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** In Japanese, from Command Missions on to ''ProjectXZone'' he is voiced by TakahiroSakurai, who is known primarily for either a certain {{Wangst}}y [[FinalFantasy7 character]] and a pretty HotBlooded [[CodeGeass one.]]
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** In Japanese, from Command Missions X8 on to ''ProjectXZone'' he is voiced by TakahiroSakurai, who is known primarily for either a certain {{Wangst}}y [[FinalFantasy7 character]] and a pretty HotBlooded [[CodeGeass one.]]
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* MoreDakka / [[VideoGameFlight Floating]] [[WalkingArmory Armory]]: His ''Command Mission''-version Ultimate Armor.
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*** MightyGlacier (or LightningBruiser): Icarus
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*** MightyGlacier (or LightningBruiser): / LightningBruiser: Icarus
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* NamesTheSame: His Ultimate armor, X had about three different armors with the same name and similar abilities, the first one from X4 to X6, one in X8 and another in Command Mission; the one in CM not only looks different but its skill set serves for other situations entirely, making it more of a InNameOnly.
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* NamesTheSame: His Ultimate armor, X had about three different armors with the same name and similar abilities, the first one from X4 to X6, one in X8 and another in Command Mission; ''Command Mission''; the one in CM not only looks different but its skill set serves for other situations entirely, making it more of a InNameOnly.
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* CastingAShadow DoppelgangerAttack: Has one of these in ''Command Mission'', though boss enemy Ferham's is stronger (or at least more durable).
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* CastingAShadow DoppelgangerAttack: Has one of these in ''Command Mission'', though boss enemy Ferham's is stronger (or at least more durable).
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* CastingAShadow DoppelgangerAttack: Has one of these in ''Command Mission'', though boss enemy Ferham's is stronger (or at least more durable).
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By the Word of God, X\'s name is not \"Mega Man X\". He\'s just X. Cited source: http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/1n57hs/hi_im_game_creator_keiji_inafune_onimusha_dead/
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The three main playable characters of the X series: Mega Man X, Zero, and Axl.
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The three main playable characters of the X series: Mega Man X, Zero, and Axl.
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[[folder:Mega Man X/Rockman X]]
!!'''Mega Man X/Rockman X'''
!!'''Mega Man X/Rockman X'''
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!!'''Mega Man X/Rockman X'''
!!'''X'''
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::'''Mega Man X/Rockman X'''
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::'''Zero (DWN-∞)'''
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::'''Axl'''
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* TwentyFourHourArmor: More specifically his helmet, X is the ''only'' Mega Man not shown have some kind of synthetic/artificial hair, and one of the few who does not take off his helmet when the smoke goes down at the end of the adventure; this has led many to believe that X does not have hair, just a metal plate like {{Robocop}} without his helmet.
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* TwentyFourHourArmor: More specifically his helmet, X is the ''only'' Mega Man not shown have some kind of synthetic/artificial hair, and one of the few who does not take off his helmet when the smoke goes down at the end of the adventure; this has led many to believe that X does not have hair, just a metal plate like {{Robocop}} Franchise/{{Robocop}} without his helmet.
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** [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Which one, Peyton or Eli?]][[hottip:*:This trope used to be called "Mega Manning", for obvious reasons.]]
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** [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Which one, Peyton or Eli?]][[hottip:*:This Eli?]][[note]]This trope used to be called "Mega Manning", for obvious reasons.]][[/note]]
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* PoweredArmor: He has at least one per game. In X4, he gets two[[hottip:*:The Fourth and Ultimate Armor]], in X5[[hottip:*:The Fourth Armor (albeit damaged), Falcon, Gaea and Ultimate Armor]] and X6[[hottip:*:The Falcon Armor (albeit damaged), Blade, Shadow and Ultimate Armor]] he gets 4 each. All of them gives X different changes.
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* PoweredArmor: He has at least one per game. In X4, he gets two[[hottip:*:The two[[note]]The Fourth and Ultimate Armor]], Armor[[/note]], in X5[[hottip:*:The X5[[note]]The Fourth Armor (albeit damaged), Falcon, Gaea and Ultimate Armor]] Armor[[/note]] and X6[[hottip:*:The X6[[note]]The Falcon Armor (albeit damaged), Blade, Shadow and Ultimate Armor]] Armor[[/note]] he gets 4 each. All of them gives X different changes.
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[[ArmCannon Arms]]: WaveMotionGun as a fully charged attack. Lesser charge attacks are one less level than normal. [[hottip:example:X's normal shots become Level-1 charged shots, and Level-2 charged shots become Level-3 charged shots. The maximum charged shot becomes a powerful laser]]\\
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[[ArmCannon Arms]]: WaveMotionGun as a fully charged attack. Lesser charge attacks are one less level than normal. [[hottip:example:X's [[labelnote:example]]X's normal shots become Level-1 charged shots, and Level-2 charged shots become Level-3 charged shots. The maximum charged shot becomes a powerful laser]]\\laser[[/labelnote]]\\
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* {{Bishounen}}: Even {{lampshaded}} by Bass.[[hottip:*:Bass called him "too girly" to be the strongest robot, as Wily claimed it.]] See "EarlyBirdCameo" below.
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* {{Bishounen}}: Even {{lampshaded}} by Bass.[[hottip:*:Bass [[note]]Bass called him "too girly" to be the strongest robot, as Wily claimed it.]] [[/note]] See "EarlyBirdCameo" below.
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* RapunzelHair
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* RapunzelHairRapunzelHair: The length of his hair is even mocked by Bass.
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* [[RedOniBlueOni Red Oni]]
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* [[RedOniBlueOni Red Oni]]Oni]]: To X's Blue Oni.
* {{Retcon}}: ''Rockman Perfect Memories'' states that Zero was the original host of the Maverick Virus and that it transferred from him to Sigma. ''Rockman Zero Collection Timeline'' changes this to the Maverick virus being contained in Zero's capsule and infecting them both, curing Zero of his insanity and driving Sigma insane.
* {{Retcon}}: ''Rockman Perfect Memories'' states that Zero was the original host of the Maverick Virus and that it transferred from him to Sigma. ''Rockman Zero Collection Timeline'' changes this to the Maverick virus being contained in Zero's capsule and infecting them both, curing Zero of his insanity and driving Sigma insane.
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** In Japanese, from Command Missions on to ''ProjectXZone'' he is voiced by TakahiroSakurai, who is known primarily for either a certain {{Wangst}}y [[FinalFantasy7 character]] and a pretty HotBlooded [[CodeGeass one.]]
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* {{Keigo}}: post Command Missions [[TakahiroSakurai Japanese]] X speaks very politely to everyone, even going so far as to use ''[[JapanesePronouns Watashi]]''.
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expanding upon and adding tropes
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* AntiAntichrist: Dr. Wily created him to wreak havoc on the entire world; he instead became one of the world's legendary defenders.
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* AntiAntichrist: Dr. Wily created him Red body armor with pointy horns? Check. Aryan-esque [[IcyBlueEyes blue eyes]] and [[BlondesAreEvil golden hair]]? Check. InTheBlood to wreak havoc on become a destroyer of Reploids everywhere? Check. Depicted to rival the entire world; he instead became one power of the world's legendary defenders.[[FanNickname Father of Reploids]], X? Check. Heck, the only thing separating him from being TheAntichrist is IdentityAmnesia, as the bad end of X5 can attest.
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* SuperpoweredEvilSide: which, Sigma would like to point out, is his ''real'' self.
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* SuperpoweredEvilSide: which, Which, Sigma would like to point out, is his ''real'' self.self. He activates it in the bad end of X5 if you fail to shoot down Eurasia. Not only does he become superpowered by then, he is literally UnwinnableByDesign if you don't beat him fast enough.
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* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: He never consciously intended to cause suffering to reploids, [[MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds even though he spreads the very virus he volunteered to destroy]]. [[WildMassGuessing One can interpret Zero succumbing to the Maverick Virus]] as submitting to Sigma [[FakeDefector deliberately]], hoping to appease him in the vain hope [[AndThenWhat that he is shortsighted in his goals]], [[SuicideByCop if X doesn't destroy him first]].
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** Another possible meaning would be Patient Zero.
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* {{Irony}}: His best friend happens to be the creation of his creator's nemesis. Yet, neither X nor Zero has any ill will towards each other.
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* {{Irony}}: His best friend happens to be the creation of his creator's nemesis. Yet, neither X nor Zero has any ill will towards each other. Of course, neither of them had any idea about each other's creators, not to mention Zero doesn't appear to ever comprehend who made him.
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* {{Irony}}: His best friend happens to be the creation of his creator's nemesis. Yet, neither X nor Zero has any ill will towards each other.
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* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: If you fail the stop the ColonyDrop hitting the Earth, Zero will remember his original programming, and remembers his objective to defeat X.
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* GoodOldRobot: He's this, as he isn't technically a Reploid ("Replicated Androids"), but rather the original aricles all reploids are based from. Not just that, they are immune to TheVirus because of this status. Though he's just referred to as a Reploid altogether (in-story) to avoid confusion because of their basically similar mental capacities.
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* GoodOldRobot: He's this, as he isn't technically a Reploid ("Replicated Androids"), but rather the original aricles all reploids are based from. Not just that, they are immune to TheVirus because of this status. Though he's just referred to as a Reploid altogether (in-story) to avoid confusion because of their basically similar mental capacities.
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* HeroicBSOD: He suffers a major one during Lumine's HannibalLecture speech. It got so bad that Axl actually had to shoot Lumine with his gun and remind X that Lumine is their enemy to get him to at least put it aside long enough to manage to defeat Lumine.
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* HeroicBSOD: He suffers a major one during Lumine's HannibalLecture BreakingSpeech speech. It got so bad that Axl actually had to shoot Lumine with his gun and remind X that Lumine is their enemy to get him to at least put it aside long enough to manage to defeat Lumine.
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* UnconsciousObjector: In the OVA, he gets impaled with a light saber and given a HannibalLecture, he has a flashback, finds some courage to keep fighting, and reacts for a brief moment, enough to pass ''through'' Sigma's Saber and cause him his signature scar. When Sigma reacts and was going to attack, notices X is now immobile (he kind of stabbed him right into his energy generator or something like that) so he retires, satisfied as he witnessed the "Hidden Potential" Dr. Cain talked about.
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* UnconsciousObjector: In the OVA, he gets impaled with a light saber and given a HannibalLecture, BreakingSpeech, he has a flashback, finds some courage to keep fighting, and reacts for a brief moment, enough to pass ''through'' Sigma's Saber and cause him his signature scar. When Sigma reacts and was going to attack, notices X is now immobile (he kind of stabbed him right into his energy generator or something like that) so he retires, satisfied as he witnessed the "Hidden Potential" Dr. Cain talked about.
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* TheVirus
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* TheVirusTheVirus: [[spoiler: He is the source of the maverick virus]]..
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* WhiteHairedPrettyBoy: In his [[InfinityPlusOneSword Zero Armor]].
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* WhiteHairedPrettyBoy: WhiteHairBlackHeart: In his [[InfinityPlusOneSword Zero Armor]].Armor]]. [[spoiler: It's ironic that he gets this power-up in service and protection of others because he was created by Dr.Wily to be evil.]]
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** BadassLonghair: Oh ye of the mighty RapunzelHair!
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* GroundPound: In his [[SmartBomb Giga Attacks]].
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* GroundPound: In GroundPunch: Zero has many of his [[SmartBomb Giga Attacks]].Attacks involve punching the ground, though in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'' he does so with a charged buster.
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* BlackBox: His design and mechanisms are so hard to understand and looks complex even by the future's standards (i.e when they found him a century after his sealing). Dr. Cain notes that he couldn't replicate X completely due to this (that, and he was actually an archeobotanist). Only in the ''Zero'' series does someone managed to create the closest thing to a "perfect" copy of X, and even then it still has its flaws (Dr. Light put X in a 30-year ethical testing for a reason).
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The first of a new breed of robot with the ability to think and feel, X was the last creation of [[VideoGame/MegaMan Dr. Thomas Light]]. Of course, Light had experience with about ten or so doomsday scenarios courtesy of one Albert Wily, and decided to give X a HyperspaceArsenal and an endless array of power ups in the expectation that, come the next one, X would become the world's new champion, and in spite of his own pacifistic leanings X did just that.
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The first of a new breed of robot with the ability to think and feel, X was the last creation of [[VideoGame/MegaMan [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Dr. Thomas Light]]. Of course, Light had experience with about ten or so doomsday scenarios courtesy of one Albert Wily, and decided to give X a HyperspaceArsenal and an endless array of power ups in the expectation that, come the next one, X would become the world's new champion, and in spite of his own pacifistic leanings X did just that.
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* {{Expy}}: Of the original [[VideoGame/MegaMan Blue Bomber]]. [[ExecutiveMeddling He owes his existence to this status, in fact.]] He started the trend of having Expies in the SequelSeries.
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* {{Expy}}: Of the original [[VideoGame/MegaMan [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Blue Bomber]]. [[ExecutiveMeddling He owes his existence to this status, in fact.]] He started the trend of having Expies in the SequelSeries.
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* LegacyCharacter: Succeeds the [[VideoGame/MegaMan original Mega Man]] as the hero of this time period.
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* LegacyCharacter: Succeeds the [[VideoGame/MegaMan [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic original Mega Man]] as the hero of this time period.
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* PowerCopying: His Variable Weapons System, directly lifted from [[VideoGame/MegaMan his big brother's]].
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* PowerCopying: His Variable Weapons System, directly lifted from [[VideoGame/MegaMan [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic his big brother's]].predecessor's]].
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* RoboFamily: With [[VideoGame/MegaMan Rock, Blues, Roll, and Auto,]] but it's kind of moot because they never interact. Being the template from which all reploids are designed, however, he's kind of everyone's father. This never actually comes up, even with [[VideoGame/MegaManZero the Guardians]], who are built directly from his DNA, but it's a little weird.
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* RoboFamily: With [[VideoGame/MegaMan [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Rock, Blues, Roll, and Auto,]] but it's kind of moot because they never interact. Being the template from which all reploids are designed, however, he's kind of everyone's father. This never actually comes up, even with [[VideoGame/MegaManZero the Guardians]], who are built directly from his DNA, but it's a little weird.
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* {{Expy}}: [[VideoGame/MegaManZX Mega Man Model A]], an expy of unclear origin. To a gameplay extent Axl himself might be considered one of [[VideoGame/MegaMan Bass]], minus the double jump.
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* {{Expy}}: [[VideoGame/MegaManZX Mega Man Model A]], an expy of unclear origin. To a gameplay extent Axl himself might be considered one of [[VideoGame/MegaMan [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Bass]], minus the double jump.
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* AdaptiveAbility: This is the true reason behind his "Limitless Potential." He has the ability to learn and grow stronger according to his experience.
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* LegacyCharacter: Succeeds the [[VideoGame/MegaMan original Mega Man]] as the hero of this time period.
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* LongRangerFighter: Specializes in buster combat compared to Zero's sword-based gameplay.
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* LongRangerFighter: LongRangeFighter: Specializes in buster combat compared to Zero's sword-based gameplay.
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* LongRangeFighter: Same way as X - [[DivergentCharacterEvolution at first.]]
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* CharacterDevelopment: Axl matures greatly from ''X7'' to ''X8'', going from being a NaiveNewcomer to much more competent Hunter.
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* NaiveNewcomer: In ''X7''.
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* LongRangerFighter: Specializes in buster combat compared to Zero's sword-based gameplay.
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* CloseRangeCombatant: From ''X4'' on, he focuses on his Z-Saber rather than his buster, to the point that he loses the buster in ''X7'' and ''X8''.
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* {{Badass}}: X's defining moment is the first scene in the series. He lands on a highway under attack, and everyone is driving away as fast as their cars can go. X runs through them towards the enemy. Throughout the series (with one ShockingSwerve in ''X7'') he only gets more badass.
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* {{Badass}}: X's defining moment is the first scene in the series. He lands on a highway under attack, and everyone is driving away as fast as their cars can go. X runs through them towards the enemy. Throughout the series (with one ShockingSwerve in the exception of ''X7'') he only gets more badass.
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-->''Voiced by: KentaroIto (JP, X4), Ruth Shiraishi (EN, X4), ShowtaroMorikubo (JP, X5-X7), Peter von Gomm (EN, X7), TakahiroSakurai (JP, X8), MarkGatha (EN, X8, CM, MHX)''
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-->''Voiced by: KentaroIto (JP, X4), Ruth Shiraishi (EN, X4), ShowtaroMorikubo (JP, X5-X7), Peter von Gomm (EN, X7), TakahiroSakurai (JP, X8), X8, CM, MHX), MarkGatha (EN, X8, CM, MHX)''
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-->''Voiced by: KentaroIto (JP, X4), Ruth Shiraishi (EN, X4), ShowtaroMorikubo (JP, X5-X7), Peter von Gomm (EN, X7), TakahiroSakurai (JP, X8), MarkGatha (EN, X8)''
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-->''Voiced by: KentaroIto (JP, X4), Ruth Shiraishi (EN, X4), ShowtaroMorikubo (JP, X5-X7), Peter von Gomm (EN, X7), TakahiroSakurai (JP, X8), MarkGatha (EN, X8)''
X8, CM, MHX)''
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-->''Voiced by: RyotaroOkiayu (JP), Wayne Doster (EN, X4), Jack Merluzzi (EN, X7), Lucas Gilbertson (EN, X8), JohnnyYongBosch (EN, [[MarvelVSCapcom3 MvC3]])''
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-->''Voiced by: RyotaroOkiayu (JP), Wayne Doster (EN, X4), Jack Merluzzi (EN, X7), Lucas Gilbertson (EN, X8), X8, CM, MHX), JohnnyYongBosch (EN, [[MarvelVSCapcom3 MvC3]])''
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-->''Voiced by: KentaroIto (JP, X4), ShowtaroMorikubo (JP, X5-X7), TakahiroSakurai (JP, X8), MarkGatha (EN, X8)''
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-->''Voiced by: KentaroIto (JP, X4), Ruth Shiraishi (EN, X4), ShowtaroMorikubo (JP, X5-X7), Peter von Gomm (EN, X7), TakahiroSakurai (JP, X8), MarkGatha (EN, X8)''
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-->''Voiced by: RyotaroOkiayu (JP), Lucas Gilbertson (EN, X8), JohnnyYongBosch (EN, [[MarvelVSCapcom3 MvC3]])''
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-->''Voiced by: RyotaroOkiayu (JP), Wayne Doster (EN, X4), Jack Merluzzi (EN, X7), Lucas Gilbertson (EN, X8), JohnnyYongBosch (EN, [[MarvelVSCapcom3 MvC3]])''
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* ContinuityCameo: The Tenshouha from ''X8'' actually debuted in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 3'', and is pretty much useless aside from the nod - it actually drains ammo, keeps Zero in place, and unlike in that game, does not prevent CollisionDamage.
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* ContinuityCameo: The Tenshouha from ''X8'' actually debuted in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 3'', 3'' as an attack used by Omega [[spoiler:in his Zero body]], and is pretty much useless aside from the nod - it actually drains ammo, keeps Zero in place, and unlike in that game, does not prevent CollisionDamage.
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The three main playable characters of the X series: Mega Man X, Zero, and Axl.
----
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Mega Man X/Rockman X]]
::'''Mega Man X/Rockman X'''
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300px-Megaman3MHX.jpg]]
The first of a new breed of robot with the ability to think and feel, X was the last creation of [[VideoGame/MegaMan Dr. Thomas Light]]. Of course, Light had experience with about ten or so doomsday scenarios courtesy of one Albert Wily, and decided to give X a HyperspaceArsenal and an endless array of power ups in the expectation that, come the next one, X would become the world's new champion, and in spite of his own pacifistic leanings X did just that.
-->''Voiced by: KentaroIto (JP, X4), ShowtaroMorikubo (JP, X5-X7), TakahiroSakurai (JP, X8), MarkGatha (EN, X8)''
* ActorAllusion: X performs a [[GGundam Shining Finger]] like attack unto a foe.
* TheAestheticsOfTechnology: Played with. He has a simpler-looking design than most bosses, but he is literally described as having unlimited potential, and throughout his series, developed abilities that were previously seen after he picked up armor parts or health upgrades; it's like the concept of Weapon Copy was taken to its logical conclusion and turned into an Ability Copy. Justified, he's a SuperPrototype.
* AIIsACrapshoot: Defied. Being a robot with 100% free will, Dr. Light makes sure that this trope don't happen by sealing him in a 30-year morality testing to ensure that he would do the right thing.
* AsskickingPose: He always does this after he teleports into a stage.
* ArmCannon: The Mega Buster Mk. 17, aka the X-Buster.
* {{Badass}}: X's defining moment is the first scene in the series. He lands on a highway under attack, and everyone is driving away as fast as their cars can go. X runs through them towards the enemy. Throughout the series (with one ShockingSwerve in ''X7'') he only gets more badass.
* BadassBoast: To Sigma, at the end of ''X6''.
** And in ''Maverick Hunter X'', to Sigma: "I'll finish this! Right here, right now! ''[[ChewingTheScenery I WILL DEFEAT YOU, SIGMA!!]]''"
* BagOfSpilling: Unsurprising for the series, but it doesn't seem to be for lack of trying: he keeps his dash ability permanently after the first game, and both ''X5'' and ''X6'' feature watered-down versions of the previous entry's powerups, with the implication that battle damage has detracted from their effectiveness. ''X7'' and ''X8'' also see X respectively regaining the air-dash and super charge shots, which were once armor exclusive powers, for his base form.
** GameplayAndStorySegregation: One way or the other - a memorable boss fight in ''X5'' suggests at the very least that X can recover old maverick weapons somehow. The leading theory is that X doesn't ''want'' to have all that power, so he voluntarily gets rid of his weapons at the end of each game.
* BerserkButton: It's stated that his greatest strength and AchillesHeel is his emotional bond with his allies. There is logic behind this: X has a [[UnstoppableRage Berserker Mode]], and his allies are the button. Wail on it enough times, and...
--> '''Sigma:''' Hmm...I see a new clarity in your eyes. You are no longer troubled.
--> '''X:''' ''WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS UNFORGIVABLE, SIGMA!''
** ''Maverick Hunter X'' shows what happens when X has to deal with the loss of his friend. He goes from being a little detached from the conflict and reluctant to fight to full-on scary voice, angry eyes, and absolute lethal intent. The change is ''jarring''.
* BewareTheNiceOnes
* [[RedOniBlueOni Blue Oni]]
* BroughtToYouByTheLetterS: Only in ''X8'', but there's an X on the sides of his helmet.
** The new basic armor he sports in ''Command Mission'' has a white X on the chest.
* CallForward: Zero's ''X7'' ending. [[HeWhoFightsMonsters "Eliminate the Mavericks.]] [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment The Mavericks...eliminate..."]] Depressingly, this game marks the one time we see X actually try to escape his fate, so it packs a punch even though the writers [[{{Wangst}} botched]] [[ReplacementScrappy it]].
* CallingYourAttacks: In later games, and the remake of the first.
* TheCameo: Appears briefly in Zero's ''Tatsunoko vs. Capcom'' ending.
* CarFu: In the opening of ''X2'', he jumps out from his speeding Ride Chaser, which then hits the Mechaniloid guarding the facility he's trying to infiltrate.
** Can be done in-game as well, in Overdrive Ostrich's stage, as well as in ''X4'' and ''X5''.
* CharacterDevelopment: Somewhat averted; his fall from the spotlight coincided exactly with the series' increased focus on characterization. However, ''The Day of Sigma'' and ''Maverick Hunter X'' do cover his journey from WideEyedIdealist to MartialPacifist, and it's generally assumed that [[WhatCouldHaveBeen the scrapped remakes of X2 and X3]] would have followed up on this.
* CharacterTitle
* ChargedAttack: One of his main features.
* ClearMyName: The plot in ''X6'' starts with a PaletteSwap of Zero, called the Zero Nightmare, wreaking havoc. X decides to investigate the Zero Nightmare to clear Zero's name. For some reason, this is not part of the plot entirely, since defeating the Zero Nightmare is optional. And guess what? A SecretCharacter (not that Capcom was fooling anyone...) will be unlocked upon defeating it.
* ClimaxBoss: He'll do ''anything'' to prevent his friend from going Maverick. [[CaptainObvious Including]] ''[[CaptainObvious fighting him.]]''
* CoolLoser: As of ''X5'', Zero is his only friend. [[JustifiedTrope There might be]] [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies good reasons]], especially after what happened to Zero one game earlier. There might also be [[HoYay other reasons]], but that doesn't entirely cover it.
* CutscenePowerToTheMax: The ''X3'' opening is entirely made of this trope. Blowing away two Bee Bladers in one shot? Dropping Launch Octopus's irritating miniboss on him, destroying both? Switching between the armor sets of the first two games at will while fighting Sigma? Awesome.
* CrossdressingVoices: In ''X4'', actually having the same voice actor as the original Mega Man in ''8''.
* DependingOnTheWriter: The horribly self-pitying loser of ''X7'' and the half-crazed macho warrior of ''Command Mission'' are the farthest extremes, but how willing he is to fight varies wildly from game to game. It generally remains constant within any given game; ''Maverick Hunter X'' is the exception that proves the rule, as his CharacterDevelopment actually matters for once. [[SpotlightStealingSquad Zero]] being dead probably helped.
* DoomedByCanon: Attempts to stop the fighting in ''X7''...which came out while the [[VideoGame/MegaManZero Zero series]] was in full swing. FailureIsTheOnlyOption.
* DualBoss: With Zero in ''Maverick Hunter X'''s Vile Mode.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: Despite being the reason Reploids exist, and the one with the most potential power, X is a B class Hunter for most of the series, though those who know him realize this is ''entirely'' because he holds back and is reluctant to fight. By ''X8'' and ''Command Mission'', he's a Special A class hunter, having apparently gotten over those hangups.
* DullSurprise: He does this in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umYHweaJHZg opening cutscene]] to ''X8'', whether from shell-shock or bad animation. Facing down an army of shapeshifting reploids should yield a stronger reaction than, "did I leave the oven on?"
* TheEgo: In relation to his teammates Zero and Axl. Is usually the one who has deep thoughts about most things happening around. But on the other side, he's a pacifist who's quite emotional, especially about fighting, and frequently thinks about all the enemy he fights.
* EleventhHourSuperPower: In the 2nd X vs. Vile battle in the first game, after Zero's HeroicSacrifice to destroy Vile's [[MiniMecha Ride Armor]], all of X's energy is restored for some reason, ready to fight Vile on equal footing now. This was even {{lampshaded}}:
-->'''Vile''': What the-? Where did that energy come from?!
** In the ''Day of Sigma'' {{OVA}}, something similar happens, only X's attack looks [[ActorAllusion suspiciously like]] the ''[[GGundam Shining Finger]]''.
* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai: His [[http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s158/clarklana05/megamanxbladearmor.jpg?t=1241052973 Blade Armor]] from ''X6'' resembles a samurai armor.
* EvolvingWeapon: Once you get a buster upgrade, every Maverick weapon counts as this. (Well, sort of. The second version counts as a ChargedAttack.)
* {{Expy}}: Of the original [[VideoGame/MegaMan Blue Bomber]]. [[ExecutiveMeddling He owes his existence to this status, in fact.]] He started the trend of having Expies in the SequelSeries.
* FacePalmOfDoom: Gives Sigma one in ''The Day of Sigma'', [[ShoutOut mimicking the]] [[GGundam Shining Finger]], no less.
* FanNickname: Referred to often as "The Blue Bomber of the 22nd Century" or the far pithier "The Azure Hunter."
** Sometimes, especially by fangirls, "[[GratuitousJapanese Ekkusu]]" is also used.
* FightingTheLancer: If you don't get to fight the X-Hunters (and thus, gaining Zero's parts) before the Sigma fortress stages are unlocked in ''X2'', you'll have X fighting Zero in one of the stages, although he was BrainwashedAndCrazy at the time.
** Played straighter in ''X5''; no matter which scenario you took, one will end up fighting the other in the third fortress stage.
* {{Flanderization}}: X goes from being a reluctant, yet willing fighter to become more whiny as the series goes. This becomes prominent in X7, where he pulls out a TenMinuteRetirement, so you started playing a ''Mega Man X'' game without playing as him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: In his ''X4'' ending, X asks Zero that if he (X) ever goes Maverick, Zero should be the one "to take care of him". Because of the ContinuitySnarl between the two series, it falls into {{Fauxshadow}}.
** When combined with the ending of ''X3'' stating that X will have to destroy Zero to protect mankind, this at least foreshadows that the two of them will fight in X5.
* ForgottenFallenFriend: X loses his memories of Zero in the bad ending of ''X5''.
* GameplayAndStorySeparation: In Vile Mode and ''Day of Sigma'', his Charge Shot was shown to be extremely powerful, the former instance resulting in Vile getting critically wounded and also receiving a ''gaping hole'' in his chest, and the latter being powerful enough to knock down and temporarily knock out a renegade Maverick. In gameplay, although the Charge Shot is definitely more powerful than regular buster shots, its somewhat weak.
* GoldenSuperMode: His Golden Armor hidden powerup in ''X3''.
* GoodIsNotDumb: X, a ReluctantWarrior who lives in an increasingly CrapsackWorld infested with TheVirus, capable of turning even his best friend against him. Often referred to as 'too trusting' in-universe and 'emo' outside of it because he doesn't like killing people. He's also an SealedGoodInACan SuperPrototype OneManArmy with lots of combat experience and what he can't handle his aforementioned best friend will. He also ends up ruling the world, basically because he's the only person that could manage it. There was talk of having him hit the DespairEventHorizon, [[KnightTemplar lose that compassion]] and become the BigBad of the [[VideoGame/MegaManZero sequel series]]. That would have been bad.
* GoodOldRobot: He's this, as he isn't technically a Reploid ("Replicated Androids"), but rather the original aricles all reploids are based from. Not just that, they are immune to TheVirus because of this status. Though he's just referred to as a Reploid altogether (in-story) to avoid confusion because of their basically similar mental capacities.
* GratuitousEnglish: Applied to CallingYourAttacks above, with...interesting results. Generally better in ''X8, Maverick Hunter X'', and ''Command Mission'', though YMMV.
* GunsAkimbo: ''X2'' and ''X3'' upgrades, sort of. By charging up enough, he fires a blast from one arm, then the other.
** The ''Command Mission'' version of the Ultimate Armor has {{BFG}} akimbo!
* HealingFactor: X gets one in the third game, with either the enhanced helmet parts or the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Golden Armor]].
* HeroicBSOD: He suffers a major one during Lumine's HannibalLecture speech. It got so bad that Axl actually had to shoot Lumine with his gun and remind X that Lumine is their enemy to get him to at least put it aside long enough to manage to defeat Lumine.
* HeroicResolve: In the fight against Vile in the first stage of Sigma's castle, X loses the fight much like he did in the beginning of the game, left paralyzed and with little health. Zero makes a Heroic Sacrifice and destroys Vile's mobile suit with his remaining energy. Vile still thinks he has won, to which X breaks his bonds and restores his meter to full.
** In the "Day of Sigma" animated-prequel in the PSP remake Maverick Hunter X, BigBad Sigma stabs X through the gut with his beamsaber. After a brief {{Flashback}} of X swearing to Doctor Light that he will always fight for hope and justice, he comes back online and charges Sigma, digging his glowing hand [[strike:[[GGundam with an awesome power]]]] into Sigma's face and giving Sigma his trademark eye scars before finally shutting down.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Zero. At one point in ''X5'', X claims Zero is not only his best friend, but his OnlyFriend.
* HeyItsThatVoice: As of ''X8'', [[GGundam his hand of his glows]] [[MarkGatha with an awesome power]]. No, really.
* HunterOfHisOwnKind
* HurtingHero: It's kind of his shtick. See TheWoobie entry.
* IAmNotLeftHanded: He taps into his unlimited potential out of sheer desperation in "The Day of Sigma".
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: In the infamous X vs Zero battle in ''X5'', X tries to bring back the Maverick Zero to his, technically, "new self" (the "old self" is the Maverick Zero itself).
* InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja: The Shadow Armor in ''X6'', complete with CeilingCling ability. Like Gaea Armor of ''X5'', it provides immunity to [[SpikesOfDoom spikes.]]
* ItNeverGetsAnyEasier: X always feels grief and doubt about those who die in the Maverick Wars, even his own enemies, because he's at heart a MartialPacifist. It's even been argued that he deliberately does this so he always has sympathy for the enemy, because becoming callous is not the way to finding real peace. When he finally loses all sympathy centuries into the future, he retires.
* TheImmune: Played with. Most Reploids will become the chaotic, rampaging Mavericks upon TheVirus's infection. But X, with his Suffering Circuit inside him, will instead get hurt upon infection, as the circuit's trying to prevent him from being rampaging and genocidal.
* JackOfAllStats: In ''X8'', relative to the other playable characters. He can be nudged towards different skill sets depending on which armor parts you go with.
* [[KnightKnaveAndSquire The Knight]]
* LaserBlade: In ''X6''. Unlike Zero, he can only do a single slash, but with armor upgrades, its ability gets tweaked up.
** BladeBelowTheShoulder: The Blade Armor from the same game.
** SwordBeam: Its Giga Attack, which involves firing a crescent blade forward that does heavy damage. Shadow Armor's Giga Attack uses this differently, with 2 crescent blades that revolve around him, damaging everything in the vicinity.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: In the bad ending in ''X5'', Dr. Light erases all of X's memories of Zero, and installs a program that will "reject" any information regarding Zero.
* LetsYouAndHimFight: An impending fight between him and Zero has been hinted upon ever since X2. (Though in a non-canon process just before the final battle in that case.) It was again touched upon in X4 before finally taking place in X5, and by extension, X6.
* LetXBeTheUnknown: Aside from being a BlackBox, his name represents limitless potential. It also carries connotations of danger, leading Light to apparently seal him because TheWorldIsNotReady. Then again, he might have been lying about the last part to spare X's feelings.
* LevelMapDisplay: In ''X3'', the head upgrade gives X access to a (very rudimentary) map of the level, dividing it into small sectors, and showcasing the special items of the level.
* MagikarpPower: Really, X himself. No match for pretty much anything at the start of the first game, he is more or less a OneManArmy by the end.
** A more traditional example is Zero's saber in ''X6''. Oh, X can't wield it for crap (unlike in the third game, where it was ridiculously powerful and even useful at range in his hands), but the subsequently collected armors allow it to be used as a ChargedAttack, and [[EliteTweak a certain set of parts]] restore it to ridiculous levels of power.
* MeaningfulName: X stands for an unknown variable (a'la Algebra) that could have unlimited potential. This was elaborated upon in ''Maverick Hunter X''.
* MechanicalEvolution: He's apparently the key to this, if ''Maverick Hunter X'' is to be believed. He starts at RidiculouslyHumanRobot and tops out at RealityWarper (albeit with far fewer appearances), so not a bad run.
* MultiformBalance: the armors in ''X5''-''X6'', as well as Neutral Armor's upgrades in ''X8''.
** ''X5''
*** JackOfAllStats: [[{{Nerf}} Force]]
*** FragileSpeedster: [[VideoGameFlight Falcon]]
*** MightyGlacier: Gaea
*** SuperMode: [[GameBreaker Ultimate]]
** ''X6''
*** JackOfAllStats: [[{{Nerf}} Falcon]]
*** LightningBruiser: [[{{Samurai}} Blade]]
*** GlassCannon: [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja Shadow]]
*** SuperMode: [[GameBreaker Ultimate]]
** ''X8''
*** MasterOfNone: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Neutral]]
*** FragileSpeedster: Hermes
*** MightyGlacier (or LightningBruiser): Icarus
*** SuperMode: [[GameBreaker Ultimate]]
* NamesTheSame: His Ultimate armor, X had about three different armors with the same name and similar abilities, the first one from X4 to X6, one in X8 and another in Command Mission; the one in CM not only looks different but its skill set serves for other situations entirely, making it more of a InNameOnly.
* OddFriendship: A pacifist becoming best friends with no-nonsense warrior? Not to mention that they're destined to fight each other...
* OneHitKill: Well, ''two''-hit kill, but Nova Strike from the Ultimate Armor (especially in X8) and X's Z-Saber in ''X3'' qualify.
* OneLetterName: In the early games, other characters would call him anything from his full name to just X. He's consistently called X from ''X4'' onwards.
** Also created a lot of confusion with people who thought his full name ''is'' Mega Man X. His full name is X. Mega Man is just an ArtifactTitle.
* OneManArmy: Especially in the first two games.
* OutOfFocus: After ''X3'', and [[ReplacementScrappy especially in X7]]. Axl even {{lampshades}} it in the intro stage of ''X8'', threatening to steal the spotlight from him. Too late, buddy.
* PowerCopying: His Variable Weapons System, directly lifted from [[VideoGame/MegaMan his big brother's]].
** [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Which one, Peyton or Eli?]][[hottip:*:This trope used to be called "Mega Manning", for obvious reasons.]]
* PowerCrystal: It blinks when his health is critical, projects the map in ''X3'', and when we see it glow full-stop in the OAV, he apparently develops NewPowersAsThePlotDemands.
* PoweredArmor: He has at least one per game. In X4, he gets two[[hottip:*:The Fourth and Ultimate Armor]], in X5[[hottip:*:The Fourth Armor (albeit damaged), Falcon, Gaea and Ultimate Armor]] and X6[[hottip:*:The Falcon Armor (albeit damaged), Blade, Shadow and Ultimate Armor]] he gets 4 each. All of them gives X different changes.
* PoweredArmor [[MechaExpansionPack Expansion Pack]]:
** The [[color:gray:Neutral Armor's]] (''X8'') gimmick. With the exception of the Ultimate parts, the armor pieces can be switched for different combinations. Equipping a complete set would grant a fifth ability exclusive to that armor.
*** [[color:red:Icarus]]: access to the [[LimitBreak Giga Crush]], [[SmartBomb a full screen-explosion attack]]. Its power and duration depends on the amount of energy in the Giga Crush meter.
---> [[CoolHelmet Head]]: [[UseYourHead an upward helmet attack]]\\
[[BulletproofVest Body]]: halves damage, and removes recoil\\
[[ArmCannon Arms]]: WaveMotionGun as a fully charged attack. Lesser charge attacks are one less level than normal. [[hottip:example:X's normal shots become Level-1 charged shots, and Level-2 charged shots become Level-3 charged shots. The maximum charged shot becomes a powerful laser]]\\
[[TrickedOutShoes Legs]]: [[InASingleBound increased jump height]]
*** [[color:blue:Hermes]]: access to the [[SuperMode Hyper Drive]], which will increase your movement and charging speed, as well as upgrading the SpreadShot into 5 shots. Its duration depends on the amount of energy in the Hyper Drive meter.
---> [[CoolHelmet Head]]: boosts weapon charge speed\\
[[BulletproofVest Body]]: Invincibility to weaker attacks\\
[[ArmCannon Arms]]: 3-way SpreadShot\\
[[TrickedOutShoes Legs]]: {{Invisibility}} while dashing, as well as increased movement speed
*** [[color:purple:Ultimate]]: the Nova Strike returns, which gives high damage to the opponent it crosses over, but unlike in the previous games, this attack can't be quickly spammed (one use will deplete its meter, and then the meter regenerates in a few seconds). Also, it's now a [[OneHitKill Two-Hit Kill]] to most Bosses.
---> [[CoolHelmet Head]]: enabling the {{Shoryuken}} move\\
[[BulletproofVest Body]]: same as Icarus Armor's\\
[[ArmCannon Arms]]: the multi-hitting [[SphereOfDestruction Plasma Shot]]\\
[[TrickedOutShoes Legs]]: combination of Hermes and Icarus Armor's leg parts (although you can't be invisible)
** Also, in X3, you can ask Dr. Light to insert a special chip to one of the armor upgrade when you get the access to the capsule. You can only do this to one part of the armor, though. But there's a secret way to get all of them, and it comes with a nice touch of gold color, too!
* PowerStrainBlackout: Immediately after scarring Sigma in the OAV. As the latter is far from defeated, this is really, really bad timing.
* PrimaryColorChampion: Most of his armors often give out this vibe.
* PromotionalPowerlessPieceOfGarbage: Despite the rarity of the card, he's effectively useless in the trading card game, having the same stats as Bass.
* AProtagonistShallLeadThem: Eventually he becomes this in the timeskip between this and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero Zero]]'' series, being the leader of Neo Arcadia.
* ReadingsAreOffTheScale: His potential is unlimited. This is read by Cyber Peacock and even his analysis shows that his potential cannot be measured.
* RegeneratingHealth: His X3 armor has an upgrade to his helmet that allows him to refill his health (and Tanks) by standing still and waiting.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: The predecessor to all the sentient Reploids seen in the ''X'' series and beyond.
* RoboFamily: With [[VideoGame/MegaMan Rock, Blues, Roll, and Auto,]] but it's kind of moot because they never interact. Being the template from which all reploids are designed, however, he's kind of everyone's father. This never actually comes up, even with [[VideoGame/MegaManZero the Guardians]], who are built directly from his DNA, but it's a little weird.
* TheRuinsICaused: In the first three games, he always gets to watch the Sigma's fortresses going down from far away after he beats Sigma.
* ScarfOfAsskicking: Gets one in ''Command Mission.'' It's not an actual scarf, but a device built into his back that projects a flowing, tattered scarf when he runs. It also comes in a variety of colors (depending on your game progress) and lengthens to a noticeable degree when he dashes. May or may not be a ShoutOut to "older brother" Proto Man and/or PS2 {{Shinobi}}.
* SchematizedProp: You can see X's full blueprint in the opening cutscene in X1.
* ScreamingWarrior: Spends much pre-fight dialogue yelling at bosses, especially after ''X7''. Reaches HamToHamCombat territory against [[LargeHam Sigma]].
** In ''Maverick Hunter X'', he starts off more or less calm and collected. When Zero dies, he goes into full-on UnstoppableRage, and he can't communicate in anything less than a shout.
* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: His death scream in ''X4'', thanks to the crappy voice acting, and being voiced by the same girly voice as Mega Man in ''VideoGame/MegaMan8''.
* SealedGoodInACan: More or less. He ends up being the template for all kinds of evil, but then his best buddy has it even worse there. TheyFightCrime, by the way.
* [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan Sensitive Guy]]
* ShoutOut: His in-game attacks have included [[StreetFighter the Hadouken and Shoryuken]] (the latter twice), and in the OVA he seems to pull off [[GGundam the Shining Finger]]...[[ActorAllusion complete with shared]] [[HeyItsThatVoice voice actor!]]
** [[DeadRising Frank West's]] Mega Man armor is clearly a takeoff on X's look. This then became a MythologyGag in one of the ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'' trailers, as West using said armor for a special attack alongside Zero made it look like the X/Zero combination might be together for the game after all...for all of half a second.
* SkilledButNaive: He's this, at first (especially apparent in The Day of Sigma OVA). He slowly loses his naivete over time, but is still apparently idealistic and pacifistic.
* StoryBreakerPower: He literally has unlimited potential. In fact the attempted reboot of his series, ''Maverick Hunter X'', has Dr. Light state that X can evolve as he fights, explaining how he retains certain powers and upgrades between games. The only reason he has problems in battle is his kindness causes him to hold back.
* SupportingProtagonist: Unless ''[[ContinuityReboot Maverick Hunter X]]'' is taken into account, as it gives X a good deal more focus.
** Given that [[SpotlightStealingSquad Zero]] has all of his plot threads dropped post-X5, X may have regained a degree of prominence, in the sense that the other protagonists were dropped to his level, rather than him being brought back up to theirs.
* SuperPrototype: Though only because Cain did a really half-assed job duplicating his technology. Not that it's entirely his fault, mind you, Dr. Light was just that damn good, but basically the plot of almost every game is the result of his inferior skills.
* SwissArmyHero: In any game with multiple armor sets, but especially ''X5''. Drawing from the third game's opening, fandom sometimes takes this SerialEscalation and depicts him swapping through ''every armor set ever.''
* SwordAndGun: Some games have him using a saber alongside his buster, but he tends to fare more in the "Gun" department.
* TechnicalPacifist[=/=]ReluctantWarrior: He swings back and forth, depending on the game. ''X3'', ''X4'' and ''X7'' leaned more towards ReluctantWarrior, the others portrayed him as a TechnicalPacifist.
* TenMinuteRetirement: ''X7''. Fans were nonplussed. Of course, diplomacy never works in an action series, so he came back.
** [[HesBack And when he does,]] he becomes [[GameBreaker a complete ass-whooper.]] It really makes up for having yourself tortured by playing as [[ReplacementScrappy Axl.]]
* TransformationSequence: Going into a level, you'll usually see X summon his PoweredArmor before becoming playable (provided you've gotten it, of course).
** In ''X8'', even though he's already in the armor as he warps in, he performs the gesture anyway.
* TragicKeepsake: He keeps Zero's Z-Saber after Zero's death in ''X5'', up until ''X7''.
* TwentyFourHourArmor: More specifically his helmet, X is the ''only'' Mega Man not shown have some kind of synthetic/artificial hair, and one of the few who does not take off his helmet when the smoke goes down at the end of the adventure; this has led many to believe that X does not have hair, just a metal plate like {{Robocop}} without his helmet.
** In the manga Rockman X4 in the few last pages near the end of the manga, it hints that X may actually have hair. [[http://digitalmegamanworld.com/Rockman-X-Manga/RockManX4/vol3/page77 See for yourself]]
* UnconsciousObjector: In the OVA, he gets impaled with a light saber and given a HannibalLecture, he has a flashback, finds some courage to keep fighting, and reacts for a brief moment, enough to pass ''through'' Sigma's Saber and cause him his signature scar. When Sigma reacts and was going to attack, notices X is now immobile (he kind of stabbed him right into his energy generator or something like that) so he retires, satisfied as he witnessed the "Hidden Potential" Dr. Cain talked about.
* UnderestimatingBadassery: arguably the point of ''The Day Of Sigma'', and [[WhatCouldHaveBeen probably the entire]] {{Retool}}. To be fair, while he's already a badass at that point, he's still naive and hesitant.
** To some degree in the actual games too. Being a centuries-old "robotic relic" who is also a TechnicalPacifist, many reploids think he'd be a cinch to defeat despite the fact he's a famous Maverick Hunter. They're more than a little surprised when he destroys them.
* VideoGameFlight: His Falcon Armor from ''X5'' makes him able to do this.
* ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer: He had always tried to be a pacifist, but he quickly concluded (or at least, decided before the first game) that fighting was necessary to bring about peace, to the point that he states that he is not afraid to fight his best friend Zero to stop him from getting corrupted in X5, and his enemy Sigma if he keeps showing up to stop the reconstruction of the world in X6. Then he suddenly made a decision to become an ActualPacifist in X7, which everyone else (including the players) hated him for. Once you save enough reploids or beat all 8 mavericks however, X decides (again), that yes, Violence is necessary. Then he becomes playable.
** His reasoning is somewhat sound: he doesn't want to fight anymore because he's tired of killing (he's spent four of the last six games fighting without any direct correlation to helping people that he can see). Given his power, he's very good at killing, and he decides that his abilities and hesitance are better used in more of a leadership role (where he plays the devil's advocate more often than not, arguing that violence is not the answer). After you rescue enough reploids, he realizes there are a lot of people in the line of fire in what's essentially a custody dispute gone nuclear, and decides to fight to save them, not to stop the fighting (that's incidental).
* VocalDissonance: In ''X4'', he had the same voice actor as the original Mega Man in ''8''. The voice was already rather overdone for Mega Man, but for X, it just becomes plain unfitting.
* WaveMotionGun: On occasion. ''X8'' features one as a Buster Part ''and'' FinishingMove.
* WeakButSkilled: He's almost always smaller and less technically able than the opponents he faces, but he's goddamn unstoppable once he starts. Add the fact that every game still manages to have ThatOneBoss even after he gets his 'Ultimate' armor.
* {{Wimpification}}: Happens mostly to X in fan works, because he's a peace-loving ReluctantWarrior[=/=]TechnicalPacifist who has a moral conflict, and is quite {{angst}}y about it. Remember that, despite all of them, he's still have a strong will to defeat his enemies. It ''did'' happen in canon, however, in ''X7'', where he took a TenMinuteRetirement and during and afterwards, constantly whined about having to fight.
* XMakesAnythingCool: his name.
* YoureInsane: ''Maverick Hunter X'' has the titular Azure Hunter pointing out that Sigma has completely lost it to his subordinates. None of them deny it, but rather believe that Sigma, despite his insanity, [[MechanicalEvolution has a good point]], and people would rather ignore it than deal with the implications.
--> '''Sigma''': Our potential is limitless!\\
'''X''': You think you have potential?! You're insane, Sigma!
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Zero]]
::'''Zero (DWN-∞)'''
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/487px-Zero10_Kopie.jpg]]
The beloved EnsembleDarkhorse of the series, Zero has been described by the series creator as "the other main character who gets all the good scenes."
-->''Voiced by: RyotaroOkiayu (JP), Lucas Gilbertson (EN, X8), JohnnyYongBosch (EN, [[MarvelVSCapcom3 MvC3]])''
* AIIsACrapshoot: According to the Zero Collection's story, the reason he was berserk before he joined the Maverick Hunters was because a programming error occurred in Zero that caused him to become violent and uncontrollable, and it was for this reason why Wily had him sealed away (apparently he couldn't control him without risk of him being killed by him). Ironically, the Maverick Virus was the only reason Zero became somewhat pacified after being defeated by Sigma.
* AmnesiacDissonance: He was originally designed by a certain MadScientist for the express purpose of destroying all in his path before losing his memory. Come to think of it, what he currently does isn't much different...
* AntiAntichrist: Dr. Wily created him to wreak havoc on the entire world; he instead became one of the world's legendary defenders.
* ArmCannon: The Z-buster is always there. We just can't use it sometimes because...[[GameplayAndStorySegregation stuff]].
* AscendedExtra: Somehow pushed his way from MauveShirt status to the co-protagonist role - even after ''being killed!''
** TwoWords: PopularityPower: just read the trope entry.
* TheAtoner: one of the largest examples of the trope. [[BrokenAce It doesn't help that the original virus came from him by design.]]
* AxCrazy: Before his HeelFaceTurn. He even had a SlasherSmile!
** Not to mention his LaughingMad...
* BackFromTheDead: [[NeverLiveItDown Fans think he does this all the time, even though he's only done it twice.]]
* {{Badass}}: ''THE'' physical embodiment of awesome in the series.
** BadassBack: He pulled this out after teleporting in a stage, or after killing bosses. This is brought out to ''MarvelVsCapcom3.''
** BadassBoast: From ''X2'':
-->''"You should have read the blueprints closer. There is only'' one ''Zero!"''
** BadassInDistress: He was kidnapped by Vile as a bait for X in the first game. Then, after Vile gets his hands on X, Zero [[BreakingTheBonds breaks out of the cage]] and then he does the HeroicSacrifice to destroy Vile's Ride Armor.
*** Something similar happens in ''Maverick Hunter X'', where Zero is ''knocked out'' and Vile immediately captures him without battling him. Zero regains consciousness and then proceeds to do the aforementioned HeroicSacrifice.
** BadassLonghair: Oh ye of the mighty RapunzelHair!
** HeartbrokenBadass: Although the circumstances are different from the norm.
** OneManArmy: Yup, same as X.
** SealedBadassInACan: [[BookEnds Both at the beginning and the "end" of this series.]]
* BattleAura: In his SuperpoweredEvilSide.
** Also when X (or himself) is beaten in Vile Mode's DualBoss fight in ''Maverick Hunter X'', he (or X) would employ an aura, which tells the player that [[BerserkButton he's pissed.]]
* BerserkButton: Iris's death in ''X4''. After that, he didn't care ''who'' he was fighting [[HeroicBSOD until the end of the game...]]
* BigDamnHeroes: He manages to pull at least one ''per SNES game'', with the last marking his debut as a player character. The best example is his EstablishingCharacterMoment below.
* BigBrotherMentor: Towards X in ''X1''.
* {{Bishounen}}: Even {{lampshaded}} by Bass.[[hottip:*:Bass called him "too girly" to be the strongest robot, as Wily claimed it.]] See "EarlyBirdCameo" below.
* BlackBox: Same case as X, though not as pronounced.
* BloodFromTheMouth: The first game has him with blood/mech fluid/oil/some red substance running from the corner of his mouth after sacrificing himself to destroy Vile's Ride Armor. Notably, he does not bleed from anywhere else despite having been [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe torn in half]].
* BlondGuysAreEvil: Well, that was Wily's plan, anyway.
* BreakoutCharacter
* BringMyRedJacket: He's a red robot, and he mainly uses melee attacks, and he's a GlassCannon. Do the math.
* BroughtToYouByTheLetterS: The stylized "Z" insignia on his shoulder(s). According to a certain {{flashback}}, Wily's own insignia can be found on his PowerCrystal.
* CallingYourAttacks: Started in ''X8'' to keep X company.
* [[CelibateHero Celibate]][=/=]ChasteHero: With Iris's tragedy still fresh in his mind, he believes he's not ready to have another romantic pursuit. This is seen with Layer, although he's ''also'' just plain [[ObliviousToLove oblivious to her advances.]]
* CharClone: WordOfGod confirms it.
* CharacterDevelopment: Post ''X4'', in spades. After Iris' death, his character changes dramatically. His carefree personality turns into a grim, serious, no nonsense one (as evidenced by his victory pose changing from a thumbs up to a simply head turn). He's still a good friend to X, but is less willing to hold his hand through tough situations and is more than willing to [[WhatTheHellHero call him out]] for his naivete and idealism as seen in ''Command Mission''. His originally witty humor becomes dry, biting and cynical. Even his ''theme music'' changes from energetic rock to slow, solemn, and even outright melancholic.
* ChickMagnet: One [[TheGwenStacy tragic girlfriend]], and ''two'' more "admirers". It doesn't seem impressive compared to other examples, until you realize that one of those admirers is ''[[InterspeciesRomance human]]''. There's also Ferham and Leviathan, who [[FoeYay really]] seem to [[{{Yandere}} enjoy]] fighting Zero, and Prairie, who loved Giro because he reminded her of Zero.
* ClimaxBoss: Alternative to the article that X also has above. It was all because of a little misunderstanding. [[EvilPlan Most of it went according to Sigma's plan, though.]]
** In the path to the Bad Ending, however, [[SuperpoweredEvilSide the stakes are much, MUCH higher...]]
* ContinuityCameo: The Tenshouha from ''X8'' actually debuted in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 3'', and is pretty much useless aside from the nod - it actually drains ammo, keeps Zero in place, and unlike in that game, does not prevent CollisionDamage.
* CrutchCharacter: In his original playable appearance in ''X3'', Zero amounted to a potent MightyGlacier who, while incredibly useful early on, paled in comparison to a fully-upgraded X. In the RPG, ''Command Mission,'' he is the strongest member of your party early on, but leaves for a long stretch of the game. When he returns, however, he's still very strong.
* DeusExitMachina: Before he became a playable character, he was only around when the plot needed his power. And then, later, ''Command Mission'' also puts him out of commission for a good portion of the game.
* DistantFinale: Zero's ending in ''X6'' (where Zero seals himself to get rid of the virus within him) is stated to happen long after the end of the whole ''X'' series.
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: Following ''X3'', his buster was de-emphasized in favor of the melee-oriented gameplay most associate him with.
* DoNotRunWithAGun: Zero is the one who really takes it on the chin here; in several of the games, he puts away his Z-Saber after each attack or combo, and you can't move until he does this. (You also can't move until his ''ponytail finishes falling.'') The PS2 X games fix this by having him keep the saber out at all times, which looks silly but makes practical sense. In [[VideoGame/MegaManZero his own series]], Zero has a much smoother combat system that never pins him down.
* DoubleJump: In ''X4'' and ''X5'', Zero learns a move which allows him to do a double jump in mid-air (accompanied by the spinning attack mentioned below). He learns it permanently from ''X6'' onwards.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Appears in Bass' ending in Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters in Dr. Wily's blueprint.
* ElementalPunch: Some of his copied techniques involve giving an element to his saber.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: X getting his ass handed to him by the ''very first HopelessBossFight'' in the series? Cue the [[AwesomeMusic/MegaMan awesome]] ThemeMusicPowerUp, an ArmCannon [[TwangHello being charged]], and then Vile goes OhCrap.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: In ''X4'' and ''X5'', Zero learns a move which allows him to do a spin-slash in mid-air. By ''X6'' onwards, his normal air slash has been replaced by it. And in ''X6'', ''X7'' and ''X8'', he still gets more spinning moves.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Zero is supposed to be '''''the''''' Mega Man X, but was instead turned into the secondary character, replaced by an {{Expy}}. Another example: see FranchiseZombie below.
** According to the Official Complete Works, Inafune himself made the decision after he finished the design for the main character, deciding people would not relate him to Mega Man because he looked too different. So he had someone else design the main character, and instead presented his design as the "side character".
* {{Expy}}: [=ProtoMan=].EXE is half this, [[CompositeCharacter half the expy of Blues.]] Girouette and Model ZX are both this and the legacy-bearer of both leads.
** And Zero.EXE from ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork Network Transmission]]'', who was made as a computer virus to infect other Navis and computer systems before being defeated by [=MegaMan.EXE=] (and becoming a purified Navi in the good ending).
** Zero himself, in the X series, was an expy of the Classic Proto Man in the first X game, and was even referred to as "a Blues like character" in early Japanese publications that came out before the game. But then he undergoes a CharacterDevelopment in ''X4'', and in ''X5'' onward, he becomes his own character (his cold, stoic, no-nonsense persona).
* FanNickname: "The Red Ripper" or "The Crimson Hunter." An odd inversion is that his popular fan "full name," Zero Omega, turned out to have a significant connection ([[ItWasHisSled which you should already know]]) to the SequelSeries.
* FirstEpisodeResurrection: Well, okay, he dies in the first game and is resurrected in the second, but he otherwise fits the trope entirely. It could be considered an example of the series taking on more and more JapaneseMediaTropes (Inafune has noted the influences often), except that this was apparently ''unplanned.''
* FlashbackNightmare: In the beginning of X4, Zero has a nightmare about the circumstances of his creation, as well as slaughtering several Reploids upon being reactivated. It's also implied that he's had this nightmare at least once before.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: A subtle one from ''X5'': part of the opening music and start menu theme is actually Zero's death theme from the first game. Guess what happens at the end of the game...
* GlassCannon: He's a devastating fighter with his saber, and he takes lots of damage. Even more with his Black Zero upgrade in ''X8'', which doubles the damage he deals and takes. ''Even more'' with the Red Lotus Saber in ''Command Mission'', which adds his defense stats to his power stat, but sets the defense stats to zero.
** This stays true to his cameos in ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos'', ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'' and ''MarvelVsCapcom3''.
** ''X3'' takes this UpToEleven. He's far more powerful than X to begin with, and still on par with X even after upgrades. However, if Zero dies even ''once'' in the game, whether from losing all his energy or falling into a BottomlessPit, he can't be used again unless you restart from scratch (or use a password generator to get him back).
* GoodIsNotNice: He tends to shoot first, ask question later when encountering Mavericks. What makes it worse is that those Mavericks sometimes [[StrawmanHasAPoint have a point about what they did.]]
* GoodOldRobot: Same deal as X.
* GratuitousJapanese: In the games where his Command Arts are not translated.
* GroundPound: In his [[SmartBomb Giga Attacks]].
* HeadsIWinTailsYouLose: In ''X5'', X vs Zero -- No matter what character you use and Zero's condition (being Maverick or not), your fight will end in a DoubleKnockout.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Due to MultipleEndings in some of the games.
* HeroicBSOD: Part of his CharacterDevelopment in ''X4'' is the ending where he anguishes himself over not being able to save and/or protect [[strike:all]] '''any''' of the people he ever cared about, and wondering why he should bother continuing the fight. Although the JerkassFacade seems noticeable from previous games, this is most probably where it came to a head.
** He does experience a relatively minor one in ''Command Mission'' when he learns that not only did Redips manipulate the entire events of the game to both get the Supra-Force metal and get rid of Epsilon, but that Redips also posed as Spider for an undeterminant part of the game. While the others are rushing off to chase Redips, Zero is hesitant to go with them, and then tells X "Spider was actually just Redips?! How badly have we been duped here?!" before X snaps him out of it by reminding him that Redips is going to use the Supra-Force Metal, and that they can't let him do so.
* HeroicResolve: In the end of ''X5'', after he got shot by Sigma while trying to defend X and loses his lower half, he retaliates and gives Sigma one final shot to kill him.
* HeroicSacrifice: If there's any story about Zero, this will ''always'' wind up happening to him. The two SequelSeries (''plus'' one [[AudioAdaptation drama track]], where Zero manages to pull off ''two'' sacrifices) can attest to that.
* HesDeadJim: After he accidentally killed Iris, he realized she was dead after calling her name and trying to shake her back to consciousness.
* HunterOfHisOwnKind: And he is the ''original of his kind'', in fact.
* HumbleHero: In his ''X6'' ending, when he seals himself, he told the scientist who helped him in the sealing that his friend, X, will always be the better hero between them, and that the world would be fine with X still alive at the time.
* HyperspaceArsenal: Here are all of Zero's weapons in ''X7'' and ''X8'':
** [[BladeOnAStick D-Glaive]]
** [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang V-Hanger]]
** Sigma's [[{{BFS}} Blade]] made out of scrap.
** [[DropTheHammer T-Breaker]]
** [[PowerFist K-Knuckle]], with attacks that are {{Shout Out}}s to the StreetFighter series, again.
** [[PaperFanOfDoom B-Fan]], which somehow projects a BeehiveBarrier (after Zero got the appropriate power from one boss).
* IAmWho: Zero struggles with various levels of amnesia in the this series. He keeps getting flashbacks of his creator, Dr. Wily, but remembers nothing else from before Sigma captured him.
* IconicItem: His Z-Saber.
* IdentityAmnesia: We learn in X4 that he was an evil Maverick when Sigma first found him, and he lost his memory in the fight, waking up sane and sober. The bad ending of X5 shows us what would happen if his Maverick self ever resurfaced, and it ain't pretty.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: His fight against Iris, as he tries to bring her back in self-defense. Unfortunately, just after she's going back to normal, she dies because of her injuries. Cue Zero's infamous agonizing scream about his (lack of) reason of fighting.
* TheImmune: He takes it one step further: he's immune to the Maverick Virus, and he even becomes stronger the more the virus infects him, as shown in the gameplay. It has to do with Zero being not only the original source of the virus itself, but he is actually made to be able to use it as a power source.
* ItNeverGetsAnyEasier: Almost completely averted, since he doesn't let it bother him. He's not totally heartless, though - he just sees it from a different perspective. When a twin dies along with his BigBad brother (because they shared a CPU), he told the upset X that he knew the consequences and he should honor his sacrifice instead of bemoaning it. However, when his love interest Iris dies in a cruel and pointless war, [[HeroicBSOD he didn't take it well.]]
* ItsPersonal: Very much so in ''X8''. Seems like he's taken way too long to hate Sigma's guts - he's mainly angry about the events of ''X5'' (surprisingly, no mention of Iris) - but other than that, it makes perfect sense.
* JerkassFacade[=/=]JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Deep down, he really ''is'' a very nice guy. Don't let his portrayal in ''Command Mission'' fool you.
** {{Lampshaded}} in the same game, when he actually apologizes for acting like a jerk at one point.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: In the official arts, his LaserBlade is often depicted in a katana-like form.
* KilledOffForReal: ''X5'' supposedly has this happen to him, to ''end the series''. Of course, {{Capcom}} [[ExecutiveMeddling didn't make it stick]]...
* [[KnightKnaveAndSquire The Knave]]
* TheLancer: While the ''X'' series has yet to form a distinctive FiveManBand (the {{secret character}}s of ''X8'' and the cast of ''Command Mission'' notwithstanding), Zero fits this archetype nonetheless.
* LaserBlade
* LaserGuidedTykebomb: His original purpose.
* LaughingMad: How he reacted when fighting Sigma in X4 (not to mention later [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating Sigma to a bloody pulp]] when the latter was at his mercy.)
* LipLock: This is the reason for Zero's infamous "WHAT-AM-I-FIGHTING FOOOOOOOOOOR!" line in ''X4'', since his lip movements have his mouth open wide when he says it.
* LonersAreFreaks: Subverted, spit on, blown up, cut to ribbons, set on fire, and then subject to an epic ShutUpHannibal.
* MagnetHands: In the 3D games.
* [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan Manly Man]]: Being the ''{{bishonen}}'' of the two, that's saying something.
* MasterSwordsman
** ImplausibleFencingPowers: One of Zero's recurring [[PowerCopying skills]] is an upgrade to his sword that can block projectiles.
* MeaningfulName: The games only give vague allusions to what Zero really stands for, although {{fanon}} speculated that it has a similar meaning to X, i.e. a fixed power that cannot grow, but is already beyond comprehension, neither positive nor negative. It can also mean limitless potential, just in a different way.
** Another possible meaning is "Multiple by Zero," which is to say, [[OmnicidalManiac turn everything to nothingness]].
*** Given how fond he is of [[CleanCut slicing reploids apart]], "Divide by Zero" is equally apt; meaning to destroy utterly.
* TheMentor: for ''X1''.
** MentorOccupationalHazard: He's watched over X from the beginning of the game, forcing Vile to retreat after X couldn't touch him. Obviously, he's the badass of the story, but he's not the title character, so he performs his HeroicSacrifice, leaving X to face Sigma alone, with no chance at a last second rescue. Incidentally, the placement of the Vile fight in the remake justifies the over the top dialogue X uses when he faces Sigma, as it happened at the end of the previous stage, and not at the start of the fortress, making X's fury still fresh. And even though Zero gets better, he's been surpassed by X by the time he returns, and they work as a team from ''X3'' to ''X8''.
* MoreHeroThanThou: In ''X5'', in order to stop the ColonyDrop, one of the heroes has to maneuver a shuttle into crashing into it. Zero volunteered himself, as he stated that, whether or not he (Zero) survives the crash, the world is still in danger, and X is needed more than he is.
* MultiMeleeMaster: In ''X7'' and ''X8'', where he can acquire other melee weapons.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After he beats Iris.
* MyHeroZero: [[TropeCodifier Duh.]]
* MysteriousPast: Even after all this time, all Zero knows of his "father" is a ''silhouette''; but that didn't stop him from learning that he is the cause of most of the hardships in the world up to that point.
** A rather popular Fan Theory is that he killed off the cast from the original series before he was sealed. This, however, has been jossed.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: In the {{Flashback}} cutscene in ''X4'', in his fight against Sigma, at first it seemed like Sigma is controlling the fight, but Zero just keeps getting up, laughing, and finally winning a SingleStrokeBattle, ''fist to Beam Saber'', and then turns the tables completely. Zero is only beaten when his head crystal glows, causing him a headache, and then Sigma punches it, making his opponent unconscious.
* NotSoStoic: His freakout in ''X4'' after Iris' death.
* PatientZero: He (and arguably Sigma) was the very first robot to get infected by the Maverick Virus (stated to be leaking out from Zero's hibernation capsule). Subverted in that he's TheImmune (see said entry above), but he is indirectly the source of the other viral infections of the series. See also "TyphoidMary" below.
* PerpetualFrowner: After Iris dies, he not only stops smiling, practically at all, but loses essentially all of his [[{{BadassBoast}} Badass Boasting]] personality and becomes TheStoic.
** After X4, he no longer throws a thumbs up at the player after beating a boss either. He just turns away.
** Even his theme music has noticeable changes. Where his theme is X4 may have been the peak of giving the feeling that Zero is about to cut down everyone [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5h4luXEc_s in the level]], in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgsBH3zURt8 X5]] and onward, Zero's music becomes a lot more calm and serious sounding.
* PietaPlagiarism: In Iris' death scene, he carries the dead Iris this way.
* PillarOfLight: His Giga Attack in ''X8''. Before that, in ''X6'', he can summon screen-filling [[BeamSpam shower of beams.]]
* PersonOfMassDestruction
* PowerCopying: His Command Arts.
* PowerGivesYouWings: The "[[AnIcePerson Absolute]] [[PunnyName Zero]]" armor from ''Command Mission''. He even resembles his brother's Treble Boost.
* PromotedToPlayable: In ''X3'' by pushing the L button on the pause screen.
* RapunzelHair
* RecurringBoss: ''X2'', ''X5'', ''X6'' ([[EvilKnockoff sort of]]), and ''Maverick Hunter X'' (Vile's route only, as a DualBoss with X), complete with SecretAIMoves.
* [[RedOniBlueOni Red Oni]]
* TheRival: Colonel.
* RoboFamily: Sigma, at least, considers Dr. Wily to be Zero's father. Making [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Bass]] a crappy big brother [[EarlyBirdCameo before he was even born]].
** His ending in ''[[CapcomVsWhatever Tatsunoko vs. Capcom]]'' gives a nod to this, where Dr. Wily actually calls Zero his son.
* SacrificialLamb: In ''X1''. With the help of PopularityPower, he's [[BackFromTheDead revived]] in ''X2''.
* ScrewDestiny: One of the most important character themes for Zero is how he gives destiny the middle finger and defies it every step of the way.
** Or tries to, anyway. As Colonel and Iris (and very nearly X) demonstrate, he's still a threat to those close to him under the wrong circumstances - which Sigma is all too willing to provide. And lest we forget, Omega manages to successfully lay waste to most of the world - he has to show up with a new body and team up with first X and then the Guardians to stall and then destroy him, but the God of Destruction indeed fulfills his purpose.
* SealedEvilInACan
* SecretAIMoves: While ''X5'' and ''X6'' give him back the Z-Buster and the latter hands over a screen-clearing move, the iconic "[[GunsAkimbo twin busters]], then SwordBeam" combo never becomes available. [[VideoGame/MegaManZX Model OX]] gets some of them, at least, and one of them is a Super in ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom.''
** ''Awakening Zero'' has plenty of these. The shots from his Buster combo become ''homing'', and he gets a OneHitKill attack that takes the SwordBeam UpToEleven.
** In ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', he ''does'' get ''that'' SwordBeam as a level 3 hyper...except that it does a lot of damage instead of being an instant kill. The player also gets to let him use it in ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone''.
* ShellShockedVeteran
* ShoutOut: Several of his ''X8'' techniques are straight out of ''StreetFighter''. His staple rising sword uppercut is also based on the {{Shoryuken}}.
** In ''Command Mission'' Zero can gain a second, incredibly powerful Hyper Mode armor. It has black bat-like wings, adds smaller bat wings to his helmet, claws on his hands and dark armor on his body and legs. It's a nod to his predecessor Bass and his power armor upgrade, the Treble Boost.
* ShutUpHannibal: In ''Maverick Hunter X'':
-->'''Vile''': ''Hmpf...Zero...Why would someone as powerful as you align yourself with X? He's just a B-Class Hunter, nothing more!''\\
'''Zero''': ''Vile...You're nothing but a Maverick now.''
* TheSouthpaw: Cutscenes and official art consistently depict him wielding his saber with his left hand.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Inafune wanted him to be ''the'' main character. Even after [[ExecutiveMeddling Capcom forced him to change his mind]], [[WriterRevolt Inafune didn't change his plans.]]
* SpringJump: With an acquired ability in ''X6''. If he high jumps into the ceiling, [[CeilingCling he can cling to it]] and can [[AnIcePerson shoot icicles from his saber.]]
* TheSuperego: In relation to his teammates X and Axl. The coldest of the bunch, only concerned in missions, likes to take shoot-first-ask-questions-later approach. He's still a nice guy deep down, though.
* SuperpoweredEvilSide: which, Sigma would like to point out, is his ''real'' self.
* TheStoic
* SwissArmyWeapon: The Z-Saber from ''X4'' onwards.
* SwordAndGun: Technically starting from ''X2'''s "bad" scenario where he's a boss, which gave birth to the famous "buster-buster-SwordBeam" combo of his. In the next game where he's playable, his buster is still more emphasized, with the saber only coming out for delivering a strong attack. On ''X4'' onwards, as a DivergentCharacterEvolution, the saber gets emphasized more.
* [[TakeUpMySword Take Up My Buster]]: After his HeroicSacrifice in ''X1''. A more literal version occurs in ''X3'' where the Z-Saber is an InfinityPlusOneSword ([[GuideDangIt if you meet the required conditions]]) and at the end of ''X5''.
* ThemeDeck: His {{Signature Move}}s, the Z-saber (triple slash) and Z-buster (two buster shots + SwordBeam) combos, stand out of all of his other Command Arts since they are present in some form in all games. However, the latter was never used again from ''X7'' and beyond. As a CallBack, though, ''Omega'' Zero uses both attacks again in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 3'' (and you can use it as Model OX in ''ZX'').
* TooLongDidntDub: Probably done for RuleOfCool, all of Zero's moves were left untranslated in X4, X6, X7 and X8.
* TyphoidMary: It is said that Zero unknowingly spread his virus around as he ventured around the globe. This leads to him sealing himself, to stop the spread, in his ending in ''X6''.
* VideoGameFlight: At least as a bug in ''X8''. Kinda funny, and it lets you bypass the worst parts of the final dungeon - could you ask for more? Oh, and Layer can do it too.
* TheVirus
* WeaponOfChoice: Post-X4, his Z-Saber becomes this. He actually receives the Saber in X2, but only uses single slashes in conjunction with Buster Shots until X4, where the Saber becomes his primary.
* WeCanRebuildHim: After he died in the first game, the second had the X-Hunters rebuild him, or at least the parts of it, which X had to steal for the Maverick Hunters to rebuild him.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Zero was originally intended to have his own Ultimate Armor in ''X4''. It was also implied that the design of the armor dealt with his connection to Dr. Wily. However, it was ultimately cut, replaced with the Palette Swap known as the Zero Armor/Black Zero.
* WhatTheHellHero: In ''Command Mission'', he chastises X for being so trusting all the time, stating that it's because of such naivete that Shadow managed to betray them.
* WhiteHairedPrettyBoy: In his [[InfinityPlusOneSword Zero Armor]].
* WolverinePublicity: Aside from starring in two (arguably three) out of the 7 series, he was referenced ''and'' cameoed in two more (''[[VideoGame/MegaManLegends Legends]]'', ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork Battle Network]]'', with the latter even including a Main/{{Captain Ersatz}}/{{Expy}}) and finally, appearing in a roster in [[strike:two]] ''three'' games of the ''CapcomVsWhatever'' series. ''Whew...''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Axl]]
::'''Axl'''
[[quoteright:215:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/215px-Axl_x7.jpg]]
A former member of Red Alert (a BountyHunter organization), turned Maverick Hunter; since the only difference is the government sanction, this hasn't really changed his outlook on life. The prototype of the next generation of reploid evolution, Axl's copy ability allows him to effectively become anyone.
-->''Voiced by: MinamiTakayama (JP), Jeffrey Watson (EN, X8)''
* AnimeHair
* BloodKnight: He tends to answer questions regarding his motive like this.
* BottomlessMagazines: In ''X8'', all of his weapons have this property.
* CallingYourAttacks: By the ''name of the weapon''.
* TheCameo: Appears briefly in Zero's ''Tatsunoko vs. Capcom'' ending.
* ChargedAttack: He has one in his original appearance, but the BagOfSpilling takes it away as part of his later SuperheroSpeciation.
* ChekhovsBoomerang: Blink and you'll miss it, but Sigma's plan in ''X7'' (before the whole GambitRoulette went OffTheRails) was to have Axl copy the data of X and Zero, presumably with the intent of hijacking him from there. This seemingly irrelevant plot point is eventually revisited in ''X8'' (specifically, where it's revealed that Axl is the prototype of the New Generation Reploids), in ''Command Mission'' (with final boss Redips and his officers in the far east Hunter division being the products of secretly restarted copy chip manufacturing) and (although Axl may or may not be personally involved) ''VideoGame/MegaManZX Advent''.
* CousinOliver
* DoNotRunWithAGun: Much like Bass from ''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'', Axl in ''X8' can fire in multiple directions (including diagonally), but he can't run while doing so.
* DualWield: In ''Command Mission'' his Axl Bullets weapon is his default gun times two, and two other weapons are also dual guns. In ''X7'' one of the Maverick weapons lets him wield dual guns and attack two enemies at once GunsAkimbo.
* {{Expy}}: [[VideoGame/MegaManZX Mega Man Model A]], an expy of unclear origin. To a gameplay extent Axl himself might be considered one of [[VideoGame/MegaMan Bass]], minus the double jump.
* FireForgedFriends: Has to work ''hard'' to earn X and Zero's trust and friendship, specifically because he was ''an assassin'' for a group that are AmbiguouslyEvil. His own tendency to avoid answering questions, and the fact that Red Alert was more than happy to ''go to war'' with the Maverick Hunters to get him back didn't help him at all. By ''X8'', he has earned it.
* FlawedPrototype: His copy ability doesn't work on anything more massive than he himself is. He seems to have ironed this out by the time of ''Command Mission.''
** DisabilityImmunity: However, unlike the others, he apparently also lacked Sigma's DNA due to being a prototype. As such, he has no active compunction of going with Sigma's will (i.e killing humans) because of it.
* FragileSpeedster: A variant; there's nothing wrong with his defense, but his attack power is relatively low in ''X8.'' In ''Command Mission'' he has somewhat low health compared to X and Zero at the same level.
* [[GoodScarsEvilScars Good Scars]]: [[XMarksTheHero Shaped like an X]], to boot.
* GunsAkimbo
* HeroWorshipper: According to character data. Never adhered to anywhere else.
* TheId: In relation of X and Zero. Likes to get on X's and Zero's nerves, and is also very eager and interested in fighting and doesn't put concern of deep matters.
* InfinityPlusOneSword: The White Armor from ''X8,'' which lets him remain airborne indefinitely while firing...and oddly enough, heals [[XMarksTheHero his scar]].
* MarkedChange: The red lines on Axl's body pulse when he's preparing to shapeshift.
* MoreDakka: When the GunsAkimbo don't entirely cut it, Axl pulls a gatling gun, a grenade launcher, frikkin laser beams, a Magnum that ignores walls...
* MultiRangedMaster
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: He does not join the uprising of the "pure" new generation Reploids in ''X8''. They, in turn, regard him with contempt and (occasionally) regret.
* MysteriousPast: He cannot remember anything from before his Red Alert days. [[AllThereInTheManual Sourcebooks]] give some hints - he retains certain responses, such as his hatred for Mavericks and admiration of X, but he cannot remember ''why'' he feels that way. Red (see SelfMadeOrphan below) refuses to talk about how they met.
* OneManArmy: Of course.
* PowerCopying: His Special Arms.
* PowerPerversionPotential: Pointed out amusingly [[http://glitcher.deviantart.com/art/Axl-and-Alia-koma-29802370 here]] (safe for work).
** And then we have [[http://www.drneko.com/scanlation/rmseries/rmx/koma/x7/index.php?Result_Set=12 this]].
* PsychoPrototype: Inverted. He is the prototype for the next-generation reploid line, but he himself is actually quite sane (even with his BloodKnight tendencies). It's the mass-produced versions, especially Lumine and Redips, who were very much insane.
* QuestForIdentity: Hinted at when he first appears in ''Command Mission.''
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: the actual line was not said, but he defected from Red Alert when they started killing people who weren't bad guys.
* SequelHook: Involved in a big one in ''X8.'' It [[LeftHanging hasn't been settled, yet]]; [[WildMassGuessing theories abound.]]
* SelfMadeOrphan: Red is his ''adopted'' father, at least...
* ShoutOut: Briefly acquires what is quite obviously the [[{{Metroid}} Morph Ball]] to solve one puzzle in ''X8.''
* ShutUpHannibal[=/=]TalkToTheFist: His most famous positive moment.
* SpamAttack
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: it's a small running gag in {{fanon}} whether or not Axl knows how to spell his own name...
* [[KnightKnaveAndSquire The Squire]]
* SuperheroSpeciation: Axl's "skillset" from ''X7'' is pretty much the same set that X will use after the end of his TenMinuteRetirement. Fortunately for Axl, ''X8'' fixed the problem by giving him a different set of skills.
** ''Command Mission'' also rectifies this by making Axl a [[SummonMagic summoner]] akin to the traditional {{RPG}}s (Well, what he did is transforming into a defeated boss and using one of its attack, but it generally has the same effect).
* SwissArmyHero: He's got data from all the bosses in ''Command Mission'' and can transform into any of them. ''Command Mission'' is not a platform game, and this amounts to only using an attack, but as stated above, his expy does much better in ''ZX Advent.''
* TagalongKid: in ''X7'' at least. He "grew up" before ''X8''.
* TookALevelInBadass: after ''X7''.
** RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap
* TriggerHappy: On par with him being a BloodKnight, in contrast to X and Zero.
* UnnecessaryCombatRoll: In this case, it provides immunity to projectiles.
* UtilityWeapon: The various forms Axl takes using Copy Shot are mostly useful in overcoming obstacles.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It's anyone's guess what became of him (or indeed, the entire supporting cast) between the last game and ''VideoGame/MegaManZero.'' His {{Expy}} in ''VideoGame/MegaManZX Advent'' is obviously inspired from him in design and gameplay, but canonically doesn't ([[EpilepticTrees seem to]]) originate from him, which solves...absolutely nothing.
* XMarksTheHero: How he got the scars or why they are still there remains unknown. A [[http://www.drneko.com/scanlation/rmseries/rmx/koma/x7/index.php?Result_Set=10 4koma]] states that they're self-inflicted.
* YoungGun
[[/folder]]
----
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[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Mega Man X/Rockman X]]
::'''Mega Man X/Rockman X'''
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/300px-Megaman3MHX.jpg]]
The first of a new breed of robot with the ability to think and feel, X was the last creation of [[VideoGame/MegaMan Dr. Thomas Light]]. Of course, Light had experience with about ten or so doomsday scenarios courtesy of one Albert Wily, and decided to give X a HyperspaceArsenal and an endless array of power ups in the expectation that, come the next one, X would become the world's new champion, and in spite of his own pacifistic leanings X did just that.
-->''Voiced by: KentaroIto (JP, X4), ShowtaroMorikubo (JP, X5-X7), TakahiroSakurai (JP, X8), MarkGatha (EN, X8)''
* ActorAllusion: X performs a [[GGundam Shining Finger]] like attack unto a foe.
* TheAestheticsOfTechnology: Played with. He has a simpler-looking design than most bosses, but he is literally described as having unlimited potential, and throughout his series, developed abilities that were previously seen after he picked up armor parts or health upgrades; it's like the concept of Weapon Copy was taken to its logical conclusion and turned into an Ability Copy. Justified, he's a SuperPrototype.
* AIIsACrapshoot: Defied. Being a robot with 100% free will, Dr. Light makes sure that this trope don't happen by sealing him in a 30-year morality testing to ensure that he would do the right thing.
* AsskickingPose: He always does this after he teleports into a stage.
* ArmCannon: The Mega Buster Mk. 17, aka the X-Buster.
* {{Badass}}: X's defining moment is the first scene in the series. He lands on a highway under attack, and everyone is driving away as fast as their cars can go. X runs through them towards the enemy. Throughout the series (with one ShockingSwerve in ''X7'') he only gets more badass.
* BadassBoast: To Sigma, at the end of ''X6''.
** And in ''Maverick Hunter X'', to Sigma: "I'll finish this! Right here, right now! ''[[ChewingTheScenery I WILL DEFEAT YOU, SIGMA!!]]''"
* BagOfSpilling: Unsurprising for the series, but it doesn't seem to be for lack of trying: he keeps his dash ability permanently after the first game, and both ''X5'' and ''X6'' feature watered-down versions of the previous entry's powerups, with the implication that battle damage has detracted from their effectiveness. ''X7'' and ''X8'' also see X respectively regaining the air-dash and super charge shots, which were once armor exclusive powers, for his base form.
** GameplayAndStorySegregation: One way or the other - a memorable boss fight in ''X5'' suggests at the very least that X can recover old maverick weapons somehow. The leading theory is that X doesn't ''want'' to have all that power, so he voluntarily gets rid of his weapons at the end of each game.
* BerserkButton: It's stated that his greatest strength and AchillesHeel is his emotional bond with his allies. There is logic behind this: X has a [[UnstoppableRage Berserker Mode]], and his allies are the button. Wail on it enough times, and...
--> '''Sigma:''' Hmm...I see a new clarity in your eyes. You are no longer troubled.
--> '''X:''' ''WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS UNFORGIVABLE, SIGMA!''
** ''Maverick Hunter X'' shows what happens when X has to deal with the loss of his friend. He goes from being a little detached from the conflict and reluctant to fight to full-on scary voice, angry eyes, and absolute lethal intent. The change is ''jarring''.
* BewareTheNiceOnes
* [[RedOniBlueOni Blue Oni]]
* BroughtToYouByTheLetterS: Only in ''X8'', but there's an X on the sides of his helmet.
** The new basic armor he sports in ''Command Mission'' has a white X on the chest.
* CallForward: Zero's ''X7'' ending. [[HeWhoFightsMonsters "Eliminate the Mavericks.]] [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment The Mavericks...eliminate..."]] Depressingly, this game marks the one time we see X actually try to escape his fate, so it packs a punch even though the writers [[{{Wangst}} botched]] [[ReplacementScrappy it]].
* CallingYourAttacks: In later games, and the remake of the first.
* TheCameo: Appears briefly in Zero's ''Tatsunoko vs. Capcom'' ending.
* CarFu: In the opening of ''X2'', he jumps out from his speeding Ride Chaser, which then hits the Mechaniloid guarding the facility he's trying to infiltrate.
** Can be done in-game as well, in Overdrive Ostrich's stage, as well as in ''X4'' and ''X5''.
* CharacterDevelopment: Somewhat averted; his fall from the spotlight coincided exactly with the series' increased focus on characterization. However, ''The Day of Sigma'' and ''Maverick Hunter X'' do cover his journey from WideEyedIdealist to MartialPacifist, and it's generally assumed that [[WhatCouldHaveBeen the scrapped remakes of X2 and X3]] would have followed up on this.
* CharacterTitle
* ChargedAttack: One of his main features.
* ClearMyName: The plot in ''X6'' starts with a PaletteSwap of Zero, called the Zero Nightmare, wreaking havoc. X decides to investigate the Zero Nightmare to clear Zero's name. For some reason, this is not part of the plot entirely, since defeating the Zero Nightmare is optional. And guess what? A SecretCharacter (not that Capcom was fooling anyone...) will be unlocked upon defeating it.
* ClimaxBoss: He'll do ''anything'' to prevent his friend from going Maverick. [[CaptainObvious Including]] ''[[CaptainObvious fighting him.]]''
* CoolLoser: As of ''X5'', Zero is his only friend. [[JustifiedTrope There might be]] [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies good reasons]], especially after what happened to Zero one game earlier. There might also be [[HoYay other reasons]], but that doesn't entirely cover it.
* CutscenePowerToTheMax: The ''X3'' opening is entirely made of this trope. Blowing away two Bee Bladers in one shot? Dropping Launch Octopus's irritating miniboss on him, destroying both? Switching between the armor sets of the first two games at will while fighting Sigma? Awesome.
* CrossdressingVoices: In ''X4'', actually having the same voice actor as the original Mega Man in ''8''.
* DependingOnTheWriter: The horribly self-pitying loser of ''X7'' and the half-crazed macho warrior of ''Command Mission'' are the farthest extremes, but how willing he is to fight varies wildly from game to game. It generally remains constant within any given game; ''Maverick Hunter X'' is the exception that proves the rule, as his CharacterDevelopment actually matters for once. [[SpotlightStealingSquad Zero]] being dead probably helped.
* DoomedByCanon: Attempts to stop the fighting in ''X7''...which came out while the [[VideoGame/MegaManZero Zero series]] was in full swing. FailureIsTheOnlyOption.
* DualBoss: With Zero in ''Maverick Hunter X'''s Vile Mode.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: Despite being the reason Reploids exist, and the one with the most potential power, X is a B class Hunter for most of the series, though those who know him realize this is ''entirely'' because he holds back and is reluctant to fight. By ''X8'' and ''Command Mission'', he's a Special A class hunter, having apparently gotten over those hangups.
* DullSurprise: He does this in the [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umYHweaJHZg opening cutscene]] to ''X8'', whether from shell-shock or bad animation. Facing down an army of shapeshifting reploids should yield a stronger reaction than, "did I leave the oven on?"
* TheEgo: In relation to his teammates Zero and Axl. Is usually the one who has deep thoughts about most things happening around. But on the other side, he's a pacifist who's quite emotional, especially about fighting, and frequently thinks about all the enemy he fights.
* EleventhHourSuperPower: In the 2nd X vs. Vile battle in the first game, after Zero's HeroicSacrifice to destroy Vile's [[MiniMecha Ride Armor]], all of X's energy is restored for some reason, ready to fight Vile on equal footing now. This was even {{lampshaded}}:
-->'''Vile''': What the-? Where did that energy come from?!
** In the ''Day of Sigma'' {{OVA}}, something similar happens, only X's attack looks [[ActorAllusion suspiciously like]] the ''[[GGundam Shining Finger]]''.
* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai: His [[http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s158/clarklana05/megamanxbladearmor.jpg?t=1241052973 Blade Armor]] from ''X6'' resembles a samurai armor.
* EvolvingWeapon: Once you get a buster upgrade, every Maverick weapon counts as this. (Well, sort of. The second version counts as a ChargedAttack.)
* {{Expy}}: Of the original [[VideoGame/MegaMan Blue Bomber]]. [[ExecutiveMeddling He owes his existence to this status, in fact.]] He started the trend of having Expies in the SequelSeries.
* FacePalmOfDoom: Gives Sigma one in ''The Day of Sigma'', [[ShoutOut mimicking the]] [[GGundam Shining Finger]], no less.
* FanNickname: Referred to often as "The Blue Bomber of the 22nd Century" or the far pithier "The Azure Hunter."
** Sometimes, especially by fangirls, "[[GratuitousJapanese Ekkusu]]" is also used.
* FightingTheLancer: If you don't get to fight the X-Hunters (and thus, gaining Zero's parts) before the Sigma fortress stages are unlocked in ''X2'', you'll have X fighting Zero in one of the stages, although he was BrainwashedAndCrazy at the time.
** Played straighter in ''X5''; no matter which scenario you took, one will end up fighting the other in the third fortress stage.
* {{Flanderization}}: X goes from being a reluctant, yet willing fighter to become more whiny as the series goes. This becomes prominent in X7, where he pulls out a TenMinuteRetirement, so you started playing a ''Mega Man X'' game without playing as him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: In his ''X4'' ending, X asks Zero that if he (X) ever goes Maverick, Zero should be the one "to take care of him". Because of the ContinuitySnarl between the two series, it falls into {{Fauxshadow}}.
** When combined with the ending of ''X3'' stating that X will have to destroy Zero to protect mankind, this at least foreshadows that the two of them will fight in X5.
* ForgottenFallenFriend: X loses his memories of Zero in the bad ending of ''X5''.
* GameplayAndStorySeparation: In Vile Mode and ''Day of Sigma'', his Charge Shot was shown to be extremely powerful, the former instance resulting in Vile getting critically wounded and also receiving a ''gaping hole'' in his chest, and the latter being powerful enough to knock down and temporarily knock out a renegade Maverick. In gameplay, although the Charge Shot is definitely more powerful than regular buster shots, its somewhat weak.
* GoldenSuperMode: His Golden Armor hidden powerup in ''X3''.
* GoodIsNotDumb: X, a ReluctantWarrior who lives in an increasingly CrapsackWorld infested with TheVirus, capable of turning even his best friend against him. Often referred to as 'too trusting' in-universe and 'emo' outside of it because he doesn't like killing people. He's also an SealedGoodInACan SuperPrototype OneManArmy with lots of combat experience and what he can't handle his aforementioned best friend will. He also ends up ruling the world, basically because he's the only person that could manage it. There was talk of having him hit the DespairEventHorizon, [[KnightTemplar lose that compassion]] and become the BigBad of the [[VideoGame/MegaManZero sequel series]]. That would have been bad.
* GoodOldRobot: He's this, as he isn't technically a Reploid ("Replicated Androids"), but rather the original aricles all reploids are based from. Not just that, they are immune to TheVirus because of this status. Though he's just referred to as a Reploid altogether (in-story) to avoid confusion because of their basically similar mental capacities.
* GratuitousEnglish: Applied to CallingYourAttacks above, with...interesting results. Generally better in ''X8, Maverick Hunter X'', and ''Command Mission'', though YMMV.
* GunsAkimbo: ''X2'' and ''X3'' upgrades, sort of. By charging up enough, he fires a blast from one arm, then the other.
** The ''Command Mission'' version of the Ultimate Armor has {{BFG}} akimbo!
* HealingFactor: X gets one in the third game, with either the enhanced helmet parts or the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Golden Armor]].
* HeroicBSOD: He suffers a major one during Lumine's HannibalLecture speech. It got so bad that Axl actually had to shoot Lumine with his gun and remind X that Lumine is their enemy to get him to at least put it aside long enough to manage to defeat Lumine.
* HeroicResolve: In the fight against Vile in the first stage of Sigma's castle, X loses the fight much like he did in the beginning of the game, left paralyzed and with little health. Zero makes a Heroic Sacrifice and destroys Vile's mobile suit with his remaining energy. Vile still thinks he has won, to which X breaks his bonds and restores his meter to full.
** In the "Day of Sigma" animated-prequel in the PSP remake Maverick Hunter X, BigBad Sigma stabs X through the gut with his beamsaber. After a brief {{Flashback}} of X swearing to Doctor Light that he will always fight for hope and justice, he comes back online and charges Sigma, digging his glowing hand [[strike:[[GGundam with an awesome power]]]] into Sigma's face and giving Sigma his trademark eye scars before finally shutting down.
* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Zero. At one point in ''X5'', X claims Zero is not only his best friend, but his OnlyFriend.
* HeyItsThatVoice: As of ''X8'', [[GGundam his hand of his glows]] [[MarkGatha with an awesome power]]. No, really.
* HunterOfHisOwnKind
* HurtingHero: It's kind of his shtick. See TheWoobie entry.
* IAmNotLeftHanded: He taps into his unlimited potential out of sheer desperation in "The Day of Sigma".
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: In the infamous X vs Zero battle in ''X5'', X tries to bring back the Maverick Zero to his, technically, "new self" (the "old self" is the Maverick Zero itself).
* InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja: The Shadow Armor in ''X6'', complete with CeilingCling ability. Like Gaea Armor of ''X5'', it provides immunity to [[SpikesOfDoom spikes.]]
* ItNeverGetsAnyEasier: X always feels grief and doubt about those who die in the Maverick Wars, even his own enemies, because he's at heart a MartialPacifist. It's even been argued that he deliberately does this so he always has sympathy for the enemy, because becoming callous is not the way to finding real peace. When he finally loses all sympathy centuries into the future, he retires.
* TheImmune: Played with. Most Reploids will become the chaotic, rampaging Mavericks upon TheVirus's infection. But X, with his Suffering Circuit inside him, will instead get hurt upon infection, as the circuit's trying to prevent him from being rampaging and genocidal.
* JackOfAllStats: In ''X8'', relative to the other playable characters. He can be nudged towards different skill sets depending on which armor parts you go with.
* [[KnightKnaveAndSquire The Knight]]
* LaserBlade: In ''X6''. Unlike Zero, he can only do a single slash, but with armor upgrades, its ability gets tweaked up.
** BladeBelowTheShoulder: The Blade Armor from the same game.
** SwordBeam: Its Giga Attack, which involves firing a crescent blade forward that does heavy damage. Shadow Armor's Giga Attack uses this differently, with 2 crescent blades that revolve around him, damaging everything in the vicinity.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: In the bad ending in ''X5'', Dr. Light erases all of X's memories of Zero, and installs a program that will "reject" any information regarding Zero.
* LetsYouAndHimFight: An impending fight between him and Zero has been hinted upon ever since X2. (Though in a non-canon process just before the final battle in that case.) It was again touched upon in X4 before finally taking place in X5, and by extension, X6.
* LetXBeTheUnknown: Aside from being a BlackBox, his name represents limitless potential. It also carries connotations of danger, leading Light to apparently seal him because TheWorldIsNotReady. Then again, he might have been lying about the last part to spare X's feelings.
* LevelMapDisplay: In ''X3'', the head upgrade gives X access to a (very rudimentary) map of the level, dividing it into small sectors, and showcasing the special items of the level.
* MagikarpPower: Really, X himself. No match for pretty much anything at the start of the first game, he is more or less a OneManArmy by the end.
** A more traditional example is Zero's saber in ''X6''. Oh, X can't wield it for crap (unlike in the third game, where it was ridiculously powerful and even useful at range in his hands), but the subsequently collected armors allow it to be used as a ChargedAttack, and [[EliteTweak a certain set of parts]] restore it to ridiculous levels of power.
* MeaningfulName: X stands for an unknown variable (a'la Algebra) that could have unlimited potential. This was elaborated upon in ''Maverick Hunter X''.
* MechanicalEvolution: He's apparently the key to this, if ''Maverick Hunter X'' is to be believed. He starts at RidiculouslyHumanRobot and tops out at RealityWarper (albeit with far fewer appearances), so not a bad run.
* MultiformBalance: the armors in ''X5''-''X6'', as well as Neutral Armor's upgrades in ''X8''.
** ''X5''
*** JackOfAllStats: [[{{Nerf}} Force]]
*** FragileSpeedster: [[VideoGameFlight Falcon]]
*** MightyGlacier: Gaea
*** SuperMode: [[GameBreaker Ultimate]]
** ''X6''
*** JackOfAllStats: [[{{Nerf}} Falcon]]
*** LightningBruiser: [[{{Samurai}} Blade]]
*** GlassCannon: [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja Shadow]]
*** SuperMode: [[GameBreaker Ultimate]]
** ''X8''
*** MasterOfNone: [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Neutral]]
*** FragileSpeedster: Hermes
*** MightyGlacier (or LightningBruiser): Icarus
*** SuperMode: [[GameBreaker Ultimate]]
* NamesTheSame: His Ultimate armor, X had about three different armors with the same name and similar abilities, the first one from X4 to X6, one in X8 and another in Command Mission; the one in CM not only looks different but its skill set serves for other situations entirely, making it more of a InNameOnly.
* OddFriendship: A pacifist becoming best friends with no-nonsense warrior? Not to mention that they're destined to fight each other...
* OneHitKill: Well, ''two''-hit kill, but Nova Strike from the Ultimate Armor (especially in X8) and X's Z-Saber in ''X3'' qualify.
* OneLetterName: In the early games, other characters would call him anything from his full name to just X. He's consistently called X from ''X4'' onwards.
** Also created a lot of confusion with people who thought his full name ''is'' Mega Man X. His full name is X. Mega Man is just an ArtifactTitle.
* OneManArmy: Especially in the first two games.
* OutOfFocus: After ''X3'', and [[ReplacementScrappy especially in X7]]. Axl even {{lampshades}} it in the intro stage of ''X8'', threatening to steal the spotlight from him. Too late, buddy.
* PowerCopying: His Variable Weapons System, directly lifted from [[VideoGame/MegaMan his big brother's]].
** [[ComicallyMissingThePoint Which one, Peyton or Eli?]][[hottip:*:This trope used to be called "Mega Manning", for obvious reasons.]]
* PowerCrystal: It blinks when his health is critical, projects the map in ''X3'', and when we see it glow full-stop in the OAV, he apparently develops NewPowersAsThePlotDemands.
* PoweredArmor: He has at least one per game. In X4, he gets two[[hottip:*:The Fourth and Ultimate Armor]], in X5[[hottip:*:The Fourth Armor (albeit damaged), Falcon, Gaea and Ultimate Armor]] and X6[[hottip:*:The Falcon Armor (albeit damaged), Blade, Shadow and Ultimate Armor]] he gets 4 each. All of them gives X different changes.
* PoweredArmor [[MechaExpansionPack Expansion Pack]]:
** The [[color:gray:Neutral Armor's]] (''X8'') gimmick. With the exception of the Ultimate parts, the armor pieces can be switched for different combinations. Equipping a complete set would grant a fifth ability exclusive to that armor.
*** [[color:red:Icarus]]: access to the [[LimitBreak Giga Crush]], [[SmartBomb a full screen-explosion attack]]. Its power and duration depends on the amount of energy in the Giga Crush meter.
---> [[CoolHelmet Head]]: [[UseYourHead an upward helmet attack]]\\
[[BulletproofVest Body]]: halves damage, and removes recoil\\
[[ArmCannon Arms]]: WaveMotionGun as a fully charged attack. Lesser charge attacks are one less level than normal. [[hottip:example:X's normal shots become Level-1 charged shots, and Level-2 charged shots become Level-3 charged shots. The maximum charged shot becomes a powerful laser]]\\
[[TrickedOutShoes Legs]]: [[InASingleBound increased jump height]]
*** [[color:blue:Hermes]]: access to the [[SuperMode Hyper Drive]], which will increase your movement and charging speed, as well as upgrading the SpreadShot into 5 shots. Its duration depends on the amount of energy in the Hyper Drive meter.
---> [[CoolHelmet Head]]: boosts weapon charge speed\\
[[BulletproofVest Body]]: Invincibility to weaker attacks\\
[[ArmCannon Arms]]: 3-way SpreadShot\\
[[TrickedOutShoes Legs]]: {{Invisibility}} while dashing, as well as increased movement speed
*** [[color:purple:Ultimate]]: the Nova Strike returns, which gives high damage to the opponent it crosses over, but unlike in the previous games, this attack can't be quickly spammed (one use will deplete its meter, and then the meter regenerates in a few seconds). Also, it's now a [[OneHitKill Two-Hit Kill]] to most Bosses.
---> [[CoolHelmet Head]]: enabling the {{Shoryuken}} move\\
[[BulletproofVest Body]]: same as Icarus Armor's\\
[[ArmCannon Arms]]: the multi-hitting [[SphereOfDestruction Plasma Shot]]\\
[[TrickedOutShoes Legs]]: combination of Hermes and Icarus Armor's leg parts (although you can't be invisible)
** Also, in X3, you can ask Dr. Light to insert a special chip to one of the armor upgrade when you get the access to the capsule. You can only do this to one part of the armor, though. But there's a secret way to get all of them, and it comes with a nice touch of gold color, too!
* PowerStrainBlackout: Immediately after scarring Sigma in the OAV. As the latter is far from defeated, this is really, really bad timing.
* PrimaryColorChampion: Most of his armors often give out this vibe.
* PromotionalPowerlessPieceOfGarbage: Despite the rarity of the card, he's effectively useless in the trading card game, having the same stats as Bass.
* AProtagonistShallLeadThem: Eventually he becomes this in the timeskip between this and ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZero Zero]]'' series, being the leader of Neo Arcadia.
* ReadingsAreOffTheScale: His potential is unlimited. This is read by Cyber Peacock and even his analysis shows that his potential cannot be measured.
* RegeneratingHealth: His X3 armor has an upgrade to his helmet that allows him to refill his health (and Tanks) by standing still and waiting.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: The predecessor to all the sentient Reploids seen in the ''X'' series and beyond.
* RoboFamily: With [[VideoGame/MegaMan Rock, Blues, Roll, and Auto,]] but it's kind of moot because they never interact. Being the template from which all reploids are designed, however, he's kind of everyone's father. This never actually comes up, even with [[VideoGame/MegaManZero the Guardians]], who are built directly from his DNA, but it's a little weird.
* TheRuinsICaused: In the first three games, he always gets to watch the Sigma's fortresses going down from far away after he beats Sigma.
* ScarfOfAsskicking: Gets one in ''Command Mission.'' It's not an actual scarf, but a device built into his back that projects a flowing, tattered scarf when he runs. It also comes in a variety of colors (depending on your game progress) and lengthens to a noticeable degree when he dashes. May or may not be a ShoutOut to "older brother" Proto Man and/or PS2 {{Shinobi}}.
* SchematizedProp: You can see X's full blueprint in the opening cutscene in X1.
* ScreamingWarrior: Spends much pre-fight dialogue yelling at bosses, especially after ''X7''. Reaches HamToHamCombat territory against [[LargeHam Sigma]].
** In ''Maverick Hunter X'', he starts off more or less calm and collected. When Zero dies, he goes into full-on UnstoppableRage, and he can't communicate in anything less than a shout.
* ScreamsLikeALittleGirl: His death scream in ''X4'', thanks to the crappy voice acting, and being voiced by the same girly voice as Mega Man in ''VideoGame/MegaMan8''.
* SealedGoodInACan: More or less. He ends up being the template for all kinds of evil, but then his best buddy has it even worse there. TheyFightCrime, by the way.
* [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan Sensitive Guy]]
* ShoutOut: His in-game attacks have included [[StreetFighter the Hadouken and Shoryuken]] (the latter twice), and in the OVA he seems to pull off [[GGundam the Shining Finger]]...[[ActorAllusion complete with shared]] [[HeyItsThatVoice voice actor!]]
** [[DeadRising Frank West's]] Mega Man armor is clearly a takeoff on X's look. This then became a MythologyGag in one of the ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'' trailers, as West using said armor for a special attack alongside Zero made it look like the X/Zero combination might be together for the game after all...for all of half a second.
* SkilledButNaive: He's this, at first (especially apparent in The Day of Sigma OVA). He slowly loses his naivete over time, but is still apparently idealistic and pacifistic.
* StoryBreakerPower: He literally has unlimited potential. In fact the attempted reboot of his series, ''Maverick Hunter X'', has Dr. Light state that X can evolve as he fights, explaining how he retains certain powers and upgrades between games. The only reason he has problems in battle is his kindness causes him to hold back.
* SupportingProtagonist: Unless ''[[ContinuityReboot Maverick Hunter X]]'' is taken into account, as it gives X a good deal more focus.
** Given that [[SpotlightStealingSquad Zero]] has all of his plot threads dropped post-X5, X may have regained a degree of prominence, in the sense that the other protagonists were dropped to his level, rather than him being brought back up to theirs.
* SuperPrototype: Though only because Cain did a really half-assed job duplicating his technology. Not that it's entirely his fault, mind you, Dr. Light was just that damn good, but basically the plot of almost every game is the result of his inferior skills.
* SwissArmyHero: In any game with multiple armor sets, but especially ''X5''. Drawing from the third game's opening, fandom sometimes takes this SerialEscalation and depicts him swapping through ''every armor set ever.''
* SwordAndGun: Some games have him using a saber alongside his buster, but he tends to fare more in the "Gun" department.
* TechnicalPacifist[=/=]ReluctantWarrior: He swings back and forth, depending on the game. ''X3'', ''X4'' and ''X7'' leaned more towards ReluctantWarrior, the others portrayed him as a TechnicalPacifist.
* TenMinuteRetirement: ''X7''. Fans were nonplussed. Of course, diplomacy never works in an action series, so he came back.
** [[HesBack And when he does,]] he becomes [[GameBreaker a complete ass-whooper.]] It really makes up for having yourself tortured by playing as [[ReplacementScrappy Axl.]]
* TransformationSequence: Going into a level, you'll usually see X summon his PoweredArmor before becoming playable (provided you've gotten it, of course).
** In ''X8'', even though he's already in the armor as he warps in, he performs the gesture anyway.
* TragicKeepsake: He keeps Zero's Z-Saber after Zero's death in ''X5'', up until ''X7''.
* TwentyFourHourArmor: More specifically his helmet, X is the ''only'' Mega Man not shown have some kind of synthetic/artificial hair, and one of the few who does not take off his helmet when the smoke goes down at the end of the adventure; this has led many to believe that X does not have hair, just a metal plate like {{Robocop}} without his helmet.
** In the manga Rockman X4 in the few last pages near the end of the manga, it hints that X may actually have hair. [[http://digitalmegamanworld.com/Rockman-X-Manga/RockManX4/vol3/page77 See for yourself]]
* UnconsciousObjector: In the OVA, he gets impaled with a light saber and given a HannibalLecture, he has a flashback, finds some courage to keep fighting, and reacts for a brief moment, enough to pass ''through'' Sigma's Saber and cause him his signature scar. When Sigma reacts and was going to attack, notices X is now immobile (he kind of stabbed him right into his energy generator or something like that) so he retires, satisfied as he witnessed the "Hidden Potential" Dr. Cain talked about.
* UnderestimatingBadassery: arguably the point of ''The Day Of Sigma'', and [[WhatCouldHaveBeen probably the entire]] {{Retool}}. To be fair, while he's already a badass at that point, he's still naive and hesitant.
** To some degree in the actual games too. Being a centuries-old "robotic relic" who is also a TechnicalPacifist, many reploids think he'd be a cinch to defeat despite the fact he's a famous Maverick Hunter. They're more than a little surprised when he destroys them.
* VideoGameFlight: His Falcon Armor from ''X5'' makes him able to do this.
* ViolenceReallyIsTheAnswer: He had always tried to be a pacifist, but he quickly concluded (or at least, decided before the first game) that fighting was necessary to bring about peace, to the point that he states that he is not afraid to fight his best friend Zero to stop him from getting corrupted in X5, and his enemy Sigma if he keeps showing up to stop the reconstruction of the world in X6. Then he suddenly made a decision to become an ActualPacifist in X7, which everyone else (including the players) hated him for. Once you save enough reploids or beat all 8 mavericks however, X decides (again), that yes, Violence is necessary. Then he becomes playable.
** His reasoning is somewhat sound: he doesn't want to fight anymore because he's tired of killing (he's spent four of the last six games fighting without any direct correlation to helping people that he can see). Given his power, he's very good at killing, and he decides that his abilities and hesitance are better used in more of a leadership role (where he plays the devil's advocate more often than not, arguing that violence is not the answer). After you rescue enough reploids, he realizes there are a lot of people in the line of fire in what's essentially a custody dispute gone nuclear, and decides to fight to save them, not to stop the fighting (that's incidental).
* VocalDissonance: In ''X4'', he had the same voice actor as the original Mega Man in ''8''. The voice was already rather overdone for Mega Man, but for X, it just becomes plain unfitting.
* WaveMotionGun: On occasion. ''X8'' features one as a Buster Part ''and'' FinishingMove.
* WeakButSkilled: He's almost always smaller and less technically able than the opponents he faces, but he's goddamn unstoppable once he starts. Add the fact that every game still manages to have ThatOneBoss even after he gets his 'Ultimate' armor.
* {{Wimpification}}: Happens mostly to X in fan works, because he's a peace-loving ReluctantWarrior[=/=]TechnicalPacifist who has a moral conflict, and is quite {{angst}}y about it. Remember that, despite all of them, he's still have a strong will to defeat his enemies. It ''did'' happen in canon, however, in ''X7'', where he took a TenMinuteRetirement and during and afterwards, constantly whined about having to fight.
* XMakesAnythingCool: his name.
* YoureInsane: ''Maverick Hunter X'' has the titular Azure Hunter pointing out that Sigma has completely lost it to his subordinates. None of them deny it, but rather believe that Sigma, despite his insanity, [[MechanicalEvolution has a good point]], and people would rather ignore it than deal with the implications.
--> '''Sigma''': Our potential is limitless!\\
'''X''': You think you have potential?! You're insane, Sigma!
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Zero]]
::'''Zero (DWN-∞)'''
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/487px-Zero10_Kopie.jpg]]
The beloved EnsembleDarkhorse of the series, Zero has been described by the series creator as "the other main character who gets all the good scenes."
-->''Voiced by: RyotaroOkiayu (JP), Lucas Gilbertson (EN, X8), JohnnyYongBosch (EN, [[MarvelVSCapcom3 MvC3]])''
* AIIsACrapshoot: According to the Zero Collection's story, the reason he was berserk before he joined the Maverick Hunters was because a programming error occurred in Zero that caused him to become violent and uncontrollable, and it was for this reason why Wily had him sealed away (apparently he couldn't control him without risk of him being killed by him). Ironically, the Maverick Virus was the only reason Zero became somewhat pacified after being defeated by Sigma.
* AmnesiacDissonance: He was originally designed by a certain MadScientist for the express purpose of destroying all in his path before losing his memory. Come to think of it, what he currently does isn't much different...
* AntiAntichrist: Dr. Wily created him to wreak havoc on the entire world; he instead became one of the world's legendary defenders.
* ArmCannon: The Z-buster is always there. We just can't use it sometimes because...[[GameplayAndStorySegregation stuff]].
* AscendedExtra: Somehow pushed his way from MauveShirt status to the co-protagonist role - even after ''being killed!''
** TwoWords: PopularityPower: just read the trope entry.
* TheAtoner: one of the largest examples of the trope. [[BrokenAce It doesn't help that the original virus came from him by design.]]
* AxCrazy: Before his HeelFaceTurn. He even had a SlasherSmile!
** Not to mention his LaughingMad...
* BackFromTheDead: [[NeverLiveItDown Fans think he does this all the time, even though he's only done it twice.]]
* {{Badass}}: ''THE'' physical embodiment of awesome in the series.
** BadassBack: He pulled this out after teleporting in a stage, or after killing bosses. This is brought out to ''MarvelVsCapcom3.''
** BadassBoast: From ''X2'':
-->''"You should have read the blueprints closer. There is only'' one ''Zero!"''
** BadassInDistress: He was kidnapped by Vile as a bait for X in the first game. Then, after Vile gets his hands on X, Zero [[BreakingTheBonds breaks out of the cage]] and then he does the HeroicSacrifice to destroy Vile's Ride Armor.
*** Something similar happens in ''Maverick Hunter X'', where Zero is ''knocked out'' and Vile immediately captures him without battling him. Zero regains consciousness and then proceeds to do the aforementioned HeroicSacrifice.
** BadassLonghair: Oh ye of the mighty RapunzelHair!
** HeartbrokenBadass: Although the circumstances are different from the norm.
** OneManArmy: Yup, same as X.
** SealedBadassInACan: [[BookEnds Both at the beginning and the "end" of this series.]]
* BattleAura: In his SuperpoweredEvilSide.
** Also when X (or himself) is beaten in Vile Mode's DualBoss fight in ''Maverick Hunter X'', he (or X) would employ an aura, which tells the player that [[BerserkButton he's pissed.]]
* BerserkButton: Iris's death in ''X4''. After that, he didn't care ''who'' he was fighting [[HeroicBSOD until the end of the game...]]
* BigDamnHeroes: He manages to pull at least one ''per SNES game'', with the last marking his debut as a player character. The best example is his EstablishingCharacterMoment below.
* BigBrotherMentor: Towards X in ''X1''.
* {{Bishounen}}: Even {{lampshaded}} by Bass.[[hottip:*:Bass called him "too girly" to be the strongest robot, as Wily claimed it.]] See "EarlyBirdCameo" below.
* BlackBox: Same case as X, though not as pronounced.
* BloodFromTheMouth: The first game has him with blood/mech fluid/oil/some red substance running from the corner of his mouth after sacrificing himself to destroy Vile's Ride Armor. Notably, he does not bleed from anywhere else despite having been [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe torn in half]].
* BlondGuysAreEvil: Well, that was Wily's plan, anyway.
* BreakoutCharacter
* BringMyRedJacket: He's a red robot, and he mainly uses melee attacks, and he's a GlassCannon. Do the math.
* BroughtToYouByTheLetterS: The stylized "Z" insignia on his shoulder(s). According to a certain {{flashback}}, Wily's own insignia can be found on his PowerCrystal.
* CallingYourAttacks: Started in ''X8'' to keep X company.
* [[CelibateHero Celibate]][=/=]ChasteHero: With Iris's tragedy still fresh in his mind, he believes he's not ready to have another romantic pursuit. This is seen with Layer, although he's ''also'' just plain [[ObliviousToLove oblivious to her advances.]]
* CharClone: WordOfGod confirms it.
* CharacterDevelopment: Post ''X4'', in spades. After Iris' death, his character changes dramatically. His carefree personality turns into a grim, serious, no nonsense one (as evidenced by his victory pose changing from a thumbs up to a simply head turn). He's still a good friend to X, but is less willing to hold his hand through tough situations and is more than willing to [[WhatTheHellHero call him out]] for his naivete and idealism as seen in ''Command Mission''. His originally witty humor becomes dry, biting and cynical. Even his ''theme music'' changes from energetic rock to slow, solemn, and even outright melancholic.
* ChickMagnet: One [[TheGwenStacy tragic girlfriend]], and ''two'' more "admirers". It doesn't seem impressive compared to other examples, until you realize that one of those admirers is ''[[InterspeciesRomance human]]''. There's also Ferham and Leviathan, who [[FoeYay really]] seem to [[{{Yandere}} enjoy]] fighting Zero, and Prairie, who loved Giro because he reminded her of Zero.
* ClimaxBoss: Alternative to the article that X also has above. It was all because of a little misunderstanding. [[EvilPlan Most of it went according to Sigma's plan, though.]]
** In the path to the Bad Ending, however, [[SuperpoweredEvilSide the stakes are much, MUCH higher...]]
* ContinuityCameo: The Tenshouha from ''X8'' actually debuted in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 3'', and is pretty much useless aside from the nod - it actually drains ammo, keeps Zero in place, and unlike in that game, does not prevent CollisionDamage.
* CrutchCharacter: In his original playable appearance in ''X3'', Zero amounted to a potent MightyGlacier who, while incredibly useful early on, paled in comparison to a fully-upgraded X. In the RPG, ''Command Mission,'' he is the strongest member of your party early on, but leaves for a long stretch of the game. When he returns, however, he's still very strong.
* DeusExitMachina: Before he became a playable character, he was only around when the plot needed his power. And then, later, ''Command Mission'' also puts him out of commission for a good portion of the game.
* DistantFinale: Zero's ending in ''X6'' (where Zero seals himself to get rid of the virus within him) is stated to happen long after the end of the whole ''X'' series.
* DivergentCharacterEvolution: Following ''X3'', his buster was de-emphasized in favor of the melee-oriented gameplay most associate him with.
* DoNotRunWithAGun: Zero is the one who really takes it on the chin here; in several of the games, he puts away his Z-Saber after each attack or combo, and you can't move until he does this. (You also can't move until his ''ponytail finishes falling.'') The PS2 X games fix this by having him keep the saber out at all times, which looks silly but makes practical sense. In [[VideoGame/MegaManZero his own series]], Zero has a much smoother combat system that never pins him down.
* DoubleJump: In ''X4'' and ''X5'', Zero learns a move which allows him to do a double jump in mid-air (accompanied by the spinning attack mentioned below). He learns it permanently from ''X6'' onwards.
* EarlyBirdCameo: Appears in Bass' ending in Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters in Dr. Wily's blueprint.
* ElementalPunch: Some of his copied techniques involve giving an element to his saber.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: X getting his ass handed to him by the ''very first HopelessBossFight'' in the series? Cue the [[AwesomeMusic/MegaMan awesome]] ThemeMusicPowerUp, an ArmCannon [[TwangHello being charged]], and then Vile goes OhCrap.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: In ''X4'' and ''X5'', Zero learns a move which allows him to do a spin-slash in mid-air. By ''X6'' onwards, his normal air slash has been replaced by it. And in ''X6'', ''X7'' and ''X8'', he still gets more spinning moves.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Zero is supposed to be '''''the''''' Mega Man X, but was instead turned into the secondary character, replaced by an {{Expy}}. Another example: see FranchiseZombie below.
** According to the Official Complete Works, Inafune himself made the decision after he finished the design for the main character, deciding people would not relate him to Mega Man because he looked too different. So he had someone else design the main character, and instead presented his design as the "side character".
* {{Expy}}: [=ProtoMan=].EXE is half this, [[CompositeCharacter half the expy of Blues.]] Girouette and Model ZX are both this and the legacy-bearer of both leads.
** And Zero.EXE from ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork Network Transmission]]'', who was made as a computer virus to infect other Navis and computer systems before being defeated by [=MegaMan.EXE=] (and becoming a purified Navi in the good ending).
** Zero himself, in the X series, was an expy of the Classic Proto Man in the first X game, and was even referred to as "a Blues like character" in early Japanese publications that came out before the game. But then he undergoes a CharacterDevelopment in ''X4'', and in ''X5'' onward, he becomes his own character (his cold, stoic, no-nonsense persona).
* FanNickname: "The Red Ripper" or "The Crimson Hunter." An odd inversion is that his popular fan "full name," Zero Omega, turned out to have a significant connection ([[ItWasHisSled which you should already know]]) to the SequelSeries.
* FirstEpisodeResurrection: Well, okay, he dies in the first game and is resurrected in the second, but he otherwise fits the trope entirely. It could be considered an example of the series taking on more and more JapaneseMediaTropes (Inafune has noted the influences often), except that this was apparently ''unplanned.''
* FlashbackNightmare: In the beginning of X4, Zero has a nightmare about the circumstances of his creation, as well as slaughtering several Reploids upon being reactivated. It's also implied that he's had this nightmare at least once before.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: A subtle one from ''X5'': part of the opening music and start menu theme is actually Zero's death theme from the first game. Guess what happens at the end of the game...
* GlassCannon: He's a devastating fighter with his saber, and he takes lots of damage. Even more with his Black Zero upgrade in ''X8'', which doubles the damage he deals and takes. ''Even more'' with the Red Lotus Saber in ''Command Mission'', which adds his defense stats to his power stat, but sets the defense stats to zero.
** This stays true to his cameos in ''VideoGame/SNKVsCapcomSVCChaos'', ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'' and ''MarvelVsCapcom3''.
** ''X3'' takes this UpToEleven. He's far more powerful than X to begin with, and still on par with X even after upgrades. However, if Zero dies even ''once'' in the game, whether from losing all his energy or falling into a BottomlessPit, he can't be used again unless you restart from scratch (or use a password generator to get him back).
* GoodIsNotNice: He tends to shoot first, ask question later when encountering Mavericks. What makes it worse is that those Mavericks sometimes [[StrawmanHasAPoint have a point about what they did.]]
* GoodOldRobot: Same deal as X.
* GratuitousJapanese: In the games where his Command Arts are not translated.
* GroundPound: In his [[SmartBomb Giga Attacks]].
* HeadsIWinTailsYouLose: In ''X5'', X vs Zero -- No matter what character you use and Zero's condition (being Maverick or not), your fight will end in a DoubleKnockout.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Due to MultipleEndings in some of the games.
* HeroicBSOD: Part of his CharacterDevelopment in ''X4'' is the ending where he anguishes himself over not being able to save and/or protect [[strike:all]] '''any''' of the people he ever cared about, and wondering why he should bother continuing the fight. Although the JerkassFacade seems noticeable from previous games, this is most probably where it came to a head.
** He does experience a relatively minor one in ''Command Mission'' when he learns that not only did Redips manipulate the entire events of the game to both get the Supra-Force metal and get rid of Epsilon, but that Redips also posed as Spider for an undeterminant part of the game. While the others are rushing off to chase Redips, Zero is hesitant to go with them, and then tells X "Spider was actually just Redips?! How badly have we been duped here?!" before X snaps him out of it by reminding him that Redips is going to use the Supra-Force Metal, and that they can't let him do so.
* HeroicResolve: In the end of ''X5'', after he got shot by Sigma while trying to defend X and loses his lower half, he retaliates and gives Sigma one final shot to kill him.
* HeroicSacrifice: If there's any story about Zero, this will ''always'' wind up happening to him. The two SequelSeries (''plus'' one [[AudioAdaptation drama track]], where Zero manages to pull off ''two'' sacrifices) can attest to that.
* HesDeadJim: After he accidentally killed Iris, he realized she was dead after calling her name and trying to shake her back to consciousness.
* HunterOfHisOwnKind: And he is the ''original of his kind'', in fact.
* HumbleHero: In his ''X6'' ending, when he seals himself, he told the scientist who helped him in the sealing that his friend, X, will always be the better hero between them, and that the world would be fine with X still alive at the time.
* HyperspaceArsenal: Here are all of Zero's weapons in ''X7'' and ''X8'':
** [[BladeOnAStick D-Glaive]]
** [[PrecisionGuidedBoomerang V-Hanger]]
** Sigma's [[{{BFS}} Blade]] made out of scrap.
** [[DropTheHammer T-Breaker]]
** [[PowerFist K-Knuckle]], with attacks that are {{Shout Out}}s to the StreetFighter series, again.
** [[PaperFanOfDoom B-Fan]], which somehow projects a BeehiveBarrier (after Zero got the appropriate power from one boss).
* IAmWho: Zero struggles with various levels of amnesia in the this series. He keeps getting flashbacks of his creator, Dr. Wily, but remembers nothing else from before Sigma captured him.
* IconicItem: His Z-Saber.
* IdentityAmnesia: We learn in X4 that he was an evil Maverick when Sigma first found him, and he lost his memory in the fight, waking up sane and sober. The bad ending of X5 shows us what would happen if his Maverick self ever resurfaced, and it ain't pretty.
* IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight: His fight against Iris, as he tries to bring her back in self-defense. Unfortunately, just after she's going back to normal, she dies because of her injuries. Cue Zero's infamous agonizing scream about his (lack of) reason of fighting.
* TheImmune: He takes it one step further: he's immune to the Maverick Virus, and he even becomes stronger the more the virus infects him, as shown in the gameplay. It has to do with Zero being not only the original source of the virus itself, but he is actually made to be able to use it as a power source.
* ItNeverGetsAnyEasier: Almost completely averted, since he doesn't let it bother him. He's not totally heartless, though - he just sees it from a different perspective. When a twin dies along with his BigBad brother (because they shared a CPU), he told the upset X that he knew the consequences and he should honor his sacrifice instead of bemoaning it. However, when his love interest Iris dies in a cruel and pointless war, [[HeroicBSOD he didn't take it well.]]
* ItsPersonal: Very much so in ''X8''. Seems like he's taken way too long to hate Sigma's guts - he's mainly angry about the events of ''X5'' (surprisingly, no mention of Iris) - but other than that, it makes perfect sense.
* JerkassFacade[=/=]JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Deep down, he really ''is'' a very nice guy. Don't let his portrayal in ''Command Mission'' fool you.
** {{Lampshaded}} in the same game, when he actually apologizes for acting like a jerk at one point.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: In the official arts, his LaserBlade is often depicted in a katana-like form.
* KilledOffForReal: ''X5'' supposedly has this happen to him, to ''end the series''. Of course, {{Capcom}} [[ExecutiveMeddling didn't make it stick]]...
* [[KnightKnaveAndSquire The Knave]]
* TheLancer: While the ''X'' series has yet to form a distinctive FiveManBand (the {{secret character}}s of ''X8'' and the cast of ''Command Mission'' notwithstanding), Zero fits this archetype nonetheless.
* LaserBlade
* LaserGuidedTykebomb: His original purpose.
* LaughingMad: How he reacted when fighting Sigma in X4 (not to mention later [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown beating Sigma to a bloody pulp]] when the latter was at his mercy.)
* LipLock: This is the reason for Zero's infamous "WHAT-AM-I-FIGHTING FOOOOOOOOOOR!" line in ''X4'', since his lip movements have his mouth open wide when he says it.
* LonersAreFreaks: Subverted, spit on, blown up, cut to ribbons, set on fire, and then subject to an epic ShutUpHannibal.
* MagnetHands: In the 3D games.
* [[SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan Manly Man]]: Being the ''{{bishonen}}'' of the two, that's saying something.
* MasterSwordsman
** ImplausibleFencingPowers: One of Zero's recurring [[PowerCopying skills]] is an upgrade to his sword that can block projectiles.
* MeaningfulName: The games only give vague allusions to what Zero really stands for, although {{fanon}} speculated that it has a similar meaning to X, i.e. a fixed power that cannot grow, but is already beyond comprehension, neither positive nor negative. It can also mean limitless potential, just in a different way.
** Another possible meaning is "Multiple by Zero," which is to say, [[OmnicidalManiac turn everything to nothingness]].
*** Given how fond he is of [[CleanCut slicing reploids apart]], "Divide by Zero" is equally apt; meaning to destroy utterly.
* TheMentor: for ''X1''.
** MentorOccupationalHazard: He's watched over X from the beginning of the game, forcing Vile to retreat after X couldn't touch him. Obviously, he's the badass of the story, but he's not the title character, so he performs his HeroicSacrifice, leaving X to face Sigma alone, with no chance at a last second rescue. Incidentally, the placement of the Vile fight in the remake justifies the over the top dialogue X uses when he faces Sigma, as it happened at the end of the previous stage, and not at the start of the fortress, making X's fury still fresh. And even though Zero gets better, he's been surpassed by X by the time he returns, and they work as a team from ''X3'' to ''X8''.
* MoreHeroThanThou: In ''X5'', in order to stop the ColonyDrop, one of the heroes has to maneuver a shuttle into crashing into it. Zero volunteered himself, as he stated that, whether or not he (Zero) survives the crash, the world is still in danger, and X is needed more than he is.
* MultiMeleeMaster: In ''X7'' and ''X8'', where he can acquire other melee weapons.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After he beats Iris.
* MyHeroZero: [[TropeCodifier Duh.]]
* MysteriousPast: Even after all this time, all Zero knows of his "father" is a ''silhouette''; but that didn't stop him from learning that he is the cause of most of the hardships in the world up to that point.
** A rather popular Fan Theory is that he killed off the cast from the original series before he was sealed. This, however, has been jossed.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: In the {{Flashback}} cutscene in ''X4'', in his fight against Sigma, at first it seemed like Sigma is controlling the fight, but Zero just keeps getting up, laughing, and finally winning a SingleStrokeBattle, ''fist to Beam Saber'', and then turns the tables completely. Zero is only beaten when his head crystal glows, causing him a headache, and then Sigma punches it, making his opponent unconscious.
* NotSoStoic: His freakout in ''X4'' after Iris' death.
* PatientZero: He (and arguably Sigma) was the very first robot to get infected by the Maverick Virus (stated to be leaking out from Zero's hibernation capsule). Subverted in that he's TheImmune (see said entry above), but he is indirectly the source of the other viral infections of the series. See also "TyphoidMary" below.
* PerpetualFrowner: After Iris dies, he not only stops smiling, practically at all, but loses essentially all of his [[{{BadassBoast}} Badass Boasting]] personality and becomes TheStoic.
** After X4, he no longer throws a thumbs up at the player after beating a boss either. He just turns away.
** Even his theme music has noticeable changes. Where his theme is X4 may have been the peak of giving the feeling that Zero is about to cut down everyone [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5h4luXEc_s in the level]], in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgsBH3zURt8 X5]] and onward, Zero's music becomes a lot more calm and serious sounding.
* PietaPlagiarism: In Iris' death scene, he carries the dead Iris this way.
* PillarOfLight: His Giga Attack in ''X8''. Before that, in ''X6'', he can summon screen-filling [[BeamSpam shower of beams.]]
* PersonOfMassDestruction
* PowerCopying: His Command Arts.
* PowerGivesYouWings: The "[[AnIcePerson Absolute]] [[PunnyName Zero]]" armor from ''Command Mission''. He even resembles his brother's Treble Boost.
* PromotedToPlayable: In ''X3'' by pushing the L button on the pause screen.
* RapunzelHair
* RecurringBoss: ''X2'', ''X5'', ''X6'' ([[EvilKnockoff sort of]]), and ''Maverick Hunter X'' (Vile's route only, as a DualBoss with X), complete with SecretAIMoves.
* [[RedOniBlueOni Red Oni]]
* TheRival: Colonel.
* RoboFamily: Sigma, at least, considers Dr. Wily to be Zero's father. Making [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Bass]] a crappy big brother [[EarlyBirdCameo before he was even born]].
** His ending in ''[[CapcomVsWhatever Tatsunoko vs. Capcom]]'' gives a nod to this, where Dr. Wily actually calls Zero his son.
* SacrificialLamb: In ''X1''. With the help of PopularityPower, he's [[BackFromTheDead revived]] in ''X2''.
* ScrewDestiny: One of the most important character themes for Zero is how he gives destiny the middle finger and defies it every step of the way.
** Or tries to, anyway. As Colonel and Iris (and very nearly X) demonstrate, he's still a threat to those close to him under the wrong circumstances - which Sigma is all too willing to provide. And lest we forget, Omega manages to successfully lay waste to most of the world - he has to show up with a new body and team up with first X and then the Guardians to stall and then destroy him, but the God of Destruction indeed fulfills his purpose.
* SealedEvilInACan
* SecretAIMoves: While ''X5'' and ''X6'' give him back the Z-Buster and the latter hands over a screen-clearing move, the iconic "[[GunsAkimbo twin busters]], then SwordBeam" combo never becomes available. [[VideoGame/MegaManZX Model OX]] gets some of them, at least, and one of them is a Super in ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom.''
** ''Awakening Zero'' has plenty of these. The shots from his Buster combo become ''homing'', and he gets a OneHitKill attack that takes the SwordBeam UpToEleven.
** In ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3'', he ''does'' get ''that'' SwordBeam as a level 3 hyper...except that it does a lot of damage instead of being an instant kill. The player also gets to let him use it in ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone''.
* ShellShockedVeteran
* ShoutOut: Several of his ''X8'' techniques are straight out of ''StreetFighter''. His staple rising sword uppercut is also based on the {{Shoryuken}}.
** In ''Command Mission'' Zero can gain a second, incredibly powerful Hyper Mode armor. It has black bat-like wings, adds smaller bat wings to his helmet, claws on his hands and dark armor on his body and legs. It's a nod to his predecessor Bass and his power armor upgrade, the Treble Boost.
* ShutUpHannibal: In ''Maverick Hunter X'':
-->'''Vile''': ''Hmpf...Zero...Why would someone as powerful as you align yourself with X? He's just a B-Class Hunter, nothing more!''\\
'''Zero''': ''Vile...You're nothing but a Maverick now.''
* TheSouthpaw: Cutscenes and official art consistently depict him wielding his saber with his left hand.
* SpotlightStealingSquad: Inafune wanted him to be ''the'' main character. Even after [[ExecutiveMeddling Capcom forced him to change his mind]], [[WriterRevolt Inafune didn't change his plans.]]
* SpringJump: With an acquired ability in ''X6''. If he high jumps into the ceiling, [[CeilingCling he can cling to it]] and can [[AnIcePerson shoot icicles from his saber.]]
* TheSuperego: In relation to his teammates X and Axl. The coldest of the bunch, only concerned in missions, likes to take shoot-first-ask-questions-later approach. He's still a nice guy deep down, though.
* SuperpoweredEvilSide: which, Sigma would like to point out, is his ''real'' self.
* TheStoic
* SwissArmyWeapon: The Z-Saber from ''X4'' onwards.
* SwordAndGun: Technically starting from ''X2'''s "bad" scenario where he's a boss, which gave birth to the famous "buster-buster-SwordBeam" combo of his. In the next game where he's playable, his buster is still more emphasized, with the saber only coming out for delivering a strong attack. On ''X4'' onwards, as a DivergentCharacterEvolution, the saber gets emphasized more.
* [[TakeUpMySword Take Up My Buster]]: After his HeroicSacrifice in ''X1''. A more literal version occurs in ''X3'' where the Z-Saber is an InfinityPlusOneSword ([[GuideDangIt if you meet the required conditions]]) and at the end of ''X5''.
* ThemeDeck: His {{Signature Move}}s, the Z-saber (triple slash) and Z-buster (two buster shots + SwordBeam) combos, stand out of all of his other Command Arts since they are present in some form in all games. However, the latter was never used again from ''X7'' and beyond. As a CallBack, though, ''Omega'' Zero uses both attacks again in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 3'' (and you can use it as Model OX in ''ZX'').
* TooLongDidntDub: Probably done for RuleOfCool, all of Zero's moves were left untranslated in X4, X6, X7 and X8.
* TyphoidMary: It is said that Zero unknowingly spread his virus around as he ventured around the globe. This leads to him sealing himself, to stop the spread, in his ending in ''X6''.
* VideoGameFlight: At least as a bug in ''X8''. Kinda funny, and it lets you bypass the worst parts of the final dungeon - could you ask for more? Oh, and Layer can do it too.
* TheVirus
* WeaponOfChoice: Post-X4, his Z-Saber becomes this. He actually receives the Saber in X2, but only uses single slashes in conjunction with Buster Shots until X4, where the Saber becomes his primary.
* WeCanRebuildHim: After he died in the first game, the second had the X-Hunters rebuild him, or at least the parts of it, which X had to steal for the Maverick Hunters to rebuild him.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Zero was originally intended to have his own Ultimate Armor in ''X4''. It was also implied that the design of the armor dealt with his connection to Dr. Wily. However, it was ultimately cut, replaced with the Palette Swap known as the Zero Armor/Black Zero.
* WhatTheHellHero: In ''Command Mission'', he chastises X for being so trusting all the time, stating that it's because of such naivete that Shadow managed to betray them.
* WhiteHairedPrettyBoy: In his [[InfinityPlusOneSword Zero Armor]].
* WolverinePublicity: Aside from starring in two (arguably three) out of the 7 series, he was referenced ''and'' cameoed in two more (''[[VideoGame/MegaManLegends Legends]]'', ''[[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork Battle Network]]'', with the latter even including a Main/{{Captain Ersatz}}/{{Expy}}) and finally, appearing in a roster in [[strike:two]] ''three'' games of the ''CapcomVsWhatever'' series. ''Whew...''
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Axl]]
::'''Axl'''
[[quoteright:215:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/215px-Axl_x7.jpg]]
A former member of Red Alert (a BountyHunter organization), turned Maverick Hunter; since the only difference is the government sanction, this hasn't really changed his outlook on life. The prototype of the next generation of reploid evolution, Axl's copy ability allows him to effectively become anyone.
-->''Voiced by: MinamiTakayama (JP), Jeffrey Watson (EN, X8)''
* AnimeHair
* BloodKnight: He tends to answer questions regarding his motive like this.
* BottomlessMagazines: In ''X8'', all of his weapons have this property.
* CallingYourAttacks: By the ''name of the weapon''.
* TheCameo: Appears briefly in Zero's ''Tatsunoko vs. Capcom'' ending.
* ChargedAttack: He has one in his original appearance, but the BagOfSpilling takes it away as part of his later SuperheroSpeciation.
* ChekhovsBoomerang: Blink and you'll miss it, but Sigma's plan in ''X7'' (before the whole GambitRoulette went OffTheRails) was to have Axl copy the data of X and Zero, presumably with the intent of hijacking him from there. This seemingly irrelevant plot point is eventually revisited in ''X8'' (specifically, where it's revealed that Axl is the prototype of the New Generation Reploids), in ''Command Mission'' (with final boss Redips and his officers in the far east Hunter division being the products of secretly restarted copy chip manufacturing) and (although Axl may or may not be personally involved) ''VideoGame/MegaManZX Advent''.
* CousinOliver
* DoNotRunWithAGun: Much like Bass from ''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'', Axl in ''X8' can fire in multiple directions (including diagonally), but he can't run while doing so.
* DualWield: In ''Command Mission'' his Axl Bullets weapon is his default gun times two, and two other weapons are also dual guns. In ''X7'' one of the Maverick weapons lets him wield dual guns and attack two enemies at once GunsAkimbo.
* {{Expy}}: [[VideoGame/MegaManZX Mega Man Model A]], an expy of unclear origin. To a gameplay extent Axl himself might be considered one of [[VideoGame/MegaMan Bass]], minus the double jump.
* FireForgedFriends: Has to work ''hard'' to earn X and Zero's trust and friendship, specifically because he was ''an assassin'' for a group that are AmbiguouslyEvil. His own tendency to avoid answering questions, and the fact that Red Alert was more than happy to ''go to war'' with the Maverick Hunters to get him back didn't help him at all. By ''X8'', he has earned it.
* FlawedPrototype: His copy ability doesn't work on anything more massive than he himself is. He seems to have ironed this out by the time of ''Command Mission.''
** DisabilityImmunity: However, unlike the others, he apparently also lacked Sigma's DNA due to being a prototype. As such, he has no active compunction of going with Sigma's will (i.e killing humans) because of it.
* FragileSpeedster: A variant; there's nothing wrong with his defense, but his attack power is relatively low in ''X8.'' In ''Command Mission'' he has somewhat low health compared to X and Zero at the same level.
* [[GoodScarsEvilScars Good Scars]]: [[XMarksTheHero Shaped like an X]], to boot.
* GunsAkimbo
* HeroWorshipper: According to character data. Never adhered to anywhere else.
* TheId: In relation of X and Zero. Likes to get on X's and Zero's nerves, and is also very eager and interested in fighting and doesn't put concern of deep matters.
* InfinityPlusOneSword: The White Armor from ''X8,'' which lets him remain airborne indefinitely while firing...and oddly enough, heals [[XMarksTheHero his scar]].
* MarkedChange: The red lines on Axl's body pulse when he's preparing to shapeshift.
* MoreDakka: When the GunsAkimbo don't entirely cut it, Axl pulls a gatling gun, a grenade launcher, frikkin laser beams, a Magnum that ignores walls...
* MultiRangedMaster
* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: He does not join the uprising of the "pure" new generation Reploids in ''X8''. They, in turn, regard him with contempt and (occasionally) regret.
* MysteriousPast: He cannot remember anything from before his Red Alert days. [[AllThereInTheManual Sourcebooks]] give some hints - he retains certain responses, such as his hatred for Mavericks and admiration of X, but he cannot remember ''why'' he feels that way. Red (see SelfMadeOrphan below) refuses to talk about how they met.
* OneManArmy: Of course.
* PowerCopying: His Special Arms.
* PowerPerversionPotential: Pointed out amusingly [[http://glitcher.deviantart.com/art/Axl-and-Alia-koma-29802370 here]] (safe for work).
** And then we have [[http://www.drneko.com/scanlation/rmseries/rmx/koma/x7/index.php?Result_Set=12 this]].
* PsychoPrototype: Inverted. He is the prototype for the next-generation reploid line, but he himself is actually quite sane (even with his BloodKnight tendencies). It's the mass-produced versions, especially Lumine and Redips, who were very much insane.
* QuestForIdentity: Hinted at when he first appears in ''Command Mission.''
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: the actual line was not said, but he defected from Red Alert when they started killing people who weren't bad guys.
* SequelHook: Involved in a big one in ''X8.'' It [[LeftHanging hasn't been settled, yet]]; [[WildMassGuessing theories abound.]]
* SelfMadeOrphan: Red is his ''adopted'' father, at least...
* ShoutOut: Briefly acquires what is quite obviously the [[{{Metroid}} Morph Ball]] to solve one puzzle in ''X8.''
* ShutUpHannibal[=/=]TalkToTheFist: His most famous positive moment.
* SpamAttack
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: it's a small running gag in {{fanon}} whether or not Axl knows how to spell his own name...
* [[KnightKnaveAndSquire The Squire]]
* SuperheroSpeciation: Axl's "skillset" from ''X7'' is pretty much the same set that X will use after the end of his TenMinuteRetirement. Fortunately for Axl, ''X8'' fixed the problem by giving him a different set of skills.
** ''Command Mission'' also rectifies this by making Axl a [[SummonMagic summoner]] akin to the traditional {{RPG}}s (Well, what he did is transforming into a defeated boss and using one of its attack, but it generally has the same effect).
* SwissArmyHero: He's got data from all the bosses in ''Command Mission'' and can transform into any of them. ''Command Mission'' is not a platform game, and this amounts to only using an attack, but as stated above, his expy does much better in ''ZX Advent.''
* TagalongKid: in ''X7'' at least. He "grew up" before ''X8''.
* TookALevelInBadass: after ''X7''.
** RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap
* TriggerHappy: On par with him being a BloodKnight, in contrast to X and Zero.
* UnnecessaryCombatRoll: In this case, it provides immunity to projectiles.
* UtilityWeapon: The various forms Axl takes using Copy Shot are mostly useful in overcoming obstacles.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: It's anyone's guess what became of him (or indeed, the entire supporting cast) between the last game and ''VideoGame/MegaManZero.'' His {{Expy}} in ''VideoGame/MegaManZX Advent'' is obviously inspired from him in design and gameplay, but canonically doesn't ([[EpilepticTrees seem to]]) originate from him, which solves...absolutely nothing.
* XMarksTheHero: How he got the scars or why they are still there remains unknown. A [[http://www.drneko.com/scanlation/rmseries/rmx/koma/x7/index.php?Result_Set=10 4koma]] states that they're self-inflicted.
* YoungGun
[[/folder]]
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