Wikitroid
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Wikitroid

Fission Metroids are mutated Metroids, created from either Tallon Metroids being exposed to the mutagen known as Phazon, or born directly out of pools of said mutagen. These organisms have the ability to split into two similarly mutated Metroids. They are only featured in Metroid Prime.

Biology[]

Mp fission metroid regular

A pre-division Fission Metroid in the Impact Crater.

Structurally, Fission Metroids are identical to their common counterparts, with a translucent, veined membrane housing four nuclei, and two pairs of curved mandibles on its underside for simultaneously latching onto prey and absorbing its energy. However, a pre-division Fission Metroid can be distinguished by its colorless membrane, aqua-tinted nuclei and translucent mandibles.

After sustaining enough damage from any weapon, a Fission Metroid will divide into two randomly-colored duplicates, each with a newfound immunity to 92% of Samus Aran's arsenal. However, due to the unstable nature of this mitosis, these new Metroids are susceptible to a single Beam weapon and its Combo, which can be determined by the color of its membrane and nuclei. In addition to their colorless "parent", there are four possible types, which are only named in unused scans from Metroid Prime Remastered:

All Fission Metroids are also vulnerable to Bombs and Power Bombs, the latter of which can destroy them instantly.

Very curiously, when a Fission Metroid splits into two, one Metroid will have a lower temperature than the other (seen using the Thermal Visor), giving off a unique appearance of "two opposite energies composed from the same being". The "darker twin" can possess any immunity, though its heat signature can have a slightly different tint in color depending on its color type. This does not occur in Metroid Prime Remastered, where both splitees retain a normal heat signature.

Appearances[]

In the NTSC version of Metroid Prime, Fission Metroids are found exclusively in two rooms within the Impact Crater, notably in the Phazon Core room where they are infinitely spawned from Red Phazon bubbles; their constant presence and abilities make them an obstacle to overcome when climbing the vertical room. The quickest method of dealing with the creatures requires use of the limited amount of Power Bombs, which can kill Fission Metroids without triggering a split. The organisms make their second appearance when Samus Aran fights the Metroid Prime's core essence in its lair; the creature can spawn Fission Metroids from the pools of pure blue Phazon it creates, but only after normal and Hunter Metroids were spawned earlier in battle. At this particular point in the game, Samus can access the devastating Phazon Beam, the only other weapon capable of killing Fission Metroids instantly. These organisms, along with the Metroid Prime, are the first in the Metroid series' chronology to have gained invulnerability to their species' common weakness: cold temperatures. Years later, the Galactic Federation would successfully recreate this invulnerability in the Unfreezable Metroids located on the BOTTLE SHIP.

In all subsequent versions of the game, such as the PAL version of Metroid Prime, New Play Control! Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime Trilogy, a weaker variant of Fission Metroids begins appearing on the third floor of the Phazon Mines after the death of the Omega Pirate. They can perish if they come into contact with nearby Phazon growths, get hit by an Auto Defense Turret's projectile or approach the Red Door leading to the Processing Center Access room. They can also die from a few shots of Samus' weapons before having the opportunity to divide. Both variants can explode if they overfeed.

The release of Metroid Prime Remastered had increased the non-Crater Fission Metroids' durability but left them still susceptible to immediate death in Phazon Processing Center by the Phazon kill floor. More of the Metroids were added in the Quarantine Tunnels and the Omega Pirate's quarters after its death.

Official data[]

Website[]

"Fission Metroids are mutant Metroids with the ability to split into two forms. This split endows the new creatures with invulnerability to most weaponry. This effect is unstable, though, so during the split the Fission Metroid remains vulnerable to one particular type of weapon fire. The vulnerability appears to be random, perhaps due to the chaotic nature of Phazon mutation.

An energy-based life-form with a translucent upper body. Claw-like spikes protrude from the lower half of the creature, which it uses to latch onto its prey."

Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide[]

Fission Metroid
"Fission Metroids have the strange ability to split in two when damaged. The resulting Fission Metroids are immune to all but one type of beam weapon. You can tell which one by the color of the enemy's body and pincers. Fission Metroids created by a split cannot split again. All Fission Metroids are susceptible to Power Bombs. In most cases, you should just outrun these creatures, or wait for them to come near, then destroy them with a Power Bomb. Trying to fight a horde of them is impossible, because the horde just keeps growing and growing each time they split."
Fission Metroid
Found In: Impact Crater
Recommended Weapon: Any beam weapons, Power Bombs
"Fission Metroids are aggressive and have the ability to split into two identical Fission Metroids after taking sufficient damage. The two resulting Fission Metroids are invulnerable to most weapons except for one, which is randomly determined. The only way to tell is to look at their color. Fission Metroids with yellow tips and body are vulnerable only to Power Beam attacks; purple tips and body, Wave Beam; white tips and body, Ice Beam; red tips and body, Plasma Beam.
Before they split up, you can destroy the Fission Metroid without the splitting effect by letting them attach to you. Once one is attached, turn into the Morph Ball and lay a Power Bomb. The Power Bomb is powerful enough to completely pulverize the Fission Metroid."

Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide[]

FISSION METROID
"If Metroids are tough and Hunter Metroids are hard, the Fission Metroids are downright nasty. The creatures are invulnerable to all but one kind of weaponry, and when you attack one, it will split into two parts. Examine their inner workings to see what color they are, then attack with the matching Arm Cannon weapon.
Your charged attacks are invaluable against Fission Metroids, but Missiles are a precious commodity. Wait until you have a clear shot to use the attacks. If you use the door trick, you can save all your Missiles.
If a Fission Metroid lands on you, activate the Morph Ball and plant a Bomb to shake it off. If you plant a Power Bomb, you will destroy the creature. Be careful--other Fission Metroids will try to roll you into the radioactive ooze while you're in Morph Ball form."

Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide[]

FISSION METROID
MORPHOLOGY
"This is the Metroid with the ability to split into two forms. The Fission Metroid is a mutant, capable of splitting in two. This split endows the creatures with invulnerability to most weaponry. This effect is unstable, resulting in weakness to a type of weapon fire. The vulnerability appears to be random, due to the chaotic nature of Phazon Mutation."
COMBAT TIPS
"When fighting a Fission Metroid, find out what that particular Metroid's vulnerability is through trial and error."
ICE METROID
MORPHOLOGY
"The Ice Metroid is a mutated Fission Metroid. Once split, Fission Metroids gain invulnerability to most weaponry. A genetic flaw leaves them susceptible to certain weapons; in the case of the Ice Metroid, shots from the Ice Beam will harm them."
COMBAT TIPS
"The Ice Metroid's weakness is the Ice Beam.
Ice Metroid Scans as a Fission Metroid."
POWER METROID
MORPHOLOGY
"The Power Metroid is a mutated Fission Metroid. Once split, Fission Metroids gain invulnerability to most weaponry. A genetic flaw leaves them susceptible to certain weapons; in the case of the Power Metroid, shots from the Power Beam harm them."
COMBAT TIPS
"Use the Power Beam to take out Power Metroids.
Power Metroid scans as a Fission Metroid."
WAVE METROID
MORPHOLOGY
"Mutated Fission Metroid. Once split, Fission Metroids gain invulnerability to most weaponry. A genetic flaw leaves them susceptible to certain weapons; in the case of the Wave Beam, shots from the Wave Beam will harm them."
COMBAT TIPS
"The Wave Beam is the weapon that destroys Wave Metroids.
Wave Metroid scans as a Fission Metroid."

Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide[]

FISSION METROID
"You can shoot these Metroids with any weapon at first, but after you destroy them they'll split into two more Metroids with a random and singular weakness--just as with the Troopers, the color tips you off to the weapon that the resulting Metroids are weak against. (Note: The use of a Power Bomb on a Fission Metroid's initial form will destroy the creature completely and prohibit any kind of fissile "splitting" from taking place.)"

Logbook entry[]

Metroid scanpic - Remastered
Metroid scanpic 2 - Remastered
Metroid scanpic
Metroid scanpic 2
Fission Metroid scanpic - RemasteredFission Metroid scanpic
RemasteredOriginal

Fission Metroid

Metroid Prime

Temporary scan

Morphology: Fission Metroid
Metroid with the ability to split into two forms.

Logbook entry

The Fission Metroid is a mutant, capable of splitting in two. This split endows the new creatures with invulnerability to most weaponry. This effect is unstable, resulting in weakness to a type of weapon fire. The vulnerability appears to be random, due to the chaotic nature of Phazon mutation.

[Remastered][Original]

Unused[]

Unused Logbook entries for individual Power, Wave, Ice and Plasma Metroids have been discovered through datamining of Metroid Prime Remastered.

Power Metroid

Temporary scan

Morphology: Power Metroid
Mutated Fission Metroid.

Logbook entry

Once split, Fission Metroids gain invulnerability to most weaponry. A genetic flaw leaves them susceptible to certain weapons; in the case of the Power Metroid, shots from the Power Beam will harm them.

Ice Metroid

Temporary scan

Morphology: Ice Metroid
Mutated Fission Metroid.

Logbook entry

Once split, Fission Metroids gain invulnerability to most weaponry. A genetic flaw leaves them susceptible to certain weapons; in the case of the Ice Metroid, shots from the Ice Beam will harm them.

Wave Metroid

Temporary scan

Morphology: Wave Metroid
Mutated Fission Metroid.

Logbook entry

Once split, Fission Metroids gain invulnerability to most weaponry. A genetic flaw leaves them susceptible to certain weapons; in the case of the Wave Metroid, shots from the Wave Beam will harm them.

Plasma Metroid

Temporary scan

Morphology: Plasma Metroid
Mutated Fission Metroid.

Logbook entry

Once split, Fission Metroids gain invulnerability to most weaponry. A genetic flaw leaves them susceptible to certain weapons; in the case of the Plasma Metroid, shots from the Plasma Beam will harm them.

Trivia[]

Fission metroid spawning
  • The images erroneously used for the Fission Metroid on Metroid.com are that of a Hunter Metroid.
  • Visually, the manner in which a Fission Metroid divides is identical to a natural Metroid larva multiplying after being exposed to Beta-Rays. Both processes are akin to a cell undergoing mitosis.
    • Phazon has demonstrated the capacity of being able to multiply/spawn Metroids in various ways throughout the Metroid Prime series, an example being the Fission Metroids. The only other substance known to be capable of unnaturally increasing a Metroid population is Beta-Radiation. Whether this means that both substances emit similar energy signatures is unknown.
    • While Tallon and Hunter Metroids can be produced from blue Phazon in the Impact Crater, Fission Metroids are the only ones able to be birthed by both blue and red Phazon in the same area. The fact that the Metroid Prime is stated to be the source of Phazon on Tallon IV may imply that the mutagen it creates carries its genetic information, thus allowing Metroids to be born out of the substance.
  • Due to their infinite spawning from non-destructible bubbling portions of Red Phazon in the Impact Crater, the Fission Metroids can be viewed as "pipe" enemies seen in both 2-D and 3-D games in the Metroid series, such as Zebbos and Plated Puffers.
  • The red Plasma Metroids bear a slight resemblance to the red Metroid variant from the original Metroid game. They also retroactively resemble red Tallon Metroids brought to Aether in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
  • Power Metroids, Wave Metroids, and Plasma Metroids could be classified as Unfreezable Metroids as they lack the species' vulnerability to the Ice Beam. Ice Metroids inherit this vulnerability.
  • Fission Metroids will not chase Samus if she enters another room. They are seen patiently waiting for her to return into the Phazon Core room. If a Metroid latches onto her and she passes through an open door, the Metroid will instantly explode.
  • Unlike the Fission Metroids spawned from Metroid Prime itself, the Fission Metroids encountered within the Phazon Core cannot be immediately destroyed by the Phazon Beam (seen via hacking). After a few shots from said beam, the Fission Metroid will split. Its split selves are highly vulnerable to the Phazon Beam as well, killing it within seconds.

Gallery[]

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