


Though due to the creature's immense power, it may still attack while receiving damage from the Wavebuster. When used on Metroid Prime, the Wavebuster will paralyze the boss while it is in use, seemingly slowing down the creature as visible purple electricity surrounds its body.

The Wavebuster's auto-targeting features also makes the weapon the quickest and easiest way to dispatch the Cloaked Drone. The Wavebuster is most useful against multiple Wave Troopers in a room, Meta Ridley's grounded form, and the Metroid Prime's exoskeleton. Its appearance and effects are very similar to a real-life directed energy weapon, the electrolaser, which uses a laser to ionize surrounding air whilst a secondary charge releases an electrical shock. These factors can make it difficult to obtain if Samus does not have many Missile Expansions.

There are three layers of tower, each with four of said blocks, whilst Oculi, which will reflect any Missiles that come near them, crawl over these blocks. In the Tower of Light, blocks that require three Missiles to destroy (six in Hard/ Hypermode) are holding up the tower itself. In addition to this high ammo usage, many Missiles are required to obtain it. Because of this, even though it is very powerful, the Wavebuster is best used sparingly lest Samus run out of Missiles. It requires 10 Missiles for the initial shot, and then drains 5 Missiles per second afterwards. This weapon is activated by first charging the Wave Beam and then pressing the Missile button. Should Samus touch a wall or object at point-blank range, the Wavebuster will immediately cease firing. It is recommended to fire the weapon from a distance and not at too close of range. If fired without first locking-on to an enemy, the Wavebuster will acquire a target by itself, shooting off at an angle from the tip of Samus' Arm Cannon. An unusual effect of the Wavebuster is its auto-targeting feature. An enemy that survives a Wavebuster's assault will be momentarily paralyzed before getting back up. Victims to the Wavebuster will be rendered totally incapable of movement, and will be flung violently backwards when the Wavebuster ceases to fire (seen on Space Pirate forces). It retains the paralyzing effect of a fully-charged Wave Beam in the original release of the game, though not in the later Wii version. The Wavebuster fires a sustained stream of electricity.
