Metroid protagonist Samus Aran is one of the most dedicated bounty hunters in the galaxy, often taking missions on by herself that others wouldn't even consider. Where armies fail, Samus arrives complete with her power armor and arm cannon to save planets. Given her iconic status and incredible strength, it makes perfect sense that some would want to play as her in Dungeons & Dragons.
Despite coming from a science-fiction world, Samus' powers and abilities can be translated into D&D's typical Medieval fantasy setting. The Chozo-infused human is known for taking on dangerous foes like her arch-nemesis Ridley, the wicked Mother Brain and (on occasion) tangling with the parasitic Metroids themselves, and there are plenty of worthwhile threats for her to take on in the Forgotten Realms and beyond. While there may not be Metroids or spaceships, players can still use D&D Fifth Edition to create a character that captures the essence of what has made Samus Arun so compelling for so many years.
Samus Aran Build Summary
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Race |
Custom Lineage Humanoid |
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Class |
Ranger (Monster Slayer or Hunter) |
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Ability Scores (in order of importance) |
Dexterity, Wisdom, Constitution, Intelligence, Strength, Charisma |
The Best D&D Race for Samus
While there's obviously no Chozo race in D&D 5e, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything added a new way to build characters who don't fit into any of the game's existing races. By using Custom Lineages, players can create a humanoid that is more or less a blank slate. For Samus, who stands at a whopping 6'3'' while unarmored, it's best to start with a Medium sized humanoid. Samus' Chozo DNA grants her superhuman flexibility and agility, which translates to a +2 Dexterity boost. As for her skill proficiency, Acrobatics can represent what she learned from being raised in Chozo society.
Custom Lineages also grant a free feat, which players should select based on the game's setting. If firearms are allowed, give Samus the Gunner feat, which gives +1 DEX to make up for the lack of a secondary racial bonus and proficiency with firearms. Gunner also removes the loading property and the disadvantage for shooting in melee. If the Dungeon Master does not allow firearms, take Crossbow Expert instead. While it doesn't give the stat bonus, most of its secondary effects are identical, plus it nets a bonus action attack with a hand crossbow.
The Best Class for Samus
While Samus' power armor and arm cannon may scream Artificer, Ranger is actually a stronger choice for her. After all, Samus spends most of her time in the wild depths of overgrown planets as a bounty hunter, and her skills and abilities relate to navigation, survival and tracking rather than science and alchemy.
For her Favored Enemy, beasts are a good reflection of her struggles against native alien lifeforms. Alternatively, aberrations, dragons or constructs could work. As for her Natural Terrain, the Underdark is a good stand-in for the underground environments she often finds herself in. Archery is the best fighting style to power up your makeshift plasma cannon.
When it comes to selecting a Ranger Archetype for Samus, Hunter and Monster Slayer are ideal. These reflect Samus' ability to engage with enemies that are much larger than her, a staple of the Metroid games. Finally, since Rangers have access to spells, look for ones that modify your crossbow or firearm shots like Hunter’s Mark, Searing Smite and Zephyr Strike. Samus typically has a variety of tools in her arsenal, and magic allows players to mimic this in D&D.
Samus' Ability Scores
Since Samus' gymnastic abilities and rapid fire aim with her arm cannon are near superhuman, Dexterity should her primary stat, as it enhances both Acrobatics and attacks with ranged weapons. Additionally, since she spends so much time on inhospitable planets, combating the local fauna, Wisdom will be important for boosting skills like Survival and Perception that help her spot the dangers in the world around her. Finally, Samus has shown herself to be nothing if not resilient. Make Constitution her tertiary stat to reflect her ability to shrug off damage and keep her composure in the most hostile of environments.
The Best Feats and Equipment for Samus
Finally, choosing the right feats and equipment will make this character really feel like Samus. Her primary weapon should be either a pistol or hand crossbow. If selecting the latter, the Crossbow Expert feat will be a huge help. Rangers get extra attack at fifth level, so getting a bonus action attack means being able to get up to three hits in on a single turn.
Rangers tend to gravitate towards either light or medium armor. Both are suitable options, but since Dexterity is Samus' the primary ability score, light armor will most likely work better. Taking the Medium Armor Master feat can enhance a character's armor class as well. If the player can take additional feats, Mobile will help Samus move quickly out of danger. High speed and quick reaction times allow her to keep up the fight, regardless of the terrain she's in. Lastly, Sharpshooter is an excellent choice that will help her deal even more damage every time she hits.