Editing Zero (Mega Man)

{{Title|Zero (''Mega Man'')}}

|caption = [[File:MegaManSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]<br>Official artwork of Zero from ''Mega Man X DiVE''.

|lastappearance=''{{s|wikipedia|Minecraft}}'' (DLC, 2023)

|species = Reploid<ref>"During Sigma's uprising, Zero detonated his own power core to save X and was critically damaged, but miraculously his cortex chip was unscathed. It is currently being stored at Maverick Hunter HQ, but even Dr. Cain has proven incapable of repairing his reploid body." - Zero, ''Mega Man X2'' Gallery, ''Mega Man X Legacy Collection''. 2018.</ref><ref>'''Zero:''' "Even if we Reploids are destined to join the scrap heap when that evolutionary step does come about..." - Ending cutscene, ''Mega Man X8''. 2004.</ref>

'''Zero''' ({{ja|ゼロ|Zero}}, ''Zero'') is a recurring character in the {{uv|Mega Man}} series. He is a supporting protagonist in the ''Mega Man X'' sub-series of the ''Mega Man'' universe, and the main protagonist of the ''Mega Man Zero'' sub-series.

Conceptually, Zero was one of the earliest characters Keiji Inafune designed for ''Mega Man X''. He initially intended for the design to be used as the main protagonist, but upon realizing that players may have a hard time recognizing such a different-looking protagonist, he got fellow artist Hayato Kaji to design one closer to the original [[Mega Man]]; thus {{b|X|Mega Man}} was born. Meanwhile, Zero's design was repurposed into a supporting character.

Zero debuted in ''Mega Man X'' as X's mentor and only friend in the Maverick Hunters, eventually sacrificing himself to help X defeat Vile and go on to stop the leader of the Mavericks, Sigma. In ''Mega Man X2'', Zero's body was repaired and split into pieces by the X-Hunters, forcing X to face them to retrieve his parts so he could be rebuilt. If the player failed to do so, Zero would be revived as a Maverick and fought in a boss battle. This game began to imply that Zero was secretly created by the evil [[Dr. Wily]], which would be built upon in later games. In ''Mega Man X3'', Zero returned as an ally of X who could be summoned to trade places, letting the player temporarily play as Zero.

In ''Mega Man X4'', Zero became a fully playable character alongside X for the first time. His usage of his iconic beam sword, the Z-Saber, was expanded with special Techniques gained by defeating Maverick bosses. His past was also explored, as Sigma revealed that Zero was once an insane Maverick whom Sigma fought to defeat; in the process, Sigma was infected by a virus created by Dr. Wily that helped him go Maverick in the first place. In ''Mega Man X5'', it becomes Sigma's plan to return Zero to his original evil purpose as intended by Dr. Wily, forcing him to fight X. Depending on the player's actions, Zero may "awaken" and challenge X as a boss. Despite the battle, afterwards X and Zero work together to defeat Sigma, and Zero is thought to perish in the process. He later returns in ''Mega Man X6'' under mysterious circumstances, and remains a playable character in the series all the way until ''Mega Man X8''.

Zero became the star of his own sub-series with the release of ''Mega Man Zero'', a new video game series set two centuries after the ''Mega Man X'' series. After having been sealed away for years, Zero is reawoken by a human scientist named Ciel, who begs him to help liberate the dystopia of Neo Arcadia from the ruthless rule of who appears to be X himself. The game continued for a total of four installments, until the finale in ''Mega Man Zero 4'' where Zero sacrificed himself to stop the mad Dr. Weil from destroying all life. Zero also returned in some form in the ''Mega Man ZX'' sub-series, which was set another two centuries after the ''Mega Man Zero'' series and featured a Zero-inspired artifact called Model Z that gives the user similar abilities to him.

In ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', all of the attacks that Zero uses as an Assist Trophy originate from his Technique abilities in the ''Mega Man X'' series:

*His triple slash attack first debuted in ''Mega Man X4'', where it is his basic grounded attack, with each of the slashes being activated with additional presses of the attack button. In ''Ultimate'', it most closely resembles the version from ''Mega Man X4'' and ''X5''.

*Ryuenjin is one of Zero's Techniques in ''Mega Man X4'', obtained by defeating Magma Dragoon. Zero also uses Ryuenjin in several of his crossover appearances, such as ''Tatsunoko vs. Capcom'', ''Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds'' and its update ''Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3'', ''Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite'', ''Project X Zone'', ''Project X Zone 2'' and ''Teppen''.

*Kuuenzan is another of Zero's Techniques in ''Mega Man X4'', obtained by defeating Split Mushroom. This rolling slash also returns in another forms across the games.

*Genmu Zero is a Technique only used by Awakened Zero in ''Mega Man X5'', though he also uses it in the ''Marvel vs. Capcom'' series. He uses it after the battle has gone on for too long, and functions as an unavoidable attack that instantly kills X.

Zero's double jump and air dash, which he uses in ''Ultimate'', were originally special techniques in ''Mega Man X4'', known as the Kuuenbu and Hienkyaku (respectively), that had to be obtained by defeating Mavericks (Split Mushroom and Jet Stingray). In certain later games, they have been available to him from the beginning.

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=SNES|game1=Mega Man X|release1=01/1994|console2=GBA|game2=Mega Man Zero|release2=09/2002}}

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=SNES|game1=Mega Man X|release1=03/1994|console2=GBA|game2=Mega Man Zero|release2=10/2002}}

[[File:SSBUWebsiteZeroMM1.jpg|thumb|Zero on [[Luigi's Mansion]].]]

Zero appears as an [[Assist Trophy]].  

 

Zero's Japanese voice clips were by Ryotaro Okiayu, who has voiced him since ''Mega Man X4''. Okiayu was surprised to hear his recordings in ''Ultimate'' and suggested they were reused from somewhere.<ref>[https://twitter.com/chikichikiko/status/1027213454212386816 "ゼロもボイスあるの？？？ あれ？"], [https://twitter.com/chikichikiko/status/1027234867791114240 "『帰還する！』という台詞が何処からか転用されているみたいです音源"] - Ryotaro Okiayu's Twitter (@chikichikiko, both posted August 8, 2018)</ref> Zero's English voice clips were by Johnny Yong Bosch, who has voiced him since ''Marvel Vs. Capcom 3''.

 

Upon being summoned, he says "Fight's on!" and chases opponents to attack them using a variety of attacks and Techniques from the ''Mega Man X'' series:

*A series of three slashes with his Z-Saber, much like playable characters' [[neutral attack]]s, with the slashes linking into each other. However, opponents are able to [[air dodge]] in between the second and third slashes. The slashes deal 5%, 7%, and 9% respectively, for a total of 21% damage, and the third slash has enough knockback to KO at around 125% from center stage.

*'''Ryuenjin''' ({{ja|龍炎刃|Ryūenjin}}, ''Dragon Flame Blade''): Zero performs a rising uppercut slash with his Z-Saber engulfed in [[flame]]s. Much like {{SSBU|Roy}}'s [[Blazer]], it drags opponents along in multiple hits, then launches them upward at the peak of the jump. It deals up to 5 hits, with the first dealing 6%, the second to fourth dealing 1.2%, and the fifth dealing 10%, for a total of 19.6% damage. The final hit is powerful enough to KO opponents under 100% if all hits connect.

*'''Kuuenzan''' ({{ja|空円斬|Kūenzan}}, ''Air Circling Slash''): Performs three quick somersaulting slashes in midair with the Z-Saber. The first two hits deal 4%, then the third hit deals 12%, for a total of 20% damage. The third hit is powerful enough to KO under 100% from center stage.

*'''Genmu Zero''' ({{ja|幻夢零|Genmurei}}, ''Phantasm Zero''): Holds the Z-Saber up, then slashes with it to launch a large, green beam forward. The Z-Saber itself deals 15%, while the beam deals 20%. This is Zero's most powerful attack, with the beam KO-ing opponents as low as 70% from center stage. He often uses it when opponents are at a long distance away from him, especially if they are at high percentages. The beam can be [[reflect]]ed and [[absorb]]ed.

Much like in his home series, Zero has a [[double jump]], and can move with high-speed dashes both on the ground and in the air. He is also one of the Assist Trophies capable of performing directional air dodges. For all his Techniques except the triple slash, Zero shouts their names when using them. He will then say "Back to base!" when departing. He also can be defeated, when he is defeated he gets blast KO'd but also explodes into orange orbs, a reference to his death animation in most of his appearances.

The Zero outfit that previously appeared in ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' returns once again as a [[Downloadable content (SSBU)|downloadable]] [[Mii Costume]] for {{SSBU|Mii Swordfighter}}s, released with the third wave of Mii Fighters.

KuenzanMMX4.png|Sprite of Zero using Kuuenzan in ''Mega Man X4''.