The subject of this article is not named in-game.
The current title is from a guide or other published source.
The Cloaked Drone,[1] also known as the Beta Drone[2][3] and Invisible Sentry Drone,[4] is a Space Pirate Sentry Drone in Metroid Prime equipped with cloaking technology, rendering it invisible in the ordinary visible spectrum. Samus encounters it before locating the Power Bomb upgrade in the Central Dynamo of the Phazon Mines on Tallon IV. Whilst the Cloaked Drone itself is invisible and cannot be locked onto by the Combat Visor, Samus can still see the light produced by its weapons and optical device. Because Samus cannot lock onto the mechanoid, she is also unable to scan it.
The X-Ray Visor can visualize the Cloaked Drone, and also reveal a shield than can occasionally be seen in the normal spectrum as well. However, Samus does not have access to the X-Ray Visor at this time. The mechanoid loses its cloaking technology in the cutscene when it is destroyed and can be seen briefly.
Battle[]
Samus fires at the Cloaked Drone.
Samus triggers the Cloaked Drone's activation when she enters the Central Dynamo, locking down the doors to prevent her escape. The drone flies around pelting her with turret-mounted guns and a powerful laser.
The most effective weapon is a charged Wave Beam shot, though if Missiles are plentiful (around 35 are required), an easy strategy is simply to use the Wavebuster until the mechanoid has been destroyed, as it automatically tracks the Cloaked Drone throughout the room. A Super Missile can destroy the Cloaked Drone in one hit.
The Cloaked Drone can be fought from the platform that Samus enters the room in, and not necessarily from the bottom area. After Samus defeats it, she traverses through an electrical maze to acquire the Power Bomb upgrade.
Samus cannot scan it at all during the fight.
Official Data[]
Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]
- CLOAKED DRONE
- "The Space Pirates made significant strides in their weapon research, including the creation of Cloaked Drones. The flying robots are easy to take down with the Wavebuster, but you must find them first. Use the Thermal Visor to reveal the cloaked foes' locations. Note that Cloaked Drones cannot be scanned.
After you destroy the Cloaked Drone, a small hole will open in the floor."
Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide[]
"Drop onto the floor, and a cloaked Sentry Drone attacks you. It's impossible to lock on to this enemy. Just watch for its lights, and manually aim with your Wave Beam. Keep blasting as quickly as you can to destroy it. Because this enemy is cloaked, there's no way to scan it.
Once you destroy the Sentry Drone, a panel on the floor opens."
Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide[]
- BETA DRONE
- MORPHOLOGY
- "Security mechanoid equipped with phased cloaking grid. The next generation of Drones operates fully cloaked from normal sight. A defense shield and extra Beam Cannon increases their combat effectiveness as well. Still, they are machines, and can be nullified with electromagnetic pulses."
- COMBAT TIPS
- "Hit the Beta Drone with the Power Beam or other Beam weapons to take them out as quickly as possible."
Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide[]
- MINI-BOSS: INVISIBLE SENTRY DRONE
- "Target this strange enemy manually--the only way you can--and shoot it with the full powered blasts of the Wave Beam when it fires its own laser.
When the Invisible Sentry Drone crashes it makes a hole."
Unused data[]
| ! | Non-canon warning. This article or section contains information that may not be considered an official part of the Metroid series in the overall storyline by Nintendo. |
Internal data within the GameCube version of Metroid Prime refers to an unused layer in Elite Quarters Access with the name Beta Drone. It is possible this refers to the Cloaked Drone, suggesting it was meant to be a common enemy placed after its initial encounter within the Phazon Mines. The reason for their removal as a common enemy is unclear, as other invisible common enemies still exist.
The model for the Cloaked Drone is named Gamma_Drone.
In Metroid Prime Remastered, unused scan text for the Cloaked Drone exists within the game's files, suggesting further information was planned to be revealed. The unused scan names this model as a "Beta Drone", comprising the next generation of drones. The scan accurately describes the Cloaked Drone's abilities, though it also mentions an "extra Beam Cannon", possibly referring to the laser eye cannon that other drones possess. It is possible Samus's destruction of the Cloaker Drone halts advancements in drone technology, as further drones are never encountered, nor do any enemies throughout the rest of the Metroid Prime Trilogy utilize similar technology as the Beta Drone. It is unknown why this scan was removed from the final game.
Beta Drone
Mechanoid: Beta Drone
Security mecha equipped with phased cloaking grid.
The next generation of Drones operate fully cloaked from normal sight. A defense shield and extra Beam Cannon increases their combat effectiveness as well. Still, they are machines, and can be nullified with electromagnetic pulses.
Non-canon warning: Non-canonical information ends here.
Trivia[]
The Cloaked Drone's model, made visible via hacking
- It should be noted that Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide states that the Cloaked Drone can be seen with the Thermal Visor. In the game, however, this visor only allows Samus to see the heat trail from the Cloaked Drone's jets.
- In a trailer from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest, the Cloaked Drone is seen fought with the X-Ray Visor.
- The Cloaked Drone shares its battle theme with the Plated Beetle and theSheegoth.
- In the game's data, the Cloaked Drone has a unique model with a dark red color scheme. This can never be seen in normal gameplay, due to its invisibility, and the model is swapped out for that of an ordinary Sentry Drone during its death cutscene.
- The Cloaked Drone can fire up to two lasers from its optical device every once in a while.
Gallery[]
References[]