Armor Parts

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The Armor Parts (アーマーパーツ), also known as Armor Power-Ups (アーマーパワーアップ) or Power-Up Parts (パワーアップパーツ), are special power-up items appearing in the X era. When X obtains these items, he equips pieces of armor that change his appearance and grant him new abilities.

In the Games

Mega Man X

Main article: First Armor

Armor Parts were introduced in the first Mega Man X. It established the convention for the series: the Armor Parts were created by Dr. Light to grant X new abilities in times of war, and they can only be found in Light Capsules hidden throughout the eight main stages. When X enters a Light Capsule, he is automatically equipped with the Parts stored within. They are often divided into four Parts which can all be collected to complete the armor: the Head Parts (ヘッドパーツ), Body Parts (ボディパーツ) (or Chest Parts (胸部パーツ)), Arm Parts (アームパーツ), and Foot Parts (フットパーツ). This set of Armor Parts has been retroactively titled the First Armor, among other names including the Normal Armor.

Mega Man X2

Main article: Second Armor

The Armor Parts return in Mega Man X2. After defeating Sigma in the previous game, X chose to return the First Armor to a Light Capsule, which promptly burrowed away to analyze their battle data and upgrade them accordingly. The four upgraded Armor Parts can then be found in a new set of Light Capsules. This set of Armor Parts is retroactively titled the Second Armor, and is an evolution of the Normal Armor.

Mega Man X3

Main article: Third Armor

In Mega Man X3, there are four new Armor Parts as usual, but also four additional Chips which can further upgrade the armor's capabilities, but can only be equipped one at a time. This set of Armor Parts is retroactively titled the Third Armor, and is another evolution of the Normal Armor.

Mega Man X4

Main articles: Fourth Armor and Ultimate Armor

In Mega Man X4, the Armor Parts gain a new twist as there are two different Arm Parts capsules to choose from, with slightly different abilities. This set of Armor Parts is retroactively titled the Fourth Armor, and is the last main evolution of the Normal Armor. Additionally, this game introduces a secret unlockable set of Armor Parts known as the Ultimate Armor, which is an experimental armor that is even stronger than the Fourth Armor.

Mega Man X5

Main articles: Falcon Armor and Gaea Armor

In Mega Man X5, the Armor Parts formula receives large changes. There are two new sets of Armor Parts in the game, making for a total of eight Light Capsules. Instead of equipping individual parts from capsules, X only receives an Armor Program (アーマープログラム), of which all four must be collected before the armor can be worn at all: the Head Program (ヘッドプログラム), Body Program (ボディプログラム), Arm Program (アームプログラム), and Foot Program (フットプログラム). The Falcon Armor is lightweight and has high aerial mobility, while the Gaea Armor is heavier and better for defense. Additionally, a slightly weakened Fourth Armor can be equipped if the player chooses X at the character select screen, and the secret Ultimate Armor can be obtained through various means again too.

Mega Man X6

Main articles: Blade Armor and Shadow Armor

In Mega Man X6, there are again two new sets of Armor Programs that are first collected from Light Capsules before they can be equipped. The Blade Armor has high attack output and aerial mobility, while the Shadow Armor relies more on stealth acrobatics and the Z-Saber. The Falcon Armor returns as the default Armor Parts worn by X from the beginning of the game, though it is noticeably weakened. The Ultimate Armor can also be unlocked once more.

Mega Man X7

Main article: Glide Armor

In Mega Man X7, the Armor Parts system is simplified back to its basics. There is one set of Armor Parts, the Glide Armor, whose parts are individually equipped in each Light Capsule again. It is another evolution of the Normal Armor, which was last seen as the Fourth Armor. The names of certain parts are changed: the Body Parts are called the Custom Parts (カスタムパーツ), the Arm Parts are called the Buster Parts (バスターパーツ), and the Foot Parts are called the Feet Parts (フィットパーツ).

Mega Man X8

Main articles: Neutral Armor, Hermes Armor, and Icarus Armor

In Mega Man X8, the Armor Parts are rehauled with a completely new system. Upon receiving the first Armor Parts of the game, X also gains the Neutral Armor, a blank template onto which any of the game's eight Armor Parts can be equipped, allowing for mix-and-matching. The two sets are the highly-mobile Hermes Armor and the offense-oriented Icarus Armor. Additionally, the secret Ultimate Armor can again be unlocked. This game also changes the name of the Head Parts, sometimes calling them the Helmet Parts (ヘルメットパーツ),.