Much like its predecessors, Metroid Dread does an excellent job of implementing its upgrades and power-ups. Not only do they help to make players feel as though they're growing stronger as they make their way through the game, but they also completely change the way that Samus and the player explore Planet ZDR and its many regions.

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With each new piece of equipment and technique that players unlock and learn, brand new routes will open in front of them, allowing them to unearth new secrets in areas that had already been quite thoroughly explored. These upgrades also play a pivotal role in Metroid Dread's devilishly difficult boss-fights, which, even with Samus' powerful new equipment, still provide just the right amount of challenge.

Updated December 4, 2021 by Tom Bowen: Collecting new equipment and upgrades has always played an important role in the Metroid series; helping not only to steer players in the right direction, but also to provide them with a near-constant sense of improvement as they make their way through the game. Metroid Dread is no different in this regard and actually boasts more power-ups than any other Metroid game before it. This guide has information on where players can acquire them all, as well as the order in which they can expect to find them.

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Every Beam Upgrade in Metroid Dread

Charge Beam

Where to find the Charge Beam

Players will find the Charge Beam being held by a Chozo statue in the southwestern corner of Artaria. Before they can reach it, however, they'll first need to drain some water by stepping on a special tile and then follow the path through a missile-locked door to the statue.

How to use the Charge Beam

The Charge Beam is the first upgrade to Samus' power blaster and allows players to unleash a more powerful shot by holding down the Y button. With it, they can open orange Charge Beam doors and deal additional damage to enemies.

Wide Beam

Where to find the Wide Beam

Players will find the Wide Beam in the central area of Dairon. To reach it, they'll first need to activate the generator to restore power to the area. Next, they'll have to head through a missile-locked door and then a Charge Beam door to find the Chozo statue that's holding the beam.

How to use the Wide Beam

The Wide Beam allows Samus to fire three separate beams with each shot rather than just one. As well as allowing players to hit enemies multiple times or multiple targets with a single shot, it also enables them to open the doors that are covered by the orange three-dot domes.

Diffusion Beam

Where to find the Diffusion Beam

Players can find the Diffusion Beam in the southwestern corner of Cataris shortly after defeating Kraid. They'll need to exit the boss room from the right side via the blue Spider Magnet panel and then head through the missile-locked door to find the Chozo statue that's holding the beam.

How to use the Diffusion Beam

When charged, the Diffusion Beam allows players to damage enemies through platforms. It can also be used to damage the red organic matter through thin walls and surfaces, which will be needed to exit the room in which players find the beam.

Grapple Beam

Where to find the Grapple Beam

Players can find the Grapple Beam in the northern part of Artaria. As with other beam upgrades, it's being held by a Chozo statue behind a red missile-locked door.

How to use the Grapple Beam

To use the Grapple Beam, players will need to hold the ZR button and then press Y. It can be used to swing from special Grapple Beam blocks in the ceiling, open Grapple Beam doors, and pull certain blocks. It can also latch onto the blue Spider Magnet surfaces, making it an invaluable tool for climbing and vertical exploration.

Plasma Beam

Where to find the Plasma Beam

Players will find the Plasma Beam in Elun shortly after passing through a Morph Ball launcher. They'll need to destroy a red missile dome and then shoot through the ceiling to gain access to the room with the Chozo statue that's holding the upgrade.

How to use the Plasma Beam

The Plasma Beam is a more powerful version of the Diffusion Beam and will allow Samus to destroy the green domes that are covering certain doors. It can also pierce through enemies and allows players to damage metallic enemies without the need for charging.

Wave Beam

Where to find the Wave Beam

The Wave Beam is the last permanent upgrade for Samus' arm canon and is obtained by defeating the purple E.M.M.I. robot in Ferenia near the end of the game.

How to use the Wave Beam

The wave been can penetrate solid objects, including enemies, walls, and ceilings. Players can also use it to destroy the purple Wave Beam domes that cover certain doors on planet ZDR or destroy the red organic matter to open up new routes.

Hyper Beam

Where to find the Hyper Beam

Players will unlock the wave beam after the fourth phase of the fight with Raven Beak. They'll be able to use it during the final phase of the battle as well as the escape sequence that follows it.

How to use the Hyper Beam

The Hyper Beam replaces Samus' other beams and is able to destroy pretty much every type of block in the game. It's also needed to unlock the door that leads to Samus' ship.

Omega Cannon

Where to find the Omega Cannon

The Omega Cannon is a temporary upgrade that's obtained by absorbing the power from Central Units. Players will unlock the weapon at six different points throughout the game and must use it to kill the E.M.M.I. robots by destroying their cores.

How to use the Omega Cannon

The Omega Cannon has two different modes. The first, the Omega Stream, is activated by holding the L and Y buttons at the same time and is used to heat up the shielding around the robots' cores. The second, the Omega Blaster, requires players to hold the L and R buttons to charge and is then fired by pressing Y.

Every Missile Upgrade in Metroid Dread

Super Missile

Where to find the Super Missile

Players can find the Super Missile in the arms of a Chozo statue in Ghavoran. It's to the south of the area between the two elevators to the south of the region and can be accessed with the aid of missiles and Morph Ball bombs.

How to use the Super Missile

The Super Missile is just a more powerful version of the regular missile and is used in the exact same way (hold R and then press Y). As well as dishing out extra damage, this increased power also allows players to destroy the green mesh super-missile domes that cover certain doors on planet ZDR.

Ice Missile

Where to find the Ice Missile

Players will unlock the Ice Missile after destroying the blue E.M.M.I. robot in the Ghavoran region.

How to use the Ice Missile

The Ice Missile is used in the exact same way as earlier missile upgrades (hold the R button and then press Y). As well as being more powerful than Super Missiles, they can also be used to freeze certain enemies and objects and are the only way to destroy Enky, the strange fire plants that block certain routes in the game.

Storm Missile

Where to find the Storm Missile

Players will obtain the Storm Missile upgrade after beating the Escue boss in Ferenia.

How to use the Storm Missile

To use Storm Missiles, players will need to hold the R button to charge them and then designate targets using the laser. Once targets have been locked in, players will need to press the Y button, which will consume three missiles from Samus' inventory. They can be used to damage multiple enemies at once, deal increased damage to a single enemy, or pass through special Storm Missile barriers and doors by targeting all five nearby green lights at once.

Every Aeion Ability in Metroid Dread

Phantom Cloak

Where to find the Phantom Cloak

Players will acquire the Phantom Cloak ability after defeating the Corpius boss in Artaria.

How to use the Phantom Cloak

The Phantom Cloak allows players to pass through sensor-lock doors and can also be used to hide from E.M.M.I. robots. It's activated and deactivated by pressing the right analog stick in and will gradually deplete Samus' Aeion meter while in use. If the meter runs out, it will then begin to drain her health.

Flash Shift

Where to find the Flash Shift

Players acquire the Flash Shift ability after finding a special cube in the central part of Burenia. To reach it, they'll first need to destroy a red missile dome that's blocking the door to the chamber.

How to use the Flash Shift

The Flash Shift allows Samus to rapidly move to the left or right and is activated by pressing the A button while tilting the analog stick in either direction. Among other things, players are able to use the Flash Shift to pass through shutters and can perform up to three consecutive shifts depending on their needs.

Pulse Radar

Where to find the Pulse Radar

Players will find the Pulse Radar in the northern part of the Ghavoran region. To reach it, they'll need to open a Grapple Beam door and then roll down a hidden tunnel in the bottom left-hand corner of the following room.

How to use the Pulse Radar

The Pulse Radar is activated by holding right on the D-Pad for a few seconds and can be used to show the location of every hidden block in a room or area.

Every Suit Upgrade in Metroid Dread

Varia Suit

Where to find the Varia Suit

Players will find the Varia Suit in a Chozo statue room in the northwestern corner of Artaria. To reach it, they'll need to activate the thermal device, outrun the lava and then open up the red missile door.

How to use the Varia Suit

The Varia Suit allows Samus to withstand high temperatures, meaning the players will finally be able to explore some of the lava-filled rooms after finding it. Falling directly into lava will still cause damage, however.

Gravity Suit

Where to find the Gravity Suit

Players will find the Gravity Suit in a Chozo statue room in the southern part of the Burenia region after they've found the Space Jump.

How to use the Gravity Suit

While worn, the Gravity Suit allows Samus to withstand both extremely high and low temperatures. This means that players will now be able to explore cold areas as well as stand in lava without taking damage. What's more, the Gravity Suit also reduces the amount of damage dealt by certain enemies and allows Samus to move normally in water.

Metroid Suit

Where to find the Metroid Suit

Players will acquire the Metroid Suit automatically during the closing stages of the fight with Raven Beak in Itorash.

How to use the Metroid Suit

The Metroid Suit allows Samus to absorb energy from enemies simply by touching them, meaning that players will be able to run into enemies during the closing stages of the game without losing health. It also allows Samus to use the Hyper Beam, which is needed to unlock the door leading to her ship.

Every Morph Ball Upgrade in Metroid Dread

Morph Ball

Where to find the Morph Ball

Players will unlock the Morph Ball after defeating the green E.M.M.I. robot in Cataris.

How to use the Morph Ball

To morph into ball form, players will either need to press the ZL button while standing still or tilt the left analog stick down while crouching. Alternatively, they can double-tap ZL while running or have Samus pull herself up into a Morph Ball-sized tunnel.

Bomb

Where to find the Bomb

The Morph Ball bomb is being held by a Chozo statue in the northern part of the Dairon region. The entrance to the chamber is to the right of a save room and will require the use of a missile to penetrate.

How to use the Bomb

Morph Ball bombs can be used to destroy certain blocks and are activated by pressing the Y button while in ball form. As in previous Metroid games, players can also use them to propel Samus upwards though there are very few practical uses for this in Metroid Dread.

Cross Bomb

Where to find the Cross Bomb

Players will get their hands on the Cross Bomb after defeating the Golzuna boss in Ghavoran.

How to use the Cross Bomb

To use the Cross Bomb, players will need to hold the R button while in ball form and then tap the Y button. Cross Bombs can be used to destroy multiple blocks at once or propel Samus horizontally over rows of pitfall blocks.

Power Bomb

Where to find the Power Bomb

Players will acquire the Power Bomb after defeating the red E.M.M.I. robot in the Hanubia region towards the end of the game.

How to use the Power Bomb

To activate a Power Bomb, players will need to hold the R button while in ball form and then tap Y after it has finished charging. When detonated, Power Bombs will destroy the special orange power bomb blocks as well as any other blocks that would usually be destroyed by Samus' arm canon, missiles, or Morph Ball bombs.

Every Miscellaneous Upgrade in Metroid Dread

Spider Magnet

Where to find the Spider Magnet

In order to get their hands on the Spider Magnet, players will need to defeat the white E.M.M.I. robot in Artaria.

How to use the Spider Magnet

The Spider Magnet allows Samus to grab onto special blue surfaces that are often found on walls and ceilings. In some instances, this can be used to move special platforms.

Speed Booster

Where to find the Speed Booster

The Speed Booster is unlocked after players defeat the yellow E.M.M.I. robot in Dairon.

How to use the Speed Booster

When activated, the Speed Booster allows Samus to run through special orange blocks. To do so, players will need to press the left analog stick in while Samus is running. This momentum can be preserved by jumping, sliding, or performing wall jumps; the latter of which allows players to change direction without losing their speed. Alternatively, players can store Samus' momentum by flicking the left analog stick down after the booster activates. This will lead to her glowing purple for about five seconds, during which time, players can use this energy to fire her in any direction by pressing and holding the B button while in either regular or ball form.

Spin Boost

Where to find the Spin Boost

The Spin Boost is being protected by a Chozo statue in the Ghavoran region and can be reached via a Morph Ball launcher to the left of the green teleporter room. To reach it, players will need to head to the nearby underwater section and then make their way over to the right.

How to use the Spin Boost

After finding the Spin Boost, players will be able to perform an additional jump by pressing the B button again while at the highest point of a regular jump. Unless they have the Gravity Suit equipped, players won't be able to gain height using the Spin Boost while they are in water.

Space Jump

Where to find the Space Jump

The Space Jump is obtained from a Chozo statue in Ferenia not far from the train to Ghavoran. To reach it, players will first need to open a red missile-locked door.

How to use the Space Jump

By pressing the B button while at the apex of a jump, players will be able to jump again and can repeat this process as many times as they like. While in water, however, players will not be able to gain height this way without the Gravity Suit, which they won't find until much later on in the game.

Screw Attack

Where to find the Screw Attack

The Screw Attack can only be obtained once players have unfrozen Artaria by defeating the Experiment No. Z-57 boss in Cataris. After doing so, they should use the blue teleporter to return to Artaria and then remove the Grapple Beam block to their right. They'll then need to head through the Plasma Beam door beneath them and drop down the tunnel, where they'll find another Chozo statue and the Screw Attack upgrade.

How to use the Screw Attack

The Screw Attack allows Samus to damage the vast majority of enemies simply by jumping into them and can also be used to destroy the blue Screw Attack blocks.

Other Upgrades

As well as the aforementioned upgrades, Metroid Dread players are also able to increase Samus' maximum health and ammo capacity. To do so, they'll need to find a series of special tanks, which are hidden throughout the game's eight main areas. In total, there are 24 Energy Tanks, 86 Missile Tanks, and 13 Power Bomb Tanks for players to track down, though picking up each and every one of them won't be easy.

Equipment / Upgrade Order

Though there are one or two exceptions, Metroid Dread has an expected order in mind when it comes to collecting upgrades and equipment. Assuming that players follow the intended route, they'll therefore find the game's 25 permanent power-ups in the order detailed below. It's worth noting, however, that it's possible to acquire the Phantom Cloak, Flash Shift, Bomb, and Gravity Suit upgrades earlier than scheduled with the help of a little sequence breaking.

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