All Ship Missile Expansion Locations in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Ship Missile Expansion Locations

Ship Missile Expansions are crucial upgrades that permanently increase the missile capacity of your Gunship. Unlike Samus's personal missile expansions, these are specifically for your aerial vehicle, allowing you to deploy its powerful missile attacks more frequently during ship-based combat sequences or to destroy specific environmental obstacles that only the Gunship can target. While less numerous than Samus's own missile tanks, each Ship Missile Expansion significantly enhances your Gunship's combat effectiveness and utility, making certain challenges much more manageable.

These expansions are typically found as rewards for completing specific Gunship-related objectives, often involving environmental puzzles, timed challenges, or clearing out airborne threats with your ship's weaponry. Pay close attention to areas that seem designed for aerial interaction or where your Gunship can provide unique support. Collecting all of them is essential for achieving 100% completion and for maximizing your strategic options throughout the game.

List of Ship Missile Expansions

There are a total of 5 Ship Missile Expansions scattered across the various planets in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. Each expansion adds 5 missiles to your Gunship's capacity, for a total potential increase of 25 missiles. Below is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to finding each one:

1. Bryyo Cliffside - Ship Missile Expansion #1

• Location: Bryyo Cliffside, specifically within the "Cliffside Airdock" area.
• Requirements: Access to Bryyo, Gunship Missile capability.
• Walkthrough:
  1. Upon landing at the Bryyo Cliffside Airdock, look directly across from your Gunship's landing pad.
  2. You will notice a series of large, destructible rock formations embedded in the cliff face. These are too large for Samus's missiles.
  3. Target these formations with your Gunship's reticle (press the 'C' button to enter Gunship Command Mode).
  4. Fire Gunship Missiles at the rock formations. You'll need to destroy several of them.
  5. Once the final rock formation is destroyed, the Ship Missile Expansion will be revealed.
  6. Fly your Gunship over the expansion to collect it.
• Strategy Tip: This is often one of the first Ship Missile Expansions players encounter. Don't waste Samus's missiles trying to destroy these rocks; they are exclusively for the Gunship.

2. Elysia - SkyTown - Ship Missile Expansion #2

• Location: Elysia, SkyTown, specifically above the "Maintenance Access" area.
• Requirements: Access to Elysia, Gunship Missile capability, Grapple Lasso.
• Walkthrough:
  1. Travel to SkyTown and make your way to the "Maintenance Access" room. This is the area with the large, central energy conduit and multiple platforms.
  2. Look for a series of floating platforms that can be manipulated by the Gunship. These are typically marked with a blue grapple point.
  3. Enter Gunship Command Mode. You'll need to use your Gunship's Grapple Lasso ability (acquired earlier in the game) to move these platforms.
  4. Grapple onto the designated points on the platforms and carefully maneuver them to form a path upwards and across the room.
  5. One of these platforms, once moved into its correct position, will reveal a hidden alcove or a previously inaccessible platform high above the main floor.
  6. The Ship Missile Expansion will be waiting on this newly accessible platform. Fly your Gunship to it.
• Common Pitfall: Players often try to reach this with Samus's Screw Attack or Boost Ball, but it requires the Gunship's unique interaction with the environment.

3. Norion - Generator Core - Ship Missile Expansion #3

• Location: Norion, within the "Generator Core" area.
• Requirements: Revisit Norion, Gunship Missile capability, Plasma Beam (for certain obstacles).
• Walkthrough:
  1. Return to Norion and proceed to the "Generator Core." This is the massive, circular room with the three generators.
  2. Recall that during your first visit, the generators were under attack. Now, you'll be looking for a different kind of challenge.
  3. In Gunship Command Mode, fly around the upper perimeter of the Generator Core. You'll notice several small, armored turrets or energy conduits attached to the walls.
  4. These turrets are protected by a shield that can only be bypassed by precise Gunship Missile strikes.
  5. Target and destroy all of these turrets/conduits. There are usually 3-4 of them.
  6. Once all the targets are eliminated, a hidden compartment will open on one of the generator structures, revealing the Ship Missile Expansion.
  7. Fly your Gunship into the compartment to collect it.
• Strategy Tip: The turrets can be tricky to hit if you're not used to the Gunship's aiming. Take your time and lead your shots slightly if the targets are moving.

4. Pirate Homeworld - Research Facility - Ship Missile Expansion #4

• Location: Pirate Homeworld, specifically in the "Research Facility" sector, near the "Main Docking Bay".
• Requirements: Access to Pirate Homeworld, Gunship Missile capability, Hypermode (optional but helpful).
• Walkthrough:
  1. Land your Gunship at the Main Docking Bay on the Pirate Homeworld.
  2. From the docking bay, enter Gunship Command Mode and look around the exterior of the Research Facility building.
  3. You'll observe several heavily armored ventilation shafts or exhaust ports on the building's facade. These are too robust for Samus's weaponry.
  4. Target these with your Gunship Missiles. You'll need to destroy a specific sequence or number of these ports. Some might require multiple missile hits.
  5. After successfully destroying the designated targets, a section of the wall will retract or explode, revealing a small, hidden chamber.
  6. The Ship Missile Expansion will be inside this chamber. Fly your Gunship to collect it.
• Enemy Encounter: Be prepared for potential aerial Pirate Trooper resistance in this area. Your Gunship Missiles are effective against them.

5. Phaaze - Ship Missile Expansion #5

• Location: Phaaze, during the final approach to the "Leviathan Core".
• Requirements: Access to Phaaze (late-game), Gunship Missile capability.
• Walkthrough:
  1. As you make your final descent towards the Leviathan Core on Phaaze, you'll navigate a treacherous, Phazon-infused canyon or tunnel.
  2. During this sequence, your Gunship will be under constant attack from Phazon-mutated creatures and environmental hazards.
  3. Keep a sharp eye out for glowing Phazon deposits or crystalline structures embedded in the canyon walls that are distinct from the regular environment.
  4. These specific structures are destructible targets for your Gunship Missiles. They might be subtly hidden or require quick reflexes to spot and destroy amidst the chaos.
  5. Destroying a particular cluster or sequence of these Phazon formations will cause the Ship Missile Expansion to materialize directly in your flight path.
  6. Collect it quickly before you pass by or are forced to engage other threats.
• Difficulty: This is arguably the most challenging Ship Missile Expansion to acquire due to the intense environment and constant threats. Prioritize dodging incoming attacks while still scanning for the targets.
• Missable Warning: If you miss this during your initial pass, you may need to restart the Phaaze section or reload a previous save to acquire it, as the path is largely linear.

Ship Missile Expansion Summary Table

For a quick overview, here's a table summarizing the locations:

By diligently seeking out and collecting all five of these Ship Missile Expansions, your Gunship will be fully equipped to handle any aerial challenge the Galactic Federation throws your way, from clearing debris to engaging formidable airborne adversaries.