I decided to make this because a friend of mine was playing Megaman 2 for what I assume to be the first time.
This is only meant to cover the basics and is based off of my experience. Some things may work differently for you, and some things may be a tad inaccurate. Because this is from my own experience, this list only features games 1-7. If you need anything past that, please look elsewhere.
This, of course, is a matter of opinion. However, I think in terms of ease, MM2 is the easiest due to its "normal" difficulty being fairly dumbed down compared to the single difficulies of the other games, and difficult mode in MM2. MM1 could be argued as one of the hardest due to its lack of E-Tanks, the hazards in the areas before the bosses, and how difficult the battles are in general.
Please do note that this guide contains weakness information and other things that could be considered spoilers; if you consider them such and do not want to be spoiled, please look for another guide.
Jump to game: MM1 | MM2 | MM3 | MM4 | MM5 | MM6 | MM7 | MMV
These have the bare necessities, but I consider them incomplete!
Something missing? Contact me! | To do
*this is a mailto link, sorry if it doesn't work!
Recommended Starting RM: Iceman or Cutman
Iceman's easy if you're good at timing and like rhythm games. Cutman is weakest to the Mega Buster, though, and is easier to hit and dodge.
Weakness Order
Starting with Iceman: Ice > Fire > Bomb > Guts > Cut > Elec
Starting with Cutman: Cut > Elec > Ice > Fire > Bomb > Guts
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Pause Glitch
In MM1, the select button acts as a pause button (as well as the start button). Because the game counts invisibility frames when paused, if you rapidly press the select button over and over, you can inflict more damage with a single projectile (so long as it's still in the boss' hitbox). This is extremely useful for battles that you may struggle with (and also the Yellow Devil. I fucking hate the Yellow Devil). Please do note this only works in MM1, as the select button does not work as a pause button in the other games.
I hear this feature has been taken out of Legacy Edition, but I'm not entirely sure if that's the case or just a one-person case. Doesn't hurt to try it if you have select mapped to a button, though. (If you're emulating the game or playing on an NES then this shouldn't affect you.)
All gameplay is my own unless stated otherwise. I use an emulator (MESEN)
Magnet Beam
Use Super Arm (G) to remove the wall surrounding the Magnet Beam (M). All gameplay is my own unless stated otherwise. I use an emulator (MESEN)
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Recommended Special Weapons for Wily Stage bosses
Yellow Devil: Thunder Beam (E) OR Mega Buster (P)
Copy Robot: Any weapon other than Super Arm (G)*
The Seven CWU-01Ps: Super Arm (G)** OR Hyper Bomb (B)
Wily Machine 1 form 1: Fire Storm (F) OR Mega Buster (P)
Wily Machine 1 form 2: Mega Buster (P)
*Hyper Bomb (B), Fire Storm (F), and Thunder Beam (E) work the best, but because the Copy Robot uses the same weapon you do, it's wiser to use a weapon you know you can dodge.
**Use Hyper Bomb (B) or the Mega Buster (P) until you can't keep up with their speed anymore. Then switch to Super Arm and throw stuff at the CWU-01P.
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Recommended Starting RM: Flashman (normal) or Metalman (normal, difficult*)
If you plan to go in weakness order, Flashman is okay. If you plan to do it any other way, Metalman is the best option. Metalman is easier to hit, but if you're looking for a challenge, go for Flashman.
*this difficulty setting does not appear in the Japanese version of the game. Treat the Japanese version like the difficult version.
Weakness Order
Starting with Flashman: Flash > Quick > Metal > Bubble > Heat > Wood > Air > Crash
Starting with Metalman: Metal > Bubble > Heat > Wood > Air > Crash > Flash > Quick
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Recommended Special Weapons for Wily Stage bosses
Mecha Dragon: Mega Buster (P)
Picopico-kun: Bubble Lead (B) OR Mega Buster (P)
Guts Tank: Quick Boomerang (Q) OR Mega Buster (P)
Boobeam Trap: Crash Bomber (C) (required)
Wily Machine 2 form 1: Atomic Fire (H) OR Mega Buster (P)
Wily Machine 2 form 2: Mega Buster (P)
Alien: Bubble Lead (B) (required)
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Recommended Starting RM: Shadowman (large weakness circle) or Geminiman (large weakness circle)
In MM3, there are two weakness circles. It sucks I fucking hate it so much
Breakman (Protoman, Blues) is only vulnerable to the Mega Buster.
Weakness Order
Starting with Shadowman: Shadow > Spark > Magnet > Hard > Top > Gemini (with Magnet Missile) > Needle > Snake
Starting with Geminiman (option 1): Gemini > Needle > Snake > Magnet (with Gemini Laser) > Hard > Top > Shadow > Spark
Starting with Geminiman (option 2): Gemini > Needle > Snake > Shadow (with Mega Buster) > Spark > Magnet > Hard > Top
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Recommended Special Weapons for Doc Robot configs
Metalman: Magnet Missile (MA) Or Hard Knuckle (HA)
Airman: Magnet Missile (MA) OR Spark Shock (SP)
Bubbleman: Spark Shock (SP) OR Shadow Blade (SH)
Quickman: Gemini Laser (GE) OR Search Snake (SN)
Crashman: Top Spin (TO) OR Hard Knuckle (HA)
Flashman: Needle Cannon (NE) OR Gemini Laser (GE)
Heatman: Search Snake (SN) OR Hard Knuckle (HA) OR Shadow Blade (SH)
Woodman: Needle Cannon (NE) OR Search Snake (SN)
You can tell which configuration it is, as the robot in question appears to descend upon the Doc Robot.
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Recommended Special Weapons for Wily Stage bosses
Kamegoro Maker: Mega Buster (P)
Yellow Devil MK-II: Hard Knuckle (HA)
Holograph Mega Men: Search Snake (SN)
Wily Machine 3 form 1: Spark Shock (SP) OR Hard Knuckle (HA)
Wily Machine 3 form 2: Search Snake (SN) OR Hard Knuckle (HA)
Gamma form 1: Hard Knuckle (HA) OR Shadow Blade (SH)
Gamma form 1: Top Spin (TO) OR Search Snake (SN)
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Recommended Starting RM: Dustman
Dustman is the easiest to battle with only the Mega Buster.
Weakness Order
Starting with Dustman: Dust > Skull > Dive (with Mega Buster, unless you're feeling brave) > Drill > Toad > Bright > Pharaoh > Ring
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Recommended Special Weapons for Cossack Stage bosses
Mothraya: Ring Boomerang OR Mega Buster
Square Machine: Dust Crusher OR Mega Buster
Cockroach Twins: Mega Buster
Cossack Catcher: Dust Crusher OR Mega Buster
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Recommended Special Weapons for Wily Stage bosses
Metall Daddy: Mega Buster OR Ring Boomerang OR Dust Crusher
Tako Trash: Ring Boomerang OR Mega Buster
Wily Machine 4: Ring Boomerang
Wily Capsule: Pharaoh Shot (fully charged)
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Recommended Starting RM: Starman OR Waveman
Starman is the easiest to battle with only the Mega Buster, and one of the easiest to dodge. Waveman is fairly easy to dodge too, but you'll need to recognize his timing.
Weakness Order
Starting with Starman: Star > Gravity > Gyro > Crystal > Napalm > Stone > Charge > Wave
Starting with Waveman: Wave > Star > Gravity > Gyro > Crystal > Napalm > Stone > Charge
If you start with Waveman, you can also just hit Starman with the Mega Buster. I've never used Water Wave before, but I'm not sure how viable it is against Starman (even though it's his weakness).
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Recommended Special Weapons for Protoman Stage bosses
Darkman I: Water Wave OR Mega Buster (fully charged)
Darkman II: Napalm Bomb OR Crystal Eye OR Super Arrow
Darkman III: Gyro Attack OR Super Arrow
Darkman IV: Power Stone OR Star Crash OR Mega Buster
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Recommended Special Weapons for Wily Stage bosses
Big Pets: Crystal Eye
Circring Q9: Gyro Attack
Wily Press: Star Crash
Wily Machine 5: Super Arrow OR whatever weapons you still have energy in OR Mega Buster
Wily Capsule: Mega Buster OR whatever weapons you still have energy in OR Beat + Mega Buster
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Recommended Starting RM: Plantman OR Knightman
Plantman works similarly to Starman and Skullman in terms of weapon, making him easy to avoid and dodge. Knightman's attack pattern is very simple and also easy to dodge.
Weakness Order
Starting with Plantman: Plant > Tomahawk > Yamato > Knight > Centaur > Wind > Flame > Blizzard
Starting with Knightman: Knight > Centaur > Wind > Flame > Blizzard > Plant > Tomahawk > Yamato
Beat plate locations: Tomahawkman's stage (B), Yamatoman's stage (E), Knightman's stage (A), Centaurman's stage (T)
Note: If you didn't obtain the Beat plate the first time you fought the robot master, you'll have to fight them again. There's a secondary area where you battle each warrior robot that can range from fairly hidden to completely obvious, so be on the lookout for anything you couldn't reach before. Beat is also useless against bosses, so you don't HAVE to get all of the plates, but he can be useful in stages.
Tomahawkman: Go under rather than over. Use the Jet Adapter. // Yamatoman: Use the Jet Adapter to go where the ladder is. // Knightman: Use the Power Adapter to destroy the block in the first picture, and then destroy the other ones to get through. // Centaurman: Use the Jet Adapter to fly over where the ladder and "pit" are.
All gameplay is my own unless stated otherwise. I use an emulator (MESEN)
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Recommended Special Weapons for X Stage bosses
Rounder 2: Knight Crush OR Flame Blast OR Mega Buster
Power Piston: Silver Tomahawk
Metonger Z: Blizzard Attack
X Crusher: Knight Crush OR Silver Tomahawk
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Recommended Special Weapons for Wily Stage bosses
Mechazaurus: Yamato Spear
Tank CS2: Mega Buster
Wily Machine 6 form 1: Knight Crush AND Silver Tomahawk*
Wily Machine 6 form 2: Knight Crush AND Silver Tomahawk*
Wily Capsule: Knight Crush AND Silver Tomahawk*
*Use Knight Crush until you run out, then begin to use Silver Tomahawk. If you run out of both, go with the Power Adaptor or Mega Buster.just here to make things look pretty dont mind me
Recommended Starting RM: Freezeman
Freezeman is the hardest of the first four to battle; however, that pays off, so the frustration is worth it.
Weakness Order
Starting with Freezeman: Freeze > Burst > Cloud > Junk > Slash (with Freeze Cracker) > Spring > Shade > Turbo
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Recommended Special Weapons for Midstage Boss
Mash: Danger Wrap OR Thunder Bolt
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Recommended Special Weapons for Wily Stage bosses
Bass: Super Adapter OR Mega buster OR Danger Wrap OR Thunder Bolt OR Noise Crush OR Freeze Cracker
Gutsman G: Slash Claw*
Super Bass: Super Adapter OR Mega buster OR Danger Wrap OR Thunder Bolt OR Noise Crush OR Freeze Cracker
Gameriser: Wild Coil OR Danger Wrap**
HannyaNED²: Junk Shield OR Noise Crush
Wily Machine 7: Thunder Bolt OR Scorch Wheel OR Mega Buster
Wily Capsule: Freeze Cracker OR Wild Coil
*Reflecting a rock at Gutsman G with the Slash Claw is more effective.
**When Danger Wrap is used to wrap up mini Gamerisers and collided against Gameriser himself, the weapon will inflict 8 units of damage.
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This section in particular is a work in progress and is subject to having information drastically change over time with no warning.
Recommended Starting Stardroid: Mercury
Mercury is the easiest to hit with the Mega Buster, and among the easiest to dodge.
Weakness Order
Starting with Mercury: Mercury > Neptune (with Mega Buster) > Mars > Venus > Jupiter > Saturn > Pluto (with Grab Buster) > Uranus
Crystal thingy locations: Jupiter's stage, Saturn's stage, Uranus' stage, Pluto's stage
You'll have to have visited Pluto's stage before getting Uranus' stage's crystal, and vice versa, meaning that you'll have to play at least one of the two stages twice. If you don't have the Magic Hand for Jupiter and Saturn's stages, you'll need Uranus' weapon for those, too.
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Recommended Special Weapons for Midstage Boss
Dark Moon: Photon Missile
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Recommended Special Weapons for Final Stage bosses
Terra: Deep Digger
Skull Blazer: None/Mega Buster*
Enker: Mega Buster
Quint: Mega Buster OR Photon Missile
Punk: Mega Buster OR Salt Water
Ballade: Bubble Bomb OR Photon Missile OR Mega Buster
L. and R. Knuckle: Mega Buster OR Photon Missile
Brain Crusher: None/Mega Buster*
Sunstar: Spark Chaser**
*The Mega Buster isn't an option, but something similar is/you can't really hit the target with the Mega Buster, but use it to bump things into the target
**Most weapons do an equal amount of damage, but Spark Chaser can hit him more than once with one use.
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