Metroid Database Bestiary

A flying creature with a hard shell. Rippers can defy gravity by an unknown means, but seeing as another variant expels fire from its anus, it is thought to be able to store pure helium inside of its shell. When a Ripper is born, their shells are soft and they do not have floating abilities, and are mostly forced to crawl on land. This unfortunately makes them easy prey for local predators. Once afloat, they never land again, and feed on airborne elements and bacteria. Rippers are fairly docile creatures, and don’t outwardly show any hostility towards Samus. Since they can fly anywhere, they are quite prolific throughout planet Zebes.

Since Rippers are more of an obstacle than anything else, they provide very little threat as Samus traverses Zebes. They are a living version of a moving platform that can be frozen and used as a stepping stone. Rippers can be destroyed with Super Missiles, but it’s best to just save your ammo and avoid them. Ripper IIs can be destroyed with a Power Bomb or the Screw Attack. Grippers get their name from their use: they can be attached to and swung upon via the Grapple Beam.