Plated Beetle

The Plated Beetle is a species encountered on planet Tallon IV in Metroid Prime. It looks like a very large Beetle with a large armored head impervious to any weapon. However, its abdomen is totally unprotected and vulnerable. In order to prevent this area from being attacked, the Plated Beetle will attempt to keep its target in front of itself. The first one encountered is the guardian of the Morph Ball, along with a pack of normal Beetles. They only appear in Chozo Ruins and appear frequently after Samus gains the Morph Ball from the first one.
==Battle==
The Plated Beetle appears after a large swarm of Beetles. They will ram Samus with their large frontal horns, but this can be evaded with a dash, exposing the creature's weak point to attack. Samus will earn the Morph Ball after she defeats the Plated Beetle.
Later on in the game, it appears as a regular enemy in the Main Plaza and again in the Ruined Shrine. They can be killed nearly instantly with the Flamethrower or Wavebuster. It can be killed with one shot of the Plasma Beam after it burns for a few moments. However, its plating is fireproof, so it must be hit from behind. A single charged Wave Beam shot in the same area also does the job quickly and efficiently; it homes in on the Beetle's rear end, eliminating the need for manual accuracy as it dashes. When a single Wave Beam blast strikes the Plated Beetle from behind, the creature spasms as the bolts course around its body, then falls silent and dies discreetly.
==Official Data==
===Logbook entry===
===Metroid Prime and Metroid Fusion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide===
;BOSS BATTLE: PLATED BEETLE
:"As you drop down into the pit, Beetles start popping out of the sand. Stay on your toes, because there are many. The trick here is to continue firing your Power Beam as fast as you can as you quickly tap [L]. (Tapping [L] retargets your aim so that you eliminate the nearest Beetles first.) While you're at it, don’t forget to strafe, or you'll take damage from charging Beetles. Missiles are too slow.The Plated Beetle appears after you've destroyed its little minions. Unlike the Beetles, the Plated Beetle's front side is invulnerable to all of your weaponry. The only weak spot is its red back side. The challenge is to get into position so that the Plated Beetle's soft side is exposed.Stand in one spot, leaving room to maneuver on either side. The Plated Beetle will look like it's charging you, but it will stop just short. Stand your ground as it starts strafing from side to side. When you see its vestigial wings begin to shimmer, dash out of the way to the side by holding down [L] and tapping [B].The Plated Beetle charges right by you and exposes its weak spot. Pepper it with your Power Beam while firing missiles at it. You will get only a few shots before it turns around again. No problem. Repeat the same strategy until its hind side is blown to bits."
;Plated Beetle
:Found In: Chozo Ruins
:Recommended Weapon: Missile Launcher
:Weak Spot: Rear abdomen 
:"The Plated Beetle is a larger and more heavily armored version of its cousin, the Beetle. The Plated Beetle is invulnerable to all attacks from the front. Only its rear abdomen is vulnerable to attack. Stand your ground, leaving plenty of room on either side to dash when the time comes. The Plated Beetle likes to charge at you and stop just before it reaches you. It then strafes from side to side before it goes in for the attack. Watch for the shimmering horns and dash to the side. When the Plated Beetle shoots right past you, unleash the fury of your arsenal at its brightly colored rear abdomen. Missiles work the best but can be slow. For quicker but less damaging shots, use the Power Beam."
===Metroid Prime: The Official Nintendo Player's Guide===
;PLATED BEETLE
:"Before you can claim the Morph Ball, you must defeat a large Plated Beetle. The surly fellow is invincible from the front, so you'll need to find a way to attack it from behind.Lock onto the Plated Beetle and stay somewhere close while the creature jinks back and forth. When you see the two feelers on the side of its head twitch, quickly jump to the side. It will charge past you, giving you an open shot at its exposed abdomen. Two Missile blasts will end the battle."
===Metroid Prime Official Strategy Guide===
;PLATED BEETLE
:MORPHOLOGY
:"The Plated Beetle is a burrowing insect with an impermeable carapace. This creature is only vulnerable in the rear abdomen. Unlike its lesser cousin, the Plated Beetle can repel frontal attacks. It prefers to impale its prey upon its six sharp horns. Only surfacing when it detects vibrations above, it then maneuvers itself so as always to face its rival, keeping its exposed abdomen protected."
:COMBAT TIPS
:"As mentioned in the Morphology, the Plated Beetle's frontal head assembly is completely impervious to any attack thrown at it. Use Samus' dash technique to get behind the Plated Beetle, then hit it with a Power Beam. To take it out quicker, use a Missile. This enemy is only vulnerable from directly behind it, so don't waste ammunition trying to hit it from an angle."
===Metroid Prime Official Perfect Guide===
;MINI-BOSS: BEETLES AND PLATED BEETLE
:"You'll see the Morph Ball across the way, but there's nothing you can do to obtain it until you terminate the horde of twenty Beetles that erupt out of the ground, followed by a wicked Plated Beetle. To destroy this monster, simply lock him into you sights with the L Button, then keep dashing either to the left or to the right; he'll fixate on one of your previous locations and charge--at which point, of course, you'll have dashed around to his glowing backside--and from here you can fire the two Missiles that will effectively wipe him out."
===Nintendo Power Volume 163===
;PLATED BEETLE
:"When you enter the Ruined Shrine, you'll have to fight off many Beetles. Lock on to one, strafe in a circle and keep blasting. When one Beetle is no more, quickly lock on to the next in line. When you eliminate every one (there are about 10) a large Plated Beetle will attack.Lock on to the Plated Beetle and stay close--it's vulnerable only from behind. When the beast twitches the feelers on the side of its head, it's about to charge. Dash to one side by tapping B and pressing Left or Right, then unleash a Missile when it charges past you. Remember to stay locked on!"
==Development notes==
When the Plated Beetle boss in Prime is defeated, a script object called "BUTT EXPLODER" is activated.Wyatt (blorb). "When you defeat the Plated Beetle boss in Metroid Prime 1, it activates a script object named "BUTT EXPLODER"." 25 January 2023 11:33 a.m. Tweet. https://twitter.com/blorb/status/1618285877658267648
==Trivia==
*In the original Metroid Prime, Plated Beetles had no visible face. In Metroid Prime Remastered, their design was altered to include a face hidden on their underside.
*If killed by a Charge Combo other than Super Missiles, the death animation is much different.
**The Wavebuster will cause it to glow with the Wave Beam's electrical charge and have a seizure.
*When killed with the Plasma Beam, the death animation is also different, showing the creature burn into ashes like most creatures killed by the Plasma Beam. Strangely, the Beetle's plating also burns up, although the plating can deflect the beam on its own and appears fireproof.
*The first Plated Beetle's battle theme is shared with the adult Sheegoth and Cloaked Drone. It was later also remixed for the Beetle Blast and Shriekbat Shootout minigames in Metroid Prime Pinball.
==Gallery==
Prime_Trilogy_Promotional_Plated_Beetle_Scan_Chozo_Ruins.jpg|Samus scans a Plated Beetle.
Chozo_Ruins_Screenshot_(57).png|A Plated Beetle appears in the Ruined Shrine.
Character Gallery - Plated Beetle.png|Metroid Prime Remastered Character Gallery
Biology - Remastered 05.png|Metroid Prime Remastered artwork
==References==
de:Gepanzerter Grabkäfer
es:Escarabajo metalizado
ru:Бронежук
Category:Chozo Ruins
Category:Tallon IV
Category:Bosses
Category:Beetle Family
Category:Mike Sneath