Maverick

A Maverick, known as an in Japan, is a classification of robot in the Mega Man series. First appearing in Mega Man X, the term is used extensively throughout the X era, Zero era, and ZX era, coming to generally mean any robot whose behavior is dangerous to others or contrary to the laws of society.
==In the Games==
===X era===
====Mega Man X====
Name 	Portrait	Special Weapon 	Weakness
Launch Octopus 	 	Homing Torpedo 	Rolling Shield
Chill Penguin 	 	Shotgun Ice 	Fire Wave
Flame Mammoth 	 	Fire Wave 	Storm Tornado
Boomer Kuwanger 	 	Boomerang Cutter	Homing Torpedo
Sting Chameleon 	 	Chameleon Sting 	Boomerang Cutter
Spark Mandrill 	 	Electric Spark 	Shotgun Ice
Storm Eagle 	 	Storm Tornado 	Chameleon Sting
Armored Armadillo	 	Rolling Shield 	Electric Spark
The term Maverick was introduced in Mega Man X. The Japanese game manual says the word was originally used for defective Reploids whose behavior threatened to harm humans or fellow Reploids, resulting in them being diagnosed as Mavericks. This begat the formation of the Maverick Hunters, an organization dedicated to controlling Maverick activity.Game manual, Rockman X. December 1993. However, the term gained political connotation when Sigma staged his rebellion against humanity, recruiting Maverick Hunters to harm others of their own free will, without any defects or diagnosis. Sigma and all those who followed him, including Vile, eight major Maverick Hunters, and all their Mechaniloid armies, were declared Mavericks. Sigma also branded this army with an insignia shaped like the Greek letter sigma (Σ), which would go on to become the universal symbol for Mavericks.
This game introduced the formula of eight Stage Select bosses, often called the "eight Mavericks". Similar to Robot Masters in the Classic era, X must fight eight animal or plant-inspired Mavericks on the Stage Select screen, gaining their s, in order to enter the Last Stages.
These eight Mavericks also return for the game's remake, Mega Man Maverick Hunter X. They all have new redesigns and unique dialogue to better showcase their personalities and motives.
====Mega Man X2====
Name 	Portrait	Special Weapon	Weakness
Wire Sponge 	 	Strike Chain 	Sonic Slicer
Morph Moth 	 	Silk Shot 	Speed Burner
Flame Stag 	 	Speed Burner 	Bubble Splash
Magna Centipede 	 	Magnet Mine 	Silk Shot
Overdrive Ostrich	 	Sonic Slicer 	Crystal Hunter
Bubble Crab 	 	Bubble Splash 	Spin Wheel
Wheel Gator 	 	Spin Wheel 	Strike Chain
Crystal Snail 	 	Crystal Hunter	Magnet Mine
In Mega Man X2, there are still remnants of Sigma's Maverick rebellion, now laying low until the new leaders, the X-Hunters, put their new plans into motion. Two major developments occur: first, the Mavericks begin intentionally creating more Mavericks, all bearing Sigma's mark. Second, Magna Centipede spreads the Maverick Virus around the world via the , a virus which can force Reploids to go Maverick against their best judgement. These developments would have repercussions for the rest of the X era.
The eight Maverick bosses are five former Maverick Hunters from Sigma's rebellion, plus three new recruits.
====Mega Man X3====
Name 	Portrait	Special Weapon	Weakness
Blast Hornet 	 	Parasitic Bomb	Gravity Well
Blizzard Buffalo	 	Frost Shield 	Parasitic Bomb
Gravity Beetle 	 	Gravity Well 	Ray Splasher
Toxic Seahorse 	 	Acid Burst 	Frost Shield
Volt Catfish 	 	Triad Thunder 	Tornado Fang
Crush Crawfish 	 	Spinning Blade	Triad Thunder
Tunnel Rhino 	 	Tornado Fang 	Acid Burst
Neon Tiger 	 	Ray Splasher 	Spinning Blade
In Mega Man X3, Mavericks are briefly believed to be a thing of the past once Dr. Doppler finds a way to cure Reploids of the Maverick Virus (now called the Sigma Virus). However, the illusion is dashed when Doppler reveals his own evil ambitions, and that the entirety of Dopple Town, including many visitors, are now his Maverick servants. Some unrelated Reploids, such as Gravity Beetle, sympathize with the rebellion and join too. This forms the Doppler Army, a new Maverick force led by Dr. Doppler and his Nightmare Police: Bit and Byte.
The eight Maverick bosses are members of the Doppler Army, of their own free will or due to the Sigma Virus.
====Mega Man X4====
Name 	Portrait	Special Weapon 	Weakness
Web Spider 	 	Lightning Web Raijingeki	Twin Slasher Shippuuga
Cyber Peacock 	 	Aiming Laser Rakuhouha 	Soul Body Ryuenjin
Storm Owl 	 	Double Cyclone Tenkuuha 	Aiming Laser Rakuhouha
Magma Dragoon 	 	Rising Fire Ryuenjin 	Double Cyclone Raijingeki
Jet Stingray 	 	Ground Hunter Hienkyaku 	Frost Tower Hyouretsuzan
Split Mushroom	 	Soul Body Kuuenzan 	Lightning Web Raijingeki
Slash Beast 	 	Twin Slasher Shippuuga 	Ground Hunter Raijingeki
Frost Walrus 	 	Frost Tower Hyouretsuzan	Rising Fire Ryuenjin
In Mega Man X4, the term Maverick is further complicated as a political tool. After being blamed for the Sky Lagoon incident, Repliforce stages a coup d'état in order to escape to space and establish their own independent Reploid nation. Despite not outright seeking to destroy humanity, all of their forces are branded as Maverick for their dangerous disobedience and the Maverick Hunters are sent after them. This includes the top brass, General and Colonel, who spearheaded the movement. Additionally, Sigma retains some loyal Maverick agents who work amidst the chaos, such as Double.
The eight Maverick bosses are five members of Repliforce, plus three agents of Sigma. As this game was Zero's fully playable debut, this also offers Techniques for Zero, alongside X's Special Weapons.
====Mega Man X5====
Name 	Portrait	Special Weapon 	Weakness
Crescent Grizzly	 	Crescent Shot Crescent Sword	Spike Ball Twin Dream
Volt Kraken 	 	Electric Blade 	Goo Shaver Frost Splasher
Shining Firefly 	 	Flash Laser Chaos Flasher 	Tri-Thunder Electric Blade
Tidal Whale 	 	Goo Shaver Frost Splasher 	Crescent Shot Crescent Sword
Spiral Pegasus 	 	Wing Spiral Wind Shredder 	Dark Hold
Spike Rosered 	 	Spike Ball Twin Dream 	Ground Fire Quake Blazer
Dark Necrobat 	 	Dark Hold 	Flash Laser Chaos Flasher
Burn Dinorex 	 	Ground Fire Quake Blazer 	Wing Spiral Wind Shredder
In Mega Man X5, Sigma spreads the Sigma Virus across the entire planet. This results in much of the world going Maverick simultaneously, causing a global disaster. While the Maverick Hunters rush to stop the crash of Eurasia, they confront a variety of Reploids — some innocents corrupted by the Sigma Virus, others already engaging in illegal activities — who refuse to cooperate despite the dire circumstances and must be fought. Additionally, may go Maverick if he is exposed to the Zero Virus, restoring him to his Awakened Zero state.
The eight Maverick bosses are Reploids who own objects required for the Enigma and Space Shuttle missions.
====Mega Man X6====
Name 	Portrait	Special Weapon 	Weakness
Commander Yammark 	 	Yammar Option 	Ray Arrow Rekkoha
Rainy Turtloid 	 	Meteor Rain Ensuizan 	Ice Burst Hyoroga
Shield Sheldon 	 	Guard Shell 	Metal Anchor Rakukojin
Blizzard Wolfang 	 	Ice Burst Hyoroga 	Magma Blade Shoenzan
Blaze Heatnix 	 	Magma Blade Shoenzan 	Ground Dash Sentsuizan
Infinity Mijinion 	 	Ray Arrow Rekkoha 	Guard Shell
Metal Shark Player	 	Metal Anchor Rakukojin	Meteor Rain Ensuizan
Ground Scaravich 	 	Ground Dash Sentsuizan	Yammar Option
In Mega Man X6, Mavericks are again believed to be a thing of the past, as the Sigma Virus has disappeared and the world is focused on rebuilding from the Earth Crisis. However, wild Mavericks return when the mysterious Nightmare appears. Some Mavericks are manifestations of the Nightmare, while others are Reploids who have been infected by it and converted into zombie-like drones. As X investigates the strange new Mavericks, he comes into conflict with High Max and the Nightmare Investigators. They are secretly loyal to Gate, who plans to conquer the world using the Nightmare; this would classify him and all his followers as Mavericks.
The eight Maverick bosses are the Nightmare Investigators, creations of Gate who previously passed away and were resurrected to help his scheme.
====Mega Man X7====
Name 	Portrait	Special Weapon 	Weakness
Soldier Stonekong 	 	Gaea Shield Gokumonken 	Explosion Hadangeki
Splash Warfly 	 	Splash Laser Suiretsusen	Volt Tornado Raijinshou
Tornado Tonion 	 	Volt Tornado Raijinshou 	Gaea Shield Gokumonken
Vanishing Gungaroo	 	Explosion Hadangeki 	Wind Cutter Souenbu
Flame Hyenard 	 	Circle Blaze Bakuenjin 	Splash Laser Suiretsusen
Ride Boarski 	 	Moving Wheel Zankourin 	Circle Blaze Bakuenjin
Snipe Anteator 	 	Sniper Missile Hieijin 	Moving Wheel Zankourin
Wind Crowrang 	 	Wind Cutter Souenbu 	Sniper Missile Hieijin
In Mega Man X7, the rebuilt world is susceptible to Maverick crime again. A bounty hunter syndicate called Red Alert arises to combat the rising Maverick presence, competing with the weakened Maverick Hunters. When their member Axl seeks asylum with the Hunters, Red challenges them over his custody. Red then releases Mavericks across the globe, goading the Hunters into a duel to determine which group is superior.Mega Man X7. 2003. Red: "I never imagined our little friend would end up in your hands, but in any case, I want Axl back. Now, don't you worry. I know he won't come back easily. So how about this? Like you, we are hunters. We've trashed our share of Mavericks. So how about a duel? A duel to determine who the real Maverick Hunters are. I'm sure you won't mind if we use the Mavericks that we've captured so far. So, the last one standing wins!" By doing so, Red Alert directly endangers the world's peace, making Red Alert Mavericks themselves. It is later revealed that Sigma blackmailed Red into this behavior by controlling the members of Red Alert (it is never directly stated what method Sigma used to control them, though it is widely theorized it was the Sigma Virus).
The eight Maverick bosses are the members of Red Alert.
====Mega Man X8====
Name 	Portrait	Special Weapon 	Weakness
Optic Sunflower 	 	Shining Ray Tenshouha Ray Gun 	Green Spinner Youdantotsu Blast Launcher
Gravity Antonion 	 	Squeeze Bomb Juuhazan Spiral Magnum 	Shadow Runner Rasetsusen Black Arrow
Dark Mantis 	 	Shadow Runner Rasetsusen Black Arrow 	Shining Ray Tenshouha Ray Gun
Bamboo Pandamonium 	 	Green Spinner Youdantotsu Blast Launcher	Melt Creeper Enkoujin Flame Burner
Gigabolt Man-O-War 	 	Thunder Dancer Raikousen Plasma Gun 	Crystal Wall Rekkyoudan Bound Blaster
Earthrock Trilobyte	 	Crystal Wall Rekkyoudan Bound Blaster 	Squeeze Bomb Juuhazan Spiral Magnum
Avalanche Yeti 	 	Drift Diamond Hyouryuushou Ice Gattling 	Thunder Dancer Raikousen Plasma Gun
Burn Rooster 	 	Melt Creeper Enkoujin Flame Burner 	Drift Diamond Hyouryuushou Ice Gattling
In Mega Man X8, advanced Reploids called new generation Reploids are put into production to work on the Jakob Project. New generation Reploids are believed to be incapable of going Maverick due to their Copy Chips, which give them total control of their bodies and immunity to viruses.Mega Man X8. 2004. Alia: "I've completed the analysis of the Maverick data acquired so far. What makes new generation Reploids resistant to viruses is their copy chip. The copy chip can actually change a Reploid's DNA." However, they instead choose to go Maverick and organize a rebellion of their own accord, and joining Sigma to destroy the planet and start anew in space.Mega Man X8. 2004. X: "What does [Sigma] plan to do? You know, he's just using you. Nothing more." Burn Rooster: "Using me? If that's the price I have to pay to bring about the new world, so be it!"Mega Man X8. 2004. Lumine: "This decision to wage battle against the old world was made consciously. In other words, we possess the power to go Maverick at will!" The term Maverick comes into question when Lumine argues the rebellion is a question of natural evolution, not good and evil.Mega Man X8. 2004. Lumine: "Enemy, ally... This issue isn't so black and white. Reploids, along with humanity, have irrevocably changed. The nature of their existence has also changed. You are not needed in our new world!" 
The eight Maverick bosses are rioting new generation Reploids. Additionally, this game introduced new Special Weapons for Axl that take the form of new firearms for him to wield.
===Zero era===
In the Zero era, the term Maverick maintains its definition, being used to describe dangerous robots. However, it is frequently misused by the dystopic Neo Arcadia to criminalize any Reploids its agenda requires, especially when Copy X begins branding random Reploids as Maverick, planning to execute them to slow an energy crisis. Neo Arcadia also uses the term to demonize rebels such as the , who sought freedom from the city's tyranny.Mega Man Zero. 2002. Ciel: "Welcome to our Resistance Base, Zero. This is a shelter for injured Reploids who are suspected of being Mavericks." Zero himself, the protagonist of the story, is called a Maverick by his enemies for fighting to defend fellow Reploids and even humans from the dictatorship.Mega Man Zero 3. 2004. Copy X MK. II: "You have a monopoly on energy resources... And Zero, a Reploid with terrifying f-fighting skills... Y-you are nothing more than filthy extremists! Ciel... I was holding-ng back until now, because you were there, a human... Now, you can face the consequences, along with your Maverick friends!" In Mega Man Zero 4, Dr. Weil began branding defiant or disobedient humans as Mavericks as well. His rule completely warped the original definition of the term, merely using it as a tool of fear and control.Mega Man Zero 4. 2005. Neige: "Didn't you see us getting attacked just now? It's terrible. It doesn't matter anymore. Human or Reploid, it's all the same. Anyone that apposes Weil is treated like a Maverick."
The term is also frequently used as a rhetoric tool. Zero once called Weil "just another Maverick", denying his humanity outright.Mega Man Zero 3. 2004. Zero: "You look just like another Maverick to me. All I gotta do is dispose of you like any other Maverick." Aware of this, Weil used it ironically against Zero, taunting that he would become a Maverick if he killed him, a human.Mega Man Zero 4. 2005. Weil: "Zero... Can you really kill me? A human? Do you want to become a Maverick in front of her?" However, Zero came to disregard this sentiment, declaring that he would fight for those he believed in, regardless of whether he was called a hero or a Maverick.Mega Man Zero 4. 2005. Zero: "I never cared about justice, and I don't recall ever calling myself a hero... I have always only fought for the people I believe in. I won't hesitate... If an enemy appears in front of me, I will destroy it!"
===ZX era===
In the ZX era, humans and Reploids became nearly indistinguishable, resulting in usage of the term Maverick shifting slightly. Instead, it was more commonly used to describe the wild Mechaniloids influenced by Model W, which would evolve on their own and terrorize the Outlands.Mega Man ZX. 2006. Prairie: "The sentient machines known as Mavericks continue to attack people."Mega Man ZX. 2006. Prairie: "Model W has the power to corrupt machines and humans alike. That's what has been causing the Maverick outbreaks." These wild Mavericks would sometimes even attack Innerpeace, as Model W sought negativity from humanity in order to fully awaken. Any servants of Model W, such as Serpent, Prometheus and Pandora, or the rival Mega Men, were also capable of exercising leadership over these Mavericks to further Model W's evolution.Mega Man ZX. 2006. Prairie: "After I did a little snooping on the chip you brought back, I found that there is a program controlling the Mavericks. There is someone behind the Maverick attacks, but they're just making them seem like random raids."
In the final battle of Mega Man ZX, Vent (but not ) and Serpent use the term Maverick as an insult to demonize one another. Vent calls Serpent one for callously destroying people's lives,Mega Man ZX. 2006. Vent: "You're no Mega Man, and you're no ruler. You're just a tool. Model W manipulated you. You've played with lives and you're nothing more than a Maverick!" while Serpent uses it against all of humanity, claiming that all who have hatred in their hearts are the true Mavericks.Mega Man ZX. 2006. Serpent: "The destiny of destruction... still awaits... So long as you have hearts, hate will lurk in the shadows... You who possess the wellspring of emotion known as the heart... You are the true Mavericks!!"
==Trivia==
* While most Maverick bosses in the Mega Man X series have descriptive titles (e.g. "Lord of the Snowy Plains" for Chill Penguin), the bosses of Mega Man X6 are the only ones who completely lack this feature.
==References==
Category:X era