Much like its predecessors,Metroid Dreaddoes an excellent job of implementing its upgrades and power-ups. Not only do they help to make players feel as though they’re growing stronger as they make their way through the game, but they also completely change the way that Samus and the player explorePlanet ZDRand its many regions.
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With each new piece of equipment and technique that players unlock and learn, brand new routes will open in front of them, allowing them to unearth new secrets in areas that had already been quite thoroughly explored. These upgrades also play a pivotal role inMetroid Dread’s devilishlydifficult boss-fights, which, even with Samus' powerful new equipment, still provide just the right amount of challenge.
Updated July 23, 2025 by Tom Bowen:Collecting new equipment and upgrades has always played an important role in the Metroid series; helping not only to steer players in the right direction, but also to provide them with a near-constant sense of improvement as they make their way through the game. Metroid Dread is no different in this regard and actually boasts more power-ups than any other Metroid game before it. This guide has information on where players can acquire them all, as well as the order in which they can expect to find them.
Charge Beam
Where to find the Charge Beam
Players will find the Charge Beam being held by a Chozo statue in the southwestern corner of Artaria. Before they can reach it, however, they’ll first need todrain some water by stepping on a special tileand then follow the path through a missile-locked door to the statue.
How to use the Charge Beam
The Charge Beam is the first upgrade to Samus' power blaster and allows players to unleash a more powerful shot by holding down the Y button. With it, they can open orange Charge Beam doors and deal additional damage to enemies.
Wide Beam
Where to find the Wide Beam
Players will find the Wide Beam in the central area of Dairon. To reach it, they’ll first need to activate the generator to restore power to the area. Next, they’ll have to head through a missile-locked door and then a Charge Beam door to find the Chozo statue that’s holding the beam.
How to use the Wide Beam
The Wide Beam allows Samus to fire three separate beams with each shot rather than just one. As well as allowing players to hit enemies multiple times or multiple targets with a single shot, it also enables them toopen the doors that are covered by the orange three-dot domes.
Diffusion Beam
Where to find the Diffusion Beam
Players can find the Diffusion Beam in the southwestern corner of Cataris shortly afterdefeating Kraid. They’ll need to exit the boss room from the right side via the blue Spider Magnet panel and then head through the missile-locked door to find the Chozo statue that’s holding the beam.
How to use the Diffusion Beam
When charged, the Diffusion Beam allows players to damage enemies through platforms. It can also be used to damage the red organic matter through thin walls and surfaces, which will be needed to exit the room in which players find the beam.
Grapple Beam
Where to find the Grapple Beam
Players can find the Grapple Beam in the northern part of Artaria. As with other beam upgrades, it’s being held by a Chozo statue behind a red missile-locked door.
How to use the Grapple Beam
To use the Grapple Beam, players will need to hold the ZR button and then press Y. It can be used to swing from special Grapple Beam blocks in the ceiling, open Grapple Beam doors, and pull certain blocks. It can also latch onto the blue Spider Magnet surfaces, making it an invaluable tool for climbing and vertical exploration.
Plasma Beam
Where to find the Plasma Beam
Players will find the Plasma Beam in Elun shortly after passing through a Morph Ball launcher. They’ll need to destroy a red missile dome and then shoot through the ceiling to gain access to the room with the Chozo statue that’s holding the upgrade.
How to use the Plasma Beam
The Plasma Beam is a more powerful version of the Diffusion Beam and will allow Samus to destroy the green domes that are covering certain doors. It can also pierce through enemies and allows players to damage metallic enemies without the need for charging.
Wave Beam
Where to find the Wave Beam
The Wave Beam is the last permanent upgrade for Samus' arm canon and is obtained by defeating the purple E.M.M.I. robot in Ferenia near the end of the game.
How to use the Wave Beam
The wave been can penetrate solid objects, including enemies, walls, and ceilings. Players can also use it to destroy the purple Wave Beam domes that cover certain doors on planet ZDR or destroy the red organic matter to open up new routes.
Hyper Beam
Where to find the Hyper Beam
Players will unlock the wave beam after the fourth phase ofthe fight with Raven Beak. They’ll be able to use it during the final phase of the battle as well as the escape sequence that follows it.
How to use the Hyper Beam
The Hyper Beam replaces Samus' other beams and is able to destroy pretty much every type of block in the game. It’s also needed to unlock the door that leads to Samus' ship.
Omega Cannon
Where to find the Omega Cannon
The Omega Cannon is a temporary upgrade that’s obtained by absorbing the power from Central Units. Players will unlock the weapon at six different points throughout the game and must use it tokill the E.M.M.I. robotsby destroying their cores.
How to use the Omega Cannon
The Omega Cannon has two different modes. The first, the Omega Stream, is activated by holding the L and Y buttons at the same time and is used to heat up the shielding around the robots' cores. The second, the Omega Blaster, requires players to hold the L and R buttons to charge and is then fired by pressing Y.
Super Missile
Where to find the Super Missile
Players can find the Super Missile in the arms of a Chozo statue in Ghavoran. It’s to the south of the area between the two elevators to the south of the region and can be accessed with the aid of missiles and Morph Ball bombs.
How to use the Super Missile
The Super Missile is just a more powerful version of the regular missile and is used in the exact same way (hold R and then press Y). As well as dishing out extra damage, this increased power also allows players to destroy the green mesh super-missile domes that cover certain doors onplanet ZDR.
Ice Missile
Where to find the Ice Missile
Players will unlock the Ice Missile after destroying the blue E.M.M.I. robot in the Ghavoran region.
How to use the Ice Missile
The Ice Missile is used in the exact same way as earlier missile upgrades (hold the R button and then press Y). As well as being more powerful than Super Missiles, they can also be used to freeze certain enemies and objects and arethe only way to destroy Enky, the strange fire plants that block certain routes in the game.
