Mega Man Zero 2/Forms: Difference between revisions

! Icon !! Sprite !! Name !! Pow. !! Def. !! Spd. !! Tot. !! Requirement !! Extra effects

| [[File:MMZ2 Active Form Icon.png]] || [[File:MMZ2 Active Form Sp.png]] || [[#Active Form|Active]] || 2 || 2 || 4 || 8 || Kill 20 enemies with <br />dashing Z-Saber slash || Z-Saber upgrade:<br />rolling jump-slashes and rolling-dash slashes

| [[File:MMZ2 Energy Form Icon.png]] || [[File:MMZ2 Energy Form Sp.png]] || [[#Energy Form|Energy]] || 3 || 2 || 1 || 6 || Collect 25 Energy capsules || Energy capsules appear more often

| [[File:MMZ2 Defense Form Icon.png]] || [[File:MMZ2 Defense Form Sp.png]] || [[#Defense Form|Defense]] || 1 || 4 || 2 || 7 || Kill 20 enemies with<br />charged Shield Boomerang || Shield Boomerang pwr increase

| [[File:MMZ2 Proto Form Icon.png]] || [[File:Proto Form Sp.png]] || [[#Proto Form|Proto]] || 4 || 1 || 2 || 7 || Beat the game || No charged attacks, no triple-slash <br/>Only form in Hard Mode.

| [[File:MMZ2 X Form Icon.png]] || [[File:MMZ2 X Form Sp.png]] || [[#X Form|X]] || 3 || 2 || 3 || 8 || Kill 50 enemies with <br />the Buster Shot || Buster Shot upgrade:<br />4 bullets per screen

| [[File:MMZ2 Power Form Icon.png]] || [[File:MMZ2 Power Form Sp.png]] || [[#Power Form|Power]] || 4 || 2 || 1 || 7 || Pull 30 things<br />with the Chain Rod || Z-Saber upgrade:<br />single stronger slash

This form, as the name implies, is the default form Zero gets when you start the game in Normal Mode. The Normal Form is Zero's most fundamental, bare-essentials form and, as such, covers all of the basic gameplay elements you would expect from a Post-MMX Megaman game(the 3 bullet per screen rule, and the triple Z Saber slash combo for example). The Normal Form also serves as a basis for all the other forms, as most are simply minor tweaks of the Normal Form. Additionally, it would be wise to have a good understanding of this form's capabilities and limitations to better strategize which stage to acquire a different form next and to know where to use the other forms' strengths. Note that it's the only form you can access in the first intro stage mission in Normal Mode, regardless of previous save files, as the menu screen still operates with the layout from MMZ1 and so dosen't accommodate a form select screen for the duration of said campaign. Form selection only becomes available after Cerveau fixes Zero up and grants the player the new menu screen.

The X Form pays homage to Mega Man X, who relied more on Buster-type attacks to defeat his enemies, unlike Zero who favors Saber-type weapons. As such the X Form amplifies your Buster's power, but hinders your Z-Saber skills. This contrast in ability almost directly parallels the difference in gameplay between X and Zero from 'Megaman X6'.

'''How to obtain:''' Kill 50 enemies with the Buster Shot in one mission.

* '''Where to obtain:''' [[../Power Room: Phoenix Magnion|Phoenix Magnion's stage]] is perfect for acquiring this form, as the Toitanks near the end allow you to rack up many buster kills quickly.

* '''Effects:''' With this Form, the Buster Shot can have four bullets on screen at a time instead of the normal three, and their damage output is increased. However, at the cost of boosting his Buster's power, Zero's Z-Saber skills are hindered; he can only perform the second slash of his triple-slash combo(of which the animation is very reminiscent of X's single slash from MMX6).

* '''Where to use:''' Use it anytime you need to use the Buster Shot against enemies that attack you far away from a distance and don't die quickly enough. The Gazamir sub-boss, Pantheon Hammers, and Signaloids are particular offenders. It is also useful against the Toitank brigade in the Power Room when you try to obtain the Hacker Elf Dable. A rapid continuous stream of bullets is crucial to keep up with the fast moving waves of toitanks and the elusive U4.

* '''Where to obtain:''' [[../Train: Panter Flauclaws|Panter Flauclaws' stage]] is ideal to obtain this Form, because of the numerous Carryarm mooks and the Carryarm brigade sub-boss, you are inclined to use many many jumping slashes as you progress. The Power Form here can come in handy as the Spike-Wheel enemies take at least two normal jumping slashes to take out whereas the Power Form jumping slash can cut them in half in one clean hit. Poler Kamrous' stage is also an excellent place to obtain Rise form due to the Toitanks in the beginning, the overall abundance of enemies, and the lack of need for the Power form in order to cut down enemies mid-air.   

* '''Effects:''' This Form changes the third slash of Zero's triple-slash combo from an overhead strike into an upwards rising swing(hence the name Rise Form), which has a slightly quicker animation than the regular third slash, thus making it less punishable. Zero also receives a slight speed boost that allows him to move a little faster.

* '''Where to use:''' This is probably the first enhancement you can get for your Z-Saber. If you have obtained it, do not hesitate to switch from the Normal Form to the Rise Form, as the Rise Form renders the Normal Form practically obsolete. The unique upward slash also has an advantage against aerial foes that would dive down to attack you. The Quicker combo also means you can get out of the way of the bosses' counterattack much easier after you've triple slashed them.

Erase Form gives Zero the ability to neutralize plasma bullets on contact. It is a defense-oriented Form that falls short in melee combat, but it can be a crutch in hairy situations where belligerent Mechaniloids spray everything in their vicinity with gunfire. Coincidentally, this form is the same color as Ciel's outfit.  

* '''Where to obtain:''' If you use the Shield Boomerang to destroy the power reactors in [[../Power Room: Phoenix Magnion|Phoenix Magnion's stage]] you'll fulfill the requirement more than three times, though this is not ideal. You are almost guaranteed to unlock this Form on the [[../Bombardment Aircraft|Kuwagust Anchortus' stage]] when you have to shield Ciel from the Pluggers. They shoot a maddening supply of plasma bullets that you must deflect with the Shield Boomerang to defend her.

* '''Where to use:''' This Form is very helpful against any Mechaniloid that fires plasma bullets, because if you get surrounded by bullets, you have a way to mitigate the danger of getting hit. It's especially useful to obtain the Defense Form, the other Form related to the Shield Boomerang, because enemy bullets will not be reflected back and you'll have to use the charged Shield Boomerang to defeat the enemies; a good location where to use it is [[../Bombardment Aircraft|Kuwagust Anchortus' stage]].

* '''Where to obtain:''' The best place where to get it is [[../Forest of Dysis: Hyleg Ourobockle|Hyleg Ourobockle's stage]]; there are Pantheon Hammers with shields you can pull away, enemies you can pull on over spikes, and large blocks you need to pull in order to progress. So there are lots of opportunities to use the Chain Rod. If you've already beaten [[../Power Room: Phoenix Magnion|Phoenix Magnion]] the Pantheon Hammers will be gone, but there's nothing stopping you from pulling the first block you find back and forth to get this form.

'''How to obtain:''' Collect 25 big or small energy capsules in one mission.

* '''Where to obtain:''' [[../Computer Zone: Poler Kamrous|Poler Kamrous' stage]] is good for this, as the Panel Cannons at the start of the stage will only drop life pickups, and there's enough room to respawn both of them to the left so that you can destroy both in one charged buster shot. Even if you want to get 100 Points for the mission, the unusually lenient time will allow you to do so while still getting enough drops for this form. Phoenix Magnion's stage also has a lenient time constraint and a pair of Panel Cannons in the area above Gazamir the mini-boss crab. You can dash back and forth between them and the cannons will immediately re-spawn. This strategy is especially effective if one saves time by destroying the reactors with an electric-charged slash or shot, freeing up time to collect the energy capsules once the area above Gazamir is reached.  

* '''Where to obtain:''' [[../Forest of Notus: Burble Hekelot|Burble Hekelot's stage]] is ideal for this one. Because the Shurubon respawn without you having to leave the stage, you can throw the Shield Boomerang and then dash forward. Jump as it gets near you to avoid catching it and it'll orbit in place, allowing you to destroy several Shurubon without having to charge it multiple times. This form can also be easily obtained in the Crystal Cave by reaching a location where you are level with the Hotttalook, shooting it with a single shot then releasing a charged Shield Boomerang to destroy the three drones it produces.  

* '''Effects:''' This Form halves the damage Zero suffers, negates the knockback he receives completely and increases the power of his Shield Boomerang, at the cost of decreased attack power for the Z-Saber. Thankfully it doesn't affect the damage output of the charged Saber or EX Skills.

* '''Where to use:''' Use it whenever you need to limit the damage dealt to Zero, for example an unfamiliar or unfair boss fight; it can be better than the Energy Form because limiting the damage Zero suffers can improve your score at the end of the level. And as aforementioned above, since the Form doesn't handicap the damage capacity of your charged and special attacks while still halving the damage you receive, it really becomes your best friend against bosses with elemental weaknesses. Provided your boss strategy relies on you mostly spamming charged attacks instead of the triple-slash-combos, that is.

* '''Where to obtain:''' Any stage with a lot of flat ground and enemies to kill will suffice. One in particular is the [[../Residential Area|Residential Area]], specifically the pair of Pantheon Guardians with the bed of spikes to the left and the large block (the kind that can be pulled with the Chain Rod) to the right. The train stage can also be used to obtain this form, with numerous Pantheon Guards and rolling Shaballs, power plant beginning area will work fine for grinding.

* '''Effects:''' This Form allows Zero to perform a spinning Saber slash while in the air or a Rolling Slash when dashing, and maximizes his speed. Basically, Active Form gives you access to the two attacks from the first ''Zero'' series without needing to level up two more times. However, enabling Sengatotsu disables the dashing rolling slash, and Zero can only perform the first slash of his triple-slash combo when Active Form is used. This form can't be learned if you have Sengatotsu Ex Skill enabled.

When Zero is infused with the powers of a literal Cyber-Elf army, now awakens his greatest, most powerful state, the Ultimate Form. Zero's body radiates with the surplus energy from all the Cyber-Elves he used. He can now channel the extra energy to boost all of his stats tremendously. Zero now has faster speed, greater force, and bigger health. Zero may also choose to direct some of that energy into his weapons, raising them to maximum power in an instant. However, bypassing the weapons' charge cycle is not without risks, and the energy transfer must be precise in order to prevent Zero from tearing himself apart. Luckily, Zero's internal systems have cataloged special command-input programs to funnel the energy spikes safely and accordingly.