- Metroid Zero Mission after Kraid: Leave Kraid’s Lair and follow the route into Norfair.
- First objective: Use the newly opened path to begin collecting heat-region upgrades.
- Priority upgrades: Look for the Varia Suit, Hi-Jump Boots, and Speed Booster.
- Next major goal: Progress through Norfair toward Ridley’s area.
- Exploration tip: Mark blocked rooms and revisit them after gaining new movement abilities.
Where to Go After Kraid
Metroid Zero Mission where to go after Kraid is one of the most common progression questions because the game opens several connected routes after the boss fight. The correct next destination is Norfair, the volcanic region beneath Zebes. Leave Kraid’s Lair through the newly available route, then use the Norfair map to identify the next Chozo-guided path.
Do not spend too much time trying to force every blocked passage immediately. Some rooms are designed for later backtracking after Samus gains better movement, stronger weapons, or additional environmental protection.
| Objective | Destination | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Leave the boss region | Kraid’s Lair exit | Newly accessible passages leading toward Norfair |
| Start the next area | Norfair | Save Rooms, Recharge Rooms, and Chozo Statues |
| Improve survival | Norfair upgrade route | Heat protection and additional Energy capacity |
| Improve mobility | Norfair side paths | Higher jumps and long running corridors |
| Prepare for the next major region | Ridley route | Stronger weapons, ammunition, and movement tools |
Follow the New Exit
Leave Kraid’s arena and continue through the route that was previously blocked by progression.
Enter Norfair
Norfair is the next main region and contains the upgrades needed for deeper exploration.
Use Save Rooms
Save before testing unfamiliar heated rooms or committing to a long platforming route.
Expect Backtracking
Return to earlier rooms when Bombs, Speed Booster, or improved jumping opens new possibilities.
If you are unsure where to go, open the map and prioritize unexplored Norfair rooms connected to the Kraid exit. The intended route generally leads through a sequence of upgrade rooms rather than directly to the next boss.
Step-by-Step Norfair Route
Leave Kraid’s Lair
After defeating Kraid, move away from the boss chamber and follow the newly opened progression route. Use Missiles on red doors and inspect nearby side rooms for ammunition or Energy upgrades. You do not need to clear every optional room before entering Norfair.
Reach the Norfair Entrance
Enter Norfair and activate any available Map Station, Save Room, or Recharge Room. Heat hazards make resource management more important, so refill before exploring deeper branches.
Search for the Next Major Upgrade
Follow the Chozo-guided route through Norfair. The region contains key upgrades such as the Varia Suit, Hi-Jump Boots, and Speed Booster. If a passage is too hot or a ledge is too high, record its location and continue along another route.
Open New Movement Routes
Once Samus gains improved mobility, revisit long corridors, high platforms, and suspicious dead ends. Speed Booster paths may look like ordinary hallways at first, while elevated rooms often become accessible after acquiring better jump control.
Continue Toward Ridley’s Area
After collecting the necessary Norfair upgrades, push deeper toward Ridley’s Lair. Refill Missiles and Energy before the next major combat sequence, then use the map to identify any nearby optional expansions.
| Route Check | Recommended Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Kraid’s Lair exit | Follow the opened passage | This begins the intended post-Kraid progression |
| Norfair entrance | Save and refill | Heated rooms can drain Energy quickly |
| Blocked hot room | Mark it for later | Environmental protection may be required |
| High platform | Test only if reachable | Hi-Jump Boots or another movement upgrade may be needed |
| Long straight corridor | Look for a running route | Speed Booster sections often use extended hallways |
| Ridley approach | Refill ammunition | Missiles remain important for later encounters |
A visible item or blocked tunnel does not always mean you have missed the main route. After Kraid, several Norfair rooms are intentionally designed for later cleanup. Continue following open paths before spending time on inaccessible pickups.
Upgrades to Prioritize After Kraid
Norfair’s main purpose after Kraid is to expand Samus’s survival and movement options. The exact order of optional pickups can vary depending on how thoroughly you explore, but the following upgrades have the greatest effect on forward progress.
| Upgrade | Main Function | Route Value | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Varia Suit | Reduces damage and protects against hot environments | Makes deeper Norfair exploration safer | Essential |
| Hi-Jump Boots | Increases jump height | Reaches higher platforms and vertical routes | High |
| Speed Booster | Enables high-speed running and Shinespark movement | Opens long corridors and special blocks | High |
| Ice Beam | Freezes enemies and supports later encounters | Important for Metroid encounters in Tourian | Essential later |
| Super Missiles | Opens green missile doors | Unlocks advanced side rooms and expansions | High for cleanup |
| Energy Tanks | Increases maximum health | Improves survivability in hazardous regions | Recommended |
| Missile Tanks | Increases ammunition capacity | Helps against armored enemies and bosses | Recommended |
Survival Upgrades
Prioritize the Varia Suit and Energy Tanks when heated rooms or extended enemy encounters begin draining health.
Mobility Upgrades
Hi-Jump Boots and Speed Booster expand the map more than ordinary ammunition upgrades.
Combat Upgrades
Missiles, Super Missiles, and later beam upgrades improve boss preparation and open colored doors.
The Varia Suit is especially important because Norfair contains heated areas that can make exploration costly without additional protection. If you already have it, focus on movement upgrades and the route toward Ridley’s Lair.
The Speed Booster deserves special attention. When you encounter a long, unobstructed corridor, check whether the room layout allows Samus to build speed. Some routes require preserving the boost and converting it into a Shinespark rather than simply running through the room.
For a stable story route, prioritize environmental protection first, then movement upgrades, then optional ammunition expansions. This keeps exploration efficient without requiring a full 100% sweep before the next objective.
How to Handle Backtracking and Combat
After Kraid, the best route is not always the route with the most visible items. Metroid: Zero Mission expects you to recognize which obstacles require a later ability and return when the map has expanded.
Use this decision process whenever you reach a dead end:
- Red door: Spend Missiles if the route appears connected to the main objective.
- Green door: Record the location until Super Missiles become available.
- High ledge: Return after obtaining improved jump or movement abilities.
- Bombable block: Check it if Bombs are available, but do not assume every nearby secret is mandatory.
- Long corridor: Test for Speed Booster potential once the upgrade is acquired.
- Heated chamber: Leave if the damage cost is too high and the route does not appear essential.
| Situation | Best Response | Mistake to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| You see an unreachable item | Mark the room and continue | Repeating the same jump without a new ability |
| A room drains Energy quickly | Search for another branch | Treating every hot room as mandatory |
| You are low on Missiles | Visit a Recharge Room | Entering a boss route without ammunition |
| A door will not open | Note its color and location | Randomly firing without checking requirements |
| The map has several branches | Follow the open progression route | Clearing every side path before advancing |
Against ordinary Norfair enemies, favor safe ranged attacks and preserve Missiles for armored targets, red doors, and major encounters. The game rewards patience more than rushing through unfamiliar rooms.
Before moving toward Ridley’s area, complete a short preparation loop:
After Kraid Preparation:
- Leave Kraid’s Lair through the newly opened route
- Activate a Norfair Save Room or Map Station
- Refill Energy and Missiles before deeper exploration
- Collect or locate the next major Norfair upgrade
- Mark blocked rooms for later backtracking
- Check the map for the route toward Ridley’s area
The map is more than a record of explored rooms. Use unexplored squares, colored doors, vertical gaps, and isolated item rooms to predict which ability will unlock your next route.
What Comes Next After Norfair
Once you have made meaningful progress through Norfair, the larger objective is to reach Ridley’s Lair and eventually continue toward Tourian. You may not have every optional expansion when the main route becomes available, and that is normal.
A practical progression order is:
- Complete the main Norfair upgrade route.
- Use new movement abilities to open previously blocked rooms.
- Collect nearby Energy and Missile expansions that do not require advanced techniques.
- Enter Ridley’s Lair once the route is clearly available.
- Continue toward Tourian after the major regional objectives are complete.
- Return to Brinstar, Norfair, Kraid, and Ridley areas for 100% cleanup.
| Stage | Main Goal | Optional Cleanup |
|---|---|---|
| Early Norfair | Find the next suit or movement upgrade | Nearby Energy Tanks |
| Mid Norfair | Open vertical and high-speed routes | Missile Tanks behind new abilities |
| Ridley approach | Prepare for extended combat | Refill rooms and safe side paths |
| Ridley’s Lair | Complete the major regional objective | Late-game expansions |
| Tourian | Manage Metroid encounters and reach the final battle | Resource preparation |
| Post-game | Explore Chozodia and finish the map | Remaining expansions and hidden rooms |
For a full collection run, delay some cleanup until Samus has acquired the abilities that remove the most common barriers: Speed Booster, Hi-Jump Boots, Super Missiles, Power Bombs, Gravity Suit, and Screw Attack. Chozodia also becomes a major part of the late-game exploration route and can connect your final item sweep to previously incomplete areas.
Useful references include the Nintendo official Metroid: Zero Mission page, the official multilingual instruction manual, and the GameSpot walkthrough.
Follow the main Norfair route first, then backtrack for expansions after each major movement upgrade. This reduces repeated trips and keeps the story progression clear.
Q: Where do I go after Kraid in Metroid Zero Mission?
Leave Kraid’s Lair and follow the opened route into Norfair. Your next objectives are to find major upgrades, improve mobility, and continue toward Ridley’s area.
Q: Do I need to collect every item before leaving Kraid’s Lair?
No. Several Kraid and Norfair pickups require later abilities such as Speed Booster, Super Missiles, Power Bombs, or improved movement. Continue the main route and return during cleanup.
Q: Which upgrade should I prioritize after Kraid?
Prioritize environmental protection and then movement upgrades. The Varia Suit, Hi-Jump Boots, and Speed Booster make Norfair exploration and later routes more manageable.
Q: How do I know whether I am on the correct route in Norfair?
Use the map to identify unexplored rooms connected to the Kraid exit. Open paths, Chozo Statues, save rooms, and routes leading toward new upgrades usually indicate the intended progression.