How to Survive and Defeat the EMMI - Metroid Dread Guide - IGN (2024)

In Metroid Dread, one of the ever-present threats you will face come in the form of the E.M.M.I. Robots, or EMMI - Federation robots that have been corrupted to hunt down Samus. This page contains information, tips, and strategies to hide, survive, and eventually defeat the EMMI.

EMMI Overview

The EMMI are one of the most difficult enemies you will face in Metroid Dread. They cannot be harmed by any of your traditional weapons, even as you gain more and more powers and upgrades. Getting caught by one can almost end in instant death - which means stealth and evasion should be your main concerns until you are able to locate the temporary means to destroy the EMMI.

The good news is that all EMMI are bound within certain facilitiy zones in each region they are found in - designated as EMMI Zones, and will appear on your map in grey with a border around their territory. As you might expect, you will be forced to traverse these zones multiple times in your exploration of Planet ZDR, and even then, you won't be able to stumble upon the means to their destruction until you have advanced far enough.

Each EMMI Zone is also home to a room with an entity known as the Central Unit, and only by finding and defeating it can you obtain a temporary upgrade called the Omega Cannon, which is needed to pierce the EMMI's armor and destroy it.

List of EMMI

Most of the EMMI you find are unique in small ways, and each will have its own ability it can use against you. Defeating the EMMI will also allow Samus to gain its power, much like finding a Chozo Upgrade. For instance, the Yellow EMMI will be able to dash at high speeds on long platforms to catch up to you, while the Blue EMMI can briefly stun you with an ice attack if it gets in range and pings you.

E.M.M.I. Checklist

You can mark off which E.M.M.I.s you've defeated:

How to Avoid the EMMI

When traversing the EMMI Zone, you're bound to run into these robots one way or the other - but with the right tips and strategies, you can at least be on guard to know when it's time to hide, and when you need to run:

• You'll see the EMMI long before you hear them - listen out for their distinct chirping noise to know when one is approaching.

• When you know an EMMI is in your area, consult your surroundings (and even your map) to see where you can escape to if things get hot. Nothing is worse than seeing an approaching EMMI and not having anywhere to turn to.

• Once the EMMI starts to appear on your minimap, it will soon get close enough to start pinging for your location - which is based on movement. The moment you feel your Switch or controller start to vibrate - do not move if you can help it.

• Sometimes, it's better to remain where you are than risk detection by running when the EMMI is near. Each EMMI has several methods of traversing walls and platforms, and they may not always intersect with your path if they don't know you're there.

• If you move when in auditory range of an EMMI, a yellow ping will show at your last known location they detected. If you are on the edge of their detection, you can use this as a visual indicator to know where they will investigate - and if you have the Phantom Cloak, you can anticipate their movement to stay out of their way when they draw close.

• Even if an EMMI is tracking your movements with multiple yellow pings, the doors to the EMMI Zone will not close until they have visual confirmation of your location. This means if you know you are close to the exit, and can put walls or floors between you and the robot for a bit longer, you can make a mad dash for the exit with them hot on your trail - and not get locked out.

• While there are no other "enemies" in the EMMI Zones, you will find small little probe droids going about their business. They don't attack, but they can get in your way when trying to hide, and make unwanted noise if you get smacked by them. Shoot them with a missile if the EMMI is not nearby to get rid of them.

• There are also mines that can be planted in some EMMI Zones, which will spring into the air and detonate if it detects you. The resulting explosion will alert the EMMI no matter how far away it is, but you can use your Phantom Cloak to walk past it - or even force the detonation to lure the EMMI to a specific spot while you move somewhere else.

• If you are in visual sight radius of an EMMI, the alarms will sound and alerts will go from yellow to red. As long as you have an escape route, things aren't over yet. You can still outpace an EMMI with careful consideration to your environment, using slides, wall jumps, and magnet rails to gain distance and lose line of sight. It is possible - though hard - to outpace an EMMI long enough that it loses track and must rely on pinging once again, unlocking the exit doors.

• Once you obtain the Phantom Cloak, you'll be able to use Aeion Energy (and even your own life force) to hide your movements from the robot. However, it can still bump into you on accident, so you will still need to be aware of its movements.

• If you find ceiling magnet rails, you can press your body flat against them if an EMMI is wandering underneath - but remember that EMMI can sometimes traverse the rails too.

• Certain EMMI Zones features tiny alcoves in the walls, and you can use the Phantom Cloak while in Morph Ball form to hide in these holes where the EMMI cannot bump into you - giving you a little peace of mind.

The following tips video shows some of these maneuvers in action:

Defending Against the EMMI

If you find yourself cornered, or otherwise unable to get away, cloak, or escape from an approaching EMMI, you will have exactly two chances to survive your encounter - but this should be an absolute last resort.

When the EMMI runs into you, a short cutscene will begin, with the EMMI looming up in front of Samus. There will be two incredibly fast and brief flashes - one when the EMMI extends its right hand to grab Samus, and another after it opens its faceplate to stab at Samus.

Unlike the other counter prompts you will encounter in Metroid Dread, these attacks can only be countered if you press the X button /right/ as the orange flash happens, not after. The window is incredibly short for this, and the EMMI can vary the time it takes to strike, usually a mere 10-15 frames, and you'll only have about a second to anticipate and counter.

If you manage to press X at just the right time for any of these two moments, Samus will counter the EMMI, and knock it back to briefly stun it. Not only will you have the chance to run away, you'll even be able to slide through its legs if cornered to start running before it regains its senses - usually around 4-5 seconds.

Given the unpredictability and short window, it's best not to rely on this method to deter an EMMI.

How to Destroy the EMMI

As you continue in your exploration of the various regions of Planet ZDR, you will eventually be put on a collison course to locate the Central Unit of the EMMI Zone.

Inside these rooms is a brain-like entity encased in armor, and protected by several turrets - some that fire quick lasers, and other that fire slower rings that can be destroyed with missiles or charged shots to replenish your energy and ammo.

After unloading enough missiles into the Central Unit, you can break its armor to fire more rapdily at it (though turrets will also shoot faster) until it is finally killed.

Samus will then temporarily gain the ability to use the Omega Stream and Omega Cannon until the EMMI in this zone has been destroyed.

During this sequence, the EMMI will behave slightly differently than usual. When you engage your Omega weapon by holding down L to aim, the approaching EMMI will crouch down and approach slowly - giving you time to first use the Omega Stream at its face plate.

Because you will need sustatined fire to break the faceplate using the Omega Stream, you should try to find a long corridor when running from the EMMI in order to give yourself as much time as possible to get the shots in as you can. Don't be afraid to turn and run if you think there's not enough room - or you'll be grabbed.

Once the faceplate has been destroyed, retreat and find another long hall or gap to ready your Omega Cannon blast. It's charge takes a moment, so give yourself the breathing room needed, and note that the EMMI will stand on its hind legs at this point and lightly bob its face up and down - so be sure your aim is true before firing.

Upon defeat, your cannon will revert to its normal form, and the ability the EMMI was carrying will become your own. At this point, the zone color will turn to green, and the local alien fauna will soon begin to take back the zone.