Editing Arm Cannon

The '''Arm Cannon''' is [[Samus Aran]]'s primary weapon within the ''[[Portal: Metroid|Metroid]]'' series.  It is a gun of alien design affixed to the right arm of the [[Chozo]] [[Power Suit]].  The Arm Cannon doubles as a Missile Launcher and can be adapted to other foreign technologies.  It can be used to download information at Map Stations, or recharge energy and missiles at Recharge and Missile Stations.

The Arm Cannon can play host to a variety of energy beams. In the original ''Metroid'' and ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'', the beams are separate weapons that can be switched at Chozo Statues or by recollecting them from their original location. This is continued in ''Metroid Prime'' and ''Metroid Prime 2: Echoes'', though the beams can be switched at will.  In most other games (''Metroid: Zero Mission'', ''Samus Returns'', ''Super Metroid'', ''Metroid Fusion'', ''Metroid: Other M'' and ''Metroid Dread''), the effects of the beams combine into one; ''Super Metroid'' and ''Samus Returns'' also offer the ability to switch beams on and off at will.

===Power Beam===

The initial beam in every Metroid game and a basic utility for Samus through most, the Power Beam can rapid-fire small yellow orbs of damaging energy.  This energy is also able to deactivate force fields commonly placed over doors in this region of the galaxy.  In ''Zero Mission'', the Power Beam can only fire a short distance and must be upgraded with the Long Beam; this upgrade is automatic in all other games. Similarly, there is the Charge Beam, which is automatically equipped in most appearances, except in ''Zero Mission'', ''Samus Returns'' and ''Metroid Dread'', where it is obtained as a separate upgrade.

In the ''Metroid Prime'' series, the Power Beam can be switched to at will and often has the highest firing ratio and weakest strength of any weapon.  A charged Power Beam shot can be combined with the Missile Launcher to create a Super Missile.  The remaining games will either replace or upgrade the Power Beam with new functions, appearances, and a new name.   

It should also be noted that "Metroid Prime," the Space Pirates had successfully reverse-engineered the Power Beam to create Power Troopers, yellow-armored Space Pirates who are weak to their own weapon of choice.  Additionally, the other six bounty hunters in "Metroid Prime Hunters" use a Power Beam (or Power Beam-like) weapon when played as in Multiplayer Mode. The color of the beam changes to match the color of the particular hunter's affinity weapon.

===Long Beam===

The Long Beam is an upgrade found early on in ''Metroid'' and ''Metroid: Zero Mission''; it is being held by a Chozo Statue in Brinstar in both games.  It increases the range of the Power Beam so that the weapon can be fired up to and beyond the length of the screen. It also increases the strength of the Power Beam. In later games, the Long Beam is unnecessary (or possibly automatically equipped) due to the Power Beam automatically covering the length of the screen.

===Charge Beam===

The Charge Beam is an upgrade that has been present in every game since ''Super Metroid'' and is automatically equipped in some appearances. While holding down the fire button, the presently equipped beam will build energy within the Arm Cannon to create a much more potent blast; a charged Power Beam's strength is roughly equivalent to that of a Missile.

Shortly after collecting the first Missile Tank within Brinstar in ''Metroid: Zero Mission'', Samus was attacked by a Beam Beast and obtained the Charge Blast by defeating it. In ''Samus Returns'', the Charge Beam was obtained from a Chozo Statue near the Surface of SR388 that could be accessed around the beginning of the game. Samus began ''Metroid Prime'' with the Charge Beam, but she lost it during the escape from the Pirate Frigate in the beginning; she could reobtain it in the Watery Hall of the Chozo Ruins. It was then automatically present in the ''Metroid Prime'' sequels. The Charge Beam was found early in Brinstar in ''Super Metroid''. In ''Metroid: Other M'', Samus was given permission to use her Charge Beam during the training sequence at the beginning of the game. It was then held by a [[X Parasite|Core-X]] in Sector 1 of ''Metroid Fusion''. The Core-X fired the Charge Beam at Samus until it was destroyed, after which the ability could be reclaimed from the Parasite. In ''Metroid Dread'', the Charge Beam was obtained from a Chozo Statue at Artaria and was the first upgrade that could be found within the game.

In the ''Metroid Prime'' series (as well as in ''Samus Returns''), a charged beam will draw power-ups to itself and allow for easy collection in a 3-D environment, but this feature is omitted from ''Other M'', which also has the charge beam recoil. Charged beams can also be combined with the Missile Launcher for more potent Combo Attacks.  ''Super Metroid'' uses similar combos, though they are powered by Power Bombs and act as shields instead of weapons. In the remaining games, charging the Arm Cannon and then somersaulting creates an effect similar to the [[Screw Attack]]. Samus will retain the charge after somersaulting unless she bumps into an enemy, in which case the charge is redirected into the enemy and destroys or damages it. ''Super Metroid'' also allows for Samus to duck into a Morph Ball while the beam is charged to drop five bombs at once. In ''Other M'', new items called Accel Charges are found which speed up the time Samus takes to charge.

*[[Metroid: Zero Mission]], [[Metroid Prime]], [[Metroid: Samus Returns]], [[Super Metroid]], [[Metroid: Other M]], [[Metroid Fusion]], [[Metroid Dread]]

===Ice Beam===

The Ice Beam is a frequent upgrade of the Power Beam that, as its name implies, fires shards of ice that can freeze enemies in place, even when those that are in midair.  Frozen enemies can be safely touched (even if they bear spikes) and used as platforms.  The Ice Beam is also known for being an invaluable weapon when fighting against Metroids themselves, as frigid temperatures are their strongest weakness.   

In ''Metroid'' and ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'', Samus could swith between the Ice Beam and one or three others at Chozo Statues or by recollecting the original; it was found near the entrance to Norfair in the first game and in Area 1 in the second game. ''Metroid: Zero Mission'' and ''Super Metroid'' simply upgraded the Power Beam with ice capabilities, which were retained after later upgrades as well; both games provided the Ice Beam shortly after entering Norfair. In ''Samus Returns'', the Ice Beam was found in the same area as in ''Metroid II'', but this time Samus's beams could be switched through the touch screen. In ''Super Metroid'', when Samus charged the Ice Beam while Power Bombs were also selected, she would become surrounded by four shards of ice that could freeze enemies on contact.

''Metroid Prime'' allowed for the Power Beam and Ice Beam to be instantly swapped between after the latter is collected; it was found in the Antechamber of the Chozo Ruins. The Ice Beam was the third most powerful beam, but was also the slowest. Additionally, it would only freeze enemies when charged. It was only required to open doors with a white force-field around them, but it could also be helpful against stronger enemies; a frozen enemy can be destroyed with a single missile. A charged Ice Beam could be combined with the Missile Launcher to create the Ice Spreader. As with the Power Beam, Space Pirates have reverse-engineered the Ice Beam to create the white-armored Ice Troopers.

In ''Other M'', Samus had the Ice Beam from the beginning, but it is deactivated until [[Adam Malkovich|Adam]] authorizes its use when Samus was partway through the Pyrosphere. Ice guns were also shown to be standard-grade weapons for Federation soldiers. The Ice Beam was replaced by the Ice Missiles in "Metroid Fusion" and ''Metroid Dread'' due to storyline elements; since Samus was injected with Metroid DNA, she gained the creature's weakness to ice, and so it was considered unwise for her to download the beam, so she utilized a missile version instead. The SA-X that stalked Samus throughout most of the game retained the Ice Beam and would use it against her, increasing the threat it posed toward her. Near the end of the game, Samus destroyed the SA-X, but she was unable to reclaim the Ice Beam from it. After being confronted by an Omega Metroid, the SA-X seemingly sacrificed itself to Samus so that she could use the Ice Beam to finish the Metroid off. She was able to withstand it due to the Varia Suit's influence.

*[[Metroid]], [[Metroid: Zero Mission]], [[Metroid Prime]], [[Metroid II: Return of Samus]], [[Metroid: Samus Returns]], [[Super Metroid]], [[Metroid: Other M]], [[Metroid Fusion]]

===Wave Beam===

Another constant of Samus's arsenal is the Wave Beam. Unlike the Ice Beam, the Wave Beam's abilities are ever-shifting between the games it appears in. Most commonly, the Wave Beam appears as its name suggests; it is a beam that travels in an arcing wave to allow Samus a wider spread of attack. It is often useful for its ability to pass through walls and hit switches or enemies previously unreachable.

In ''Metroid'' and ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'', the Wave Beam was seperate from other beams, requiring Samus to switch between them at Chozo Statues or by recollecting them; it was initially found near the entrance to Ridley's Lair in the first game and in Area 2 in the second game. Later games (''Metroid: Zero Mission'', ''Samus Returns'', ''Super Metroid'', and ''Metroid Fusion'') stack the Wave Beam's effects over the original Power Beam; it was found in Norfair just prior to the Spore Spawn battle in "Metroid: Zero Mission", and in ''Samus Returns'' it was found in the same areas as in the original ''Metroid II''. In ''Super Metroid'', it could be obtained just prior to or after grabbing the Speed Booster. In ''Metroid Fusion'', it was gained by destroyingthe Security Robot in Sector 6.  In "Super Metroid," Samus can charge the Wave Beam while the Power Bomb is also selected to generate a shield comprised of four bolts around herself.

The Wave Beam could be switched between the Power Beam and others at will in ''Metroid Prime''. It was obtained by defeating a a Sheegoth in the Chapel of the Elders of Phendrana Drifts. This version of the Wave Beam was only slightly more powerful than the Power Beam, but it sent out three shots rather than one to increase attack range. The ability to pass through walls replaced with the effect of an electrical charge; the Wave Beam could be used to power machines, and a charged shot would paralyze an enemy momentarily. It will also opened doors with purple force-fields. A charged Wave Beam combined with the Missile Launcher created the Wavebuster. As with the other beams in ''Metroid Prime'', the Wave Beam was reverse0engineered by Space Pirates to create Wave Troopers, special ops Pirates with purple-tinged armor.

Though the Wave Beam did not reappear in ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption'', the Nova Beam had the ability to pass through walls, akin to the Wave Beam's ability in the 2-D adventures. In ''Other M'', Samus had the actual Wave Beam, but she could not use it until Adam authorized its use for fighting off an ambush of Zebesians within the Cryosphere, although it could only go through certain walls. Interestingly, the Zebesians' weapons have similar properties as the Wave Beam. In ''Metroid Dread'', the Wave Beam was gained by absorbing energy from the defeated [[EMMI|EMMI-06WB]] in Ferenia, and the Wave Beam once again acted as an upgrade rather than a separate beam.

*[[Metroid]], [[Metroid: Zero Mission]], [[Metroid Prime]], [[Metroid II: Return of Samus]], [[Metroid: Samus Returns]], [[Super Metroid]], [[Metroid: Other M]], [[Metroid Fusion]], [[Metroid Dread]]

===Plasma Beam===

Often the most potent of Samus's beam weapons, the Plasma Beam has approximately the same strength as a missile in most games and is often seen as able to pass through enemies instead of dissipating against them, allowing for strikes on multiple targets at once. In ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'', the Plasma Beam must be switched between three others by recollecting it. In most other games (''Metroid: Zero Mission'', ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption'', ''Super Metroid'', ''Metroid Fusion'', ''Metroid Other M'' and ''Metroid Dread''), the Plasma Beam's strength is combined with whatever other beam Samus has at the moment (with the exception of the Spazer and Plasma Beam being incompatible in ''Super Metroid''). ''Metroid Prime'' offers the ability to swap between the Plasma Beam and other beam weapons in Samus's arsenal. In ''Samus Returns'', it stacks onto the Power and Wave Beams, and Samus can switch between it and other beams (the Ice and Grapple Beams) through the touch screen.

The Plasma Beam could be collected early on in Chozodia in ''Zero Mission''. However, it was incompatible with Samus's current suit and registered only as Unknown Item [1]. After Samus received a new suit in Chozodia following Mother Brain's defeat, the upgrade was properly identified, and the beam is automatically upgraded. Unlike in other games, the Plasma Beam in ''Metroid II: Return of Samus'' fires as three consecutive beams and passed through walls; it was found for the first time in Area 3. In ''Samus Returns'', it was found in Area 5 instead. The Plasma Beam could be obtained in Maridia in ''Super Metroid'' and from the plant monster Nettori in Sector 2 of ''Metroid Fusion''.  ''Super Metroid'' allowed Samus to charge the Plasma Beam while Power Bombs are equipped to create a pulsating shield comprised of four fiery bolts.

''Metroid Prime'' reinvented the Plasma Beam as a fire-based weapon, based on its name. It was still the most potent of the available beam weapons and could also be used to melt ice that collected over passages and objects. It was found in the Mine Security Station of the Phazon Mines; like the other beam weapons, it was reverse-engineered by the Space Pirates to create red-hued Plasma Troopers. A charged Plasma Beam shot could be combined with the Missile Launcher to make the Flamethrower. The Plasma Beam in ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruptio'' was utilized by [[Ghor]] at the start of the game; Samus could take it from him at the Main Docking Bay of SkyTown, Elysia.  This version of the Plasma Beam could be used to weld damaged circuit boards back together in addition to melting ice and some metals.

The original version of the Plasma Beam returned in "Metroid: Other M". Samus had it at the beginning, but it was disabled due to Adam's orders until he authorized its use for the boss fight with Ridley. It was the most powerful beam in the game and the last one to be activated. In ''Metroid Dread'', it was obtained from a Chozo Statue in Elun and was effective against robotic enemies (aside from EMMI).

===Phazon / Hyper Beam===

The Phazon Beam is unique among beam weapons in that it does not require an Arm Cannon upgrade to fire, but a Power Suit upgrade. The Phazon Beam does not first come into play until the very end of ''Metroid Prime''.  After obtaining the Phazon Suit, Samus confronted Metroid Prime itself in the Impact Crate, and the creature was immune to all of Samus's other attacks. By stepping into pools of Phazon created by Metroid Prime, Samus would be sent into Hypermode, and her the Arm Cannon could be reconfigured to fire the Phazon Beam. The Phazon Beam fired as a constant stream until the Phazon pool has dried up, and it was powerful enough to destroy even Fission Metroids with a single hit.

In ''Metroid Prime 2: Echoes'', the Phazon Beam could be used a few times during the final battle with Dark Samus. If Samus absorbed the Phazon shots used by Dark Samus with the Charge Beam, she could fire them back for significant damage, but it did not act as a continuous stream in this appearance.

 

By the end of ''Metroid Prime 3'', Samus became so overwhelmed by Phazon that she needed to be in a constant state of Hypermode to survive. This began upon landing at Phaaze and continued to the end of the game. During this time, the Hyper Beam became Samus's default weapon in place of her other beam abilities..

===Dark Beam===

 

===Light Beam===

 

===Annihilator Beam===

 

 

===Nova Beam===

 

===Spazer / Wide Beam===

 

 

*[[Metroid II: Return of Samus]], [[Metroid: Samus Returns]], [[Super Metroid]], [[Metroid Fusion]], [[Metroid Dread]]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*[[Metroid Dread]]

===Missile Launcher===

 

 

 

 

===Super Missile===

Super Missiles are enhanced versions of Samus's regular Missiles; they inflict somewhat more damage than anything else in her arsenal.  When a Super Missile strikes a target, it shakes the entire room and will occasionally free enemies from the ceiling.  They are also necessary to break objects made of cordite and to open doors with green blast shields, as well as red.

 

 

 

===Wavebuster===

===Ice Spreader===

===Flamethrower===

===Seeker Missile Launcher / Storm Missile===

 

 

*[[Metroid Prime 2: Echoes]], [[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]], [[Metroid: Other M]], [[Metroid Dread]]

===Darkburst===

===Sunburst===

===Sonic Boom===

===Ice Missile===

*[[Metroid Prime 3: Corruption]], [[Metroid Fusion]], [[Metroid Dread]]

===Hyper Missile===

===Diffusion Missile===

===Battlehammer===

 

===Judicator===

 

===Volt Driver===

 

===Shock Coil===

 

===Magmaul===

 

===Imperialist===

 

===Omega Cannon===

 

[[Image:Grapple_Beam.jpg|200px|right]]

As shown in the ''Metroid Prime'' series, the Grapple Beam is not actually a part of Samus's Arm Cannon, but is a unique device on her left arm. In most incarnations, it fires a a blue beam that latches onto certain airborne objects so that Samus can swing across gaps. ''Metroid Prime 3: Corruption'' increases the usefulness of the Grapple Beam by adding several stacking effects.

===Grapple Lasso===

The Grapple Lasso is the first of the Grapple Beam upgrades found in ''Metroid Prime 3''. Samus could obtain it at the Docking Hub Alpha on Norion. The Grapple Lasso is useful for moving certain objects or enemies, pulling switches and opening hatches, and can also be used to pull shields or armor away from some enemies.

===Grapple Swing===

The most common version of the Grapple Beam, the Grapple Swing appears as the only form of the Grapple Beam in games outside of ''Metroid Prime 3''. This is used to lock on to special targets (including blocks, hooks, and some enemies); Samus can then swing from the end of the beam to cross large gaps.

 

 

===Grapple Voltage===

The Grapple Voltage is the third of the Grapple Beam upgrades found in ''Metroid Prime 3''. It was in the possession of Gandrayda at the  start of the game, and she used it against Samus at the Proving Grounds of the Research Facility on the Pirate Homeworld. Samus took the upgrade after defeating her. The Grapple Voltage allowed Samus to latch onto objects and enemies with her Grapple Beam and either drain energy from them and into herself, or drain energy from herself and into them; this was required to power some devices.

===Hyper Grapple===

The Hyper Grapple is an updated version of the Grapple Voltage. It was held by Ridley in the Leviathan Core of the Pirate Homeworld.  If Samus used the Grapple Voltage while in her Phazon-producing Hyper Mode, she would transmit phazon from herself into whatever the Grapple Beam was attached to. This increases the strength against enemies and was necessary for overloading certain objects with Phazon to the point of disintegration.