Mega Man XZ: The Maverick Hunters

Chip Upgrades Guide

The Chip Upgrades Guide deals with the immense upgrade system present in X8. Building from the upgrade system introduced in X7, this time you'll be required to collect monetary items known as Metals to develop upgrades for each character. Read on for a comprehensive list of all the upgrades, how to develop them and the effects they have.

Chip upgrades

Mega Man X7 introduced a new upgrading system allowing players to enhance the Hunter's abilities individually. X8 furthers this idea, but this time there won't be stranded Reploids to rescue. Instead, you'll find a R&D (Research & Development) Lab at the Hunter base where you can develop new chip enhancements. Each upgrade will cost a certain amount of Metals - small minerals dropped by defeated enemies - and you'll need to track down hidden Rare Metals scattered about to access the strongest upgrades.

You'll quickly discover that the chips offering the strongest abilities (Double Barrier, for example) are quite dear and require deep pockets (although you're not actually 'paying' for the chips, the Metals are used to create them) so saving up for them can take some time. Listed here are the different colored Metals dropped by enemies and what each is worth:

Blue: 1 · Yellow: 5 · Red: 50 · Purple: 500

Each defeated boss will also drop a Metal, worth 3000. Saving up Metals can take a sizeable chunk of your time, so one decent way to save up is to replay the game a few times via the New Game + feature as developed chips will persist through each run. If you'd rather stick it out and save up the old fashioned way, try replaying the Central White Intermission as it's possible to score more than 2500 Metals with each run. Also try using Axl's Ray Gun while chasing the giant Mechaniloid in the Metal Valley as it'll drop red Metals worth 50 each with every few hit.

Two of the Rare Metals hidden in the game can also help you raise Metals, as one will give you a 10% discount on all chip development, while the other automatically generates Metals while the Hunters simply walk around. Each Hunter has their own group of chips, while a fourth category applies to all the characters. Once you've unlocked each Navigator as a playable character, press Special Weapon on the Chip Development screen to bring up a list of their upgrades, which you'll notice match their Hunter counterpart (Alia - X, Layer - Zero, Pallette - Axl). When you locate a Rare Metal which gives a chip to a specific Hunter, the matching Navigator will also have that chip available to develop.

When you locate a Rare Metal a 'NEW' indicator will notify you of it so you won't have to cycle through the menus searching for the new chip. There's also an option to delete a developed chip (found at the base of the All category) but there isn't really any incentive to delete a chip, as once it's gone you'll lose the effect it gave and won't be refunded the Metals it cost. Below you'll find a complete list of all the chips in the game along with their regular cost, discounted cost, Rare Metal location (if applicable) and the effect and requirements. For Rare Metals (indicated by a triangle), click on the stage's name to jump over to the Items Guide for directions to find it.

All characters Cost: Discount: Location: Effect & Requirements:
Life Bottle Half 50 45 N/A Fills a single character's life energy by 50%.
Life Bottle Full 150 135 Metal Valley Fills up a single character's life energy to maximum.
Life Charge 50 45 N/A Requires a Life Tank. Fills up a Life Tank partially with each charge.
Retry Chip 1 100 90 N/A Adds an extra retry to the two already available in each mission.
Retry Chip 2 200 180 N/A Requires Retry Chip 1. Gives you an extra retry for use in missions.
Retry Chip 3 300 270 N/A Requires Retry Chip 2. Gives you a third extra retry, totalling five.
Weapon Bottle Half 10 9 N/A Fills up 50% of a single character's weapon energy.
Weapon Bottle Full 30 27 Noah's Park Completely fills up a single special weapon/technique's energy.
Weapon Charge 10 9 N/A Needs Weapon Tank. This partially fills energy in the Weapon Tank.
Prickle Barrier 200 180 N/A This allows a single character to survive contact with spikes once.
Spare Energy 250 225 N/A Restores a small amount of life energy if you lose all health.
Alia Buster 40000 36000 N/A Requires New Game +. Unlocks Alia as a playable character.
Layer Rapier 40000 36000 N/A Requires New Game +. Unlocks Layer as a playable character.
Pallette Bullets 40000 36000 N/A Requires New Game +. Unlocks Pallette as a playable character.
Life Tank 1000 900 Troia Base Allows you to store life energy in reserve during missions.
Life Tank 1000 900 Pitch Black Gives you a second Life Tank to store reserved energy.
Weapon Tank 500 450 Inferno Allows you to store reserved weapon energy during missions.
Hyper AT 1500 1350 N/A Increases the attack power of all characters.
Escape Boost 1000 900 N/A Allows characters to break free faster from enemy bindings.
Metal Generator 5000 4500 Troia Base Generates 24 Metals every few seconds while walking around.
Metal Discount 5000 N/A Metal Valley Gives you a 10% Metal discount on all Chip Development.
X / Alia Cost: Discount: Location: Effect & Requirements:
Life Up 1500 1350 N/A This will increase X's maximum life energy.
Life Up +1 3000 2700 N/A Requires Life Up. This will further increase X's life energy.
Life Up +2 4500 4050 N/A Requires Life Up +1. This will max out X's life energy.
Double Barrier 20000 18000 Inferno The invincibility time X has after taking a hit will double.
Speedy Recovery 500 450 N/A Health recovers faster than normal while X is in reserve.
Weapon Up 500 450 N/A This increases X's maximum weapon energy.
Weapon Up +1 1000 900 N/A Requires Weapon Up. This further increases X's weapon energy.
Weapon Up +2 1000 1350 N/A Requires Weapon Up +1. X's weapon energy is maxed out.
Chain Combo 1000 900 N/A Combos will be easier to perform and rise faster than before.
Super Recover 1500 1350 N/A Life and weapon energy refills will restore more energy.
Spike Walker 500 450 N/A X's rate of speed while sliding down walls is lowered.
Weapon Converter 500 450 Booster Forest Weapon energy charges up when damaged (selected weapon only).
Zero / Layer Cost: Discount: Location: Effect & Requirements:
Life Up 1500 1350 N/A This will increase Zero's maximum life energy.
Life Up +1 3000 2700 N/A Requires Life Up. This will further increase Zero's life energy.
Life Up +2 4500 4050 N/A Requires Life Up +1. This will max out Zero's life energy.
Double Barrier 20000 18000 Metal Valley The invincibility time Zero has after taking a hit will double.
Speedy Recovery 500 450 N/A Health recovers faster than normal while Zero is in reserve.
Weapon Up 500 450 N/A This increases Zero's maximum weapon energy by.
Weapon Up +1 1000 900 N/A Requires Weapon Up. This further increases Zero's weapon energy.
Weapon Up +2 1500 1350 N/A Requires Weapon Up +1. Zero's weapon energy is maxed out.
Chain Combo 1000 900 N/A Combos will be easier to perform and rise faster than before.
Super Recover 1500 1350 N/A Life and weapon energy refills will restore more energy.
Spike Walker 500 450 N/A Zero's rate of speed while sliding down walls is lowered.
Weapon Converter 500 450 Troia Base Weapon energy will charge up slightly when Zero is damaged.
Shock Absorber 15000 13500 Central White This will stop Zero from falling back when taking damage.
Shield Armor 15000 13500 Booster Forest This will greatly increase Zero's defensive power.
Saber/Rapier Skill+1 3000 2700 N/A Adds a fourth strike to the standard Saber/Rapier combo.
Saber/Rapier Skill+2 5000 4500 N/A Requires Saber/Rapier Skill+1. Adds a fifth strike to the combo.
D Glaive 1000 900 Pitch Black This will unlock the giant lance for use.
K Knuckle 1000 900 Primrose This unlocks the melee combat weapon.
B Fan 1000 900 Primrose Unlocks the short-range defensive fan weapon.
T Breaker 1000 900 Inferno This unlocks the giant hammer capable of breaking barriers.
Σ Blade 30000 27000 N/A This unlocks the massive sword with incredible destructive power.
Axl / Pallette Cost: Discount: Location: Effect & Requirements:
Life Up 1500 1350 N/A This will increase Axl's maximum life energy.
Life Up +1 3000 2700 N/A Requires Life Up. This will further increase Axl's life energy.
Life Up +2 4500 4050 N/A Requires Life Up +1. This will max out Axl's life energy.
Double Barrier 20000 18000 Booster Forest The invincibility time Axl has after taking a hit will double.
Speedy Recovery 500 450 N/A Health recovers faster than normal while Axl is in reserve.
Weapon Up 500 450 N/A This increases Axl's maximum weapon energy.
Weapon Up +1 1000 900 N/A Requires Weapon Up. This further increases Axl's weapon energy.
Weapon Up +2 1500 1350 N/A Requires Weapon Up +1. Axl's weapon energy is maxed out.
Chain Combo 1000 900 N/A Combos will be easier to perform and rise faster than before.
Super Recover 1500 1350 N/A Life and weapon energy refills will restore more energy.
Spike Walker 500 450 N/A Axl's rate of speed while sliding down walls is lowered.
Shock Absorber 15000 13500 Noah's Park This stops Axl from falling back when taking damage.
Shield Armor 15000 13500 Pitch Black This greatly increases Axl's defensive power.