NetNavi

Derived from the term "Network Navigator," a NetNavi (ネットナビ), or Navi (ナビ Nabi) for short, is a key concept in the MegaMan Battle Network series of video games, developed by Capcom, as well as the MegaMan NT Warrior (Rockman EXE) anime and manga. NetNavis also have a minor role in MegaMan Star Force, a separate series that takes place 200 years in the future of Battle Network.

Purpose and function
A NetNavi is a sentient, or semi-sentient, computer program with artificial intelligence designed to be an assistant for the operator and resides in his or her Personal Terminal, abbreviated as "PET". Specifically, the PET is a multipurpose device that is capable of acting in numerous functions, such as sending and receiving e-mail, acting as an alarm clock and calendar, and acting as a cell phone. Each of these functions is controlled by the NetNavi that resides within the PET under normal circumstances. A PET is, however, also capable of connecting to computerized devices, referred to as "Jacking In" (Plug-In), in which case the NetNavi is transferred to that device and may roam around it, affecting programs contained in that device as required, and moving through that device to any other devices connected to it, such as moving from a specific computer to the larger Internet. In addition, NetNavis may function as anti-virus software, directly combating the offending programs in an activity called "virus busting". Two Navis can also battle one another in "NetBattles," and are designated by the extension ".EXE".

When a NetNavi is defeated in these battles, they are usually logged out to avoid permanent damage, though in MegaMan NT Warrior, MegaMan was completely deleted.

NetNavis are given a unique personality that often reflects upon their operator's personality, and usually develops a strong friendship with their operators. NetNavis can also be used as assistants in their operator's occupation. Malicious users may use their Navi to hack into secure computer networks and commit crimes. Though these NetNavis are not technically viruses, they are treated as such. Functionally, these NetNavis are analogous to the Robot Masters of the original Mega Man series. Indeed, many of the NetNavis in the Battle Network series are similar in name, appearance, and concept to their corresponding classic Robot Masters, although not all Navis have a Robot Master equivalent, or vice-versa. There have been a few NetNavis based on characters from other Mega Man series as well, such as Colonel, Iris and Zero from the X series and Glyde from the Legends series. With the sole exception of Ring.EXE, all navis based on existing characters retains the full name.

NetNavis have the ability to upload Battle Chips for use in battle against viruses or each other. Certain NetNavis have elemental stereotypes that define their fighting styles and techniques.

Main NetNavis
The Battle Network series revolves around several main NetNavis that act as protagonists, as well as a group of NetNavi villains. All of them debuted in the first game.

Other NetNavis
Below is a list of NetNavis organized by their game debut.

Battle Network 3
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 * BeastMan (ビーストマン Bīsutoman) - Operated by Takeo Inukai, BeastMan is an animalistic Navi working for the WWW. He invades the zoo systems, causing animals to go berserk through chips implanted in their bodies. He was renamed SavageMan in the English anime.
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 * BowlMan - A Navi from the Undernet ranked #2. He's made up of bowling balls and pins, and even "bowls" straight at MegaMan. He is exclusive to the Blue/Black version of MegaMan Battle Network 3.
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 * BubbleMan (バブルマン Baburuman) - A Navi working for the WWW that was created by Dr. Wily who is DrillMan's cousin. He assaults people with exploding bubbles from dishwashers built by the organization. BubbleMan is a coward, and retreats several times when encountered. In the anime, he is ShadeMan's most trusted ally, who frequently races back and forth between being a villain and Navi of neutral alignment.
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 * CopyMan (コピーマン Kopīman) - A Navi from UnderNet ranked #3 with the ability to adopt the forms of other Navis. He takes on the appearance of GutsMan, and mimics his moves and abilities. His true form is unknown. It is unknown if NoodleMan in the anime has been based on CopyMan, because not only does he have the ability to transform, but, like CopyMan, took the form of GutsMan, adopting the name "NuggetsMan".
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 * DarkMan (ダークマン Dākuman) - An assassin Navi seeking to fight Serenade, but must first delete ten-thousand NetNavis. He guards the UnderNet Secret Server with YamatoMan, and can change his alignment between Fire, Elec, and Aqua elements.
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 * DesertMan (デザートマン Dezātoman) - Operated by Noboru Sunayama, DesertMan is a Navi that moves around in sand. Disguised as a generic Navi, he attempts to abduct ProtoMan in battle.
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 * DrillMan (ドリルマン Doriruman) - BubbleMan's cousin created by Dr. Wily who possesses the ability to dig underground and attack his enemies. DrillMan steals the computer system Alpha (Proto) from SciLab, and creates a wormhole leading into the UnderNet.
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 * FlameMan (フレイムマン Fureimuman) - Mr. Match's third Navi, FlameMan sabotages the SciLab heating system, overheating the building. He augments his abilities with candles. In the manga, he is depicted as a transformation of FireMan through the use of Dark Power.
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 * FlashMan (フラッシュマン Furasshuman) - Operated by Rei Saiko, FlashMan steals a passcode for Alpha from Lan's school, and hypnotizes his friends when they interfere.
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 * KingMan (キングマン Kinguman) - Operated by Tora (Aragoma Torakichi), KingMan is a chess-themed Navi that can attack with chess pieces. He is one of the competitors in the N1 Grand Prix.
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 * MetalMan (メタルマン Metaruman) - Operated by Tamako Shiraizumi, MetalMan is a heavily armored Navi. He was renamed HeavyMetalMan in the English anime.
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 * MistMan (ミストマン Misutoman) - A genie Navi in a magic teapot from the Undernet ranked #2. The player may want to hit the teapot as MistMan is made up of mist (hence his name) and cannot be attacked normally. Only seen in White/original version of MegaMan Battle Network 3, except for his omega version.
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 * PlantMan (プラントマン Purantoman) - Operated by Anetta, PlantMan steals a passcode for Alpha from a hospital, temporarily shutting down the systems and risking the life of one of Lan's friends, Mamoru. He was renamed VineMan in the English anime.
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 * BN3MistMug.png
 * MistMan (ミストマン Misutoman) - A genie Navi in a magic teapot from the Undernet ranked #2. The player may want to hit the teapot as MistMan is made up of mist (hence his name) and cannot be attacked normally. Only seen in White/original version of MegaMan Battle Network 3, except for his omega version.
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 * PlantMan (プラントマン Purantoman) - Operated by Anetta, PlantMan steals a passcode for Alpha from a hospital, temporarily shutting down the systems and risking the life of one of Lan's friends, Mamoru. He was renamed VineMan in the English anime.
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 * Punk (パンク Panku) - Mr. Famous' second, highly customized Navi.
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 * Serenade (セレナード Serenādo) - The ruler of the Undernet, and one of the few Navis to defeat Bass, Serenade was created by Dr. Urakawa. Extremely ambiguous in terms of gender, the subject is constantly debated among fans. He/she was referred to as a male in the American version of the game, and a female in the Japanese version of the manga, and even as both male and female in the English manga, but was confirmed by one of the game designers to be a sort of divine, perfect being that transcends gender.
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 * YamatoMan (ヤマトマン) / JapanMan - Serenade's bodyguard created by a SciLab team, YamatoMan is extremely adept with his spear, able to project it over a wide area. He can also conquer the enemy area with tiny soldiers. He guards the Undernet Secret Server along with DarkMan. He was renamed JapanMan in the English media and Battle Network 3.
 * }
 * YamatoMan (ヤマトマン) / JapanMan - Serenade's bodyguard created by a SciLab team, YamatoMan is extremely adept with his spear, able to project it over a wide area. He can also conquer the enemy area with tiny soldiers. He guards the Undernet Secret Server along with DarkMan. He was renamed JapanMan in the English media and Battle Network 3.
 * }

Phantom of Network
The following Navis appear in the mobile phone game Rockman.EXE Phantom of Network, as well as episodes 21-26 of Beast+.

Made-for-TV

 * Drill-Mach - One of the competitors in the N1 Grand Prix who was defeated by StoneMan and BombMan. He was captured by Allegro for the little robot's amusement. Incorrectly dubbed "DrillMan" in the English anime.


 * GreenMan - One of the competitors in the N1 Grand Prix who was easily defeated by GutsMan. Unnamed in the Japanese version.


 * LeagueMan - Operated by Kyuuta Hoshida, LeagueMan is a born baseball-playing Navi with an insanely powerful pitch.


 * PickMan - One of the Navis who was defeated in the N1 Grand Prix by StoneMan and BombMan. He was captured by Allegro for the little robot's amusement.


 * PrismMan (プリズマン Purizuman) - PrismMan is a police Navi operated by Gorou Misaki. He is often the test subject for Cross Fusion experiments, although he has never successfully Cross Fused without the use of Dark Synchro Chip.


 * RocketMan / BreakMan - One of the competitors in the N1 Grand Prix who was defeated by IceMan. He was again defeated by ProtoMan and ShiningMan in a tag team match with WhaleMan.


 * Nenjiro - A generic Navi that belonged to Fyrefox before he sacrificed himself to save Fyrefox. As a result of Fyrefox's loss, he refers to his new NetNavi, Asteroid NapalmMan, as "Nenjiro".


 * NoodleMan / SanukiMan - A Navi who can take on the appearance of other Navis and uses udon-like tentacles to tangle opponents. He takes the shape of GutsMan and goes under the pseudo-name NuggetsMan (Kutsman).


 * SherbetMan (シャーベットマン Shābettoman) - One of the ice Navis that was destroyed by Zoanoroid StoneMan. He resembles a polar bear.


 * ShineMan - A NetNavi operated by Saiko Rei before he was upgraded into Asteroid FlashMan by Slur. ShineMan participated in the Navi Card Races.


 * ShiningMan - One of the competitors in the N1 Grand Prix. He was in a tag team match alongside ProtoMan, and was logged out along with both of their opponents with one attack. ShiningMan has a theme song in battle. He was captured by Allegro for the little robot's amusement, and is based on Rainbowman.


 * Silk (シルク Shiruku) - A nurse Navi that was operated by Anetta. During a fire in a hospital, Silk tried to stop the system from malfunctioning. She was overwhelmed by a dark aura in the system, however, and was deleted when she impaled herself on ProtoMan's sword (in the English version, she remained in the system to keep the hospital doors open and was deleted, while ProtoMan watched and tried to convince her to escape).


 * Slur (スラー Surā) - A servant of Duo whose primary objective is to test mankind. She appears to humans and offers them Asteroid Navis and Dimensional Chips, then watches the results of her actions to assess whether or not the world deserves to survive. Being an extraterrestrial Navi, she is extremely powerful, sending Bass to the UnderNet at the beginning of Stream, and single-handedly defeating MegaMan, ProtoMan, SearchMan and Colonel nearing the end. She is ultimately deleted by Bass, who surprises her with the powers he absorbed from the remnants of Nebula Grey following the events of the movie.


 * Trill (トリル Toriru) - A child Navi created by Tadashi Hikari of Beyondard. Trill was discovered by Bubbleman after thawing from Colonel's Ice Seed. Being in an infant state, he would not stop crying until held by MegaMan, but "grew up" and gained the ability to speak. Trill is known as the "Synchronizer," and is heavily sought after by the Cybeast armies and Wily of Beyondard for his special talents. It is Trill's power that allows MegaMan to "Beast Out". In the final episode of the series, a cache data duplicate of Trill urges Lan and MegaMan to gather their strengths and defeat Cache. He is able to store viruses inside his pockets to defend himself.


 * WhaleMan (ホエールマン Hoēruman) - One of the N1 Grand Prix Navis who was defeated by SharkMan and was later defeated again by ProtoMan and ShiningMan in a tag team match with BreakMan. He was captured by Allegro for the little robot's amusement. WhaleMan is the only anime-exclusive Navi that has a Zoanoroid counterpart.


 * YetiMan (イエティマン Ietiman) - One of the ice Navis that was destroyed by Zoanoroid StoneMan.

MegaMan Star Force
In the Star Force games, most Net Navis have been significantly downgraded from their original functions. Most generic Navis now seem to be autonomous (without need of an Operator), and those with specialized functions and expertise (often for outright mundane things, such as air-conditioning) can be summoned through the use of their representative cards. Geo obtains a number of these cards over the course of the first game, though, strangely, Net Navis seem to disappear from the second game onward. Some Navis are unusable, such as the Delivery Navi (a Navi in the shape of a truck), which is seen mostly on EM Wave roads.