Energy Tank Locations
Energy Tanks are absolutely essential for Samus's survival aboard the B.S.L. Research Station. Each tank permanently increases your maximum health by 100 units, making the difference between life and death against the X Parasites and powerful bosses. There are a total of 20 Energy Tanks hidden throughout the station. Collecting all of them will boost your maximum energy to a staggering 2000 units!
Many Energy Tanks are cleverly concealed behind destructible blocks, require specific Beam upgrades to access, or demand precise platforming. Prioritizing their collection will significantly improve your survivability and make navigating the dangerous station much more manageable. Use this comprehensive guide to track down every single one.
Sector 1 (Main Deck) - AQA
Energy Tank #1
- Location: Main Deck, Navigation Room.
- Requirements: None.
- How to Get: This is the very first Energy Tank you encounter. After the initial cutscene and gaining control of Samus, simply head right from the Navigation Room. It's in plain sight in the next room.
Energy Tank #2
- Location: Sector 1 (AQA), near the first Save Room.
- Requirements: Morph Ball.
- How to Get: From the Save Room in Sector 1 (the one after the first Navigation Room), head left. You'll see a small gap in the floor. Use your Morph Ball ability to roll into this gap, and you'll find the Energy Tank.
Sector 2 (TRO)
Energy Tank #3
- Location: Sector 2 (TRO), in the large vertical shaft with water.
- Requirements: Morph Ball, Bombs.
- How to Get: In the large vertical shaft that connects to the main TRO area (the one with the water and the large fish-like enemies), descend to the bottom. On the right side, there's a small alcove. Use a Bomb to destroy the blocks leading into it, then roll in with the Morph Ball to collect the tank.
Energy Tank #4
- Location: Sector 2 (TRO), after defeating the Zazabi boss.
- Requirements: Defeat Zazabi.
- How to Get: After defeating the Zazabi boss and absorbing its Core-X, you will automatically gain the Charge Beam. The Energy Tank is located in the room immediately to the right of the Zazabi boss arena. It's a reward for your victory.
Sector 3 (PYR)
Energy Tank #5
- Location: Sector 3 (PYR), in the room with the first lava pit.
- Requirements: High Jump.
- How to Get: In the first large room with a lava pit you encounter in Sector 3, you'll need to use your High Jump ability to reach a platform high above the lava on the right side. The Energy Tank is waiting there.
Energy Tank #6
- Location: Sector 3 (PYR), near the Security Room.
- Requirements: Varia Suit (recommended for lava damage).
- How to Get: From the Security Room in Sector 3, head left. You'll enter a room with several lava pools. Navigate carefully across the platforms. The Energy Tank is located on a small platform in the upper-left portion of this room. The Varia Suit is highly recommended to mitigate lava damage.
Sector 4 (AQA) - Revisited
Energy Tank #7
- Location: Sector 4 (AQA), in a hidden passage above the main path.
- Requirements: High Jump, Morph Ball.
- How to Get: In the large, multi-level room in Sector 4 that has a long horizontal path leading right, look for a section where you can use High Jump to reach a hidden passage in the ceiling. Morph Ball through this passage to find the Energy Tank.
Energy Tank #8
- Location: Sector 4 (AQA), after defeating the Serris boss.
- Requirements: Defeat Serris.
- How to Get: After defeating the incredibly fast Serris boss and absorbing its Core-X, you will gain the Speed Booster. The Energy Tank is located in the room immediately to the right of the Serris boss arena, a well-deserved prize.
Sector 5 (FUSION)
Energy Tank #9
- Location: Sector 5 (FUSION), in a room with a collapsing floor.
- Requirements: Speed Booster.
- How to Get: In a room with a long stretch of collapsing floor, you'll need to activate your Speed Booster and Shinespark across the gap. The Energy Tank is on the other side. Timing is key here!
Energy Tank #10
- Location: Sector 5 (FUSION), hidden behind a Bomb block.
- Requirements: Morph Ball, Bombs.
- How to Get: In a vertical shaft with several small platforms, look for a section on the right wall that appears slightly different. Place a Bomb to reveal a hidden passage. Roll in with the Morph Ball to grab the Energy Tank.
Sector 6 (NOC)
Energy Tank #11
- Location: Sector 6 (NOC), in a room with a long horizontal path.
- Requirements: Space Jump.
- How to Get: In a long, dark horizontal room filled with flying enemies, you'll need to use your Space Jump to reach a high-up platform on the far right side. The Energy Tank is there.
Energy Tank #12
- Location: Sector 6 (NOC), after defeating the Nightmare boss.
- Requirements: Defeat Nightmare.
- How to Get: After the challenging battle against Nightmare and absorbing its Core-X, you will acquire the Gravity Suit. The Energy Tank is located in the room immediately to the right of the Nightmare boss arena.
Main Deck - Revisited
Energy Tank #13
- Location: Main Deck, near the Data Room where you download the Diffusion Missile.
- Requirements: Diffusion Missile.
- How to Get: After acquiring the Diffusion Missile, return to the Main Deck. In the area near the Data Room, look for a ceiling block that can be destroyed by a Diffusion Missile. Fire one up, then Space Jump through the opening to find the tank.
Energy Tank #14
- Location: Main Deck, in the room where you fought the first Arachnus.
- Requirements: Power Bomb.
- How to Get: Return to the room where you fought the Arachnus (the first boss) at the very beginning of the game. Place a Power Bomb in the center of the room to reveal a hidden passage in the floor. Drop down to find the Energy Tank.
Restricted Zone / Quarantine Bay
Energy Tank #15
- Location: Restricted Zone, in the room before the SA-X encounter.
- Requirements: Power Bomb.
- How to Get: In the Restricted Zone, just before you encounter the SA-X for the first time in a major chase sequence, there's a room with a series of blocks in the ceiling. Use a Power Bomb to clear a path upwards, then Space Jump to reach the Energy Tank.
Energy Tank #16
- Location: Quarantine Bay, after the SA-X chase.
- Requirements: Survive the SA-X chase.
- How to Get: After successfully navigating the intense SA-X chase sequence in the Quarantine Bay, you'll find this Energy Tank in the room where the chase ends, usually as a brief respite before the next objective.
Sector 1 (AQA) - Final Visit
Energy Tank #17
- Location: Sector 1 (AQA), in a hidden area accessible via Speed Booster.
- Requirements: Speed Booster, Shinespark.
- How to Get: Return to Sector 1. In a long horizontal corridor (often filled with water), find a section where you can activate Speed Booster. Charge up a Shinespark and release it upwards into a hidden ceiling passage. This will lead you to the Energy Tank. This one often requires precise timing.
Sector 2 (TRO) - Final Visit
Energy Tank #18
- Location: Sector 2 (TRO), in a room with a large water pool.
- Requirements: Space Jump, Gravity Suit.
- How to Get: In a large room in Sector 2 with a deep pool of water, use your Gravity Suit to move freely underwater and your Space Jump to reach a high-up, hidden alcove on the left side of the room. The Energy Tank is tucked away there.
Sector 3 (PYR) - Final Visit
Energy Tank #19
- Location: Sector 3 (PYR), in a room with a series of breakable blocks.
- Requirements: Screw Attack.
- How to Get: After obtaining the Screw Attack, return to Sector 3. There's a room with a long vertical shaft filled with Screw Attack blocks. Use your new ability to destroy them all, revealing a hidden path to the Energy Tank.
Main Deck - Final Energy Tank
Energy Tank #20
- Location: Main Deck, near the final boss area.
- Requirements: Power Bomb.
- How to Get: In the final stretch of the Main Deck, near the elevator leading to the Operations Room and the final boss, look for a section of the floor that can be destroyed with a Power Bomb. Drop down into the hidden area to claim the final Energy Tank. This is often the last one players find before the ultimate confrontation.
Tips for Finding Energy Tanks:
- Scan Everything: Use your map and look for suspicious blocks or areas that seem inaccessible. Often, a single shot or bomb will reveal a hidden path.
- Bomb Everything: When in doubt, drop a bomb. Many hidden passages are revealed this way.
- Power Bomb for Secrets: Power Bombs are excellent for clearing large areas of hidden blocks and revealing multiple secrets at once. Don't be afraid to use them in suspicious rooms.
- Revisit Sectors: As you gain new abilities (Morph Ball, Bombs, High Jump, Speed Booster, Space Jump, Screw Attack, etc.), always remember to revisit older sectors. Many Energy Tanks are locked behind ability gates.
- Check Your Map: The map will often show areas that haven't been fully explored or have suspicious-looking unrevealed sections. These are prime locations for hidden items.
- Listen for Clues: Sometimes, the sound of crumbling blocks or a subtle visual cue can indicate a hidden path.
Collecting all 20 Energy Tanks will significantly boost Samus's survivability, making the later boss battles and the final encounter with the SA-X much more manageable. Happy hunting, bounty hunter!