How to Beat Sylux in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond (Volt Forge Encounter)
Sylux is back, and he’s not messing around. After years of lurking in the shadows since his debut in Metroid Prime Hunters and that tantalizing post-credits scene in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, this mysterious bounty hunter finally takes center stage as the main antagonist of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
You’ll first encounter him during the prologue, but that’s just a taste. The real showdown happens at the Volt Forge, right after you’ve restored power to Tower 2. This second Sylux encounter starts off straightforward enough—until he busts out his infamous green spin attack that laughs in the face of your beam weapons and missiles.
Don’t worry, though. With the right strategy, you’ll send this projection packing and claim your well-earned Energy Tank. Here’s everything you need to know about how to beat Sylux in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond.
For more boss strategies and gameplay tips, check out our comprehensive Metroid Prime 4: Beyond gameplay guide.
When and Where You Fight Sylux at Volt Forge
The Sylux boss fight triggers during the second part of the Volt Forge area, shortly after you’ve successfully restored power to Tower 2. If you’ve been following the main story, you can’t miss it—the game funnels you right into this confrontation.
This is actually your second encounter with Sylux in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but it’s the first proper boss fight where you need to understand his mechanics. The arena is relatively open, giving you room to maneuver, which you’ll definitely need once things get tricky.
If you need help navigating the earlier sections of this area, our guide on the Manufacturing Floor in Volt Forge has detailed walkthroughs.
Sylux Boss Fight Strategy: Phase-by-Phase Breakdown
Phase 1: The Warm-Up (100% – 75% Health)
The opening phase of the Sylux fight is pretty manageable. He’ll throw out attacks that are easy to read once you get the pattern down:
His Attack Patterns:
- Green Shockwaves: Sylux fires ground-level energy waves that travel horizontally across the arena.
- Melee Attacks: He’ll occasionally close the distance and attempt close-range strikes.
Your Counter Strategy:
- Jump Over Shockwaves: Simply hop over the green waves as they approach. Timing is key—jump too early or late and you’ll take unnecessary damage.
- Strafe Left and Right: Keep moving laterally to avoid his melee attempts. Don’t stay in one spot.
- Attack with Charge Shots: Hold down your beam button for charged shots—they deal significantly more damage than regular fire.
- Follow Up with Missiles: After landing charge shots, pepper him with missiles using the Missile Launcher you picked up earlier.
This phase is all about establishing rhythm. Stay mobile, keep your distance, and chip away at his health bar. Easy enough, right?
Phase 2: The Green Spin Attack Nightmare (75% Health and Below)
Here’s where things get spicy. Once Sylux drops to around 75% health, he introduces his signature move: the green spin attack. This is where many players hit a wall because conventional weapons are completely useless against it.
What Makes This Attack Dangerous:
- Sylux becomes a spinning vortex of green energy
- He’s completely immune to beam shots and missiles during this state
- The attack continues indefinitely until you interrupt it
- He moves incredibly fast and erratically, making him hard to track
The Secret: Psychic Bombs
The only way to beat Sylux’s spin attack is with Psychic Bombs. Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Enter Morph Ball Mode: Press Y to transform into Morph Ball form.
- Drop Psychic Bombs: Press A to deploy Psychic Bombs in your path.
- Hit Sylux Multiple Times: You’ll need to land a few bombs on him—usually 3-4 direct hits—to interrupt the spin attack.
- Return to Combat Stance: Once stunned, immediately exit Morph Ball mode and resume attacking with charge shots and missiles.
Pro Positioning Tip:
Sylux moves unpredictably during his spin attack, which makes timing your bombs tricky. Here’s the best strategy:
- Stay near the outer wall of the battle arena
- Move in a circular pattern around the perimeter
- Drop bombs continuously as you circle
- When Sylux gets close or prepares his zip dash attack, he’ll run right into your bomb trail
This creates a “minefield” effect that dramatically increases your chances of landing hits. Instead of chasing him (which is nearly impossible), you’re forcing him to come to you.
Complete Attack Pattern and Counter Guide
To help you beat Sylux in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond efficiently, here’s a quick reference for all his moves:
Sylux AttackHow to CounterGreen ShockwavesJump over them with precise timingMelee StrikesStrafe left/right, maintain distanceGreen Spin AttackUse Psychic Bombs (Morph Ball + A button)Zip Dash (during spin)Drop bomb trail along arena perimeter
Additional Tips for the Sylux Boss Fight
Energy Management:
- Don’t waste missiles during the spin attack phase—save them for when he’s vulnerable
- If you’re low on health, look for destructible objects around the arena that may drop energy
Movement is Life:
- Never stop moving. Standing still is a death sentence in this fight
- Use the full arena space—don’t corner yourself
Bomb Efficiency:
- Don’t spam bombs randomly. Wait until Sylux is approaching, then lay down your trail
- The Psychic Bombs have a brief delay before detonating, so anticipate his movement path
Pattern Recognition:
- After you interrupt his spin attack with bombs, he’ll return to his regular pattern temporarily
- He’ll cycle back to the spin attack multiple times throughout the fight
- Each time, just repeat the Psychic Bomb strategy
Preparation Matters:
- Make sure you’ve stocked up on missiles before entering this fight
- If you haven’t explored thoroughly, consider backtracking to collect more Energy Tanks
- Having the Vi-O-La motorcycle unlocked makes backtracking much faster
The Plot Twist: It Was Just a Droid
After you’ve successfully depleted Sylux’s health bar, you’ll discover the truth: you weren’t fighting the real Sylux at all. He was projecting himself onto a regular combat droid the entire time. Classic villain move, honestly.
While it might feel a bit anticlimactic, the fight serves important narrative purposes:
- It establishes Sylux’s tactical approach and technology
- It shows he’s monitoring Samus throughout her mission
- It hints that the real confrontation is still to come
But hey, your efforts aren’t for nothing!
Your Reward: Energy Tank
After the fight concludes, you’ll receive an Energy Tank as your reward. For those new to the series, Energy Tanks permanently increase Samus’ maximum health by 100 points.
This might seem modest, but trust me—every bit of extra health matters in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. You’ll face tougher encounters ahead, including challenges like the Carvex boss fight and the Sanctum of Guardians, where that extra survivability makes all the difference.
Energy Tanks also serve as progress markers—collecting them all is a badge of honor for completionists. So while this Sylux encounter might have been a projection, the Energy Tank is very real and very useful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you beat Sylux’s green spin attack in Metroid Prime 4?
The only way to stop Sylux’s green spin attack is by using Psychic Bombs. Press Y to enter Morph Ball mode, then press A to drop bombs. You’ll need to hit him 3-4 times to interrupt the spin. Regular beams and missiles have zero effect on this attack, so don’t waste ammo trying.
Where do you fight Sylux in Volt Forge?
You encounter Sylux in the second part of the Volt Forge area, immediately after restoring power to Tower 2. This is the second time you meet him in the game, but it’s your first actual boss fight against him. The arena is in the main tower area, and the game triggers the encounter automatically as part of the story progression.
Is the Sylux fight at Volt Forge the real Sylux?
No, the Sylux you fight at Volt Forge is revealed to be a projection onto a combat droid after you defeat him. The real Sylux is remotely controlling the machine, testing Samus while keeping himself safe. This suggests you’ll face the actual Sylux later in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
What do you get for beating Sylux at the Volt Forge?
You receive an Energy Tank after defeating Sylux. Energy Tanks permanently increase Samus’ maximum health by 100 points, which is crucial for surviving later boss fights and challenging exploration sequences. It’s a valuable reward that makes subsequent encounters more manageable.
Mastering the Sylux Encounter
Learning how to beat Sylux in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond comes down to one critical mechanic: mastering the Psychic Bomb counter. Once you’ve figured out the timing and positioning for his green spin attack, the rest of the fight falls into place naturally.
Don’t get discouraged if you struggle at first—that spin attack catches everyone off guard the first time they see it. The key is staying calm, transforming into Morph Ball mode, and methodically laying down your bomb trail along the arena’s perimeter.
Remember, this is just a taste of what Sylux brings to the table. If a remote-controlled droid puts up this much of a fight, the real deal is going to be something else entirely. Keep that Energy Tank close, stock up on missiles, and prepare yourself for whatever comes next.
For more strategies, boss guides, and gameplay tips, visit our main Metroid Prime 4: Beyond hub. You can also grab the game officially from Nintendo’s store.
Now get back out there, bounty hunter. Sylux isn’t going to defeat himself!
