******************************************************************************

                               Mega Man X FAQ
                           For the Super Nintendo
                     Version 1.05 (Last Updated 8/16/01)
                  By Devin Morgan (devin_morgan@netzero.net)

    This file is Copyright (c)2000-2001 Devin Morgan. All rights reserved.

******************************************************************************

Table of Contents

1. What's New
2. Introduction
3. Stage Guide
4. Weapons
5. Bosses
6. Secrets/Tips and Tricks
7. Credits
8. Copyright Notice
9. Contact Information

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  1. What's New -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Version 1.05 (8/16/01): Corrected a small directional error regarding using the
Hadoken fireball.

Version 1.0 (7/12/00): The first version of this guide with a new look and
layout.

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  2. Introduction -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Mega Man X continues the series with one of the most popular video game
characters around, which starred in the large Mega Man and Mega Man X series,
spanning across many systems. This is a side-scrolling action game where the
objective is to get through 8 levels, fight the Maverick bosses at the end of
each level, and get new weapons to use in your plasma cannon. This particular
game in the Mega Man X series is for the Super Nintendo and the PC, but this
FAQ is based on the Super NES version since I wrote this guide while playing
it. If you like pretty easy side-scrolling action games, then you just HAVE to
try this game if you haven't already!

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  3. Stage Guide  -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

For the maps I drew while going through each level, follow this key so you
know what each letter means. After each map, I'll get into further detail on
how to collect any special items in that level. Read the Bosses section for
help on beating each level's boss.

Key
---

E - Entrance to Level
M - Mech
P - Power-Up
S - Sub Tank
H - Heart Tank
B - Boss


=============
Chill Penguin
=============

                                                       _ _ _
                     _ _ _ _ _                       _|_|_|B|
                    |P|_|_|_|_|_         _ _ _ _ _ _|_|_|
     _ _ _ _ _      |_|     |_|_|_ _ _ _|_|H|_|_|_|_|_|
 _ _|_|_|_|_|_|_    |_|_      |_|_|_|_|M|_|_|_|_|
|E|_|_|     |_|_|_ _|_|_|
              |_|_|_|_|_|

Heart Tank: Use the Mech to jump up to the ledge with the 2 blue structures.
            Melt the left one with the Fire Wave to get the Heart.

Power-Up (Boots): You can't miss this one, since you have to get it when you
                  walk through this room. Just jump into the capsule and
                  you'll have the new enhancement!


===========
Storm Eagle
===========

Note: On this level's map where I said the boss's room is, that's actually
      where you jump onto the plane you fight it on. You have to get through
      the plane in order to fight Storm Eagle.

                                       _ _ _
                               _ _ _ _|_|_|B|
                             _|_|_|_|_|_|
                            |_|_|
           _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _|_|_|P|
   _ _ _ _|_|_|S|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
  |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
  |_|
 _|_|
|H|_|
|E|_|

Heart Tank: Well, you need the leg upgrade in order to get this Heart Tank.
            Ride the very first lift up to the top left corner of its track.
            Then, dash jump to the left as far as you can reach, and you'll
            land on top of the building near the Heart.

Sub Tank: When you reach the pillar with a robot on top of it, defeat the
          robot and ride the pillar up to the top. Jump onto the glass window,
          and shoot the glass apart. Walk through the building, defeat the big
          robot, and continue to reach the Sub Tank.

Power-Up (Helmet): Climb up the tall wall near where it shows the capsule on
                   the above map and get to the right side of it. Dash and
                   jump to the ledge by some destroyable missiles in the wall
                   and shoot them to reveal a passageway. Follow it to make
                   the capsule appear.


=============
Flame Mammoth
=============

                         _ _ _ _ _ _ _
                 _ _ _ _|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_ _ _ _ _ _ _
 _ _ _ _ _   _  |S|_|_|_|_|         |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|B|
|E|_|_|_|_|_|P|_|_|_|_|_|
        |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|H|

Heart Tank: Note that you MUST beat Chill Penguin's stage to thaw the ground
            and be able to reach the Heart Tank, or else you'll die instantly
            when touching the fiery ground. When you reach the section where
            the enemies are throwing pick axes at you, stay on the ground, and
            run all the way to the right to get the Heart.

Sub Tank: In the big room with the pick axe throwing robots, work your way to
          the top left corner of the room and use your Helmet Enhancement to
          break the gray blocks to get the Tank.

Power-Up (X-Buster): This one is very tricky and difficult to get. Just before
                     the room with the pick axe throwers, you'll see a group
                     of gray blocks in the ceiling. Go a little bit to the
                     right of it and you'll reach a more elevated surface.
                     Dash jump from the elevated surface onto the blocks and
                     break them all with your Helmet Upgrade to reach the
                     capsule with the Enhancement! It's a REAL pain in the ass
                     to perform this, and if you jump and break the lowest
                     block, but fall down, you'll have no choice but to
                     restart the level since you can't reach that wall at that
                     point.


==============
Spark Mandrill
==============

     _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _                 _ _ _ _
   _|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_ _ _ _ _      |_|_|_|H|
 _|_|_|_|_|       |_|_|_|_|_|_|_   _|_|   |_|_ _ _ _ _
|E|_|_|_|S|                 |_|_|_|_|_|   |_|_|_|_|_|B|
                              |_|_|_|

Heart Tank: When you see the ladder going down, climb up the wall and you'll
            see a small ledge close to the ceiling with the Heart Tank on it.
            To jump onto that platform, cling to the wall below it, but leave
            room between yourself and the platform above you. Then, dash and
            jump up and left, then quickly to the right and with luck you
            should land on the platform with the Heart. It will take many
            tries to do this, so be prepared to be in this area for a while!

Sub Tank: Stand next to the tube-like structure preventing you from getting
          the tank. Get as close to the wall as possible, then face right and
          jump in the air, then use a Boomerang Cutter and it'll fly right and
          down, and it should grab the Sub Tank on the way back to you.


=================
Armored Armadillo
=================

Note: The section of the map after the Heart Tank below has been shortened due
      to lack of room and the fact that it's all a straightforward ride on a
      moving platform.

 _ _
|E|_|_
  |_|_|_ _ _ _ _ _
    |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_ _ _ _
              |S|_|_|_|_|_|_     _ _
                        |_|_|_ _|_|_|_ _
                          |_|_|_|_| |_|_|_
                                      |_|_|_ _ _             _ _
                                        |_|_|_|_|_ _ _ _ _ _|_|_|_
                                              |_|_|_|H|_|_|_|_|_|B|

Sub Tank: After you drop for the first time in the level, as soon as you touch
          the ground, climb back up the wall. Wait for the robotic vehicle to
          pass, then go in the newly accessible room and get the Sub Tank.

Heart Tank: When you reach the second big robot vehicle with spikes in front,
            quickly take it out with Storm Tornado or Fire Wave before it
            reaches the heart tank. If you destroy it before you see the tank,
            then you can climb up the wall to get it, if it already plowed the
            lower section of the wall, you'll have to start over!


==============
Launch Octopus
==============

                                 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _       _ _ _ _ _|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_ _
|E|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_ _ _|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|B|
          |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|               |_|_ _
                                        |_|_|_|_
                                        |_|_|_|H|

Heart Tank: In the area with the tornado shaped waters rushing upward, jump on
            one and let it carry you to the surface. Do that to reach the
            floating sub up there. Use the Storm Tornado to quickly submerge
            it, stay on it until it stops COMPLETELY at the bottom of the sea.
            Go in the next room and defeat the eel with a well-timed Storm
            Tornado shot to the head, then take the Heart Tank.


===============
Boomer Quwanger
===============

Note: Since this stage's action goes vertically, I made this map horizontal
      instead with the beginning area on the left side of the screen. Just
      remember you're going up, not right!

 _ _ _ _ _
|E|_|_|_|_|
        |_|
        |_|
        |_|_ _ _ _
        |_|_|_|_|_|_ _ _ _         _ _ _ _ _
                |_|_|_|_|_|_ _ _ _|_|_|_|_|_|
                        |_|_|_|_|_|H|     |_|
                                          |B|

Heart Tank: Enter the building and defeat the robot on the floating platform.
            Then charge up your X-Buster with the Shotgun Ice and face right
            to the outside. Right before you drop, dash and jump up onto the
            platform to get the Heart Tank.


===============
Sting Chameleon
===============

                                 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
                                |_|_|_|M|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|B|
             _ _                |_|
 _ _ _ _ _ _|_|P|_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _|_|
|E|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|
          |_|_|H|

Heart Tank: Before you reach the area where rocks fall from the ceiling, jump
            in the water and use your Helmet upgrade to break the blocks.
            Then, dash jump all the way to the right and get the Tank on the
            ledge.

Power-Up (Body Armor): When you reach the area where you can go right, down,
                       or up, go up. A block wall will "lock" you in that room
                       to fight a sub-boss. Use the Fire Wave or Storm Tornado
                       on its head until he's destroyed! It does take a while,
                       so be sure to have a lot of energy before taking this
                       guy on.

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  4. Weapons  -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

X-Buster
    Get From: N/A (You start the game with this weapon)
    Description: This is your primary weapon. When you press Y, you shoot a
                 small yellow plasma pellet. If you hold Y for a second,
                 you'll shoot a larger beam of energy than the regular pellet.
                 If you hold Y until you're fully charged you'll shoot a large
                 plasma ball. If you charge it after you obtain the X-Buster
                 upgrade, you shoot out a wave of light-reddish colored plasma
                 balls.

Shotgun Ice
    Get From: Chill Penguin
    Description: You shoot a small, blue, spiky ball of ice. It freezes any
                 enemy that it hits. When charged with the X-Buster upgrade,
                 you'll make an ice penguin that you can stand on and it'll
                 move like a sled!

Storm Tornado
    Get From: Storm Eagle
    Description: You shoot a horizontal whirlwind in front of you. It goes
                 slowly, so it takes lots of damage as it passes. When you
                 fully charge it using the X-Buster upgrade, a large vertical
                 whirlwind surrounds you for a moment, hitting anything above
                 and below you!

Fire Wave
    Get From: Flame Mammoth
    Description: This weapon shoots a steady steam of fire from your buster,
                 just like a flame-thrower! When it's fully charged with the
                 X-Buster upgrade, it makes a "wave" of flames like its name
                 implies.

Electric Spark
    Get From: Spark Mandrill
    Description: You shoot a small, purple, electrical ball, which just hurts
                 enemies. When you fully charge it with the X-Buster upgrade,
                 2 large, electrical "sheets" fly from both sides of you,
                 hitting enemies from both sides!

Rolling Shield
    Get From: Armored Armadillo
    Description: When you shoot this regularly, a large blue ball rolls ahead
                 of you and hurts any enemy in its way. When it's fully
                 charged, which you can only do using the X-Buster upgrade, a
                 transparent version of that blue ball surrounds and protects
                 you from projectile attacks.

Homing Torpedo
    Get From: Launch Torpedo
    Description: You shoot a single torpedo that homes in on a nearby enemy
                 and hits it. When you fully charge this weapon with the X-
                 Buster upgrade, 4 larger "flesh-eating piranhas" home in on
                 the closest enemy.

Boomerang Cutter
    Get From: Boomer Kuwanger
    Description: You shoot a single boomerang cutter and it'll come back to
                 you if you didn't hit an enemy. When you fully charge this
                 weapon after getting the upgrade in your X-Buster, 4 large
                 transparent cutters fly in each direction and destroy
                 anything in their path.

Chameleon Sting
    Get From: Sting Chameleon
    Description: When you use this weapon, a single ball of energy comes out,
                 then splits into 3 beams. They then fly away and hit anything
                 along the way. When you use this weapon all charged up with
                 the X-Buster's upgrade, you become transparent and
                 invulnerable to all attacks for a limited amount of time. To
                 attack, you can only use the regular Chameleon Sting attack
                 while you're flashing.

Escape Unit
    Get From: N/A
    Description: Well, this really isn't a weapon, but it's listed in your
                 weapon list. If you're in a level you already defeated the
                 boss in, you can select this from the list at any time to
                 exit the level. You can use it as many times as you want, but
                 only in levels you already beat.

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  5. Bosses -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Chill Penguin
    Weapon: Shotgun Ice
    Strategy: Evade its sliding attacks and ice penguins and blast away at it
              with your X-Buster or the Fire Wave if you have it already. When
              it hangs on the hook on the ceiling, climb up the wall and hit
              it to stop the blizzard. When you fight it later in the Sigma
              stages, use the Fire Wave.

Storm Eagle
    Weapon: Storm Tornado
    Strategy: When it's flying, run towards it to keep yourself from flying
              away and attack with your X-Buster. Avoid getting hit by its
              swooping attack and when it shoots out and hatches tiny eagles,
              and keep hitting it until defeated. When you fight it in the
              Sigma Stages, use the Chameleon Sting instead to attack!

Flame Mammoth
    Weapon: Fire Wave
    Strategy: In this boss's room, there's a conveyor that moves you around,
              but the boss can change the direction it moves! Watch out when
              it shoots tar on the ground to make you stick to the ground, and
              use the Storm Tornado to attack. When it breathes fire at you,
              run the other way and shoot at it from afar until it's defeated.

Spark Mandrill
    Weapon: Electric Spark
    Strategy: As soon as the battle starts, shoot it with the Shotgun Ice. If
              it zaps you with its electric attack, just climb the wall until
              you're over it, and then jump over it. Keep freezing it with the
              ice and you'll defeat it easily!

Armored Armadillo
    Weapon: Rolling Shield
    Strategy: If you can avoid its rolling attack, then you're in good shape.
              When it's just standing there, NOT blocking, zap it with the
              Electric Spark to remove all its shields! Now, just jump over
              the tiny fireballs it shoots at you and keep blasting it with
              the Electric Spark or charged up X-Buster until it's defeated.

Launch Octopus
    Weapon: Homing Torpedo
    Strategy: Try your best to avoid the Homing Torpedoes it shoots at you and
              shoot at it with the Rolling Shield. Stay away from him when it
              starts spinning because it can easily take your power if it
              catches you! You may want to enter the battle with a full Sub
              Tank because this guy is one of the toughest Mavericks in the
              game!

Boomer Quwanger
    Weapon: Boomerang Cutter
    Strategy: Watch out when it dashes and throws its Boomerang piece at you
              and shoot Homing Torpedoes at it. When it teleports around the
              room, just keep launching Torpedoes; they'll hit it even when
              it's not visible!

Sting Chameleon
    Weapon: Chameleon Sting
    Strategy: Avoid its Chameleon Sting attacks and the stuff falling from the
              ceiling and hit it with the Boomerang Cutter. It is easier if
              you stand in middle of the room, facing the Chameleon, but you
              got to watch out for if you hit him while it's hanging on the
              ceiling, it might fall on you!

Vile (Fight in Sigma Stage 1)
    Strategy: In the start of this fight, Vile is inside a giant mech body.
              Just let him defeat you as he did in the beginning stage of the
              game. Watch the scene with Zero destroying his Mech, and then
              get ready to fight Vile one-on-one! When he's on the ground, hit
              him with the Rolling Shield because it takes the most damage.
              Jump over his various shots and keep shooting him. When you
              defeat him, go speak with Zero and if you don't have it already,
              he'll give you the X-Buster Upgrade for FREE!

Big Spider (Sigma Stage 1 Boss)
    Strategy: When you see a bunch of bars appear throughout the screen, watch
              out because the spider comes down using those and the gray bars
              that were there to start! When he's at the bottom of the screen
              and his red eye opens shoot him with a fully charged blast with
              the X-Buster. You can also use the Shotgun Ice to defeat it.

Wall Panel (Sigma Stage 2 Boss)
    Strategy: This unusual boss has 2 multi colored orbs for eyes, and a
              hovering thing for a type of nose. When its eyes open or float
              towards you, shoot them with the Chameleon Sting until both eyes
              shatter. Now, the walls will close in a bit, and the nosepiece
              will come to life! Attack it while clinging to the wall for dear
              life with the Chameleon Sting until it blows up.

Dinosaur Tank Robot (Sigma Stage 3 Boss)
    Strategy: This guy has 2 pieces, the head and the moving body. The head is
              the only part that's vulnerable, so hit it quick and hard with
              the Boomerang Cutter, for it takes a lot of power away from it.
              Cling to the wall and jump whenever the 2 parts come together
              and shoot a massive electrical ball. When they move separately
              around the room, jump over the bottom part to avoid getting hit.

Sigma's Dog (Sigma Stage 4 Boss)
    Strategy: Avoid its fire attacks and when it climbs the walls and use the
              Shotgun Ice on it. This enemy's SO easy that you shouldn't need
              any sub-tanks YET!

Sigma (Sigma Stage 4 Boss)
    Strategy: Watch out when he charges at you with his sword by climbing to
              the top of the wall and charging your X-Buster. When he zigzags
              up the wall after you, come down to the ground and just as he
              lands; let him have it with your fully charged X-Buster. Repeat
              the process until he blows up.

Velgauder (Sigma Stage 4 Boss)
    Strategy: Now, his body is gone, but his head is inside of a huge wolf
              known as Velgauder. Avoid the electric balls and fire breath the
              mouth shoots at you and just stay close to the wall. When one of
              it's claws lowers down, go up and hit the head with the Rolling
              Shield, but watch out for the thunder that's gonna hit you if
              you stay on the claw too long. Repeat this process until he
              falls apart and blows up, defeated!

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  6. Secrets/Tips and Tricks  -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The Hadoken Fireball
--------------------

Here, I'll list the steps you need to follow to get the secret Hadoken
Fireball. It is capable of destroying almost any boss with ONE HIT! The
drawback to it is that you need the following:

    1: All Heart and Sub Tanks
    2: All the energy on your bar
    3: All 8 Maverick Bosses defeated

Here are the steps to get this cool weapon (I strongly advise you have at least
5 lives to spare before trying this):

    1: In Armored Armadillo's stage, play through the level all the way until
       you reach the outside at the end by the boss's room.

    2: As the cart you're riding hits the wall above the boss door, climb up
       the wall and take the energy capsule.

    3: Jump into the pit and intentionally die (that's why I asked you to get
       all those extra lives earlier)!

    4: Repeat the above steps 4 more times, and in place of the energy
       capsule, there should be a Dr. Light capsule.

To use this weapon once you got it, press Down, Down/Forward, Forward, and Y to
shoot a small blue fireball. If it hits any enemy, it will immediately destroy
it! It may even defeat Sigma, if you're VERY good at not getting hit! Here's an
alternate way to obtain this special weapon:

To get the Hadoken Fireball without having to intentionally die 5-6 times to
make the trick work, play through the stage until you reach the outside part
above the door to the boss's room. After you take the large energy capsule,
drop down to the lower ledge and continue to the corridor before the boss's
lair. In that corridor, use the Escape Velocity to exit the level. Make sure
that you have a full Energy and Weapon Bars before using the Escape Velocity,
otherwise the trick won't work. Now, reenter the level and repeat the process
as many times as needed until you make the Dr. Light Capsule appear. Doing it
this way saves you from losing any lives!

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  7. Credits  -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

War1Tide (War1Tide@aol.com): For his information on defeating the Big Spider in
the first Sigma Stage.

Light Saber (psychicsuprise@hotmail.com): For sending in an alternate method
for obtaining the Hadoken Fireball.

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  8. Copyright Notice -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

This FAQ is Copyright (c)2000-2001 Devin Morgan. This FAQ is for private and
personal use only. It may NOT be used on any website other than the following
sites:

GameFAQs (http://www.gamefaqs.com)
Game Winners (http://www.gamewinners.com)
Video Game Strategies (http://vgstrategies.about.com)
Game Advice (http://www.gameadvice.com)

If you find this or any of my other FAQs on any other site, contact me
immediately! Please do not ask me if you may post this FAQ on your site or
publish it in your magazine, book, etc., because the answer is no. If you use
ANY information from within this FAQ, please give me FULL credit for what you
took and do not alter my information in any way, shape, or form. The most
recent version of this FAQ can always be found at the sites listed above.

******************************************************************************

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=  9. Contact Information  -=
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

If you have anything that you would wish to contribute to this FAQ, anything to
correct, or have any questions about something not already covered in this FAQ,
please e-mail me at devin_morgan@netzero.net. You will be given full credit for
whatever you submit. Please do not send me flames or nasty e-mails; that will
only result in your e-mail address being blocked from contacting me. Thanks for
reading this FAQ, and check out all my other work at this URL:

http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/recognition/3579.html

=- End of File -=
