Aerotrooper

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Aerotroopers are an aerial variety of Space Pirates. Making their first appearance in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, they also appeared in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption as common enemies and as a transformation of Gandrayda. These units are the successor to the Flying Pirates in Metroid Prime.

Description

These space pirates are often sent on highly dangerous missions and often employ suicidal tactics as a last resort move. Their jet packs can be ignited using the Light Beam in Echoes, while in Corruption, a combination of the charged Plasma Beam and the Grapple Lasso can be used to strip them of their jetpacks and send them to the ground. The explosion of the jetpack would kill them if they did not fall to their doom.

When on the verge of defeat, as a final maneuver, they will employ a high-damaging, swirling attack on their opponent which can be avoided by the usage of the Dark Beam or the Ice Missiles. Aerotroopers use these suicide tactics as they would rather die than dishonor themeselves by being captured.

In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

In Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Aerotroopers appear infrequently, but are well equipped and armored, and have good evasive abilities. They have a rather large and bulky jetpack obtruding from their left. The thrusters are shown to produces a lot of smoke and sparks, which adds to a very rudimentary appearance. They are equipped with modified green Galvanic Accelerator Cannons, swirling homing Missiles and their characteristic suicidal attacks. They need 3 Missiles (or 6 Missiles or a Super Missile in Hard Mode) to be shot down by Samus.

Along with the Pirate Grenadier, Aerotroopers are the only space pirate varieties in Echoes that were not possessed by the Ing.

Logbook entry from a Metroid Prime game: Aerotrooper

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In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

The Metroid Prime 3: Corruption variations of Aerotroopers substitutes the bulky pack system seen on Aether in favor of a new jetpack system that allows for greater evasiveness (which is even capable of breaking lock-ons), but comes at the cost of durability due to the lack of armor. The jetpacks also come with a potentially fatal flaw; if the pack is ignited by the Plasma Beam, the jetpacks can be ripped off their backs using the Grapple Lasso making them crash into the ground and die. Samus obtains a Friend Voucher "Crash Landing" for the first time she kills them by this method.

The Aerotroopers' jetpack uses a Twin Remote Attack Pod system, armed with Particle Cannons, Helix Missiles, and Gel Bomb that stick to the targets until they're detonated or removed by high-velocity movement. The Aerotrooper can also go into Hypermode, which increases their offense and durability, but, contray to logbook entries, does not enable them to teleport. Even in Hypermode though, they are suseptible to Phazon-based weapons.

Logbook entry from a Metroid Prime game: Aerotrooper

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Varieties

Several types of Aerotrooper exist in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Armored Aerotrooper

Main article: Armored Aerotrooper

These Aerotroopers are armed with the standard armor which slightly resists the beam weapons. Missiles penetrate their armor easily.

Advanced Aerotrooper

Main article: Advanced Aerotrooper

Their enchanced armor can be penetrated by Missiles only.

Assault Aerotrooper

Main article: Assualt Aerotrooper

Their armor resists Missile attacks but are susceptible to beam attacks. Aerotroopers of elite ranks can join this order.