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Special Weapon (Classic era)

From Mega Man Wiki

A Special Weapon (特殊武器)[1][2] is a recurring type of weapon in the Classic era. They are unique attacks that are obtained by defeating bosses, usually Robot Masters. Upon switching to a Special Weapon, the character changes to a new color scheme and gains a Weapon Energy meter. Special Weapons consume Weapon Energy when used, but offer new advantages over default weapons, such as dealing increased damage to specific bosses or weakening their abilities.

Mega Man's Mega Buster is equipped with a Weapon Change System[3] that allows him to incorporate the data of the Robot Masters he defeats to use Special Weapons. Proto Man, Bass, and Duo are also shown using Special Weapons, indicating they possess similar systems.

In the Games

Mega Man

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Hyper Bomb
Bomb Man Guts Man
Thunder Beam
Elec Man Ice Man
Super Arm
Guts Man Cut Man
Ice Slasher
Ice Man Fire Man
Rolling Cutter
Cut Man Elec Man
Fire Storm
Fire Man Bomb Man

Special Weapons are introduced in the first Mega Man. Each was listed on the Sub Screen by the first initial of the Robot Master from whom it was obtained. They didn't receive pictorial icons until the Rockman Complete Works re-release.


Mega Man 2

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Atomic Fire
Heat Man Wood Man
Air Shooter
Air Man Crash Man
Leaf Shield
Wood Man Air Man
Bubble Lead
Bubble Man Heat Man
Quick Boomerang
Quick Man Metal Man
Time Stopper
Flash Man Quick Man
Metal Blade
Metal Man Bubble Man
Crash Bomber
Crash Man Flash Man

In Mega Man 2, Special Weapons function identically, though this game features eight instead of six. It again used an initial for each Sub Weapon on the Sub Screen. Icons for these weapons were first provided in Rockman Complete Works.


Mega Man 3

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Needle Cannon
Needle Man Snake Man
Magnet Missile
Magnet Man Hard Man
Gemini Laser
Gemini Man Needle Man
Hard Knuckle
Hard Man Top Man
Top Spin
Top Man Shadow Man
Search Snake
Snake Man Gemini Man
Spark Shock
Spark Man Magnet Man
Shadow Blade
Shadow Man Spark Man

In Mega Man 3, Special Weapons function identically. Their Sub Screen initials were the first two letters of the Robot Master's name. Icons for these weapons were provided in Rockman Complete Works.


Mega Man 4

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Flash Stopper
Bright Man Pharaoh Man
Rain Flush
Toad Man Bright Man
Drill Bomb
Drill Man Toad Man
Pharaoh Shot
Pharaoh Man Ring Man
Ring Boomerang
Ring Man Dust Man
Dust Crusher
Dust Man Skull Man
Dive Missile
Dive Man Drill Man
Skull Barrier
Skull Man Dive Man

In Mega Man 4, Special Weapons function identically. This was the first game to include icons for each Special Weapon on the Sub Screen.


Mega Man 5

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Water Wave
Wave Man Star Man
Gyro Attack
Gyro Man Crystal Man
Crystal Eye
Crystal Man Napalm Man
Napalm Bomb
Napalm Man Stone Man
Power Stone
Stone Man Charge Man
Gravity Hold
Gravity Man Gyro Man
Charge Kick
Charge Man Wave Man
Star Crash
Star Man Gravity Man

In Mega Man 5, Special Weapons function identically.


Mega Man 6

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Yamato Spear
Yamato Man Knight Man
Wind Storm
Wind Man Flame Man
Blizzard Attack
Blizzard Man Plant Man
Flame Blast
Flame Man Blizzard Man
Plant Barrier
Plant Man Tomahawk Man
Knight Crusher
Knight Man Centaur Man
Silver Tomahawk
Tomahawk Man Yamato Man
Centaur Flash
Centaur Man Wind Man

In Mega Man 6, Special Weapons function identically.


Mega Man 7

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Freeze Cracker
Freeze Man Slash Man
Thunder Bolt
Thunder Man Junk Man
Junk Shield
Junk Man Freeze Man
Danger Wrap
Burst Man Cloud Man
Slash Claw
Slash Man Spring Man
Noise Crush
Shade Man Turbo Man
Scorch Wheel
Turbo Man Burst Man
Wild Coil
Spring Man Shade Man

In Mega Man 7, Special Weapons function identically.


Mega Man 8

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Flash Bomb
Grenade Man Frost Man
Thunder Claw
Clown Man Grenade Man
Ice Wave
Frost Man Tengu Man
Tornado Hold
Tengu Man Clown Man
Water Balloon
Aqua Man Sword Man
Flame Sword
Sword Man Search Man
Homing Sniper
Search Man Astro Man
Astro Crush
Astro Man Aqua Man

In Mega Man 8, Special Weapons function identically.


Mega Man 9

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Magma Bazooka
Magma Man Hornet Man
Hornet Chaser
Hornet Man Splash Woman
Black Hole Bomb
Galaxy Man Jewel Man
Tornado Blow
Tornado Man Magma Man
Jewel Satellite
Jewel Man Plug Man
Laser Trident
Splash Woman Concrete Man
Plug Ball
Plug Man Tornado Man
Concrete Shot
Concrete Man Galaxy Man

In Mega Man 9, Special Weapons function identically. This was the first mainline game where Proto Man used Special Weapons.


Mega Man 10

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Triple Blade
Blade Man Strike Man
Water Shield
Pump Man Solar Man
Commando Bomb
Commando Man Blade Man
Chill Spike
Chill Man Nitro Man
Thunder Wool
Sheep Man Pump Man
Rebound Striker
Strike Man Sheep Man
Wheel Cutter
Nitro Man Commando Man
Solar Blaze
Solar Man Chill Man

In Mega Man 10, Special Weapons function identically. This was the first mainline game where Bass used Special Weapons.


Mega Man 11

Name Icon Design Boss Strong Against
Block Dropper
File:MM11 - Mega Man Block Dropper.png
Block Man Acid Man
Acid Barrier
File:MM11 - Mega Man Acid Barrier.png
Acid Man Impact Man
Chain Blast
File:MM11 - Mega Man Chain Blast.png
Blast Man Block Man
Scramble Thunder
File:MM11 - Mega Man Scramble Thunder.png
Fuse Man Tundra Man
Bounce Ball
File:MM11 - Mega Man Bounce Ball.png
Bounce Man Fuse Man
Blazing Torch
File:MM11 - Mega Man Blazing Torch.png
Torch Man Blast Man
Pile Driver
File:MM11 - Mega Man Pile Driver.png
Impact Man Bounce Man
Tundra Storm
File:MM11 - Mega Man Tundra Storm.png
Tundra Man Torch Man

In Mega Man 11, Special Weapons function identically. Instead of merely changing the color of Mega Man, they also add aspects from the Robot Masters to his design. They can also be enhanced using the Power Gear for more powerful attacks.


Other Games

Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge

Name Icon Color Boss
Mirror Buster
Enker

In Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge, Mega Man obtains returning Special Weapons from previous games in the series. They use initials instead of icons, and because the original Game Boy uses monochrome graphics, Mega Man does not visually change when equipping a Special Weapon. He also gains a unique Special Weapon by defeating Enker, which later appeared with its own icon and color scheme in Mega Man 10.


Mega Man II

In Mega Man II, Mega Man reuses returning Special Weapons from previous Robot Masters. He also gains a Transport Item, Sakugarne, by defeating the new boss Quint. The only new Special Weapon he obtains is a missile from Wily Machine II, which he only uses in a cutscene to chase down Dr. Wily.

Mega Man III

Name Icon Color Boss
Screw Crusher
Punk

In Mega Man III, Mega Man again obtains returning Special Weapons from previous games, along with a unique one obtained by defeating Punk, which later returned with a new color and icon in Mega Man 10.


Mega Man IV

Name Icon Color Boss
Ballade Cracker
Ballade

In Mega Man IV, Mega Man again obtains returning Special Weapons from previous games, along with a unique one obtained by defeating Ballade, which later returned with a new color and icon in Mega Man 10.


Mega Man V

Name Boss Strong Against
Grab Buster Mercury Pluto
Electric Shock Jupiter Saturn
Bubble Bomb Venus Jupiter
Black Hole Saturn Mercury
Photon Missile Mars Venus
Break Dash Pluto Uranus
Salt Water Neptune Mars
Deep Digger Uranus Terra
Spark Chaser Terra Neptune

In Mega Man V, Special Weapons function identically. This game also features a ninth Special Weapon that is obtained by defeating Terra.


Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Pharaoh Wave
Pharaoh Man Gemini Man
Centaur Arrow
Centaur Man Shadow Man

Like the previous entry, Mega Man: The Power Battle, in Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters there are many returning Special Weapons from previous games. However, two of the game's returning Robot Masters grant entirely new Special Weapons for this appearance only, likely for game balance reasons. This was also the first game to depict Duo using Special Weapons.


Mega Man & Bass

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Ice Wall
Cold Man Burner Man
Copy Vision
Astro Man Dynamo Man
Spread Drill
Ground Man Tengu Man
Wave Burner
Burner Man Pirate Man
Remote Mine
Pirate Man Ground Man
Lightning Bolt
Dynamo Man Cold Man
Tengu Blade
Tengu Man Magic Man
Magic Card
Magic Man Astro Man

In Mega Man & Bass, Special Weapons function identically. This was one of the first Mega Man games where characters besides Mega Man can use Special Weapons, as Bass is a playable character. Additionally, this game's two returning Robot Masters grant the player brand new Special Weapons, rather than the ones from Mega Man 8.


Mega Man Powered Up

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Oil Slider
File:MMPU - Mega Man Oil Slider.png
Oil Man Elec Man
Time Slow
File:MMPU - Mega Man Time Slow.png
Time Man Guts Man

In Mega Man Powered Up, New Style has two new Robot Masters with two new Special Weapons. This also means that the weaknesses for every Robot Master is shuffled to accommodate them.

When playing as a Robot Master, they can only attack using their Special Weapon. It is often stronger than or different from the version used by Mega Man.


Spin-Off Games

Mega Man (DOS)

Name Boss Strong Against
Sonic Wave Sonic Man Volt Man
Force Field Volt Man Dyna Man
Nuclear Detonator Dyna Man Sonic Man

In Mega Man, Special Weapons function identically to the main series. They use the initials system, and Mega Man does not change color when using them.


Mega Man 3 (DOS)

Name Color Boss Strong Against
Bit Cannon
File:MM3DOS - Weapon Get Bit Cannon.png
Bit Man Blade Man
Blade Launcher
File:MM3DOS - Weapon Get Blade Launcher.png
Blade Man Oil Man
Oil Stream
File:MM3DOS - Weapon Get Oil Stream.png
Oil Man Shark Man
Shark Boomerang
File:MM3DOS - Weapon Get Shark Boomerang.png
Shark Man Wave Man
Water Shooter
File:MM3DOS - Weapon Get Water Shooter.png
Wave Man Torch Man
Torch Arm
File:MM3DOS - Weapon Get Torch Arm.png
Torch Man Bit Man

In Mega Man 3, Special Weapons function identically to the main series. They use the initials system, and although the Weapon Get screen shows Mega Man in a new color for each one, this is not reflected in his in-game sprite.


Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes

Name Color Boss
Magnetic Shockwave
Onslaught

In Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes, Mega Man copies a Special Weapon as a gag in his ending cinematic after defeating the final boss of Arcade Mode, Onslaught. However, in the PlayStation version of the game it is actually unlocked as a secret Hyper Combo afterwards. To use it, the player must hold Select while selecting Mega Man before a match.


Rockman & Forte: Challengers from the Future

Name User Boss
Rock'n Vulcan Mega Man Dangan Man
Forte Vulcan Bass
Flame Shower Mega Man Konro Man
Flame Mixer Bass
Barrier Wind Mega Man Aircon Man
Forte Cyclone Bass
Doppel Crash Mega Man Komuso Man
Doppler Attack Bass
Time Switch Mega Man Clock Men
Time Bomb Bass

In Rockman & Forte: Challengers from the Future, Mega Man and Bass each receive slightly different versions of the Special Weapons from the Dimensions. There is no weakness system in this game, as all Special Weapons deal increased damage to bosses equally. Compass Man is the only one of the Dimensions not to yield a Special Weapon. The game uses the initials system and is in black and white, meaning no color schemes are visible.


Street Fighter X Mega Man

Name Icon Color Boss Strong Against
Tropical Hazard
Blanka Rose
Lightning Kick
Chun-Li C. Viper
Optic Laser
C. Viper Dhalsim
Yoga Inferno
Dhalsim Blanka
Mine Sweeper
Rolento Urien
Soul Satellite
Rose Rolento
Hadoken
Ryu Chun-Li
Aegis Reflector
Urien Ryu

In Street Fighter X Mega Man, Special Weapons are obtained by defeating the World Warriors.


Other Media

Mega Man (Archie Comics)

Name Boss
Tail Wind Tails Man
Piko Hammer Rose Woman
Sharp Knuckle Knuckles Man
Chaos Cannon Shadow Man
Black Wave Rouge Woman
Psycho Burst Silver Man
Fire Tornado Blaze Woman
Rapid Stinger Charmy Man
Chroma Camo Espio Man
Acoustic Blaster Vector Man

In the Archie Mega Man comic, Mega Man obtains new Special Weapons by defeating the Roboticized Masters, who were created from Sonic the Hedgehog and his friends.


Pachislot Rockman Ability

Name Boss
Reverse Blade Reverse Man
Bell Spark Choice Man
Lever Impact Lever Man
Coin Bomb Coin Woman
Replay Shield Replay Man
Chance Big Buster Chance Man

In Pachislot Rockman Ability, Special Weapons can be obtained to influence the game for higher winnings.


References

  1. Game manual, Mega Man II. 1991.
  2. Game manual, Mega Man 5. 1992.
  3. Game manual, Mega Man Powered Up. 2006.