Kraid
| Kraid | |
|---|---|
  Official artwork of Kraid fromSuper Metroid. | |
| Universe | Metroid |
| Debut | Metroid (1986) |
| Smash Bros. appearances | Melee Brawl Ultimate |
| Most recent non-Smash appearance | Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (2024) |
| Console/platform of origin | Nintendo Entertainment System (Famicom Disk System) |
| Gender | Male |
| Place of origin | Zebes |
| Article on Metroid Wiki | Kraid |
Kraid (クレイド,Kraid) is a recurring boss in theMetroid series. Kraid is a massive, high-ranked Space Pirate with three eyes and the ability to generate and fire spikes from his stomach and fingers.
Origin[edit]
Kraid is one of the major antagonists from theMetroid series, making his debut inthe first game alongsideRidley andMother Brain. In his original appearance, Kraid was depicted as a humanoid rhinoceros-like creature, althoughSuper Metroid redesigned him as an enormous reptilian creature, which was retroactively featured in the first game's GBA remakeMetroid: Zero Mission.
InMetroid andZero Mission, Kraid is one of two Space Pirate bosses who must be hunted down and defeated bySamus Aran in order to access Tourian, the final area where Mother Brain and the eponymousMetroids are located. Kraid's lair is located in the depths of Brinstar, and is also home to a false Kraid that is much weaker than the real boss. UnlikeSuper Smash Bros., Kraid is never fought in an area withlava untilDread, although he is fought in a room with pools of acid on either side of his platform inMetroid. InZero Mission, defeating Kraid allows Samus to find the Speed Booster. Kraid also appears in theMonthly Magazine Z-publishedMetroid manga, based on his role inZero Mission.
InSuper Metroid, Kraid plays a similar role as before, now one of four Space Pirate bosses who must be defeated in order to access Tourian. Kraid can be found in a new Space Pirate base in lower Brinstar, where his chamber is guarded byKihunters, Zebesians, and Mini-Kraid. Kraid rises from a thicket of brambles and thorns to challenge Samus, attacking with his claws and stomach spikes. Upon his demise, Kraid sinks into the ground, clearing the way for Samus to find the Varia Suit.
After 17 years of absence, Kraid returns as the second major boss inMetroid Dread. He has been forcibly restrained by the Mawkin Chozo in Cataris, the geothermal power plant of planet ZDR. Similar toSuper Smash Bros., he is fought in a room with a pool of lava, and he strikes Samus's platform with his claw midway through the battle. His means of attack generally remain the same as in previous series, with the addition of new attacks such as fireballs from his mouth and a purple poison attack coming out of his stomach. Upon defeat, Kraid breaks free from his restraints but immediately sinks into the lava, making the way for Samus to find the Diffusion Beam. At the end ofMetroid Dread, an X parasite merges with Raven Beak and becomes Raven Beak X, a hybrid of Kraid and Raven Beak, which implies that Kraid had been assimilated by the X after his defeat. Immediately afterward, Raven Beak X is obliterated by Samus's Hyper Beam, likewise eradicating the last remnants of Kraid.
Kraid was planned to appear inMetroid Prime as a boss wearing a metallic helmet to protect his vulnerable head, although this was scrapped due to time restraints. Outside of theMetroid series, Kraid has also appeared as a towering robot animatronic in the "Metroid Blast" attraction ofNintendo Land; much like inSuper Smash Bros., this appearance has Kraid emerging from a pool of lava.
InSuper Smash Bros. Melee[edit]
As a stage element[edit]
Kraid is a key factor of theBrinstar Depths stage, which is based on his lair inMetroid. Kraid rises from the lava in the background every fifteen seconds, roars, and then slashes at the stage, which causes it to rotate either clockwise (if Kraid slashes with his right hand) or counterclockwise (if Kraid slashes with his left hand). Since he remains entirely in the background, he cannot directly affect or be hit by the fighters. He also appears as atrophy, unlocked with the Brinstar Depths stage.
Trophy[edit]
- Kraid
- A boss enemy from Metroid, Kraid lives in the depths of Brinstar. He immobilizes enemies with his three red eyes, and his powerful jaws can crush anything. He can also shoot the three spikes in his belly; it's said he often fires them at his prey. Once Samus defeated Ridley and Kraid, the way toTourian opened.
- Metroid (8/89[sic])
InSuper Smash Bros. Brawl[edit]
Sticker[edit]
Kraid simply appears as a sticker inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, as the Brinstar Depths stage does not return.
| Name | Game | Effect | Fighter(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraid | Metroid: Zero Mission | AttackHead+033 Attack +33 | All characters |
.png) Kraid (Metroid: Zero Mission) |
InSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]
As a stage element[edit]
Kraid returns alongside the Brinstar Depths stage, playing the same role as before. His model has been updated with significantly higher detail, bringing him closer to his established canonical appearance in theMetroid series.
Spirit[edit]
Kraid is also amaster spirit and is unlocked inAdventure Mode: World of Light, in astamina battle against aGiantKing K. Rool on Brinstar Depths'Ω form. As a master spirit, Kraid cannot normally be equipped by fighters; exclusively during this fight, he is classified as a Neutral type. Once unlocked, Kraid runs a Dojo where he teaches the Tank Style, which increases offense and defense but reduces move speed and jump.
| No. | Image | Name | Facility | Series | Location | Music |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 283 |  | Kraid | Dojo (Tank Style) Increases offense and defense, but decreases move speed and jump height. | Metroid Series | In the Dark Realm | Brinstar Depths |
The following is a list of quotes that Kraid can say when a player visits his dojo.
- "ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR! (That's probably a greeting.)"
- "Gwoooh! Guruoo... (He's explaining what the style does.)"
- "Grruurrr... (He seems to be waiting for you to choose.)"
- "Gaaaaahhh! (That's a...happy noise?)"
- "Ga-rurr... (That's basically "what now?")"
- "Gurru... (He isn't listening. Quit training?)"
- "Gy-aon! (That must be "come back soon!")"
- "Guwaaa [number]SP GRAAAAH! (Likely the price of learning the style.)"
- "Guuuuooon!! (He seems pleased.)"
- "Gug yaaah! (See...you...later?)"
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
 Japanese | クレイド,Kraid |
 English | Kraid |
 French | Kraid |
 German | Kraid |
 Spanish | Kraid |
 Italian | Kraid |
 Chinese (Simplified) | 克雷德,Kraid |
 Chinese (Traditional) | Kraid |
 Korean | 크레이드,Kraid |
 Dutch | Kraid |
 Russian | Крейд |
Trivia[edit]
- As a Master Spirit, Kraid is given dialogue for the first time in a videogame; however, it consists entirely of roars and grunts. Translations are provided in parentheses, although these translations seem to be somewhat uncertain (often guessing what Kraid means or ending with a question mark) for added humor.
 Metroid universe | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Samus (SSB ·SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) ·Zero Suit Samus (SSBB ·SSB4 ·SSBU) ·Ridley (SSBU) ·Dark Samus (SSBU) |
| Assist Trophies | Metroid ·Dark Samus ·Mother Brain |
| Bosses | Ridley ·Meta Ridley |
| Stages | Planet Zebes ·Brinstar ·Brinstar Depths ·Frigate Orpheon ·Norfair ·Pyrosphere Brinstar Escape Shaft (Adventure Mode) |
| Item | Screw Attack ·Power Suit Piece |
| Enemies | Geemer ·Kihunter ·Metroid ·Reo ·FG II-Graham ·Joulion ·Zero |
| Other | Gunship ·Kraid |
| Trophies,Stickers andSpirits | Trophies (SSBM ·SSBB ·SSB4) ·Stickers ·Spirits |
| Music | Brawl ·SSB4 ·Ultimate |
| Masterpieces | Metroid ·Super Metroid |
