Zero (Mega Man)

:This article is about the Mega Man character. For other uses, see Zero (disambiguation).
Zero (, Zero) is a recurring character in the series. He is a supporting protagonist in the Mega Man X sub-series of the Mega Man universe, and the main protagonist of the Mega Man Zero sub-series.
==Origin==
Conceptually, Zero was one of the earliest characters Keiji Inafune designed for Mega Man X. He initially intended for the design to be used as the main protagonist, but upon realizing that players may have a hard time recognizing such a different-looking protagonist, he got fellow artist Hayato Kaji to design one closer to the original Mega Man; thus was born. Meanwhile, Zero's design was repurposed into a supporting character.
Zero debuted in Mega Man X as X's mentor and only friend in the Maverick Hunters, eventually sacrificing himself to help X defeat Vile and go on to stop the leader of the Mavericks, Sigma. In Mega Man X2, Zero's body was repaired and split into pieces by the X-Hunters, forcing X to face them to retrieve his parts so he could be rebuilt. If the player failed to do so, Zero would be revived as a Maverick and fought in a boss battle. This game began to imply that Zero was secretly created by the evil Dr. Wily, which would be built upon in later games. In Mega Man X3, Zero returned as an ally of X who could be summoned to trade places, letting the player temporarily play as Zero.
In Mega Man X4, Zero became a fully playable character alongside X for the first time. His usage of his iconic beam sword, the Z-Saber, was expanded with special Techniques gained by defeating Maverick bosses. His past was also explored, as Sigma revealed that Zero was once an insane Maverick whom Sigma fought to defeat; in the process, Sigma was infected by a virus created by Dr. Wily that helped him go Maverick in the first place. In Mega Man X5, it becomes Sigma's plan to return Zero to his original evil purpose as intended by Dr. Wily, forcing him to fight X. Depending on the player's actions, Zero may "awaken" and challenge X as a boss. Despite the battle, afterwards X and Zero work together to defeat Sigma, and Zero is thought to perish in the process. He later returns in Mega Man X6 under mysterious circumstances, and remains a playable character in the series all the way until Mega Man X8.
Zero became the star of his own sub-series with the release of Mega Man Zero, a new video game series set two centuries after the Mega Man X series. After having been sealed away for years, Zero is reawoken by a human scientist named Ciel, who begs him to help liberate the dystopia of Neo Arcadia from the ruthless rule of who appears to be X himself. The game continued for a total of four installments, until the finale in Mega Man Zero 4 where Zero sacrificed himself to stop the mad Dr. Weil from destroying all life. Zero also returned in some form in the Mega Man ZX sub-series, which was set another two centuries after the Mega Man Zero series and featured a Zero-inspired artifact called Model Z that gives the user similar abilities to him.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, all of the attacks that Zero uses as an Assist Trophy originate from his Technique abilities in the Mega Man X series:
*His triple slash attack first debuted in Mega Man X4, where it is his basic grounded attack, with each of the slashes being activated with additional presses of the attack button. In Ultimate, it most closely resembles the version from Mega Man X4 and X5.
*Ryuenjin is one of Zero's Techniques in Mega Man X4, obtained by defeating Magma Dragoon. Zero also uses Ryuenjin in several of his crossover appearances, such as Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds and its update Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, Project X Zone, Project X Zone 2 and Teppen.
*Kuuenzan is another of Zero's Techniques in Mega Man X4, obtained by defeating Split Mushroom. This rolling slash also returns in another forms across the games.
*Genmu Zero is a Technique only used by Awakened Zero in Mega Man X5, though he also uses it in the Marvel vs. Capcom series. He uses it after the battle has gone on for too long, and functions as an unavoidable attack that instantly kills X.
Zero's double jump and air dash, which he uses in Ultimate, were originally special techniques in Mega Man X4, known as the Kuuenbu and Hienkyaku (respectively), that had to be obtained by defeating Mavericks (Split Mushroom and Jet Stingray). In certain later games, they have been available to him from the beginning.
==In Super Smash Bros. 4==
===As a costume===
Zero is the basis for a paid Mii Costume for s. Nintendo also released a QR code for those who wish to have the exact Mii used in the costume's advertising.
===Trophy===
Zero's trophy is exclusive to the Wii U version, under the name "Zero (Mega Man)" for disambiguation.
==In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate==
===As an Assist Trophy===
Zero appears as an Assist Trophy. 
Zero's Japanese voice clips were by Ryotaro Okiayu, who has voiced him since Mega Man X4. Okiayu was surprised to hear his recordings in Ultimate and suggested they were reused from somewhere."ゼロもボイスあるの？？？ あれ？", "『帰還する！』という台詞が何処からか転用されているみたいです音源" - Ryotaro Okiayu's Twitter (@chikichikiko, both posted August 8, 2018) Zero's English voice clips were by Johnny Yong Bosch, who has voiced him since Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
Upon being summoned, he says "Fight's on!" and chases opponents to attack them using a variety of attacks and Techniques from the Mega Man X series:
*A series of three slashes with his Z-Saber, much like playable characters' neutral attacks, with the slashes linking into each other. However, opponents are able to air dodge in between the second and third slashes. The slashes deal 5%, 7%, and 9% respectively, for a total of 21% damage, and the third slash has enough knockback to KO at around 125% from center stage.
*Ryuenjin (, Dragon Flame Blade): Zero performs a rising uppercut slash with his Z-Saber engulfed in flames. Much like 's Blazer, it drags opponents along in multiple hits, then launches them upward at the peak of the jump. It deals up to 5 hits, with the first dealing 6%, the second to fourth dealing 1.2%, and the fifth dealing 10%, for a total of 19.6% damage. The final hit is powerful enough to KO opponents under 100% if all hits connect.
*Kuuenzan (, Air Circling Slash): Performs three quick somersaulting slashes in midair with the Z-Saber. The first two hits deal 4%, then the third hit deals 12%, for a total of 20% damage. The third hit is powerful enough to KO under 100% from center stage.
*Genmu Zero (, Phantasm Zero): Holds the Z-Saber up, then slashes with it to launch a large, green beam forward. The Z-Saber itself deals 15%, while the beam deals 20%. This is Zero's most powerful attack, with the beam KO-ing opponents as low as 70% from center stage. He often uses it when opponents are at a long distance away from him, especially if they are at high percentages. The beam can be reflected and absorbed.
Much like in his home series, Zero has a double jump, and can move with high-speed dashes both on the ground and in the air. He is also one of the Assist Trophies capable of performing directional air dodges. For all his Techniques except the triple slash, Zero shouts their names when using them. He will then say "Back to base!" when departing. He also can be defeated; when he is defeated, he gets blast KO'd but also explodes into orange orbs, a reference to his death animation in most of his appearances.
===As a costume===
The Zero outfit that previously appeared in Super Smash Bros. 4 returns once again as a downloadable Mii Costume for s, released with the third wave of Mii Fighters.
===Spirits===
No.	Image	Name	Type	Class	Slots	Base 	Max 	Base	Max 	Base	Max 	Ability 	Series
907	 	 	★★ 	2 	1781 	7149 	1051	4218	730 	2931	 	Mega Man X Series 	
908	 	 	★★★★	2 	4810 	12026	2447	6118	1736	4340	Weapon Attack & Move Speed ↑	Mega Man X Series 	
918	 	 	★★★ 	2 	3224 	9697 	1773	5334	1158	3482	Sword Attack ↑ 	Mega Man Zero Series	
==Gallery==
RyuenjinMMX4.png|Sprite of Zero using Ryuenjin in Mega Man X4.
KuenzanMMX4.png|Sprite of Zero using Kuuenzan in Mega Man X4.
SSB4 Mii Fighter Zero.jpg|Zero as a Mii Swordfighter costume
Zero Assist Trophy (SSBU).png|Zero as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Zero 1.jpg|Zero dashing in Wily Castle.
Zero 2.jpg|Zero attacking with Ryuenjin.
SSBUWebsiteZeroMM2.jpg|Zero attacking with Genmu Zero on Midgar.
==Names in other languages==
==Trivia==
*The Mii used to show Zero's costume has green eyes, rather than the blue eyes that Zero has in most games.
**In Mega Man X4, Zero is seen with green eyes in the animated cutscenes; however, official artwork of X4 shows Zero with blue eyes.
*Zero is the only Mega Man character with a trophy that is neither from the classic Mega Man series nor part of Mega Man's Final Smash.
*Zero's reveal as an Assist Trophy, with him defeating a Ditto version of an , is a reference to fake, or "soulless", copies of Zero and X that Zero has fought over the years, such as Sigma's fake Zero, Copy X, and Omega.
*Zero is the only Mega Man character to use a voice actor in the Super Smash Bros. series.
*Although the Training Mode menu states that Zero will unleash Genmu Zero when he's about to leave, his departure and when he will perform the attack are not connected.
**This is probably a reference to his fight as Awakened Zero where, after a certain amount of time passes, he will become invincible and start using Genmu Zero repeatedly, essentially ending the fight.
*Zero, Andross and Nintendog are tied for the most Spirits out of non Fighter characters, with a total of three. In his case, his Zero Buster spirit, his Z-Saber spirit, and Mega Man Zero spirit.
*For unknown reasons, the Sound Test and the Assist Trophy menu in Training lists Zero's name as "Zero (Mega Man)", despite there being no other Assist Trophy with the name Zero, as well as none of Zero's spirits being specifically called "Zero (Mega Man)".
==References==
==See also==
*Zero on the Mega Man Knowledge Base
Category:Third-party characters
Category:Trophies (SSB4-Wii U)
Category:Capcom
Category:Spirits
es:Zero