Chapter 1: Diffusion Beam

This opening section of Metroid Dread introduces core mechanics like countering enemies and navigating EMMI zones. While the path forward is mostly linear, there are several easy-to-miss upgrades and a few sections that can be frustrating if you're not prepared. This guide focuses on helping you move efficiently while avoiding common mistakes.

Take your time in the early EMMI encounters, as rushing can make it easier to get caught. It's also helpful to closely observe ceilings and walls frequently, since several missile expansions are hidden in areas that aren't immediately obvious.

A common mistake in this section is overlooking destructible blocks in ceilings, which can cause players to miss early missile expansions. Another issue is staying too close to bosses like Corpius, which makes avoiding attacks more difficult.

After the opening cutscene, head right 1 room. Shoot the ceiling in the top right corner. Jump up, destroy the missile block, and go right 1 room. Go right 2 rooms for the counter tutorial. Jump up as far as you can. Shoot the ceiling on the right side to reveal a Missile Expansion.

Go right 1 room. After the cutscene, counter and then slide under the EMMI. Run right 2 rooms to activate the Omega Cannon. Use it to destroy the door and go left 1 room. Then shoot the EMMI's head with the cannon to defeat it. Go left 2 rooms. Take the door in the top left corner to find a Save Station. Go left 1 room. Shoot the block on the left side of the room to drain the water. Enter the EMMI zone. Go left 1 room. After the cutscene, shoot the explosive to jump up and take the first door on the right. Take the lower right door and then exit the EMMI zone. Run right and then jump up to find a Missile Expansion.

Take the top left door and speak with Adam. Take the top left door. Enter the EMMI zone. Drop all the way down and go left 2 rooms. Drop down and then slide through the left wall to go left 1 room. Exit the EMMI zone. Continue left 2 rooms. Fall down into the water. Staying in the water, go right 2 rooms. Shoot the explosive in the wall to drain the water. Return left 2 rooms and take the upper right door to find a Map Station. Continue right 1 room. Jump all the way up and go left 2 rooms to find a Missile Expansion.

Drop into the water and take the upper right door. Enter the EMMI zone. Head right 1 room. Step on the switch in the bottom left corner of the room to raise the water level. Slide into the small space to go right 1 room. Exit the EMMI zone. Go left 1 room. Shoot the explosive below the left door to go left 1 room. Head through the missile door. Drop down and slide through the small space below the door. Shoot the Chozo orb for the Charge Beam.

Run right 4 rooms to find an Energy Tank.

Continue right 2 more rooms. Jump all the way up and take the top left door to enter the Save Station. Head left 1 more room. Take the lower right door. Enter the EMMI zone. Go left 1 room. Jump up and take the first door on the left. Continue upward and take the first door on the right. Proceed right 1 more room. Exit the EMMI zone. Run right, jump all the way up, and take the left door. Take the top right door to find a Missile Expansion.

Shoot the ceiling to go up. Slide through the small space in the top right corner to go right 1 room. Proceed right 2 more rooms. Drop all the way down and go left 3 rooms. Step on the switch to redirect the thermal fuel's flow. Take the bottom right door. Then go through the upper left door to find a Missile Expansion.

Go left 1 room. Jump all the way up, shoot the explosive, and go left 2 rooms to speak with Adam. Take the bottom left door and enter the EMMI zone. Fall down and take the left door. Continue downward and take the bottom left door. Drop through the floor. At the bottom, slide through the small space to go right 1 room. Jump up and take the first door on the right. Slide through the small space in the top right corner to find the first Central Unit. To damage it, shoot it with the charge beam or missiles. The omega cannon will be reactivated. Use the omega stream to destroy the door's shield, then use the cannon to open the door. Head through the door. Fall all the way down and stand in front of the left door. When the EMMI appears, destroy the head's shield with the stream, then destroy the head with the cannon. Doing so will give you the Spider Magnet.

Go left 1 room. Take the door in the top left corner. Lower the platform above you by hanging from it. Take the top right door. Proceed right 1 more room. Climb up and shoot the wall to get a Missile Expansion.

Open the EMMI zone exit by hanging from it, then go through. Continue right 2 rooms. Defeat the Eyedoor to the right with a counter. Then head through to fight the first boss, Corpius. In the first phase, you'll need to shoot its head with missiles. When it becomes invisible, shoot the orb in its tail with missiles. In the final phase, you'll need to shoot its head and tail with missiles. Defeating it will give you the Phantom Cloak.

Boss Strategy: Corpius

Corpius is much easier if you focus on staying mobile and attacking from mid-range. When it turns invisible, watch for movement cues in its tail to track its position. Using missiles consistently during openings will shorten the fight significantly.

Head left 1 room. Use the phantom cloak to take the top left door. Jump up and take the top right door. Shoot the explosive, jump up, and go right 2 rooms. Drop all the way down and go right 2 rooms. Take the elevator up. Shoot the left wall, fall down, and take the first door on the left to speak with Adam. Go left 1 room. Fall down and go through the final door on the right. Take the upper left door. Step on the switch to redirect the thermal fuel's flow. Return to the previous room. Shoot the wall and explosive to take the top left door. Drop down and go left 1 room. Climb all the way up this room. Shoot the explosive below the top left door to go left 1 room. Continue left 2 more rooms. Jump up and enter the EMMI zone.

Run right 2 rooms. Fall all the way down and take the door on the right. Jump up the platforms and enter the top left door. Continue upward and exit the EMMI zone. Step on the switch to redirect the thermal fuel's flow. Return to the EMMI zone. Drop down and enter the first door on the right. Run right to exit the EMMI zone. Take the top right door. Continue right 1 more room. Enter the bottom left door. Shoot the switch with a charge beam. Return to the previous room and take the top left door. Continue left 1 more room. Drop down and take the first door on the right. Proceed right 1 more room. Shoot the bottom right corner of the platform to reach the Missile Expansion.

Return left 2 rooms and take the top right door. Climb up and take the top left door. Proceed left 1 more room. Step on the switch to redirect the thermal fuel's flow. Return right 2 rooms. Drop down and enter the first door on the left. Fall all the way down, go left 2 rooms, and enter the EMMI zone. Take the door that's just below the EMMI zone exit to the left. Proceed left 3 more rooms and exit the EMMI zone. Continue left 2 more rooms. Climb all the way up and enter the right door to speak with Adam. Go right 1 room and enter the EMMI zone. Drop down, go right 2 rooms, and exit the EMMI zone to find a Map Station.

Go right 1 room and enter the EMMI zone. Climb all the way up and exit the EMMI zone. Head right 1 room. Drop down, run left 1 room, and shoot the switch. Return to the previous room, jump up, go left 1 room, and enter the EMMI zone. Fall down and exit the EMMI zone. Head to the right side of the room and enter the EMMI zone. Then exit the EMMI zone in the top right corner. Head right 2 rooms. Climb to the top and shoot the ceiling to take the top left door. Proceed left 1 more room. Run left, jump up, and go right 1 room to find an Energy Part.

Return to the previous room. Drop down and go right 1 room. Hang from the upper platform to lower it. Head right 2 rooms. Take the upper left door. Proceed left 1 more room to find an Energy Tank.

Jump up and step on the switch in the top left corner. Go left 1 room. Jump all the way up and go left 1 room. Take the lift to Dairon. Head left 1 room. Take the bottom left door to enter a Save Station. Continue left 1 more room. Fall all the way down and go left 3 rooms. Jump all the way up, head left, and shoot through the floor to go left 1 room. Step on the switch to restore power. Return to the previous room and take the missile door. Shoot the Chozo orb for the Wide Beam.

Shoot through the floor and enter the wide beam door. Head right and shoot the wide beam block. Jump up and enter the EMMI zone. After the cutscene, go right 1 room. Then exit the EMMI zone to the right. Shoot the wide beam block and go right 2 rooms. Shoot another wide beam block and then take the door on the right. Take the lift back to Cataris. Go right 1 room. Drop down, shoot the wide beam block, and enter the EMMI zone. Drop down and enter the wide beam door. Jump up and shoot the explosive to take the top left door. Defeat the Central Unit to reactivate the Omega Cannon. Use the long platform to destroy the EMMI. Doing so will give you the Morph Ball.

Drop down and enter the small space in the bottom left corner to go left 1 room. Enter the small space to the left to get a Missile Expansion.

Exit the EMMI zone. Fall all the way down and enter the small space below the large statue. Shoot the ceiling just above the bottom left door to go left 2 rooms. Enter the small space above for a Missile Expansion.

Step on the switch to warp to Artaria. Fall down and shoot the missile block in the small space to find a Missile Expansion.

Go left 2 rooms. Enter the small space above for an Energy Part.

Enter the upper small space to go right 2 rooms. Jump up and go left 1 room. Take the top right door. Step on the switch to redirect the thermal fuel's flow. Jump up and shoot through blocks in the ceiling. Take the small space in the top left corner. Head through the missile door. Jump up and shoot the Chozo orb for the Varia Suit.

Go right 1 room. Shoot the floor to drop down. Quickly enter the lava for a Missile Expansion.

Head left 1 room. Drop all the way down and take the right door. Enter the bottom left door. Fall down and warp back to Cataris. Fall down and go right 2 rooms. Enter the bottom left door. Go through the small space to go right 1 room. Drop down and head left 2 rooms. Continue downward. Shoot through the walls to proceed to the right. Then shoot the explosive in the top right corner to fall down some more. Defeat the Eyedoor to go left 1 room. Shoot the explosive in the wall to enter the room below where you'll encounter Kraid. In the first phase, shoot Kraid's mouth with missiles to open it. Then shoot his open mouth with missiles to deal damage. In the next phase, climb up the platforms to shoot his mouth. After defeating Kraid, climb up to head right 2 rooms. Enter the missile door. Shoot the Chozo orb for the Diffusion Beam.