prepare for dual slicing motions that demand precise jumping. Alternatively, if no tentacle blocks the panel, immediately deploy your Grapple Beam to reposition away from the impending stab. The boss also launches slow-moving fireballs in two varieties: blue orbs that yield health and missile replenishment when destroyed, and orange projectiles that must be avoided entirely.

Your primary objective targets the massive tentacle positioned above Drogyga’s head. Sustained firepower will eventually stun the creature, creating your damage window. During this stunned state, activate Charge Beam on the illuminated wall panel, then use Grapple Beam on the magnetized ceiling panel to traverse to the opposite side and strike the corresponding panel. This sequence drains the chamber’s water, retracting Drogyga’s defensive shell and exposing its vulnerable purple core. Unleash your missile arsenal, but maintain readiness for its recovery counterattack. The lunge counter opportunity appears briefly, requiring split-second timing. Typically, exposing the weak point two to three times secures victory.

Raven Beak’s X-infected Chozo warriors present unique combat challenges across multiple encounters. During the initial phase, evade lunging assaults by jumping over horizontal attacks and utilizing slide or Flash Shift maneuvers when the soldier leaps airborne for downward strikes. This phase emphasizes straightforward engagement—maintain consistent missile barrages while avoiding direct confrontation.

The second phase introduces dramatic mutation as the X parasite transforms the soldier into a beast-like entity. Enhanced speed and extended lunge range characterize this transformation. The aerial lunge now generates damaging black energy waves, necessitating jump evasion after dodging the initial impact. Additionally, the mutated soldier will periodically cling to walls and discharge massive black energy beams. These tracking attacks require precise timing—delay your dodge until immediately before the creature opens its mouth to fire.

Shield-bearing Chozo Soldier variants demand specialized approaches. Aggressively close distance to provoke shield bash attempts, creating counter opportunities. Successful counters enable Grapple Beam utilization to dismantle the shield. Post-shield removal, these soldiers revert to standard attack patterns you’ve previously mastered.

This insectoid adversary’s primary defense mechanism involves generating an electrical shield that nullifies standard beam and missile attacks. Beyond this defensive capability, Escue employs multiple homing assault methods: slow-tracking purple orbs, rapid-fire purple missile volleys, and direct horn charges. Each attack pattern presents distinct evasion requirements and counter opportunities.

Flash Shift proves invaluable for evading all attack variations. Monitor the electrical shield carefully—it periodically deactivates, creating brief damage windows. During these intervals, unleash missile salvos before Escue reactivates its protection. This cycle of evasion and timed aggression forms the core engagement strategy.

Upon defeating Escue, a formidable spike-armored X parasite emerges. Target the outer shell with missiles while utilizing jumping, sliding, and Flash Shift to avoid its floating pursuit. Each successful hit triggers temporary invulnerability phases, requiring patience between attack sequences. After several missile impacts, the shell fractures, permitting absorption of the potent X parasite and acquisition of Escue’s Missile Storm ability for your arsenal.

Similar to Corpius, Experiment No. Z-57’s cranial region serves as its vulnerability point. However, this creature excels at maintaining constant offensive pressure, severely limiting consecutive damage opportunities. Expert Space Jump management becomes essential for survival, as the experiment executes slashing attacks covering between one-third to three-quarters of the arena. These widespread assaults often necessitate sustained midair positioning to successfully evade.

This encounter demands strategic patience rather than aggressive rushing. While counter and stun opportunities exist, attempting to tank damage proves disastrous. Experiment No. Z-57 delivers powerful strikes and can initiate devastating attack combinations against stationary targets. Constant mobility and positional awareness form the foundation of victory against this biological weapon.

Before facing Raven Beak, you’ll encounter the Elite Chozo Soldier, which serves as an advanced warm-up encounter. This upgraded version boasts significantly increased health reserves and accelerated attack patterns compared to standard shield-bearing Chozo Soldiers. While more demanding in execution requirements, this preliminary battle primarily functions as skill validation rather than presenting substantial new mechanical challenges. Consider it the final checkpoint before the ultimate test of your acquired abilities throughout the game.

Prepare for an intense endurance trial against Raven Beak’s five-phase assault sequence. Success in the initial two phases should leave Samus undamaged, creating buffer room for errors during the more complex third and fourth stages. The concluding phase receives generous assistance through automatic healing and saving mechanics, making it manageable with proper strategic understanding. Proper hand positioning and controller familiarity become critical factors for sustained performance throughout this extended engagement.

The opening ground phases establish core combat rhythms that you’ll need to internalize. Raven Beak employs a predictable three-strike melee combination that demands immediate Flash Shift retreats to maintain safe distance. The Space Jump ability proves invaluable for repositioning when cornered against arena boundaries. His projectile attack manifests as a purple energy orb that, when destroyed with missiles, rewards you with both health restoration and ammunition replenishment—creating essential sustainability loops.

When Raven Beak elevates his arm cannon, he prepares to discharge a massive energy wave covering most of the battlefield. The safe zone exists immediately adjacent to his position, but requires rapid evacuation once the energy field collapses. Phase 1 focuses on sustained missile bombardment during attack windows, while Phase 2 introduces invincibility mechanics indicated by reddish-orange aura effects. During this immunity period, you must either counter his charging gut punch or provoke and counter his counter-attack during taunt sequences to create damage opportunities.

Phase 3 transitions Raven Beak into airborne assaults, demanding adjusted targeting and evasion methodologies. While missiles remain your primary damage source, his increased aerial velocity may necessitate switching to Storm Missiles or standard beam attacks for reliable hit confirmation. His charging beam attack creates diagonal firing patterns that leave the area beneath him completely safe—position yourself accordingly during charge sequences.

The gatling gun beam assault features persistent tracking that requires circular Space Jump patterns around Raven Beak to maintain evasion. His diving attacks manifest as either vertical stomp descents or horizontal screen-crossing charges. Employ Flash Shift for the former and sliding/Morph Ball techniques for the latter, ensuring appropriate response to each attack variant. Storm Missiles become particularly effective during beam firing animations when he remains stationary.

Phase 4 reintroduces ground combat with significantly amplified difficulty through additional attack patterns. The Hyper Beam introduction creates a high-damage threat requiring precise evasion timing. During charge sequences, execute Space Jumps toward ceiling positions followed by controlled descents while the beam fires horizontally, creating perfect missile retaliation windows.

The newly introduced Sun attack summons a massive orange energy sphere that remains stationary while emitting deadly energy beams. This persistent environmental hazard demands continuous movement and spatial awareness until it naturally dissipates after a fixed duration. Maintain distance from the sun while monitoring Raven Beak’s simultaneous attacks for comprehensive threat management.

Following the intense four-phase sequence, Raven Beak undergoes X parasite infection, transforming into a grotesque amorphous entity. This mutation simplifies the combat requirements significantly—focus exclusively on charged beam attacks directed at his facial region. The game provides automatic healing and saving before this phase, ensuring accessibility even after previous struggles. Congratulations on completing Metroid Dread’s ultimate challenge!

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