"What's the use of century-old junk in this new world? I'll cut you down and send you off to the deadlands!"

—Deathtanz Mantisk, Mega Man Zero 3

Deathtanz Mantisk (デスタンツ・マンティスク, Desutantsu Mantisuku) is a boss in Mega Man Zero 3. He is a Mutos Reploid based on a praying mantis and the Grim Reaper, and was once the Moonlight Judge (月光審官, Gekkō Shinkan)^[2][3] of the Eight Gentle Judges.

Characteristics[]

Deathtanz Mantisk is a tall and lithe Reploid in his Judge form, wearing a white cape and a spiked white crown. His Punishment form is a lanky green Reploid resembling a praying mantis, possessing two wings at his waist and gigantic Grim Reaper scythes in place of hands. Like a real mantis, he has eyes in the center of his head, and has two giant gems on either side resembling a mantis's larger compound eyes.

Deathtanz Mantisk was once an eccentric yet level-headed judge who was very selective of the Mavericks he executed, wishing not to spill unnecessary blood. However, after being inducted into the Weil Numbers, he cares for nothing besides killing and loyally serving his new master. He has a habit of using the Japanese onomatopoeia, "chikachika" (ギチギチ, "gichigichi" in Japan) when irritated. Mantisk, at least in his modified form, had a fear of dying, as evidenced by his last words to Zero after losing their rematch.

History[]

Deathtanz Mantisk was formerly the Vice Chief Judge of the Eight Gentle Judges, and served as the Moonlight Judge in charge of executing sentenced Mavericks. Mantisk didn't like to take an unnecessary life, and prided the dullness of his scythes as proof of peace. However, when Dr. Weil returned, he brainwashed and remodeled Mantisk as one of his personal enforcers in the Weil Numbers. His scythes were refurbished, becoming durable and sharpened at the atomic level.^[4]

Mantisk was deployed to the Old Residential to capture Crea and Prea, who had gone missing since Elpizo's defeat. He sealed them in a room while he fought Zero, but was defeated. Even so, Dr. Weil appeared in person to successfully recover Crea and Prea.

Mantisk is resurrected for a rematch in Weil's Research Laboratory. There he is defeated by Zero again, furious at losing to an outdated Reploid and fearful of returning to death.

Strategy[]

Deathtanz Mantisk mainly attacks with his scythes either throwing them as boomerangs, slashing from above, doing a quick stab, or throwing them across the floor, up the wall and then back to him. If the player has A or S rank, he will use his EX Skill Rock Breaker. One strategy to defeat him is to equip a normal body chip and attack him with a charged Recoil Rod, which can stun him to interrupt his attacks. The Burst Shot EX Skill may also be a good idea, as it can deplete an moderate amount of health from him, although the aforementioned strategy may be better.

Defeating him will give Zero the Light Body Chip, and if the player is at A or S rank, the 1000 Slash EX Skill.

Attacks[]

	Dancing Scythe	Damage: 4
	Mantisk throws his spinning scythe at Zero which slides along surfaces and back towards Mantisk. The scythe slides towards Zero's position - up if he's above it, and down if otherwise.
	Guillotine Drop	Damage: 3
	Mantisk will jump on a wall and then strike from above, towards the opposite wall. He will then jump onto the other side to repeat the same thing.
	Back Stab	Damage: ?
	If Zero is too close to Mantisk, he will quickly try and stab Zero.
	Razor Arm	Damage: 5
	Mantisk horizontally launches one of his scythes. When it reaches the wall, it opens, and Mantisk pulls it back. Zero can slide beneath the scythe only when it's closed.
	EX Skill: Rock Breaker (ロックブレイカー)	Damage: 4
	Mantisk shoots energy blasts into the ceiling, causing a large rock to fall down before him. He then slashes it apart, launching pieces at Zero.

Data[]

Area: Old Residential Area
Mission: Find Dark Elf
Zero's EX skill: 1000 Slash

Quotes[]

Dialogue[]

Old Residential Area[]

Weil's Research Laboratory[]

In-battle Quotes[]

Other appearances[]

• An image of Deathtanz Mantisk appears in Mega Man Zero 4 in Dr. Weil's Enemy Inferno attack, using Razor Arm against Zero.
• Mantisk appears in Mega Man ZX as a secret boss in Area N, in a door that only opens if a Mega Man Zero 3 cartridge is inserted in the Nintendo DS or by activating the Zero 3 link in the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection release.

Gallery[]

Artwork[]

Deathtanz Mantisk in his Punishment form.

Concept art of Deathtanz Mantsik.

Deathtanz Mantisk in his Judge form.

Early concept art that would later become Deathtanz Mantisk.

Sprites[]

Mantisk's Punishment Form standing sprite, seen briefly during the pre-fight cutscene, during his opening animation, or when Zero is defeated and re-enters the room.

Etymology[]

• Deathtanz Mantisk's first name is a portmanteau of "death" and "tanz", the German word for "dance". His last name comes from the mantis, an insect from which his design is inspired.

Trivia[]

• "Chikachika" (ちかちか, "Chikachika") is a onomatopoeic term commonly used in Japanese comics and graphic novels to describe or indicate the twitching/flickering of ones eyes. Apparently Mantisk has made a habit of saying this every time something annoys him enough to make his eye twitch.^[5] Moreover, "gichigichi" is Japanese onomatopoeia of grinding sound. Mantisk probably grind his teeth and scythes.
• Mantisk was misnamed as "Deastants Mantisk" in the English and European instruction manuals of Mega Man Zero 3.
• Mantisk bears a resemblance to Kamaruta, an evil mech in the anime The Brave Of Gold Goldran. Both are lanky green machines themed after mantises, with detachable scythe blades on their arms.

References[]