Special Weapon (Classic era)

This article is about Special Weapons in the Classic era. For X era, see Special Weapon (X era).

A Special Weapon (特殊武器) 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 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.