You've reached the end of Metroid: Samus Returns, and yet you still have one looming threat before you can reach your ship. Proteus Ridley is the only thing standing between you and safety from Planet SR388. This guide shows you how to beat Proteus Ridley in the final battle.
Related: Metroid: Things You Need To Know About Ridley
How To Beat Proteus Ridley
Although the main objective of Metroid: Samus Returns is to exterminate all the Metroids on Planet SR388 including the Metroid Queen, Proteus Ridley decides he wants a piece of that action as you try and escape the planet with the last infant Metroid in tow.
The ensuing battle has multiple phases as you deal damage to Proteus Ridley as well, much like the fight with Diggernaut in Area 6. Mastery of the Space Jump technique makes the fight with Proteus Ridley significantly easier, as most of his attacks are avoided by varying levels of jumping.
Note: Proteus Ridley is only vulnerable to the Plasma Beam, Beam Burst, and Super Missiles during any given phase of this boss fight. He can be damaged at any point between his attacks by shooting his head or chest.
Proteus Ridley Boss Fight – Phase One
Proteus Ridley will stay in the air for the first phase and perform a small selection of moves:
- Fireball Spread – Ridley leaps into the air and fires a spread pattern of purple fireballs at Samus. Space Jump between the gaps to avoid them.
- Tail Stab – Ridley's tail twitches for a moment before twinkling, then quickly stabbing at Samus in a single strike. Jump up and away from Ridley to avoid it.
- Foot Stomp – Ridley rises up in the air above Samus and screeches before slamming down with his feet. Run underneath him to avoid the attack.
Proteus Ridley Boss Fight – Phase Two
After you deal enough damage to him, a cutscene will play and Proteus Ridley will add these moves to his arsenal, mixing up between aerial and ground attacks:
- Claw Swipe – While on the ground, Ridley raises a claw before swiping at Samus. Jump away from him to avoid the attack. He will occasionally follow up the first swipe with another in quick succession.
- Fireball – On the ground, Ridley charges a fireball in his mouth before releasing it at Samus. The attack can be easily avoided by jumping over it, but keep in mind that his head tracks you before he releases the fireball.
- Ground Spike Shockwave – Ridley leaps into the air and stabs his tail in the ground, sending a wave of stone spikes at Samus. Jump over the spikes to avoid them.
- Tail Drag – Ridley leaps into the air and stabs his tail into the ground, then dashes toward the wall behind Samus, carving the ground with his bladed tail. Space Jump up and over Ridley to escape.
Proteus Ridley Boss Fight – Phase Three
During this last phase, the time between his attacks is significantly shorter. In a final act of desperation, Proteus Ridley will add these moves as he becomes weak:
- Fireballs – Ridley uses the same fireball attack from phase two, but he will now sometimes launch multiple fireballs one after another.
- Enhanced Claw Swipe – Ridley occasionally charges his claw swipe longer for an attack that reaches a wider area and deals more damage. Has a distinct "scratch" pattern when he swipes at Samus.
- Fireball with Shockwave – Ridley leaps into the air above Samus and charges a fireball in his mouth before shooting it straight beneath him. Shockwaves travel outward in either direction from the fireball as it impacts the ground. Jump up and away from the point of impact to avoid both the fireball and shockwave attacks.
- Grab attack – Ridley screeches and opens his mouth, before charging straight at Samus, grabbing and slamming her into the wall behind her, then throwing her on the ground. This attack is pretty heavily telegraphed, so quickly drop into a morph ball to let Ridley pass overhead. Avoid this attack at all costs, because it does massive damage.
- Bite attack – After being dealt enough damage during this phase, Ridley will become stunned and the infant Metroid will attempt to drain his energy. Immediately after this, Ridley bites at Samus with his only attack that can be melee countered. If performed successfully, Samus will leap onto Ridley in a mini quick-time event, allowing you to get some free shots in. This opportunity happens twice during the last phase.
As long as you can get plenty of shots in while avoiding his various attacks, as well as successfully get in both melee counter opportunities, Proteus Ridley can be dispatched fairly quickly. Once you defeat him, Samus takes the infant Metroid and they escape the planet safely.