Space Pirate Assault Skiffs are modified Space Pirate ATCs equipped with a powerful tribeam cannon to support ground troops; they appear in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. The Space Pirate Assault Skiff usually uses hit-and-run tactics. It is faster and stronger than the Space Pirate ATC. Unlike the latter, it is not designed to carry troops, and benefits in speed from the lack of crew space. The weapon below the heat vent cannot longer fire separate beams, and needs to be charged to before it can fire.
Samus encounters three Space Pirate Assault Skiffs when defending the Theronian Bomb aimed at Elysia's Leviathan Seed. The Space Pirate Assault Skiffs attack the Spire Pod with their tribeam cannons, causing considerable damage to its structure. If the Spire is destroyed, Samus will receive a Game Over. They appear alongside Pirate Troopers, who will distract Samus from concentrating her fire on the Space Pirate Assault Skiffs. They are very powerful, but share the weakness of the Space Pirate ATC; the front vent is vulnerable to weapons fire.
One Space Pirate Assault Skiff can be briefly seen in the sky over the Bryyo Thorn Jungle's Field Access when Samus enters the room for the first time. It will pass overhead and will not attack. It can be scanned for a brief period. A crashed Space Pirate Assault Skiff (presumably the one seen earlier) can be found in the Jousting Field (the room where the Korakk Beast boss is fought), after the Leviathan's western Leviathan Shield Generator is destroyed. Scanning the "downed spacecraft" reveals it was caught in the generator's explosion. It is found alongside a confused Advanced Pirate Trooper and a Pirate Militia, presumably survivors from the crash. The downed spacecraft will remain there for the remainder of the game.
Official data[]
Logbook entry[]
- Crashed (Jousting Field)
- "Crashed vessel appears to have been caught in the explosion from the shield generator."
Space Pirate Assault Skiff
Lightly armored assault craft. Cannon appears vulnerable.
Trivia[]
- Despite the Logbook entry stating that the cannon can be overloaded, and that the Space Pirate Assault Skiff is less durable than the Space Pirate ATC, both statements are false. Space Pirate Assault Skiffs are far more resilient to damage than Space Pirate ATCs. Firing at the cannon will have no effect, so it is likely that the developers confused the heat vent with the cannon itself.
- The Space Pirate Assault Skiff has a similar name to a transportation vehicle seen in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, the "Shrike" Class Assault Skiff. It is likely that the Space Pirate ATC superseded the "Shrike" Class Assault Skiff, in favor of troop protection over the open-topped skiff.
Gallery[]
| Space Pirate Vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Large Spacecraft | Flagship • Mother Ship • Orpheon • Siriacus • Vol Paragom • Starship • Leviathan Battleship • Destroyer • Colossus • Doomseye Leviathan-class capital ship • Marauder-class battleship • Plunderer-class cruiser • Dragüd's Ship |
| Space fighters | Zebesian Pirate Ship • Space Pirate vessel • Boarding Pod • Missile Transport (Elite) • Pirate Warship Fang-class fighter • Pirate Fighter |
| Terrestrial vehicles |
"Shrike" Class Assault Skiff • ATC • Assault Skiff • Dropship |
| Others | Escape Pod • Escape Ship • 565-PH Hellfire • Dive Spike |