Learn how to defeat Phenoros in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond! This serpentine beast is as dangerous as the lava it swims in, so you’ll need to remain cool by reading to learn how to avoid its attacks with this guide’s tips.
Phenoros Location
Phenoros will be found at the Heart of the Volcano in Flare Pool. You need to first save Sergeant Ezra Duke and Private Nora Armstrong, then ride your Vi-O-La IC into the volcano at Lava Lake Bridge.
Fight with Vi-O-La
For the first phase of the fight, you need to use Vi-O-La’s projectiles to destroy the blue growths beneath Phenoros.
The easiest way to do that is to look for a part towards the front of Phenoros that arcs up. Stop in front of that area and pop the growths as they pass by. As these are destroyed, you’ll get Boost Energy to recharge Vi-O-La’s boost.
Boost to the other side of the room where Phenoros slithered to. If you need more boosts, destroy the Blow Hoppers floating around. They’ll drop Energy and recharge your boost.
Expose his weak spot
Continue chasing down Phenoros until all of the growths are destroyed. You’ll now be fighting him on-foot for the second phase. Lock onto Phenoros and use Free-Aim to destroy one growth on his face. This will have him roar and expose his weak spot, his tongue.
Only destroy one growth at a time so you’ll have more chances to shoot his tongue. Use your Psychic Beam’s normal shots to get the best rate of damage. While he doesn’t resist them, Ice Shot and Missiles aren’t super effective against him.
Avoid the Sweeping Fire Beams
When Phenoros shoots a sweeping beam across the platform, turn into a Morph Ball and hide behind the spikes to avoid damage. This attack deals a lot of damage and health is sparse in this fight.
Don’t get eaten
When he lunges back and opens his mouth, get ready to side dash away. If you fail to dodge this attack, you’ll need to break free from his mouth before he does too much damage to you. Tap that button as fast as you possibly can.
Fight fire with ice
Use your Ice Shot to instantly destroy the fire balls that Phenoros coughs up. These will be your way to gain Energy and help you stay in the fight. Be sure to use your Charge Beam to suck in any health that’s too far to grab.
Pop all the growths
When all of his face growths are destroyed, Phenoros will be stunned with his mouth wide open. Get in as many shots as you can while he’s stunned. When he’s no longer stunned, he’ll return to the lava and pop out with more growths.
Lock in and finish him off
When Phenoros reaches half health, he’ll flare out his hood and expose new growth locations. This also indicates that the fight is going to get even harder as he’ll shoot energy from the growths, make multiple sweeping beam attacks, and make multiple attempts to eat you.
He’ll now use a close range beam attack that’s very hard to dodge. You’re most likely going to have to take the hit and hope you can restore health by destroying fireballs.
When he gets super low on health, he’ll be incapacitated with his mouth wide open. Use the Control Beam to fire a shot into his mouth and hit the Metroid within to end the fight.
Earn the Psychic Grapple
Upon his defeat, you’ll earn the Psychic Grapple. This handy tool allows you to grapple onto grapple hooks to climb over ledges, jump off walls, or swing across gaps in terrain.
