Listing of all missile types in any game related to Gradius
- Missile - Fires missiles that fly along the ground. Some versions of Gradius allow you to upgrade missiles to a Level 2 shot, causing them to travel faster.
- Upper Missile - Fires missiles that fly along the top of the screen.
- Hawk Wind - Depending on the position of the firing craft, shoots a missile up or down. This missile appears in Gradius V under the name "Eagle Wind." Note that in the MSX port of Salamander as well as Nemesis 3: Eve of Destruction, "Hawk Wind" refers to the missiles ability to climb surfaces instead of stopping at a hill.
- Spread Bomb - Drops bombs frontal arc that explode in a wide blast.
- Napalm Missile - Drops bombs directly 45 degrees front downward that explodes in a series of small blasts. Precursor to the Spread Bomb. (Nemesis 2)
- Photon Torpedo - Fires torpedoes straight down to blast ground forces and penetrate small enemies.
- Back Spread - Drops spread bombs backwards. (Gradius III)
- Guided/Homing Missile - Homes in on any major ground target with great speed.
- Control Missile - Manually move the missile up or down with the directional buttons. (Gradius III)
- 2-Way Missile - Fires missiles straight up and down. The Salamander variant travel along surfaces when they reach the ground.
- 2-Way Back - These 2-way missiles launch behind the ship instead of in front. (SNES Gradius III and Gradius V)
- Small Spread Bomb - Drops bombs to the rear that explode on contact. (Gradius III)
- Flying Torpedo - Two missile fly straight forward from the ship from launchers on the top and bottom of the ship. (Gradius V)