Power Beam

Samus Aran's , also known as the , is her basic default weapon made of Chozo technology. Readily equipped with her Power Suit, the Power Beam does little damage to powerful enemies, although it can easily clear entire rooms filled with weaker foes. It appears in all Metroid games.
The beam's projectiles consist of individual small spheres with yellow and/or orange colors flying in a straight line. Visually, they have the simplest appearance and trajectory out of all existing beam weapons. When using the Charge Beam, the projectile is noticeably larger and brighter. 
==2D Metroid series==
The Power Beam is the starting weapon for each mission. It is notable that the weapon was at its weakest in the very beginning of Metroid for the NES/FDS and its remake Metroid: Zero Mission, due to the weapon's projectiles dissipating within a short distance. However, it can be turned into a long-range weapon by collecting the Long Beam; this upgraded Power Beam becomes the standard and initial state of the weapon in every other title in the series (thus insinuating that both beams merged indefinitely). With the exception of Metroid and Metroid II: Return of Samus, it has the capacity to stack with other subsequent beams acquired by Samus, gaining additional properties and power. In Super Metroid, she has the liberty of choosing the combination of beams, but as Samus progressed in her mission, there would be very little benefit, if none at all, for her to revert the Power Beam back to its initial state. In fact, every other title simply made it impossible to regain the basic Power Beam.
==Metroid Prime series==
The beam remains as the starting weapon. For the majority of the series, however, the Power Beam is incapable of combining with other beams and stays as its own separate weapon. When compared to the other beams, it is a semiautomatic weapon and therefore has the highest rate of fire. In the first two Metroid Prime titles, is necessary to use in conjunction with the Charge Beam and Missiles to fire off Super Missiles, the only vital Charge Combo needed to complete the games. As a result, the Power Beam became more useful. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption remains the only game in the series where the Power Beam can stack with other beam weapons, changing the visual appearance and strength of its projectiles but always keeping its initial high rate of fire.
===Metroid Prime Hunters===
In Metroid Prime Hunters, the beam can fire a burst of three shots in rapid succession every time the trigger is pulled. If the trigger is held to activate the Charge Beam, the Power Beam will fire a fourth projectile after a slight delay before it begins to focus into a charged shot. The fourth normal shot appears to be absent in multiplayer mode, with the charge beginning shortly after the third shot if the trigger is held. 
Each Bounty Hunter has their own Power Beam. Though it is weak offensively, it makes up for it with endless ammunition and a high rate of fire. A normal shot does around 6 damage. As with many other weapons, the Power Beam does more damage with a headshot.
Interestingly, in the demo Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, the Power Beam used an ammunition system. It remains the only game where it does so. If the player runs out of ammo, they will no longer be able to fire the Power Beam fully automatically and are unable to use Missiles. This may have been a product of the training hologram where the demo is slated to take place in, however.
===Metroid Prime: Federation Force===
Samus is not a playable character in Metroid Prime: Federation Force, but the Federation Force's Mechs use a similar beam called the Power Shot. It functions mostly same as the Power Beam, but takes longer to charge. In Blast Ball, the beam has a limited energy supply that prevents players from shooting too much lest the shots gradually become weaker until none can be fired, at which point the player must wait a short time before starting to fire again. The Adrenaline power-up in Blast Ball enhances the projectile travel speed and energy recovery rate of the Power Shot.
==Magazine Z manga==
The Power Beam, as depicted in the manga, packs considerably less power than ancient Chozo weapons despite being a recently made one. This is seen when Samus first used it on Mother Brain's Zebetite shields, revealing they were immune to it, but when Grey Voice attacked with a century-old weapon, it was able to penetrate the shields.
==Official data==
===Official Metroid Prime website===
Weapon effect: Highly effective offensive tool
Weapon range: 3-10 m
Weapon potential: High
"The Power Beam is the basic energy unit produced by Samus Aran's standard Arm Cannon. The Power Beam is expelled from Samus' Arm Cannon. Close observation indicates that this is the Bounty Hunter's most frequently used offensive tool. The Power Beam may be charged, dramatically increasing the weapon's effectiveness. Ineffective against advanced shields and engineered enemies."
===Metroid Prime flash===
"The Power Beam lacks the strength of other armaments that are hidden on Tallon IV but boasts more rapid fire. Acquire the Charge Beam power-up to launch a highly powerful blast of energy."
===Metroid Prime manual===
;POWER BEAM
:"This is Samus's standard beam, which you can fire continuously by rapidly tapping the A Button. As with all beam weapons, the Power Beam becomes much stronger once Samus finds the Charge Beam power-up. Once Samus has found the Charge Beam, press and hold the A Button to charge up her shot, then release the A Button to fire a powerful blast."
===Inventory data===
===Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide===
;Power Beam
:"This is Samus's main weapon. It's used to attack enemies and to open most doors. The Power Beam doesn't rely on ammunition, so it may be fired constantly by rapidly tapping [A]. Though the Power Beam is effective against most enemies and has a rapid rate of fire, it lacks power on its own. Its effectiveness is greatly improved once Samus locates the Charge Beam power-up, which allows you to charge a strong blast by holding [A] for a short time.Note: The Charge Beam has a tractor-beam effect, which allows you to pull power-ups toward you. This is especially useful in situations where the power-ups are hanging over a pit or are in a dangerous area. It's also handy in fights when you can't afford to take your eyes off of the enemy.The Power Beam can be further strengthened through the addition of the Super Missile Combo, which allows you to fire a fully powered blast and five missiles. This can be used to destroy Cordite and to devastate enemies. This is a single blast."
===Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;POWER BEAM
:"The Power Beam is the Arm Cannon's default weapon. It has the fastest rate of fire of any weapon and is great for clearing a room of small enemies. Some enemies, especially in the later levels, are immune to the Power Beam. You can also use it to open blue doors, though any weapon (save a Missile) will open a blue door."
===Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide===
;POWER BEAM
:"The Power Beam is the primary weapon in Metroid Prime, and it is the weapon of choice for at least the first 50% of the game. This Beam has the highest rate of fire of all the beam weapons. Use the Power Beam to open Blue Doors. If the shots ricochet, cease fire because the Power Beam is not working against that door (or enemy). Use the Power Beam to quickly clear an area of weaker enemies. As is shown in the Bestiary, many enemies are vulnerable to the Power Beam's attack."
===Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide===
;POWER BEAM
:"This is the default weapon in 'Metroid Prime.' Press A and a burst of yellow energy will blast outward at your foe. The Power Beam has a high repeat rate, so you can get off a large number of rounds per second. In addition to causing damage to enemies, Power Beam blasts will open up all standard (blue) doors throughout the game. At a point not too far into the game you'll obtain the Charge Beam. With this supplementary weapon in your inventory, you'll be able to fire more powerful blasts from your weapons by holding A until the Arm Cannon begins to glow, indicating it's fully charged, and releasing. A couple of seconds will pass until the weapon is ready (possibly costing you precious time in the heat of battle) but the release of a charged burst can cause damage equivalent to or sometimes greater than a Missile (see below). An added delight of possessing the Charge Beam comes from the fact that a fully charged Arm Cannon (set to any Beam) aimed in the direction of a power-up capsule (such as Energy or Missile Ammunition; see below) off in the distance will draw that capsule to your person. For example: if you don't want to jump out to any capsule which hovers dangerously above lava, just aim toward the object and hold A. You can stand in a safe position while still reaping the reward."
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes manual===
;POWER BEAM
:"Fire the Power Beam continuously by rapidly tapping the A Button. It becomes much stronger when Samus uses the Charge Beam. Hold the A Button to charge (which also engages a tractor beam effect that draws power-ups toward Samus), then release it. The Power Beam can open blue hatches and has infinite ammo."
===Metroid Prime 2: Echoes: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;Power Beam
:"The Power Beam is your default weapon, and it's surprisingly handy--even in the very late stages of the game. It has the fastest rate of fire by far, launching energy as fast as you can hammer the A Button. Its Charge Beam Combo is the powerful Super Missile, which can open green doors."
===Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Premiere Edition===
;Power Beam
:"The Power Beam is the default Arm Cannon, and it has the best rate of fire. Press [A] to shoot the Power Beam. Press and hold [A] to charge the Arm Cannon, then release to fire a charged shot. If you see your shots ricochet, cease fire--the Power Beam is not working against that target. Unlike previous versions, this model of the Power Beam has been augmented with a Charge module. Charged shots are more powerful and deal more damage than normal shots. Charging also has a limited "tractor beam" effect that will pull small objects to you."
===Metroid Prime Trilogy: Prima Official Game Guide===
;Power Beam
:"The Power Beam is Samus's default Arm Cannon. It has the best rate of fire and unlimited ammo. Press [A] to shoot the Power Beam. If you have the Charge Beam upgrade, press and hold [A] to charge the Arm Cannon, then release to fire a powerful charged shot. Charging also has a limited "tractor beam" effect that will draw in small pick-ups, such as Energy Units, helping you collect them from afar.If your Power Beam shots ricochet, cease fire--the Power Beam is not working against that target. Seek out advanced weapon upgrades for the Arm Cannon. Once you've acquired them, hold [+] and use your cursor to select the weapon you wish to aim. Tap [+] to quickly return to the Power Beam."
===Metroid Prime Trilogy manual===
;Power Beam
:"You can use this beam from the beginning. A single shot is not very powerful but you can fire rapidly."
===Metroid Fusion manual===
;NORMAL
:"This is the standard beam Samus possesses at the beginning of the game."
===Metroid Fusion website===
"Samus's standard Energy Beam is sufficient for defeating weaker enemies encountered early in the mission. Samus will need to upgrade, however, before facing more dangerous creatures."
===Metroid: Zero Mission manual===
;Short
:"This is Samus' standard beam weapon."
===Metroid Prime Hunters Logbook entry===
===Metroid Prime Hunters manual===
;Beam Icon
:"Touch here to switch your weapon to the Power Beam."
;Power Beam
:"Power Beam has a limited offensive capability, but it has excellent rapid-fire ability."
===Metroid Prime Hunters: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;POWER BEAM
:"The Power Beam may not pack as much punch as other weapons, but it has an unlimited supply of ammo and can be charged up to fire powerful energy blasts. As Samus finds new weapons, the Arm Cannon can adapt to incorporate their functionality."
===Metroid: Other M On-Screen Tutorial===
ATTACK
Press [1] to fire your beam.
===Metroid: Other M manual===
;Normal Beam/Charge Beam
:"Press the 1 Button to fire a beam. Press and hold the 1 Button and release to fire a powerful Charge Beam."
===Metroid: Other M Samus Screen data===
"Controls: Fire with [1].Press and hold [1] until fully charged and release to shoot a Charge Beam."
===Metroid.com for Metroid: Other M===
====Normal Beam/Charge Beam====
Samus' standard hand cannon can wipe out the more common creatures infesting the Bottleship, while an added charge function ups the damage quotient significantly.
===Metroid: Other M Premiere Edition===
;Normal Beam
:"This is your most basic shot. Although not the most powerful type of beam, it is capable of destroying lower-level enemies like Mellas, Reos, or Skrees with just a few shots. When powered up with the Charge Beam, it is a necessary weapon in early boss battles."
===Metroid: Samus Returns Samus Screen data===
"A basic Power Beam. Press [Y] rapidly to fire consecutive shots."
===Metroid: Samus Returns Official Guide===
;THE ARMORY - BEAMS (p. 10)
:POWER BEAM
:"Samus' bread and butter, the Power Beam may be the peashooter of the Metroid universe, but it gets the job done."
===Metroid.nintendo.com===
"The default Arm Cannon beam."
===Metroid Dread Samus Screen===
==Development notes==
In Metroid Prime, the Power Beam was modeled and skinned by Gene Kohler.
The Power Beam, along with Samus and many of her other abilities, were slated to appear in the Wii version of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, but were scrapped due to Nintendo withholding consent. Based on available footage, the Power Beam appears to be based off of its Prime iteration.
The Power Beam was intended to be one of Samus's unique abilities in Metroid Tactics, a pitched game from Paul Tozour.
==Trivia==
*The default, starting beam weapon was referred to as the Normal Beam throughout the main series up until Metroid: Samus Returns, where it is called the Power Beam, a term that was invented and exclusively used in the Metroid Prime series. The Metroid: Zero Mission manual also referred to it as the Short Beam.
*In the original Metroid, the Normal Beam and the Ice Beam deal the exact same amount of damage. However, due to the Ice Beam's freezing/unfreezing nature, enemies must be hit twice as many times with the frigid projectile.
*Though Samus required the Long Beam upgrade in the original Metroid to fire all the way across the screen, in all subsequent games (save Metroid: Zero Mission) this attribute is a natural ability of the Normal Beam.
*In the Metroid Prime series, the beams affect the Arm Cannon in their own unique way when charging. In the case of the Power Beam, beams of light would appear from the sides of the Arm Cannon. In the New Play Control! and Metroid Prime Trilogy versions of Metroid Prime, this effect is absent. However, this graphical effect is retained in the re-releases of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption as well as Metroid Prime Remastered.
**Another, less noticeable effect that is not present in Trilogy version of Metroid Prime is the heat waves which emanate from the Arm Cannon after rapidly-firing the Power Beam.
**In Metroid Prime Hunters, small amounts of smoke rise from the Arm Cannon while charging. This effect also occurs when charging Missiles.
*In Metroid: Zero Mission, an uncharged shot from the Power Beam does 1 unit of damage.
**This is also true in the Echoes multiplayer mode.
*Chozo Ghosts are immune to all natural forms of energy yet are vulnerable to the Power Beam. The Power Beam is, therefore, an unnatural form of energy.
*In Metroid Prime, though typically thought to have no special properties compared to the other beams in the game, charged power beam shots can be observed to visibly stagger larger enemies, most notably pirates. The effect is most noticeable against Elite Pirates and the Phazon Elite, which are notably immune to the secondary effects of other beams but can still be staggered by charged Power Beam shots.
**This effect is likely present in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes but is less pronounced due to the lack of enemies resistant to secondary beam effects.
*In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the Power Beam is presented as being more powerful during cutscenes than it is during gameplay. Samus is seen killing Pirate Troopers in a single shot, while in gameplay it takes 20 shots or two fully charged shots.
*Also in Metroid Prime 3, the Power Beam can be seen recalibrating itself when Samus is finished talking to people or interacting with devices like Hand Scanners. This doesn't carry over once Samus receives the Plasma and Nova Beams.
==Audio==
Sound	Game
 	Metroid (NES)
 	Metroid II: Return of Samus
 	Super Metroid
 	Metroid Fusion
 	Metroid Prime (series)
 	Metroid: Zero Mission
 	Metroid: Other M
 	Metroid: Samus Returns
 	Metroid Dread
==Gallery==
Powerbeam-m1.gif|Metroid
Metroid II Power Beam.gif|Metroid II: Return of Samus
Powerbeam-m3.gif|Super Metroid
Powerbeam-m4.gif|Metroid Fusion
Powerbeam-m0.gif|Zero Mission
PowerBeamSamusReturns.png|Metroid: Samus Returns
Other M Geemers.jpg|Metroid: Other M
Metroid Dread Power Beam.jpg|Metroid Dread
Samus shooting Power Beam in Announcement Trailer.png|The Power Beam being fired at E.M.M.I.-02SM, as seen in the Dread Announcement Trailer.
Samus shooting Power Beam in Find Your Power.png|The same scene in the Find Your Power commercial; note the increase in visual effects.Samus Hunter | Nintendo Leak and News Inside (SamusHunter2). "Did you catch the graphical improvements in the latest trailer (Commercial) for #MetroidDread? There are many small improvements, even in Samus model. I have prepared a small video that shows a sequence (no spoiler) with the difference, more comparative images in the comments 😉" 15 September 2021 12:11 p.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/SamusHunter2/status/1438173647622090761
Obstacle bluedoor.jpg|Metroid Prime
Power Beam Symbol.png|Prime symbol.
Obstacle bluedoor2.jpg|Metroid Prime 2: Echoes
Power Beam Symbol Echoes.png|Echoes symbol.
Power Beam Icon Ball.png|Echoes icon while in Morph Ball (normally unseen off-screen).
PowerBeamRender.png|Echoes promotional render.
Power Beam rip.png|Extracted model from Echoes.
Power Beam (Echoes).png|Side view of the modal from Echoes
Obstacle bluedoor3.jpg|Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Mp3 power beam upgrade.png|The Power Beam in item form in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
Power Beam Firing MP3.jpg|Samus using the Power Beam in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption.
Beyond Power Beam.jpg|Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Power Beam.png|Marvel: Ultimate Alliance
File:ArmCannonCalibration.gif|The Power Beam recalibrating itself in Metroid Prime 3
==References==
it:Raggio Energia
es:Rayo
ru:Энергетический Луч
Category:Beams
Category:Gene Kohler
Category:Chozo technology
Category:Recurring Items
Category:Metroid Prime/Dark Samus
Category:Beginning Items
Category:Equipment