Zebes progression and major upgrades
Follow a conventional route through the four major bosses and prepare for Tourian.
Spoiler notice: This guide discusses story progression or late-game content.
Original SNES game; randomizers and ROM hacks are outside this guide.
| Boss | Area | Key reward or result |
|---|---|---|
| Kraid | Brinstar | Access to Varia Suit |
| Phantoon | Wrecked Ship | Power restored; route to Gravity Suit |
| Draygon | Maridia | Space Jump |
| Ridley | Lower Norfair | Final major statue requirement |
Build your first exploration kit
Collect the Morphing Ball, missiles and bombs during the opening exploration of Brinstar and Crateria. Return to suspicious floors and narrow passages after each upgrade. A map station reveals room layout, but does not explain every concealed entrance or item puzzle.
Defeat Kraid and collect Varia
Work toward Kraid in Brinstar and claim the Varia Suit after the fight. This opens safer exploration of heated Norfair rooms. Heat protection is not immunity to every environmental hazard: do not assume lava or acid is safe because a hot room no longer drains energy.
Explore Norfair before the ship
Expand your movement and combat options in Norfair, including the Speed Booster, Ice Beam and Grapple Beam on a conventional route. Each opens a different obstacle type. Mark places you cannot cross so you can revisit them after the next upgrade instead of repeatedly testing the same jump.
Restore the Wrecked Ship and cross Maridia
Defeat Phantoon to restore the ship’s systems and reach the Gravity Suit. Its underwater movement makes Maridia much more manageable. The glass tube connecting areas can be broken with a Power Bomb. Defeating Draygon grants Space Jump for sustained aerial movement.
Finish Lower Norfair and enter Tourian
Return to Norfair with your expanded equipment and prepare for Ridley. The four major boss statues near Tourian track Kraid, Phantoon, Draygon and Ridley. Refill energy and ammunition before the final region, and keep a save before entering if you want a convenient point for collection cleanup.
Check the edition note above before following a route. Suggested preparation and tactics are editorial recommendations; alternative teams and routes can also work.