Hunter Metroid
Artwork of Hunter Metroids
Featured in	Metroid Prime
Location	Tallon IV (Phendrana Drifts, Phazon Mines, Impact Crater)
Homeworld	Tallon IV
Attacks	Draining of life-energy (Distance attack)
Weakness	Ice beam, Missiles
Life Cycle	Preceded by: Tallon Metroid Followed by: Unknown
Stage	Stage 3: Adolescent

Hunter Metroids are adolescent Tallon Metroids, first appearing in Metroid Prime in the Phendrana Drifts area of Tallon IV (NTSC/Wii versions only), and later appearing in the depths of the Phazon Mines and the Impact Crater, where Metroid Prime can freely spawn them in pools of pure Phazon. They have become more efficient at energy draining than younger Tallon Metroids, having developed an energy-siphoning tentacle that enables them to attack from a distance, increasing their threat level. This new tentacle also prevents Samus's Bombs from affecting them. The disadvantage to this tentacle is that Samus can still attack the Hunter Metroid while it's draining her energy. As with most forms of Metroid, the Ice Beam is very effective against Hunter Metroids.

Hunter Metroids are the result of Tallon Metroids going through their life-cycle on the planet Tallon IV; rather than advancing to an Alpha Metroid as SR388 Metroids do.

Logbook entryEdit

Official websiteEdit

"As Metroids develop, they become more efficient predators. Hunter Metroids use their energy-draining tentacles to attack their prey from a greater distance than normal Metroids. Quick to anger, a Hunter Metroid will charge troublesome prey and attempt to ram them into submission. Hunter Metroids are averse to cold temperatures.

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

DesignEdit

• Early Metroid concept art also depicts them as tentacled, as well as the Nintendo Comics System.
• The tentacle may be, in regard to design, derived from the lightning attack of the Gamma Metroid.

• In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, there is a new strain of Metroid called Metroid Hatchers. They share a great deal of similarities in appearance, movement patterns and attacks (particularly their energy-siphoning tentacles).

TriviaEdit

• A Hunter Metroid can be seen on a computer in the Pipeline multiplayer stage of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
• Interestingly, Hunter Metroids are referred to as adolescents, which would imply that there is a stage after them.
• The Frost Cave features a Hunter Metroid only in the NTSC and all Wii versions of Prime. Its appearance here is extremely odd given that it has been repeatedly stated that Metroids cannot tolerate cold-temperatures, and so should not be able to survive in a frozen environment. This could imply that Hunter Metroids are more resilient to cold than other Metroids, but still vulnerable to the Ice Beam.
• If Sequence Breaking is used to dislodge the highest stalactite in the Frost Cave (the one leading to the Missile Expansion) before acquiring the Gravity Suit, the Hunter Metroid can be lured into the water, but is apparently unaffected by it.