ZDR

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ZDR
The planet viewed from space.
Location	Remote
Discovery date	Recently
Atmosphere	Habitable
Distinct features	Chozo ruins

ZDR, as designated by the Galactic Federation, and Ili Tarin Nalima by the Chozo, is a remote planet and the setting of Metroid Dread.

History

Although Sounds of Dread implies that ZDR was a homeworld for the Chozo in general, Quiet Robe only refers to it as the homeworld of the violent Mawkin tribe of Chozo. Before Samus Aran, it was unexplored by humans.

Under the leadership of Raven Beak, the Mawkin tribe plotted to bring the Metroids from SR388 to ZDR and use them for galactic conquest, and returned to ZDR in order to prepare for the task of gathering the powerful creatures. Before it could be set in motion, their plan was nearly ruined when one of the Chozo Soldiers returning to ZDR revealed itself as an X Parasite (also native to SR388); Raven Beak narrowly managed to contain the subsequent X outbreak in the area of Elun, but the X had infected all Chozo on the planet except Raven Beak and the sole remaining Thoha Quiet Robe, and the chaos they caused had left much of the Mawkin architecture on the planet in ruin.

Later, a mysterious video transmission from an unknown source is received by the Galactic Federation and traced to ZDR. The message shows an X Parasite, suggesting they have not been entirely eradicated when Samus Aran crashed the B.S.L. Station into SR388. The Federation dispatches a team of E.M.M.I. robots to investigate and loses contact with them not long thereafter. Samus, who has immunity to the X Parasites due to her Metroid vaccination, travels to ZDR to confirm for herself if the X have survived.

During her exploration of the planet, Samus discovers that the X are indeed present on the planet, albeit quarantined in Elun, and that Raven Beak has recorded the footage of them in order to lure Samus to ZDR and extract her Metroid DNA. After she explores Elun, Raven Beak releases the X from quarantine, allowing them to quickly infest all life on the planet, including Quiet Robe, who was killed beforehand by a Robot Chozo Soldier for aiding Samus.

After destroying all seven E.M.M.I., awakening her Metroid powers in the process, Samus confronts Raven Beak on the floating fortress Itorash. During the battle, Raven Beak nearly overpowers Samus. However, Samus is able to awaken the Metroid Suit, allowing her to absorb energy from Raven Beak and Itorash. This causes the fortress to lose power and crash onto the planet's surface. Both Samus and Raven Beak survive the crash, though Raven Beak is soon infected by an X, transforming into Raven Beak X.

After Samus destroys Raven Beak X using the Hyper Beam, ZDR begins to self-destruct for unknown reasons. Samus escapes back to her Starship, but is unable to pilot it due to her Metroid Suit, which would drain the ship of its energy. However, the resurrected Quiet Robe appears, reverts back to its X form, and allows Samus to absorb it. The Thoha DNA from the X reverts the Metroid Suit transformation, allowing Samus to escape the planet with her ship. Soon after, ZDR explodes.

Geography

Full map exploration of ZDR.

According to Volume 8 of the Metroid Dread Report, ZDR shares similar planetary conditions, including temperature, humidity, gravity, and atmosphere, with SR388, another planet formerly inhabited by the Chozo.

Areas

The destroyed elevator to Hanubia from Artaria.

• Artaria — A group of facilities in the lowest part of the planet, and the area where Samus awakens at the start of the game.
• Burenia — A former marine research site built in and around an ocean.
• Cataris — A volcanic area where thermal energy is routed to other parts of the planet.
• Dairon — A biological research laboratory.
• Elun — The area where the X Parasites are initially quarantined.
• Ferenia — A sanctuary where the Mawkin performed ceremonies and rituals.
• Ghavoran — An underground forest close to the planet's surface.
• Hanubia — A region of the planet's surface containing military facilities with Mawkin starships. The area where Samus lands and takes the elevator to Artaria in the game's prologue.
• Itorash — A fortress in the sky above Hanubia where Raven Beak dwells.

Inhabitants

Mawkin Chozo hunting Corpius in Ghavoran.

ZDR contains a variety of native life-forms, but because the Mawkin tribe is not above usage of bioweapons, certain species below have evidently been altered or completely engineered by them. There are also many robots on the planet, which are of Chozo design with the exception of the E.M.M.I. dispatched by the Galactic Federation.

Creatures

• Aberration01
• Amoeba
• Armadigger
• Batalloon
• Bird
• Blindfly
• Butterfly
• Caterzilla
• Chozo Base Asset 04
• Coral01
• Corpius
• Daivo
• Daivo Swarm
• Deer
• Depthorn
• Dizzean
• Dredhed
• Drogyga
• Dropter
• Experiment No. Z-57
• Fing
• Fish
• Fulmite
• Gobbler
• Gooplot
• Ground Shocker
• Grub
• Hecathon
• Iceflea
• Infester
• Insect
• Klaida
• Kraid
• Kraid Bouncing Creature
• Kreep
• Lapa
• Lightened Krill
• Light Insect
• Lum Ell
• Magma Crab
• Muzby
• Nailong
• Obsydomithon
• Omnithon
• Ply
• Quetzoa
• Redenki
• Reptile
• Rod
• Rodotuk
• Sabotoru
• Sakai
• Sclawk
• Scourge
• Seaslug
• Sharpaw
• Shelmit
• Shrimp
• Siluro
• Slaaga
• Slidle
• Spittail
• Sunnap
• Takumaku
• Tobio
• Vulkran
• Yampa
• Yojimbee

Flora

• Enky
• Plant001
• Plant002
• Plant003
• Planteater

Robots

• Autclast
• Autector
• Autool
• Autsharp
• Autsniper
• Central Unit
• Central Unit Cannon
• E.M.M.I.
• Rinka
• Robot Chozo Soldier
• Shakernaut

Chozo

• Chozo Soldier
• Elite Chozo Soldier
• Quiet Robe
• Raven Beak

X Parasites

• Bigkran-X
• Chozo Zombie
• Escue
• Goliath
• Golzuna
• Gooshocker
• Nailugger
• Quetshocker
• Raven Beak X
• Rodomithon-X
• Spitclawk
• Yamplot-X

Official data

Metroid.nintendo.com (Metroid Dread)

DISCOVER A SPRAWLING WORLD

"Planet ZDR is home to many secrets and dangers. Get a glimpse at some of the hazards standing between Samus and the surface as she escapes the deadly depths of the planet."

FIERCE FAUNA

"The planet’s native species can be deadly. Stay on your toes to stay alive."

Development notes

Each area of ZDR begins with the first nine letters of the English alphabet, beginning with Artaria and ending with Itorash. They are alphabetically ordered by depth, with Artaria being the deepest and Itorash being located in the sky.

Cazadora, the development codename of Metroid Dread, includes the consonants Z, D, and R in that specific order (albeit separated by vowels). It is unconfirmed whether there was an intentional link between ZDR's name and the Spanish word for "huntress".

Trivia

• ZDR is the last of five planets to be destroyed, succeeding Dark Aether, Phaaze, Zebes, and SR388.
• ZDR is the second planet to have a purple atmosphere in the Metroid series, preceded by Dark Aether. In astrobiology, the purple Earth hypothesis posits that early life-forms on Earth were retinal-based, rather than chlorophyll-based, making Earth appear purple. This hypothesis may provide insight for potential life on exoplanets. Interestingly enough, alien life roams freely on ZDR.
• How and why ZDR is destroyed is unclear. The planet may have been unstable due to lack of maintenance and later Experiment No. Z-57 sabotaging the thermal generator, with a room exploding after Samus activates a thermal power flow machine; Itorash crashing into Hanubia may set off a chain reaction that further destabilizes the planet. Alternatively, since its self-destruction begins immediately after the death of Raven Beak X, it is possible that Raven Beak has rigged the planet to explode upon his death as a failsafe measure (intended to kill Samus and/or destroy the X infestation on the planet), similar to Mother Brain's final death causing the destruction of Zebes.

Gallery

Asteroids orbiting ZDR.

The Gunship about to enter ZDR's atmosphere

ZDR begins to rupture.

Aftermath of ZDR's explosion.

Hologram in upper Burenia with the planet's name written in Chozo.

ZDR cake made by Darin Aranda Ahmed to celebrate the launch of Dread.