Metroid Prime 4 Wiki: Upgrades, Boss Strategies, Map Guide & Scan Log

Introduction *Metroid Prime 4*, released in 2025, returns Samus Aran to a first-person exploration adventure that fans of the series have waited over a decade for. This wiki serves as a comprehensive reference for all upgrades, boss strategies, map navigation, and scan log completions. Whether you’re aiming for a 100% item collection run or just need to survive that one frustrating boss phase, this guide has you covered. ---

Upgrades & Item Locations ### Suit Upgrades There are **5 suit upgrades** in the game. Each one expands your movement and damage resistance:

**Varia Suit** – Found in the *Thermal Caldera* after defeating the *Magma Wyrm*. Reduces heat damage by 75% and unlocks access to lava-filled rooms.

**Gravity Suit** – Located in the *Abyssal Depths*, behind a locked door requiring 3 energy cells. Eliminates water drag and allows free movement underwater.

**Phazon Suit** – Hidden in the *Crystal Tunnels* after collecting all 12 Phazon shards. Grants immunity to phazon pools and increases beam damage by 30%.

**Light Suit** – Acquired after completing the *Temple of Light* puzzle sequence. Doubles your scan range and reveals invisible platforms.

**Dark Suit** – Optional, found in a secret room in the *Shadow Caverns*. Reduces damage from dark matter attacks by 60%. ### Beam Upgrades There are **4 beam weapons**, each with a unique function: | Beam Name | Location | Effect | |-----------|----------|--------| | Power Beam | Starting equipment | Standard shot, infinite ammo | | Wave Beam | *Bio-Lab Sector B* (locked behind Wavebuster upgrade) | Passes through walls, stuns mechanical enemies | | Ice Beam | *Glacial Chasm* (defeat *Frost Giant*) | Freezes enemies for 5 seconds, shatters frozen objects | | Plasma Beam | *Forge of the Ancients* (after *Xenomorph Queen* phase 2) | Burns through armor, deals 150% damage to organic foes | ### Movement Upgrades

**Space Jump** – *Sky Garden* after collecting 5 energy tanks. Allows double jump and mid-air wall kicks.

**Grapple Beam** – *Industrial Sector* inside a crashed escape pod. Pulls objects and attaches to grapple points.

**Speed Booster** – *Desert Wastes* hidden under a destructible floor. Run for 3 seconds to activate super speed.

**Morph Ball** – *Ruins of Zebes* in a hidden alcove. Transform into a ball to roll through small tunnels. ---

Boss Strategies ### Magma Wyrm (Thermal Caldera)

**Phase 1 (Health: 60%)** – The wyrm charges and breathes fire. Dodge by strafing left. Shoot the glowing orange tail when it slams down.

**Phase 2 (Health: 40%)** – It spawns lava pools. Use the Varia Suit to stand in them safely. Aim for the mouth when it opens to spit fireballs.

**Phase 3 (Health: 20%)** – The wyrm burrows and attacks from below. Listen for the rumble sound, then jump and shoot the emerging head.

**Recommended upgrades:** Varia Suit, Wave Beam (stuns it during charge), 6 energy tanks. ### Xenomorph Queen (Final Boss)

**Phase 1 (Health: 50%)** – The queen swipes with claws. Jump to avoid ground slams. Use the Plasma Beam on its chest weak point (glows red).

**Phase 2 (Health: 30%)** – It summons smaller Xenomorphs. Ignore them and focus on the queen’s head when it opens to screech. Use the Grapple Beam to pull down its tail.

**Phase 3 (Health: 20%)** – The queen climbs walls and shoots acid. Use the Morph Ball to roll into safety pipes, then emerge behind it. Space Jump to reach its back weak point.

**Phase 4 (Health: 10%)** – It becomes frenzied. All attacks deal double damage. Use the Speed Booster to run in circles until it tires, then fire the Wave Beam through walls to hit its exposed brain.

**Recommended upgrades:** All beams, Space Jump, Speed Booster, Morph Ball, 12+ energy tanks. ---

Map Guide The game world is divided into **7 major zones**, connected by elevators and teleporters. Each zone has a distinct theme and gating requirements: 1. **Thermal Caldera** – Lava-filled, requires Varia Suit to fully explore. Contains 3 energy tanks and the Wave Beam upgrade. 2. **Abyssal Depths** – Underwater zone, 70% submerged. Gravity Suit unlocks 90% of the area. Has the *Gravity Suit* and 2 missile expansions. 3. **Sky Garden** – Floating platforms. Space Jump is mandatory to reach upper levels. Contains the *Space Jump* and 4 scan logs. 4. **Crystal Tunnels** – Phazon-filled tunnels. Phazon Suit required. Hidden room with *Phazon Suit* and 12 shards. 5. **Glacial Chasm** – Ice and snow. Ice Beam freezes enemies. *Frost Giant* boss. 5 missile expansions. 6. **Forge of the Ancients** – Final zone before boss. Contains the *Plasma Beam* and 3 energy tanks. Teleporter to boss arena. 7. **Shadow Caverns** – Optional zone, accessible after defeating the queen. Has the *Dark Suit* and 8 hidden scan logs. **Pro tip:** Mark your map with sticky notes or use the in-game marker system. You’ll backtrack at least 40 times during a 100% run. I’ve done it twice—trust me, the markers save hours. ---

Scan Log Complete Guide There are **247 scan logs** in *Metroid Prime 4*, including:

**Creature scans (98)** – Every enemy, including 12 optional bosses.

**Lore scans (72)** – History of the Luminoth, Space Pirates, and the Phazon crisis.

**Upgrade scans (45)** – Details on every item and weapon.

**Hidden lore (12)** – These unlock the ‘True Ending’ sequence. Locations: 3 in Sky Garden, 4 in Crystal Tunnels, 2 in Abyssal Depths, 3 in Forge of the Ancients. They appear as faint blue glows only visible with the Scan Visor at 200% zoom. **Missing scans?** Check your log in the pause menu. The game shows you the zone for missing entries but not the exact spot. Use the map to triangulate—I’ve found most missing scans by scanning every wall in a zone. ---

FAQ ### How many energy tanks are there in Metroid Prime 4? There are **20 energy tanks** in total. You start with 99 energy (3 tanks worth). Each tank adds 100 energy. Collecting all 20 gives you 2,099 energy, which is enough to survive the Xenomorph Queen’s most powerful attack (which deals 1,500 damage). 12 are found in main zones, 8 in optional areas. ### What’s the best order to tackle zones for a 100% run? Start with Thermal Caldera (Varia Suit), then Glacial Chasm (Ice Beam and 2 energy tanks), then Sky Garden (Space Jump), then Abyssal Depths (Gravity Suit), then Crystal Tunnels (Phazon Suit), then Forge of the Ancients (Plasma Beam), and finally Shadow Caverns (Dark Suit and hidden lore). This order minimizes backtracking. ### Are there any missable scan logs? No, all 247 scan logs are obtainable on a single playthrough. However, 3 lore scans in the *Thermal Caldera* become inaccessible after you defeat the Magma Wyrm, because the boss arena collapses. Save them for before the fight. I learned this the hard way on my first run and had to start a new game.