Mega Man Xreleased for theSuper Nintendoin 1993. Despite it being almost three decades old, playing it today still feels fresh. It doesn’t matter if it is through the original cartridge or through one of the various collections either.
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Another great thing about this, and otherMega Mangames, is that it offers players a choice in stage order, thus allowing for each playthrough to be different than the last. That said, this article will determine the “perfect” order to play the game, allowing users to maximize playtime and eliminate backtracking. Each entry will go over weaknesses along with secret upgrades.
Updated on Jul 04, 2025, by Reyadh Rahaman:By analyzing each boss’s attacks, players can better dodge them. Offense is immensely important, as one should almost always be letting off shots in one of these mighty foe’s directions, however, evasion is crucial to survival. For a better chance at victory, patience should be practiced along with one’s jumping and blasting skills.
8Chill Penguin
No matter whatbossstrategy guide one might find on a website, or in a YouTube video, Chill Penguin is often picked first. He’s easy, but on top of that, his stage has the all-important boot upgrade that allows X to dash.
It’s important to get these boots early because they are needed for almost every secret in the game. Dashing can also help with dodging boss attacks. The Heart Tank in this stage can only be acquired after getting Flame Mammoth’s weapon, but other than that, this stage is simple to handle.
Chill Penguin’s Attacks
7Launch Octopus
The boots can help a lot when it comes to dashing past areas or dodging enemies, but they aren’t necessary for this area. This could also work as a first stage although fighting Launch Octopus without the boots is tricky.
The boss' tornado attackcan suck X in quicklyand the boots definitely help out with evasion. Anyway, the only optional thing to get in this stage is another Heart Tank that can be found at the bottom of the sea. Destroy the battleship about mid-stage, float down to the bottom, fight the sea dragon, and voila – there is the Heart Tank.
Launch Octopus’s Attacks
6Boomer Kuwanger
Boomer Kuwanger is probablythe hardest boss in the gameto tackle as the first encounter, mainly because he is incredibly fast and goes invisible. He can appear at random and if he does, he will grapple X, which hurts, and then tosses him for even more damage.
Getting the Homing Torpedo from Launch Octopus, though, makes this boss a cinch. Like Chill Penguin, players do have to come back to this stage again to get the obvious Heart Tank that is out of reach before the boss encounter. The Boomerang Cutter will get that.
Boomer Kuwanger’s Attacks
5Spark Mandrill
The Boomerang Cutter is also needed to get the Sub Tank at the beginning of the stage along with a Heart Tank about halfway through the area. Because Storm Eagle hasn’t been destroyed yet, Spark Mandrill’s stage is at full power.
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This means that there are more obstacles to overcome. That said, some find it easier as the paths are better lit, which helps when it comes to getting the gear. Anyway, Spark Mandrill is weak against Chill Penguin’s ice so his ability will finally come into play here.
Spark Mandrill’s Attacks
4Armored Armadillo
Armored Armadillo’s stage is a fun ride, literally, as players will shoot around on mine carts for a good portion. Now, toward the beginning of the stage, there is a tank that chases players, and behind it is a Sub Tank.
Later on, there is another one that players will have to either destroy quickly or get ahead of in order to get the Heart Tank. If the machine goes first, it will destroy the walls needed to reach the item. As for the stage’s boss, Spark Mandrill’s Electric Spark will shoot off his armor, making this fight a piece of cake even with all of Armored Armadillo’s crazy rolling.
Armored Armadillo’s Attacks
3Storm Eagle
First of all, this level’s Heart Tank is a bit trickier to get. Simply ride the elevator from the beginning to the top, dash off at full speed, and veer to the left of the screen.
That should put players on the tank’s platform. Soon after that, there is a glass observation point where the Sub Tank is located. Right after that, there isthe secret roompast the flame tanks. Destroy those and X can get his next armor piece, the helmet. As for Storm Eagle, he’s a piece of cake. Just dodge like the wind and use the standard Buster.
Storm Eagle’s Attacks
2Sting Chameleon
Destroying Launch Octopus first causes Sting Chameleon’s stage to flood. Therefore, first, follow the forest until a cave appears.
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However, do not enter. Below, in what looks like a death pit, is a Heart Tank that is accessible thanks to the water. Above the cave is a mini-boss who is guarding X’s armor. Get to the end of the stage to fight Sting Chameleon, who is weak against the Boomerang Cutter and that’s that.
Sting Chameleon’s Attacks
1Flame Mammoth
Finally, Flame Mammoth is ready to get blasted away by Storm Eagle’s Storm Tornado weapon. However, before reaching that point is a litany of upgrades; all of them are in the same area too. There is the Buster upgrade, a Heart Tank, and Sub Tank all in the middle of the stage’s factory.
As beating Chill Penguin prior to entering this stage freezes the lava, the whole process is made much easier. The only thing left to do after beating Flame Mammoth is to go back to Chill Penguin’s stage to use the Fire Wave to bust through a secret bunker, which is just after X can get a mech suit. Now, one should be ready for the game’s final lineargameplay gauntlet.
