Maverick (Mega Man)

A Maverick, in the video game series Mega Man X and Mega Man Zero, is a Reploid who generally defies the will of the Maverick Hunters or of the human governments. In the Japanese games, they are called Irregulars.

Maverick causes

There is no single cause for a Reploid to "go Maverick", but generally a Maverick will fall into one of three categories.

Viral Mavericks

Main article: Maverick Virus

The major cause of Mavericks is a computer virus called the Maverick Virus. The virus usually causes the infected Reploid to become very violent and irrational, though this is not always the case (such as the Maverick Sigma). Viral Mavericks lose their inhibitions and generally succomb to the belief that the human race is limiting the potential of Reploids. Viral Mavericks often deliberately try to injure or kill humans. They will also attack other Reploids that try to defend humans.

Mavericks in this catagory include the infamous former head of the Maverick Hunters, Sigma, and Reploid scientists Dr. Doppler and Gate.

Free-will Mavericks

Some (though relatively few) Mavericks are called such because they actively choose to go against the will of the humans. They usually are petty criminals or rebels against the government. These Mavericks usually do not act irrational (at least not as irrational as viral Mavericks).

The best example of free-will Mavericks would be the Resistance in Mega Man Zero.

Political Mavericks

Not all Mavericks try to harm humans or the government. Because the distinction of who is or is not Maverick is decided by the Maverick Hunters, sometimes groups will be unjustly called Maverick for political reasons or misunderstandings.

Most notably, this happened with the Repliforce, a Reploid army which was crushed by the Hunters. After realising the mistake, the then leader of the Maverick Hunters resigned, appointing Signas in his place.

Problems caused by Mavericks

Mavericks present a large problem to the governments in the Mega Man X series. They actively fight against the governments and the Maverick Hunters, causing large amounts of collateral damage during their attacks.

Mavericks are usually the most destructive when they group together. This is usually hard for viral Mavericks to acomplish, but numerous times Sigma has been able to use them for his elaborate schemes against the Maverick Hunters.

Responses to Mavericks

Maverick Hunters

Main article: Maverick Hunters

Due to the many problems posed by Mavericks, the Maverick Hunters were formed by Dr. Cain. The Hunters enlist Reploid soldiers to fight the Mavericks and perform rescue operations on their victims. On numerous occasions, this organization has stopped Maverick attacks on human cities, but it has also failed to prevent some large-scale damage, such as the crashes of the two space colonies Eurasia and Sky Lagoon and the destruction of Doppeltown.

Mercenary groups

Also combatting the Maverick threat are various mercenary groups, most notably the Red Alert Syndicate. These organisations tend to be illegal and are also targeted by the Maverick Hunters.

Neo Arcadia

In the Mega Man Zero series, the government of Neo Arcadia has strict anti-Reploid laws designed to protect the human populace from Mavericks. This results in much oppression of Reploid workers who are often executed for petty crimes or other false pretenses. A Maverick group called the Resistance, led by the human Ciel, is attempting to overthrow the Neo Arcadia government, which they believe to be unjust.

Maverick Bosses

These "minor bosses" serve the same general purpose as the Robot Masters of the original series. Japanese Names are listed first. English names are in parentheses (if available).

Mega Man X

• Armor Armage (Armored Armadillo) Weapon: Rolling Shield
• Boomer Kuwanger Weapon: Boomerang Cutter
• Burnin' Noumander (Flame Mammoth) Weapon: Fire Wave
• Icy Penguigo (Chill Penguin) Weapon: Shotgun Ice
• Launcher Octopuld (Launch Octopus) Weapon: Homing Torpedo
• Spark Mandriller (Spark Mandrill) Weapon: Electric Spark
• Sting Chameleao (Sting Chameleon) Weapon: Chameleon Sting
• Storm Eagleed (Storm Eagle) Weapon: Storm Tornado

Mega Man X2

• Bubbly Crablos (Bubble Crab) Weapon: Bubble Splash
• Cristar Mymine (Crystal Snail) Weapon: Crystal Hunter
• Flame Stagger (Flame Stag) Weapon: Speed Burner
• Magne Hyakulegger (Magna Centipede) Weapon: Magnet Mine
• Metamor Mothmeanos (Morph Moth) Weapon: Silk Shot
• Sonic Ostreague (Overdrive Ostrich) Weapon: Sonic Slicer
• Wheel Alligates (Wheel Gator) Weapon: Spin Wheel
• Wire Hetimarl (Wire Sponge) Weapon: Strike Chain

Mega Man X3

• Acid Seaforce (Toxic Seahorse) Weapon: Acid Burst
• Electro Namazuros (Volt Catfish) Weapon: Triad Thunder
• Explose Horneck (Blast Hornet) Weapon: Parasitic Bomb
• Frozen Buffalio (Blizzard Buffalo) Weapon: Frost Shield
• Gravity Beetbood (Gravity Beetle) Weapon: Gravity Well
• Scissors Shrimper (Crush Crawfish) Weapon: Spinning Blade
• Screw Masaider (Tunnel Rhino) Weapon: Tornado Fang
• Shining Tigerd (Neon Tiger) Weapon: Ray Splasher

Mega Man X4

• Cyber Kujacker (Cyber Peacock) Weapons: Aiming Laser (X), Rakuhouha/Fallen Phoenix Crush (Zero)
• Frost Kibatodos (Frost Walrus) Weapons: Frost Tower (X), Hyouretsuzan/Ice Stab (Zero)
• Jet Stingren (Jet Stingray) Weapons: Ground Hunter (X), Hienkyaku/Flying Jump (Zero)
• Magmard Dragoon (Magma Dragoon) Weapons: Rising Fire (X), Ryuenjin/Dragon Flame Blade (Zero)
• Slash Beastleo (Slash Beast) weapons: Twin Slasher (X), Shippuuga/Hurricane Fang (Zero)
• Split Mushroom Weapons: Soul Body (X), Kuuenbu/Sky Waltz (Zero)
• Storm Fukuroul (Storm Owl) Weapons: Double Cyclone (X), Tenkuuha/Sky Command (Zero)
• Web Spidus (Web Spider) Weapons: Lightning Web (X), Raijingeki/Thunder God Attack (Zero)

Mega Man X5

• Burn Dinorex (Mattrex) Weapons: Ground Fire (X), Danchien/Quake Blazer (Zero)
• Crescent Grizzly (Grizzly Slash) Weapons: Crescent Shot (X), Mikazukizan/Crescent Sword (Zero)
• Dark Necrobat (Dark Dizzy) Weapon: Dark Hold (X and Zero)
• Shining Hotarunius (Izzy Glow) Weapons: Firefly Laser (X), Messenko/Circle Flasher (Zero)
• Spike Rosered (Axle the Red) Weapons: Spike Ball (X), Sogenmu/Twin Dream (Zero)
• Spiral Pegacion (The Skiver) Weapons: Wing Spiral (X), Shippu/Wind Shredder
• Tidal Makkoeen (Duff McWhalen) Weapons: Goo Shaver (X), Hisuisho/Frost Splasher (Zero)
• Volt/Bolt Kraken (Squid Adler) Weapons: Tri-Thunder (X), Denjin/Electric Blade (Zero)

Mega Man X6

• Blaze Heatnix Weapons: Magma Blade (X), Shoenzan (Zero)
• Blizzard Wolfang Weapons: Ice Burst (X), Hyoroga (Zero)
• Commander Yammark Weapon: Yammar Option (X and Zero)
• Ground Scaravich Weapons: Ground Dash (X), Sentsuizan (Zero)
• Infinity Mijinion Weapons: Ray Arrow (X), Rekkoha (Zero)
• Metal Shark Player Weapons: Metal Anchor (X), Rakukojin (Zero)
• Rainy Turtloid Weapons: Meteor Rain (X), Ensuizan (Zero)
• Shieldner Sheldon (Shield Sheldon) Weapon: Guard Shell (X and Zero)

Mega Man X7

• Flame Hyenard Weapons: Circle Blaze (X and Axl), Bakuenjin (Zero)
• Hellride Inobusky (Ride Boarski) Weapons: Moving Wheel (X and Axl), Zankourin (Zero)
• Snipe Ariquick (Snipe Anteator) Weapons: Sniper Missile (X and Axl), Hieijin (Zero)
• Solider Stonekong Weapons: Gaea Shield (X and Axl), Gokumonken (Zero)
• Splash Wafly (Splash Warfly) Weapons: Splash Laser (X and Axl), Suiretsusen (Zero)
• Tornado Debonion (Tornado Tonion) Weapons: Volt Tornado (X and Axl), Raijinshou (Zero)
• Vanishing Galgaroon (Vanishing Gungaroo) Weapons: Explosion (X and Axl), Hadangeki (Zero)
• Wind Karasting (Wind Crowrang) Weapons: Wind Cutter (X and Axl), Souenbu (Zero)

Mega Man X8

• Bamboo Pandemonium (Bamboo Pandamonium) Weapons: Green Spinner (X), Youdantotsu (Zero), Blast Launcher (Axl)
• Burn Kokekokker (Burn Rooster) Weapons: Melt Creeper (X), Enkoujin (Zero), Flame Burner (Axl)
• Darkneid Kamakeel (Dark Mantis) Weapons: Shadow Runner (X), Rasetsusen (Zero), Black Arrow (Axl)
• Earthrock Trilovich (Earthrock Trilobyte) Weapons: Crystal Wall (X), Rekkyoudan (Zero), Bound Blaster (Axl)
• Ice-Snow Yetinger (Avalanche Yeti) Weapons: Drift Diamond (X), Hyouryuushou (Zero), Ice Gatling (Axl)
• Gigavolt Dokragen (Gigavolt/Gigabolt Man-O-War) Weapons: Thunder Dancer (X), Raikousen (Zero), Plasma Gun (Axl)
• Gravitate Ant-Onion (Gravity Antonion) Weapons: Squeeze Bomb (X), Juuhazan (Zero), Spiral Magnum (Axl)
• Optic Flowerd (Optic Sunflower) Weapons: Shining Ray (X), Tenshouha (Zero), Ray Gun (Axl)