Iron Lizard

A special weapon in the Metal Slug franchise that fires self-propelled, ground-traveling explosive mines.

Action

Games

1993–2003

Years

Platforms

About

The Iron Lizard is a weapon featured in Metal Slug X and Metal Slug 3. When fired, it releases a small, wheeled missile that travels rapidly along the ground, conforming to the terrain until it impacts an enemy and explodes. While highly effective against ground-based targets, it is unable to target airborne enemies.

Represented in-game by a floating letter "I" icon, this special weapon expanded the tactical arsenal of the Metal Slug franchise. SNK introduced the item to provide players with specialized crowd-control capabilities during intense run-and-gun sequences. Its debut in Metal Slug X (2001) served to refresh the gameplay mechanics of the predecessor, offering a distinct trajectory compared to standard ballistic weapons.

The weapon returned in Metal Slug 3 (1993) and Metal Slug 3 (2003), cementing its status as a recurring tool for navigating complex level designs. Within the franchise's mechanics, collecting the item while the player character is in the "Fat" state alters the weapon's utility. In this transformed state, the projectile morphs into a larger, sentient-looking caricature with increased destructive power, reflecting the series' signature humor. The strategic deployment of this resource is crucial for speedruns and high-score runs, particularly in stages dominated by barricades and heavily armored infantry.