Plasma Cannon (P)
This is Mega Man's basic weapon. It fires a single plasma projectile, although Mega Man can fire up to three or more of these bullets on the screen at one time. Mega Man starts his adventure with this weapon and no other. It cannot be charged in this game as it can later in the series.
Rolling Cutter (C)
The Rolling Cutter is the low-energy tool which Cut Man uses in his function as a timber-felling robot. It resembles a pair of scissor-blades.
If Mega Man has this, his own suit color changes to gray and white while the Rolling Cutter itself is a ceramic-titanium instrument which is thrown in an arc for a short distance, before returning to the thrower like a boomerang. It can destroy some things which Mega Man's Plasma Cannon cannot harm. It uses one unit of energy per use.
Thunder Beam (E)
The Thunder Beam is Elec Man's powerful 500,000 Volt discharge of electricity, used in his function as an atomic energy controller.
Elec Man's method of using the beam produces a single beam of electricity which shoots forward, but when adapted by Mega Man, it produces three arcs of electricity, with one directed forwards and two others which move up and down vertically. The Thunder Beam is capable of destroying the blocks which may be lifted and thrown by the Super Arm. The beam covers a lot of area and is very effective. It uses one unit of energy per use.
Fire Storm (F)
The Fire Storm is the ability used by Fire Man for the purposes of waste disposal. Released from the twin cannons on his forearms, the flames are capable of reaching between 7000-8000 degrees Celsius.
When modified for combat by Dr. Wily, the Fire Storm is blasted at enemies as large bursts of flame as tall as Mega Man, leaving flames on the spot where his opponent stood. When adapted by Mega Man's Weapon Copy System, it allows Mega Man to attack with a three-fireball blast: one which shoots forward as a regular projectile would, with the other two circling him, able to damage enemies who come too close. It uses one unit of energy per use.
Super Arm (G)
Created for the purpose of wilderness reclamation and construction, the Super Arm is a large factor in Guts Man's massive strength.
With it, Mega Man has his suit color as brown and white is capable of lifting, carrying, and throwing large blocks the size of his body, even if it weighs as much as two tons. When thrown as a weapon, these "Guts Blocks" usually tend to smash into four fragments, bombarding the enemy like a burst of large shrapnel. It is the only weapon which uses two units of energy per use, and requires a block to be available in order to use it, otherwise the ability is rendered basically useless
Hyper Bomb (B)
The Hyper Bomb was created for the purpose of Bomb Man's function as a demolitions robot, to demolish buildings. A round, black cartoon-styled bomb with a lit fuse, the Hyper Bomb is a projectile which remains harmless until it detonates, creating an explosion about four times the size of the bomb itself.
When used by Bomb Man, the weapon explodes on impact, but Mega Man's adapted form of the Hyper Bomb has his entire suit color change from blue and light blue to mint green and white and the bomb will bounce a few times before coming to rest. There's a small time delay between when a bomb is thrown and when it explodes, but it has a decent-sized explosion that damages or destroys anything within the blast. It uses one unit of energy per use.
Ice Slasher (I)
The Ice Slasher is the weapon of Ice Man, who is capable of using it to emit blades of ice from his mouth. It is produced via a blast of super-chilled air laced with liquid Nitrogen, which then crystallises to form a projectile. The Ice Slasher is powerful in the hands (or rather, mouth) of Ice Man, but it serves an effective purpose when adapted for use by Mega Man as well.
Mega Man's version creates a sort of ice arrow from the Mega Buster that can freeze enemies (including the massive Big Eye) in their tracks for several seconds, although unlike Ice Man, Mega Man can only shoot one slasher at a time. Mega Man can switch to another weapon when enemies are frozen with the Ice Slasher. It uses one unit of energy per use.
Tools
Magnet Beam (M)
Found on the Elec Man stage, if Mega Man owns Guts Man's Super Arm already. When shot, it creates a magnetic platform that Mega Man can jump on. However, these platforms dissipate after a few seconds, so you must use them quickly. The longer you hold down the button, the longer the platform will be. Like other weapons, the Magnet Beam must be selected from the weapon menu once you collect it. Unlike other weapons, you don't earn it by defeating a Robot Master. It must be found and is essential to Mega Man's quest to bring Dr. Wily to justice.
Damage Chart
Below is a chart demonstrating how much damage each Robot Master and Dr. Wily stage boss will take from each type of weapon. The study of this chart will reveal each Robot Master's particular weakness, so do not examine it unless you already know the weaknesses, or wish to have this information revealed. Each boss (with the exception of the CWU-01P, explained below) has a health meter of 28 points.
| Robot Master |
Arm Cannon |
Super Arm |
Rolling Cutter |
Thunder Beam |
Ice Slasher |
Fire Storm |
Hyper Bomb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guts Man | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Cut Man | 3 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Elec Man | 1 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Ice Man | 1 | - | 2 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Fire Man | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Bomb Man | 2 | - | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Dr. Wily stages | |||||||
| Yellow Devil | 2 | - | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | - |
| Mega Clone | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| CWU-01P[1] | 1 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Dr. Wily (Pt. 1) | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | - |
| Dr. Wily (Pt. 2)[2] | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | - |