Robot Master

Mega Man with the Robot Masters of Mega Man and Mega Man 2.

A Robot Master, also known as a Number (ナンバー) or often simply a Boss Character (ボスキャラ) in Japan, is a recurring term from the Classic era. It describes the unique humanoid robots who control the game's stages, being fought as bosses at the end of each. They are present on a game's Stage Select screen, and must be defeated to gain Special Weapons and open the Last Stages of the game. Many Robot Masters were designed by fans in official Boss Character Contests.

Both the terms "Robot Master" and "Number" have never been used in any video game's in-game dialogue, only in supplementary Capcom sources such as game manuals, strategy guides, and encyclopedias. "Robot Master" in particular was phased out of Capcom's English media by the release of Mega Man 7. Despite this, the term remains ubiquitous within the fandom and third-party media, such as Mega Man: Fully Charged and the Archie Mega Man comic, with varying definition.

Mainline Games

These Robot Masters are from video games endorsed as canon and referenced in the Mega Man: Robot Master Field Guide.

Mega Man

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Cut Man		Rolling Cutter	DLN-003	Akira Kitamura
Guts Man		Super Arm	DLN-004	Capcom
Ice Man		Ice Slasher	DLN-005	Capcom
Bomb Man		Hyper Bomb	DLN-006	Keiji Inafune
Fire Man		Fire Storm	DLN-007	Capcom
Elec Man		Thunder Beam	DLN-008	Keiji Inafune

Robot Masters were introduced in the first Mega Man, though the term wasn't used until Mega Man 3 (these ones are retroactively called Robot Masters in Mega Man: The Wily Wars). The game has six bosses who are all industrial robots in the DLN (Dr. Light Numbers) series, or DRN (Dr. Right Numbers) in Japan. They were kidnapped by Dr. Wily and reprogrammed into his evil servants.

Mega Man Powered Up

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Time Man		Time Slow	DLN-00A DLN-010	Keiji Inafune
Oil Man		Oil Slider	DLN-00B DLN-009	Keiji Inafune

In the remake Mega Man Powered Up, two new bosses appear alongside the original six in New Style. The first Mega Man was originally planned with eight bosses, which was reduced to six during development. They are part of the DLN, but their exact numbering varies between early material for Mega Man Powered Up (Oil Man as DLN-009, Time Man as DLN-010) and the Archie Mega Man comics (Time Man as DLN-00A, Oil Man as DLN-00B).

In this game, all eight bosses can also be unlocked as playable characters in New Style. When playing as one, a copy of Mega Man called Mega Man? appears as the boss of their stage in their absence.

Mega Man 2

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Metal Man		Metal Blade	DWN-009	Masanori Satō
Air Man		Air Shooter	DWN-010	Yōji Kanazawa
Bubble Man		Bubble Lead	DWN-011	Takashi Tanaka
Quick Man		Quick Boomerang	DWN-012	Hirofumi Mizoguchi
Crash Man		Crash Bomber	DWN-013	Akira Yoshida
Flash Man		Time Stopper	DWN-014	Tomō Yamaguchi
Heat Man		Atomic Fire	DWN-015	Toshiyuki Kataoka
Wood Man		Leaf Shield	DWN-016	Masakatsu Ichikawa

In Mega Man 2, the eight Robot Masters were created by Dr. Wily specifically to challenge Mega Man in combat. They are part of the DWN (Dr. Wily Numbers) series, though their numbering begins at the ninth entry, where the DLN from Mega Man left off.

This was the first game to call for submissions in a Boss Character Contest, allowing fans and staff alike to submit Robot Master designs for use in the game. These contests would be used for games until Mega Man 8.

Mega Man 3

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Needle Man		Needle Cannon	DWN-017	Nobihiko Akatsuka
Magnet Man		Magnet Missile	DWN-018	Nagashi Kii
Gemini Man		Gemini Laser	DWN-019	Yoshihito Hattori
Hard Man		Hard Knuckle	DWN-020	Kazuhiko Oguro
Top Man		Top Spin	DWN-021	Yasushi Konjiki
Snake Man		Search Snake	DWN-022	Yuhjiro Ishitani
Spark Man		Spark Shock	DWN-023	Mikihiro Suzuki
Shadow Man		Shadow Blade	DWN-024	Takumine Yoshida

In Mega Man 3, the eight Robot Masters were created together by Dr. Light and Dr. Wily, and are deployed to collect eight Energy Elements in space. Some Japanese sources list them as the DRWN (Dr. Right & Wily Numbers), though they are more commonly included as part of the DWN since Dr. Wily hijacks them for his evil gains.

Mega Man 4

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Bright Man		Flash Stopper	DWN-025	Yoshitaka Enomoto
Toad Man		Rain Flush	DWN-026	Atsushi Ōtsuka
Drill Man		Drill Bomb	DWN-027	Masayuki Hoshi
Pharaoh Man		Pharaoh Shot	DWN-028	Takayuki Ebara
Ring Man		Ring Boomerang	DWN-029	Hiromi Uchida
Dust Man		Dust Crusher	DWN-030	Yūsuke Murata
Dive Man		Dive Missile	DWN-031	Suguru Nakayama
Skull Man		Skull Barrier	DWN-032	Toshiyuki Miyachi

In Mega Man 4, the eight Robot Masters were originally created by Dr. Cossack for a wide variety of purposes. However, when Dr. Wily blackmailed Dr. Cossack into challenging Mega Man, he also altered his creations into fighting robots and inducted them into his own DWN series. In the manga Mega Man Megamix, this group is instead listed as the DCN (Dr. Cossack Numbers).

Mega Man 5

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Gravity Man		Gravity Hold	DWN-033	Yukiko Mori
Wave Man		Water Wave	DWN-034	Hideyuki Monno
Stone Man		Power Stone	DWN-035	Kenta Ōnishi
Gyro Man		Gyro Attack	DWN-036	Katsunari Oguri
Star Man		Star Crash	DWN-037	Tatsumi Saegusa
Charge Man		Charge Kick	DWN-038	Toshiaki Sugiura
Napalm Man		Napalm Bomb	DWN-039	Shinichirō Seki
Crystal Man		Crystal Eye	DWN-040	Yūsuke Murata

In Mega Man 5, the eight Robot Masters were supposedly berserk robots led by Proto Man. In reality, they were all created by Dr. Wily and led by the impersonator Dark Man, in an attempt to frame Proto Man and conquer the world. They belong to the DWN. Dark Man is not part of the main eight bosses, and isn't normally included as a Robot Master.

Mega Man 6

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Blizzard Man		Blizzard Attack	DWN-041	Hirofumi Ogawa
Centaur Man		Centaur Flash	DWN-042	Kazuki Kidoguchi
Flame Man		Flame Blast	DWN-043	Noritsugu Kurokawa
Knight Man		Knight Crusher	DWN-044	Daniel Vallée
Plant Man		Plant Barrier	DWN-045	Nobuhiro Hoshino
Tomahawk Man		Silver Tomahawk	DWN-046	Yoshinobu Suda
Wind Man		Wind Storm	DWN-047	Michael Leader
Yamato Man		Yamato Spear	DWN-048	Rai Ichikawa

In Mega Man 6, the eight Robot Masters were created by scientists from all around the globe and entered in the Robot Tournament. They were then hijacked by the tournament organizer, Mr. X, who was later revealed to be Dr. Wily in disguise. They belong to the DWN. In the manga Mega Man Megamix, they are instead listed as the MXN (Mr. X Numbers).

Mega Man V

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Mercury		Grab Buster	SRN-002	Capcom
Venus		Bubble Bomb	SRN-003	Capcom
Mars		Photon Missile	SRN-004	Capcom
Jupiter		Electric Shock	SRN-005	Capcom
Saturn		Black Hole	SRN-006	Capcom
Uranus		Deep Digger	SRN-007	Capcom
Pluto		Break Dash	SRN-008	Capcom
Neptune		Salt Water	SRN-009	Capcom

In Mega Man V, the eight Robot Masters are a group of alien robots known as the Stardroids. They are led by Terra, who is manipulated into working with Dr. Wily to take over the planet. They belong to the SRN (Stardroid Numbers).

Another robot boss, Sunstar, is sometimes counted as a Robot Master. However, he serves as the game's final boss, and is not actually a member of the Stardroids.

Mega Man 7

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Freeze Man		Freeze Cracker	DWN-049	Shiegeaki Sakamoto
Junk Man		Junk Shield	DWN-050	Jun Akiba
Burst Man		Danger Wrap	DWN-051	Keishi Tsuchiya
Cloud Man		Thunder Bolt	DWN-052	Isao Nakagiri
Spring Man		Wild Coil	DWN-053	Akira Ito
Slash Man		Slash Claw	DWN-054	Yoichi Amano
Shade Man		Noise Crush	DWN-055	Tetsuya Watada
Turbo Man		Scorch Wheel	DWN-056	Takashi Kino

In Mega Man 7, the eight bosses were all created or stolen and modified by Dr. Wily at some point prior to the end of Mega Man 6. Six months after Wily's imprisonment, they were activated to free him from jail and help conquer the world. They belong to the DWN.

This game was the first to avoid the term Robot Master in its English material. These bosses fulfill the same criteria as previous Robot Masters, and so are categorized as such.

Mega Man 8

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Tengu Man		Tornado Hold	DWN-057	Capcom
		Tengu Blade
Astro Man		Astro Crush	DWN-058	Capcom
		Copy Vision
Sword Man		Flame Sword	DWN-059	Keigo Matsuo
Clown Man		Thunder Claw	DWN-060	Hiroshige Sakai
Search Man		Homing Sniper	DWN-061	Yūta Hata
Frost Man		Ice Wave	DWN-062	Akifumi Nomura
Grenade Man		Flash Bomb	DWN-063	Kenichirō Komaki
Aqua Man		Water Balloon	DWN-064	Morito Kuriki

In Mega Man 8, the eight bosses were created or stolen and modified by Dr. Wily. They are all powered by his newfound discovery, Evil Energy, and Mega Man challenges them in order to confiscate it. They belong to the DWN.

Because Tengu Man and Astro Man return with new Special Weapons in Mega Man & Bass, their new Special Weapons are listed here as well.

Mega Man & Bass

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Dynamo Man		Lightning Bolt	KGN-001	Hitoshi Ariga
Cold Man		Ice Wall	KGN-002	Kōji Izuki
Ground Man		Spread Drill	KGN-003	Iwamoto Yoshihiro
Pirate Man		Remote Mine	KGN-004	Iwamoto Yoshihiro
Burner Man		Wave Burner	KGN-005	Hitoshi Ariga
Magic Man		Magic Card	KGN-006	Iwamoto Yoshihiro

In Mega Man & Bass, the eight bosses are robots who were created or modified by King and his rebellion against humanity. They belong to their own KGN (King Numbers) series. Their ranks also include Tengu Man and Astro Man from Mega Man 8, who were reconstructed and chose to join King. Due to this, there are only six original boss robots in this game.

Mega Man 9

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Concrete Man		Concrete Shot	DLN-065	Capcom
Tornado Man		Tornado Blow	DLN-066	Capcom
Splash Woman		Laser Trident	DLN-067	Capcom
Plug Man		Plug Ball	DLN-068	Capcom
Jewel Man		Jewel Satellite	DLN-069	Capcom
Hornet Man		Hornet Chaser	DLN-070	Capcom
Magma Man		Magma Bazooka	DLN-071	Capcom
Galaxy Man		Black Hole Bomb	DLN-072	Capcom

In Mega Man 9, the eight bosses are robots created by Dr. Light who supposedly went berserk. It is later revealed that they rebelled due to the tampering of Dr. Wily, who convinced them that Light planned to dismantle them someday and reprogrammed them. They belong to the DLN, though their numbering begins where the DWN from Mega Man 8 left off.

Mega Man 10

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Blade Man		Triple Blade	DWN-073	Capcom
Pump Man		Water Shield	DWN-074	Capcom
Commando Man		Commando Bomb	DWN-075	Capcom
Chill Man		Chill Spike	DWN-076	Capcom
Sheep Man		Thunder Wool	DWN-077	Capcom
Strike Man		Rebound Striker	DWN-078	Capcom
Nitro Man		Wheel Cutter	DWN-079	Capcom
Solar Man		Solar Blaze	DWN-080	Capcom

In Mega Man 10, the eight bosses are robots from around the world who went berserk after being infected by Dr. Wily's Roboenza. Though not personally altered by Wily, they are considered part of the DWN series. The bonus track in Rockman 10 Image Soundtrack, where Wily lists the Robot Masters and their abilities, implies that he may have chosen these specific robots to make berserk.

Mega Man 11

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Serial No.	Designer
Block Man		Block Dropper	DWN-081	Capcom
Acid Man		Acid Barrier	DWN-082	Capcom
Impact Man		Pile Driver	DWN-083	Capcom
Bounce Man		Bounce Ball	DWN-084	Capcom
Fuse Man		Scramble Thunder	DWN-085	Capcom
Tundra Man		Tundra Storm	DWN-086	Capcom
Torch Man		Blazing Torch	DWN-087	Capcom
Blast Man		Chain Blast	DWN-088	Capcom

In Mega Man 11, the eight bosses were created by esteemed manufacturers from around the globe who are colleagues of Dr. Light. They visit Dr. Light for tune-ups and hold him in high regard, but are kidnapped by Dr. Wily and reprogrammed into his servants, installed with the Double Gear system. They belong to the DWN.

Other Games

These bosses match the description of Robot Masters, but were not included in the Mega Man: Robot Master Field Guide. Many of them hail from games that are considered non-canon.

Mega Man (DOS)

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Designer
Sonic Man		Sonic Wave	Stephen J. Rozner
Volt Man		Force Field	Stephen J. Rozner
Dyna Man		Nuclear Detonator	Stephen J. Rozner

In Mega Man (DOS), the three Robot Masters are robots from around the world, controlled by Dr. Wily and the supercomputer CRORQ.

Mega Man 3 (DOS)

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Designer
Torch Man		Torch Arm	Stephen J. Rozner
Bit Man		Bit Cannon	Stephen J. Rozner
Blade Man		Blade Launcher	Stephen J. Rozner
Shark Man		Shark Boomerang	Stephen J. Rozner
Oil Man		Oil Stream	Stephen J. Rozner
Wave Man		Water Shooter	Stephen J. Rozner

In Mega Man 3 (DOS), the six Robot Masters are again robots from all over, controlled by Dr. Wily and the CRORQ. All six of these robots have designs inspired by previous Robot Masters.

Rockman & Forte: Challengers from the Future

Name	Image	Special Weapon	Designer
Dangan Man		Rock Vulcan	Bandai
		Forte Vulcan
Konro Man		Flame Shower	Bandai
		Flame Mixer
Aircon Man		Barrier Wind	Bandai
		Forte Cyclone
Komuso Man		Doppel Crash	Bandai
		Doppel Attack
Clock Men		Time Switch	Bandai
		Time Bomb
Compass Man		None	Bandai

In Rockman & Forte: Challengers from the Future, the six bosses are a group of robots from the future called the Dimensions. Led by Rockman Shadow, they seek to destroy the world of the past.

Rockman Strategy

Name	Image	Element	Designer
Aries		Fire	Dream Come True
Taurus		Earth	Dream Come True
Gemini		Air	Dream Come True
Cancer		Water	Dream Come True
Leo		Fire	Dream Come True
Virgo		Earth	Dream Come True
Libra		Air	Dream Come True
Scorpio		Water	Dream Come True
Sagittarius		Fire	Dream Come True
Capricorn		Earth	Dream Come True
Aquarius		Air	Dream Come True
Pisces		Water	Dream Come True

In Rockman Strategy, there are twelve bosses who are extraterrestrial robots based on the Western Zodiac signs. They are led by Apollo and Luna, who seek to heal the god of their home planet but are manipulated by Dr. Wily into attacking the Earth. In the game, they are simply called "the aliens" (外星人). Lacking Special Weapons, the twelve alien robots each have one of four elemental alignments instead, directly corresponding to their sign's element in the Zodiac.

Additionally, many previous Robot Masters from Mega Man to Mega Man 8 appear as enemies alongside the game's bosses.

Rockman ✕over

In Rockman ✕over, one new boss and several new Battle Memories inspired by Robot Masters were added to the game after a contest.

• Arcade Man
• Tablet Man
• Daruman
• Sudachi Woman
• Hanabi Man
• Udon Man

Other Media

These Robot Masters originate from non-video game media, and are all non-canon to the main timeline.

Captain N: The Game Master

In Captain N: The Game Master, there is one original boss robot who does not appear in the games.

• Garbage Man

Mega Man: Upon a Star

In Mega Man: Upon a Star, there are two original robot bosses created by Dr. Wily.

• Samurai Man
• Magma Men

Mega Man (Dreamwave Productions)

In the Dreamwave Mega Man comic, Robot Master-like bosses are commonplace like criminals.

• Barrage Man
• Express Man
• Multi Man

Mega Man (Archie Comics)

In the Archie Mega Man comic, there are several original Robot Masters. Two are friendly characters created by Dr. Lalinde.

In the "Worlds Unite" arc, there are also the Roboticized Masters, who are created in a combination of Dr. Wily and Dr. Eggman's technology by capturing characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe.

• Quake Woman
• Vesper Woman
• Tails Man
• Rose Woman
• Knuckles Man
• Shadow Man
• Silver Man
• Blaze Woman
• Charmy Man
• Espio Man
• Vector Man
• Rouge Woman
• Sonic Man

Mega Man: Fully Charged

In Mega Man: Fully Charged, the main villains of the series are called Robot Masters. Most of the Robot Masters are based on pre-existing Robot Masters from the Classic era, though there are several original ones.

• Blasto Woman
• Hypno Woman
• Chemistry Man

Pachislot Rockman Ability

In the alternate canon of Pachislot Rockman Ability, six bosses are created by Dr. Wily, all of whom are themed after the pachislot format.

• Choice Man
• Coin Woman
• Lever Man
• Replay Man
• Reverse Man
• Chance Man