The Armor Parts, also known as the First Armor (ファストアーマー, Fasuto Āmā),^[1] the Normal Armor (ノーマルアーマー, Nōmaru Āmā),^[2] or the Armor of Light,^[3] is the first set of Armor Parts that X receives from Light Capsules in the Mega Man X series. It first appeared in Mega Man X, and has since reappeared in Mega Man Xtreme, Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, and Mega Man X DiVE.

After defeating Sigma in Mega Man X, X returned the armor parts to the Light Capsule. They were hidden underground for protection, where they were improved into a new set of Armor Parts for Mega Man X2.^[4]

Description[]

These Armor Parts cover X's body with white, blue, and gold, a color scheme that would be referenced by future armors in the series. The Foot Parts add white plates on his legs and feet, along yellow ridges and white boosters onto his ankles. The Head Parts make the rim of his visor white and add yellow fins on top, plus a black border to his red forehead lens. The Body Parts give him enlarged white shoulderpads, and add blue and black borders to his breastplate and pelvis. The Arm Parts swap the white of his hands and the blue of his forearms, and make his buster red and yellow (resembling Zero's Z-Buster).

In Maverick Hunter X, this armor underwent a slight redesign. The yellow on his legs extends further up, and his ankle boosters are blue. His torso armor features less black and has more gold along its belt. The yellow fins on his helmet are also taller and sharper.

Functions[]

• Foot Parts - Enables the dash function on the ground. This dash ability was designed to be internalized inside X's own system in the games after this, allowing him to have the same dash function without the use of armor. This enhancement also allows X to destroy certain blocks by kicking off of them.
  • In Mega Man Xtreme, X starts with the dash function; however, he will not be able to dash-jump while wall-climbing. Once he receives the Foot Parts, he will dash-jump automatically while wall-climbing in addition to breaking destructible blocks that he kicks off of.
• Body Parts - Reduces all damage received by 50%.
• Arm Parts - X can charge up to a third level that fires a more powerful Charge Shot. He also gains the ability to perform Charge Shots of the Special Weapons obtained from defeated Mavericks. In Maverick Hunter X, there are two types of Arm Parts available:
  • Spiral Crush Buster - This version is obtained from the Light Capsule containing the Arm Parts. Fires a string of small pink shots, hitting multiple times (in Maverick Hunter X it can hit up to three enemies at once or hit a single enemy up to three hits). The damage power for this version is the same as the normal second-level X-Buster Charge Shot, but larger.
  • Zero Buster - This version is only in Maverick Hunter X. It is obtained from Zero if the player doesn't have the Spiral Crush Buster by the time they encounter Zero after defeating Vile in Sigma Stage 3. It resembles the red-colored Charge Shot from Zero's own buster, dealing more damage to bosses than the Spiral Crush Buster. Zero Buster can also be obtained in the original game, but it is exactly the same as the Spiral Crush Buster.
• Head Parts - X can jump into certain blocks to destroy them with a headbutt. In addition, X is protected from any rocks falling onto his head in Sting Chameleon's stage (except for those containing Crag Man enemies).
  • In Mega Man X DiVE, the Headbutt works as a skill that will impulse X upwards in an angle, being able to damage enemies on his way.
• Hadoken - This powerful upgrade is a hidden bonus, while not part of the armor per se. It launches an energy ball that can one-hit kill almost any enemy in the game.
  • Shotokan - In Mega Man Xtreme, it grants X both the Hadouken from Mega Man X and the Shoryuken from Mega Man X2.

Locations[]

Mega Man X[]

	Foot Parts
	Snow Mountain Stage (Chill Penguin)
	In the middle of the stage, after dealing with some Spikys. This capsule cannot be missed.
	Body Parts
	Forest Stage (Sting Chameleon)
	Before entering the cave at the start of the stage, dash and jump from the higher ground and wall kick above it. Defeat RT-55J and the capsule will appear.
	Head Parts
	Airport Stage (Storm Eagle)
	After passing the Flamers and climbing a metal mesh, instead of continuing right, drop down the other side of the metal mesh, dash jump up to the flammable obstacles and destroy them (done faster with Fire Wave). The capsule will be in the other side.
	Arm Parts
	Factory Stage (Flame Mammoth)
	Above the entrance to the large area that has the Life Up and Sub Tank. Dash jump from the right side and wall kick the blocks to break them with the Foot Parts, then continue wall kicking to break the remaining blocks with the Head Parts until reaching the capsule. Be careful to not fall before entering the capsule, as it will be harder to reach the area after breaking the blocks.

	Hadoken
	Gallery Stage (Armored Armadillo)
	To obtain the Hadoken, X must have acquired all Armor Parts, Sub Tanks, and Life Ups, in the game. With full health, dash-jump off the final minecart to collect the Life Energy, then fall into the pit to die. Repeat this process three times, and on the fourth run the capsule will be in place of the Life Energy. In some versions, there are some changes in the conditions under which the capsule appear: MS-DOS: X must have a full life and weapon energy before he reaches the energy. iOS: X must take no damage from the time he dies and teleports back into the stage to the moment he touches the capsule.

Mega Man Maverick Hunter X[]

	Foot Parts
	Prototype Weapons Plant (Flame Mammoth)
	Above the entrance to the large area. No requirements to gain access.
	Head Parts
	Abandoned Missile Base (Chill Penguin)
	In the area with Spikys. Requires the Foot Parts to break the blocks and gain access.
	Body Parts
	New-type Airport (Storm Eagle)
	After the area with Flamers. Requires the Head Parts to break the blocks and gain access.
	Arm Parts
	Recon Base Ruins (Sting Chameleon)
	Above the cave's entrance. Appears after defeating RT-55J.

	Hadoken
	Energy Mine Ruins (Armored Armadillo)
	To obtain the Hadoken, X must have acquired all Armor Parts, Sub Tanks, and Life Ups like the original game. Enter the stage after defeating Armored Armadillo, perform a perfect no-hit run of the stage, then dash-jump off the final minecart to find the capsule in place of the usual Life Energy.

Mega Man Xtreme[]

	Foot Parts
	Snowfield Stage (Chill Penguin)
	Continue upwards through the vertical underground segment. This capsule is unavoidable, filling the hallway.
	Body Parts
	Volcanic Zone Stage (Flame Stag)
	After entering the second indoor area, dash-jump to the right to find an alcove with the capsule.
	Head Parts
	Airport Stage (Storm Eagle)
	After climbing a metal mesh tower, instead of continuing right, drop down the side of the tower. Dash-jump to find flammable obstacles and destroy them to reveal a room with the capsule.
	Arm Parts
	Power Plant Stage (Spark Mandrill)
	During the second blackout segment, there are Destructible Blocks in the ceiling. Wall kick through them with the Head Parts to find the capsule.

	Shotokan
	Sigma Stage 2
	This capsule is in the same location as Mega Man X2's Shoryuken. Climb the ladder near a spiked wall that can only be reached with a Switch-type Elevator. After the checkpoint there are spiked passages, but they can be maneuvered with just dash-wall jumps due to the lack of an Air Dash and Speed Burner only being available in Normal and Xtreme modes. Slide down the left wall to find a hidden hallway leading to the capsule.

Other appearances[]

Mega Man X DiVE[]

First Armor X appears as an S Rank Hunter Program in Mega Man X DiVE. In this form, his Active Skills are the Arm Parts' Spiral Blast Shot, and the Head Parts' Headbutt. His Headbutt is also appropriated by the doppelganger χ -kai-.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite[]

One of X's Hyper Combos is the Armor of Light, using its design from the original Mega Man X. It is performed by pressing Down, Down, and both Kick buttons. The Armor is present for a limited amount of time, around 25–30 seconds. Moves will deal more damage. Various moves will have altered properties. Three examples include:

• The Charged X Buster will be colored purple.
• the Full Powered Charge Shot (Super) shoots an additional Purple Blast. The combined damage is nearly 1.5x more damage than normal.
• X's a taunt of Hadoken can do low damage at very close range.

Other appearances[]

• In the anime opening of the PlayStation/Sega Saturn versions of Mega Man X3, X is shown changing into the complete First Armor all at once. While fighting Sigma, X changes from the First Armor into the Second Armor. This is likely due to the movie being an abridged summary of the first two games.
• One of Zero's colors in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is based on this armor.
• X appears with this armor in Street Fighter x All Capcom.
• This armor appears as a costume in Dead Rising 3.
• The armor appeared as a costume for X is Puzzle Fighter.
• The armor appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It is an Enhanced version of the Uncommon-rank X spirit. Here, it is called "Full Armor X".
• In TEPPEN, X appears dashing with the Foot Parts in the card Agility, and the Arm Parts appeared as a card. The X-Buster is damaged in the battle against Myria, but X finds the Arm Parts in a capsule and uses it to continue fighting.
• X's appearance will change to him equipped with the armor when promoted in Army Men Strike. In this game its design is a mix of the original and Maverick Hunter X appearances.
• Full Armor X appeared in Elemental Story.
• First Armor X is one of X's evolutions in Tower of Saviors.

Gallery[]

Artwork[]

Concept art for Mega Man X.

X's face with Armor sketches for Mega Man X.

X with the full armor.

First Armor with alternate shading

X dashing with Foot Part.

X defending himself after taking a hit with the Armor Part.

Armor-clad X using his Head Parts to smash rocks.

Armor-clad X using the Spiral Crush Buster.

X and Zero in Mega Man X.

Bottom view of First Armor's Foot Part.

The armor as seen in Mega Man Xtreme.

The armor as seen in Maverick Hunter X.

First Armor X in Mega Man X DiVE.

First Armor X's 3D model in Mega Man X DiVE.

X with the armor in Street Fighter x All Capcom.

The armor in Zombie Cafe.

Armor of Light concept art from Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite.

X with the Foot Parts in the TEPPEN card Agility.

Arm Parts card in TEPPEN.

X with the Arm Parts in the TEPPEN card Heights of Heroism.

X with the Arm Parts in the TEPPEN card Return from Sanctuary.

Full Armor X in Elemental Story.

First Armor X in Tower of Saviors.

Kotobukiya artwork box

Screenshots[]

This acceleration system will boost X's speed.

This helmet enhancement will allow X to break some ceilings with a headbutt.

This new body armor will reduce damage to X's systems by fifty percent, as seen with this comparison. Left: First Armor - Right: No Armor

The X-Buster part will allow X to fire all types of weapons.

The Zero Buster, exclusive from the PSP remake.

The special present (Hadouken) Dr. Light gave to X.

First Armor X using Headbutt.

First Armor X using Spiral Blast Shot.

Armor costume in Dead Rising 3.

X with the Armor Parts in Army Men Strike.

Miscellaneous[]

An early design for the First Armor, from Gamepro's coverage of CES in September 1993.

Promotional rendition of the early First Armor from Winter CES 1994.

X equipped with all weapons in the First Armor from Mega Man X.

X's costume in Puzzle Fighter.

First Armor illustration by Yoshihiro Iwamoto.

First Armor illustration by Yoshihiro Iwamoto.

Trivia[]

• It is not possible to see X receive Shotgun Ice in full armor without getting a Game Over in Mega Man X. This is due to how the stages are laid out, as the Foot Parts are required to receive the Arm Parts from the Light Capsule in Flame Mammoth’s stage or to get Zero's buster in Sigma Stage 1 (which also requires defeating Chill Penguin). To see X get Shotgun Ice in full armor one must receive the Foot Parts in Chill Penguin’s stage, kill themselves until they get a game over, and then move onto the other stages to get the other parts before returning to defeat Chill Penguin.
• The front cover for the North American box art for Mega Man X shows X with his full armor on. The artwork used in this boxart also features what appears to be a harpoon launcher mounted underneath the buster. This never appeared in any other renditions of the armor.
• If the player returns to the stage select after obtaining the new Buster from Zero but does not finish the stage, the stage will begin with Zero still alive, but X retains his buster. Zero's death scene will play as if the Buster was obtained from Flame Mammoth's stage.
• Notably, this armor seems to serve the purpose of making X more resemble Zero, along with making his functions more similar to Zero's (addition of a dash, super-powerful charged shot, etc.). Aside from the Buster, which is visually and functionally identical to Zero's original Buster cannon, this is most evident with the leg upgrades and helmet upgrades, making both parts of his body more closely resemble Zero's legs and helmet.
• In the Rockman X manga, the First Armor is heavily damaged following the final battle with Sigma in the adaptation of the first game, leading X to discard the armor in grief over the people fought throughout the story. After reverting to his original armor, X throws the armor's helmet into the ocean.
• A life-sized toy replica of the armor’s Buster was released by Jakks Pacific. As it has lights and sound effects, it is referred as a “Light Buster” in the box.
• If the player uses a password to skip the Foot Parts and completes the game without it, X will still have the Foot Parts in the ending sequence. This is because the player is not supposed to clear the game without having collected it. Nonetheless X still won't have it equipped during the cast roll, and in the last part of the cast roll, when X does a dash, the in-game graphics will glitch and X will lose his legs and some parts of his body.

References[]