Hopping Metroid

Hopping Metroids are highly mutated Metroids that somewhat resemble Metroid Prime in its initial protective husk, Gamma Metroids, Phazon Hoppers, or even Quadtroids. Barely even resembling a Metroid larva anymore, Hopping Metroids can no longer fly as a result of Phazon mutation, instead moving around by jumping with their four legs. In addition, it has entirely lost its nuclei. Due to the immense amount of Phazon stored in their bodies, they are able to enter Hypermode at will. They attack by slashing at Samus with their sharp, Phazite-tipped front legs or spitting Phazon venom; when they enter Hypermode, they can also generate small Phazon shockwaves similar to those made by Phazon Hoppers. Hopping Metroids are still vulnerable to cold, though to a lesser extent than their flying counterparts, and it takes several Ice Missiles to freeze them instead of only one. However, unlike Phazon Metroids, they cannot become intangible to avoid the Missiles.

It is unknown exactly how a Metroid mutates into this form, except that it is most likely a higher form of the Phazon Metroid. A possibility is that a Phazon Metroid molts into the Hopping stage in a similar manner to the larval Metroids on SR388 molting into the Alpha and Gamma stages. It also does bear some resemblance to Metroid Prime, which may suggest a connection between the two, possibly even that Metroid Prime is the ultimate from of Phazon Metroids after they go through the Hopping Metroid stage and absorb large amounts of Phazon. This is supported by the fact that Hopping Metroids and Phazon Metroids both resemble Metroid Prime's two forms and exoskeletons similiar to Prime's can also be found on Phaaze, possibly belonging to Hopping Metroids which developed near or to the Prime stage on the planet. Whether or not those same exoskeletons were alive was never confirmed.