Metroid Dread: How to Beat the Kraid Boss in Cataris
Fans of the series will no doubt recognise Kraid, the second major boss in Metroid Dread and can be found in ZDR’s Cataris region.
Kraid, the second major boss in Metroid Dread, will no doubt be familiar to long-time Metroid fans. While exploring the Cataris region of Planet ZDR, Samus will come across the ridiculously large reptilian and will need to defeat him in a two-phase fight in order to move on to the next area.
The trick to defeating Kraid in Metroid Dread, as in previous Metroid games, is to unload missiles and charge shots directly into his open mouth, while also dodging his numerous projectile-based attacks. In terms of strategy, it’s a simple fight, but one that requires some skill to overcome.
Where to Find Kraid in Metroid Dread
The room where players fight Kraid is located in the Cataris region’s southwestern corner. To get there, players must counter and destroy a boss door, which will lead them to a room beneath a previously explored room. As they move to the left, they’ll come across a Morph Ball tunnel, and climbing into it will send Samus plummeting into Kraid’s lair below.
Phase 1: How to Beat Kraid
Kraid’s arms are shackled to the wall at the start of the fight, severely limiting the boss’s attack options. To begin with, he only has two, both of which are projectile-based. In the first, the boss flicks his massive claws at Samus, which can be destroyed with missiles or charged shots.
Kraid will occasionally fire two different types of projectiles from his mouth, in addition to claws. The red ones can be destroyed and provide players with health as well as missiles. The ones on fire, on the other hand, are immune to Samus’ attacks, so players must avoid them if they want to keep the bounty hunter alive.
Phase 2: How to Beat Kraid
After enough shots are fired into Kraid’s mouth, his arm shackles will break and he will destroy the platform Samus was originally standing on. When players regain control, they’ll be down by the boss’ belly, where they’ll have to deal with three new attacks.
The first, and most common, involves Kraid shooting poisonous purple projectiles from a hole in his stomach, which players must destroy with the charge shot to replenish their health and missile supply. He’ll also throw a large ball of purple poison at random, which will explode on the ground and must be jumped over by players.
Kraid will eventually fire some solid objects that will stick into the wall behind Samus. Players should use these as steps to ascend to the blue panel on the wall. As soon as they get a hold of it, they should begin firing missiles at Kraid’s face. This opens up a counter-opportunity, which players should take advantage of by pressing the X button when prompted.
If players time it correctly, Samus will be able to launch a barrage of missiles directly into Kraid’s mouth. However, if they make a mistake or are too slow to fire missiles, Kraid will knock Samus back down and players will have to start the process all over again. Kraid will eventually succumb to his injuries and sink into the lava below.
The Reward for Beating Kraid
Because Kraid’s body is submerged in hot magma, players will not receive a reward for defeating him right away. They’ll find themselves in a room with a Chozo Statue shortly after leaving the boss’ lair, and destroying the ball it’s holding will allow Samus to obtain the Diffusion Beam.
Though not as useful as some of the other Metroid Dread beams, the Diffusion Beam is far from useless. Players can use it to attack enemies from the opposite side of platforms and even open up hidden routes by targeting organic matter buried deep within walls and other structures.