Chimera is the default form of the Ride Armor type DRA-00,^[1] a general purpose Ride Armor model from Mega Man X3 that was developed in the Hunter Base.^[2] It can be customized by finding three Ride Armor Change Parts (ライドアーマー変形パーツ, Raidoāmā Henkei Pātsu), upgrades scattered throughout the stages that allow X to use a new model of Ride Armor. In the North American SNES manual, Ride Armor is named Robot Ride Armor, and the four Ride Armors are said to be creations from Dr. Light that he set out alongside the Armor capsules.^[3]

The Ride Armor can be deployed at a Robot Ride platform,^[3] a large transfer device, (転送装置 tensō sōchi) with a X or χ ("chi", Greek letter for χιμάρα Chimera) on them. When X steps on one, he is prompted to choose from the Ride Armors available. Recalling a Ride Armor in the transfer device restores its energy; a new addition is that the Ride Armors have visible life gauges, making it easier to keep track of their energy. If a Ride Armor is destroyed, another one cannot be recalled until the player leaves the stage. All Ride Armors except the Frog short out upon entering water. The Ride Armors are exclusive to X, being unavailable for Zero.

Forms[]

	Chimera (キメラ, Kimera) - The default type, which is the template for the other three types. It must be stolen back from Blast Hornet's stage before any others can be used. Similar to older Ride Armors, it can walk, jump, dash, and punch.
	Kangaroo (カンガルー, Kangarū) - A Ride Armor designed for close range combat. It has powerful spinning claws on its fists that deal more damage than the Chimera's punches, similar to the Ride Armor Rabbit in Mega Man X2. Its charge attack differs, however: the Kangaroo lashes its spiked fist forward on a chain, causing massive damage to all enemies in its range. The Ride Armor DRA-00 used by Vile MK-II in his stage is a modified Kangaroo painted black.[4]
	Hawk (ホーク, Hōku) - Designed for flight, equipped with a vernier jet on the back and missile launchers on the arms. The armor fires two missiles at a time, which shoot forward at high speeds. If the jump button is held while airborne, the armor can hover to gain altitude slowly. The hover boost only lasts for a few seconds.
	Frog (フロッグ, Furoggu) - An amphibious Ride Armor that functions underwater. As it is focused on aquatic performance, it moves awkwardly on dry ground, making short hops instead of walking, while its dash is instead a long jump. Its torpedo launchers also don't work as well, curving downwards through the air. Both functions work well underwater, with the armor jumping much higher and torpedoes homing in on enemies. By tapping the dash button repeatedly, it can perform a "sextuple jump" through the water thanks to its screw propellers.

Locations[]

	Ride Armor
	Weapons Factory Stage (Blast Hornet)
	Use Tornado Fang to break into one of the warehouses, then descend to find the Ride Armor Chimera trapped by a Hangerter. Destroying the Hangerter will unlock the Ride Armor for future use, and it can also be taken up an elevator for use in the level.
	Change-K
	Giant Dam Stage (Toxic Seahorse)
	Destroy the underwater rotors with a Frog Ride Armor - avoid destroying too many Mine Tortoises, lest their shells impede you later. Then "water jump" (jump across the surface of the water) to the left to find the Kangaroo mod part on a ledge. Alternatively, use a charged Frost Shield underwater to create an ice platform that floats to the surface under the ledge.
	Change-H
	Shipyard Stage (Crush Crawfish)
	Near the Ride Armor platform, find the spot in the floor where there's empty space below. Use a charged Triad Thunder to punch the platform out and descend to find the Hawk mod part.
	Change-F
	Airborne Aircraft Carrier Stage (Gravity Beetle)
	Atop the carrier's exterior, use the Foot Parts to air dash onto a ledge on the left, where the Frog mod part awaits.

Usage[]

Except for Tunnel Rhino's stage, each of the Stage Select Screen stages have a Ride Armor transfer device, and one is also available in each the first two stages from Dr. Doppler's Laboratory. The Ride Armor can be used to facilitate navigating an area from the stage and to get nine upgrades, five of them being only possible with a Ride Armor.

	Weapons Factory Stage (Blast Hornet)
	The Ride Armor transfer platform is hidden in an opening in the ceiling after the elevator, requiring the Foot Parts to be reached. The Ride Armor Hawk can be used to reach the capsule with the Head Chip. The Ride Armor Chimera is obtained here, being usable when first obtained, giving the player a chance to reach the Life Up without the Foot Parts by jumping out of the Ride Armor during a jump.
	Frozen Town Stage (Blizzard Buffalo)
	The platform is visible in the path, and a Ride Armor (or Tornado Fang) can be used to break the nearby blocks of ice to obtain the stage's Life Up.
	Power Control Center Stage (Volt Catfish)
	The platform is in the top of the area with red surfaces, and a Ride Armor can only be used in a small area to crush a floor with a Sub Tank and four recovery items.
	Shipyard Stage (Crush Crawfish)
	The platform is under the starting point of the stage. Any Ride Armor can be used to obtain the stage's Life Up and the Body Chip.
	Safari Park Stage (Neon Tiger)
	The platform is visible in the beginning of a vertical area with spikes, Hamma Hammas, and Meta Capsules.
	Airborne Aircraft Carrier Stage (Gravity Beetle)
	The platform is right above a shutter, and a Ride Armor is required to reach the capsule with the Arm Chip.
	Giant Dam Stage (Toxic Seahorse)
	The platform is to the left of the path leading underwater. The Ride Armor Frog is required to destroy the propellers that push X underwater, making it easier to reach the surface and obtain the Foot Chip and Kangaroo without a charged Frost Shield.
	Doppler Stage A
	After REX-2000, a Ride Armor transfer device can be found by dash jumping to the top right of the area with Caterkillers. Taking a Ride Armor or using Zero makes it easier to obtain the Hyper Chip, as X must reach it with a full life gauge, and Ride Armors are able to destroy the spiked balls in the area.
	Doppler Stage B
	A Ride Armor platform is visible in the path, which makes it easier to navigate the large room below. If Vile MK-II is the stage's boss, the Ride Armor Hawk is a better choice to pass by the pits. If Vile MK-II was destroyed before, the room will be filled with water, making the Ride Armor Frog the only choice available.

Other appearances[]

• The Ride Armors Kangaroo and Frog appeared as Battle Memory from Rockman Xover.
• Old Ride Armors appeared in TEPPEN. Momo and Nico repaired and used a Kangaroo and Chimera Ride Armor, respectively, the latter also customizing her Ride Armor. Zero also appeared using the Hawk Ride Armor.

Other media[]

PLEASE NOTE: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS ABOUT MATERIAL THAT HAS NOT BEEN LOCALIZED OR DUBBED OUTSIDE OF JAPAN OR OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES, AND USES THE ORIGINAL TERMS AND NAMES.

• In the Rockman X3 manga, X used the Ride Armor Frog to reach Scissors Shrimper, and it is destroyed in the combat. To even their underwater battle, X took the Ride Armor's engine to increase his speed, managing to land a severe hit to Shrimper. Later, X used the Ride Armor Hawk to search Electro Namazuros. Before facting the Nightmare Police, X and Zero spotted two broken Ride Armors similar to the Chimera that are equipped with a large cannon on the right shoulder.
• The four Ride Armors appeared briefly in the Rockman X3 manga from Rockman X Chō Hyakka.

END OF UNLOCALIZED MATERIAL.

Merchandise[]

• The Chimera and Hawk Ride Armors were made into a single convertable model kit for Bandai's Mega Armor model series. The Ride Armor's default configuration is the Chimera, and therefore maintains the Chimera's colors when changed into the Ride Armor Hawk. The model kit also contains some features not seen in Mega Man X3, such as the ability to combine the Hawk's launchers and hover fin with the control lever to form a small aircraft called "Ride Flosser" (ライドフロッサー, "Ride Flosser"). The standard X model from the same line can fit in the Ride Armor, but Vile MK-II cannot without partial disassembly, due to the size of his leg armor pieces.
• Miniatures of all four Ride Armors were released as part of Rockman Ride.
• Chimera is part of the Rockman Factory miniatures.
• In September 2018, the Chimera and Kangaroo Ride Armors, along with Vile's second Ride Armor from Mega Man X (which includes Hawk Ride Armor parts) were made into convertable model kits for Bandai's Super Minipla series. They are compatible with X and Vile minifigures from the 66 Action Dash Volume 2 set.

Gallery[]

Kangaroo.

Hawk.

Frog.

Hawk.

Chimera being held by a Hangerter in Mega Man X3.

Old Ride Armor Chimeras in a background from TEPPEN.

Chimera Ride Armor card in TEPPEN.

Ride Armor Momo card in TEPPEN.

In the TEPPEN card Nico.

DMC Ride Armor card in TEPPEN.

In the TEPPEN card Return from Sanctuary.

Ride Armor Hawk in the TEPPEN card The World Devoured.

See also[]

• Goliath
• Ride Armor (enemy)

References[]