How to Beat Mega Man 4 Bosses Using Weaknesses

The Mega Man series is notorious for its intense gameplay and bosses. The franchise has challenging bosses that force you to approach every situation differently. Mega Man 4 is one of the friendlier classic titles, perfect for newcomers looking for an entry. The game introduces the famous charge shot and offers you a wide weapon selection. Here's a guide on how to break Wily's latest inventions and win the game.

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Robot Masters (First Set)

After the events of Mega Man 3, the main cast believes Dr. Wily is dead. Taking his place in Mega Man 4's Dr. Cossack, a mad scientist armed with a legion of robot masters. Cossack faces off against Mega Man, but not everything is as it seems. Dr. Wily is alive, forcing Cossack to destroy the protagonist. Cossack's daughter, Kalinka, is being held hostage by Wily for his evil plan. Mega Man has to face off against Cossack and then Wily to save the day.

Mega Man 4 continues the robot master tradition but adds a new weapon to Rock's base arsenal: the charge shot. The 'Mega Buster' is a new weapon that charges up your buster shots. The Mega Buster deals significant damage against the bosses. The robot master weapons in this game are also very well-made. These versatile abilities round out Rock's arsenal, making him unstoppable.

Toad Man

Toad Man is your first target in Mega Man 4, residing in the Toad Man Stage. Dr. Cossack created Toad Man to help irrigate crops during drought seasons. Toad Man's stage resembles a sewer filled with rancid water and pipes. The stage has a unique gimmick that causes the rain to push your character. If you are not careful, Mega Man will fall because of the rain and die.

Toad Man is infamous for his complete lack of difficulty. This robot master does a little dance before he uses rain flush. You can wait out Toad Man's dance and then shoot him. His attack cancels his Rain Flush attack and keeps him stuck in place. Alternatively, you can shoot Toda Man repeatedly and dodge his jump attacks. Either way, beating him will net you with the Rain Flush, a screen-wide nuke of acid rain.

Bright Man

After Toad Man dies, Bright Man will be your next target, residing in the Bright Man Stage. Bright Man uses his light powers to explore and illuminate dark areas. Bright Man's stage resembles an electric control system. There are electricity-powered grasshoppers you will have to ride on in certain sections. You will hop on electricity-powered grasshoppers. In addition, by destroying certain enemies, you will darken the stage.

Compared to Toad Man, Bright Man's boss fight is convoluted. He will hop around and fire three shots toward you. If you are not careful, Bright Man will use his Flash Stopper. This ability freezes the leading character in place by blinding him. When he blinds you, Bright Man will fire three different shots to hit you. Use Rain Flush to short-circuit Bright Man's systems and put him down. After beating Bright Man, you can use his Flash Stopper.

Pharaoh Man

dark ruins and pyramids. Pharaoh Man's stage resembles an Egyptian pyramid with quicksand that can drag Mega Man under the ground. It is worth noting that Pharaoh Man's Stage holds the Balloon item. This item creates balloon platforms that you can use. Grabbing the Balloon platform also skips a part of the stage and puts you deeper into the Pyramid.

Pharaoh Man is a pushover if you have Flash Stopper equipped. By using the bright weapon, Pharaoh Man freezes in place. While he is frozen, shoot Pharoah Man with the Mega Buster. Be mindful of how quickly Flash Stopper's weapon gauge will fall. If you are quick enough, Pharaoh Man will die, and the Flash Stopper effect will not wear off. Beating Pharaoh Man nets you with the Pharaoh Shot, a chargeable solar energy sphere.

Ring Man

Ring Man is your next target, found in the Ring Man Stage. Unlike his predecessors, Cossack built Ring Man to terminate the hero. Ring Man's stage resembles a strange space simulator. Ring Man has platform traps that can cause the hero to fall. Ring Man is quick and uses his ring as a projectile to throw at Mega Man. He will always run or jump while throwing them at you. Avoid the rings when he throws them, and use Pharaoh Shot. Using a fully-charged Pharaoh Shot can kill Ring Man in five hits. You can use the Ring Boomerang after beating him.

Robot Masters (Second Set)

Dust Man

Dust Man is in the Dust Man Stage, a scrap disposal center. Enemies will leap out of bottomless pits to attack you. There are segmented red blocks that will always form ahead of you. The stage features pressing machines that can kill you if you get trapped. Destroy the blocks of junk and use your slide to get past them.

Dust Man's attacks are all slow and easy to dodge. His boss fight provides you with no challenge whatsoever. Dust Man's Dust Crusher flies to you and splits into four pieces. Avoid the attack by hopping over it and staying central. Ring Man's Ring Boomerang can kill him in seven hits. However, this attack requires that you are at mid-range with Dust Man. Once you beat Dust Man, you can add his Dust Crusher to your arsenal.

Skull Man

Skull Man is in the Skull Man stage, a giant canyon full of skeletons and fossils. Cossack created Skull Man to destroy Mega Man. Skull Man's stage is simple, with no unique gimmicks to add to it. Bony enemies like the Skeleton Joe litter throughout the stage. Skull Man is different from the other robot masters. He always mimics the player character's movements in combat. If you stand still, Skull Man will do the same. Skull Man's pattern can trip you up due to how convoluted he can be. The Skull Barrier protects him from the mega buster's attacks. Using the Dust Crusher will kill Skull Man in seven hits. After beating Skull Man, you gain his Skull Barrier.

Dive Man

Dive Man is in the Dive Man Stage, an undersea adventure full of aquatic mooks. Dr. Cossack created Dive Man based on Submarine functions. Enemies like the M-422A will restrict your movement. This stage has the 'Wire' tool, another gimmick to add to Mega Man's selection. The wire works like a grapple hook that the hero can use to pull himself up surfaces.

Dive Man's boss fight puts you underwater, like the rest of his stage. Dive Man is fast and will charge you like a torpedo. Avoid his attacks, and he will chain this move again. If you are far away, Dive Man will fire the Dive Missile like a homing attack. Skull Man's Skull Barrier can kill him in seven blows and block his dive missile. After beating Dive Man, you gain access to his weapon.

Drill Man

Drill Man is the final robot master in the underground Drill Man Stage. Dr. Cossack created Drill Man to dig in construction sites. Drill Man's stage has dangerous spike placements and numerous enemies. The first gimmick will drop boulders on top of you every time you pass a sign. Either shoot the boulders down or use your slide. You will have to touch levers to reveal hidden terrain.

Drill Man will always dive you from underground, so keep moving. Mega Man's buster shots will not damage Drill Man's attacks. Use the Dive Missile to home in on Drill Man when he's not underground. After beating Drill Man, the Drill Bomb is yours. In addition, you have been the last of the eight Robot Masters in Mega Man 4.

Cossack's Citadel & Boss Fights

Congratulations, you have defeated Mega Man 4's robot masters. Your next journey will be through Cossack's Citadel. This area features a plot development concerning Cossack and his relation to Wily. Wily forces Cossack to fight Mega Man by holding Kalinka, Cossack's daughter, hostage.

Mothraya

The first stage puts you in a snowy area and requires you to scale numerous ladders. Once you reach the top, you will fight your first threat: Mothraya. This large butterfly machine will destroy the floor over time with their spike. Defeat Mothraya quickly with Ring Boomerang before it is too late.

Square Machine

The second Cossack Castle stage puts you inside the castle. The next boss is the Square Machine, a colossal computer mechanism that moves its separate pieces across the stage. Get inside the Square Machine and use Dust Crusher to damage its glowing red eye. After that, the Square Machine will die, and you will proceed to the next stage.

Cockroach Twins

Cossack Castle Stage 3 is next on the list, pushing you further into the castle. This stage is the only one in the game with an Autoscroller, slowly moving you right. Stay patient and move as the screen reveals more of itself. Your next set of bosses is the Cockroach Twins. You fight both Cockroach Twins in a spiked pit, so be careful when jumping. Use fully charged Pharaoh Shots to defeat them. Once you destroy the second Cockroach Twin, you can move on to the next stage.

Cossack Catcher

Cossack Castle Stage 4 is next, putting you directly against Doctor Cossack. After entering his domain, Cossack will reveal his Cossack Catcher. This magic claw-themed weapon requires you to slide to avoid its claw. If not, it will grab Mega Man and slam him into the ground. It also negates your ability to use E-Tanks or switch weapons. The Cossack Catcher's weakness is the Dust Crusher.

Once you have done enough damage, Mega Man's brother, Proto Man, will appear. Blues rescued Kalinka offscreen, and she urges you to stop. Kalinka reveals Dr. Wily's plans and reunites with her father, Cossack. This cutscene ends Cossack's Castle and puts you in Wily's Fortress.

Wily Castle & Boss Fights

Wily's Fortress returns in Mega Man 4, boasting much of the same as its predecessors. Quickly make your way through these various threats. At the top of these bosses lies Dr. Wily, your final opponent. Defeat Dr. Wily's machines, and you beat the game entirely.

Metall Daddy

The first stage of Wily's Fortress descends into an underwater stage with spikes. The stage also features a vanishing block segment. Predict the pattern of the blocks and climb to the top. The stage's boss is Metall Daddy, an iconic threat in the Mega Man series. This boss is weak to Ring Boomerang and will hop close to Mega Man. Attack the Mettall when the creature is visible from underneath its head.

Tako Trash

The second stage of Wily's Fortress has many spike traps and enemy set-ups. The boss is Tako Trash, who is weak to Ring Boomerang. Get close to Tako Trash and use Ring Boomerang to deal significant damage.

Mega Man 4 Robot Master Rematch

The third stage of Wily's Fortress in Mega Man 4 includes the iconic Boss Rematch. Use what you have learned from the eight robot masters to defeat them again. Make sure you pick up the HP boosts they drop when they die.

Wily Machine 4

After the boss rushes, you fight Wily Machine 4. It is a large aircraft with a wailing skull face for its cockpit. Dodge the charged purple blasts and use Ring Boomerang. Once you have destroyed the skull face, Wily Machine 4 enters its second phase. Use the Drill Bomb to hit the blue gem on the robot's newly revealed portion. Time your jumps so that the drill bomb does not ding off of the mech. The Wily Machine will fail after you hit it with a Drill Bomb seven times.

Wily Capsule

Your last showdown is with the Wily Capsule, making its first debut in Mega Man 4. The entire room is pitch black, and you will not see Wily. Avoid the charged blue shots when they fire. Wily will always telegraph his moves with a brief flash. Use a charged Pharaoh Shot to hit Dr. Wily, and it destroys him in five hits. After that, you will have beaten the final boss and the game.

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This article was written by Alexander Miles.