Wire Sponge

Wire Sponge, known in Japan as Wire Hetimarl (ワイヤー・ヘチマール), is a sponge-type Maverick from Mega Man X2. Created in one of Sigma's Maverick producing factories, an accident resulted in him having a personality disorder, which causes him to be childish and easily amused. Yet, he still had impressive combat abilities and was placed in charge of the Weather Control Station, where he found delight in passing the time by playing with the weather system.

He also appears as a boss on Mega Man Xtreme 2, and makes a cameo appearance in Mega Man ZX Advent, absorbed into the base of the Tower of Verdure, Rospark the Floweroid's stage.

Strategy
Wire Sponge uses his Strike Chain like a whip and grappling hook. One of his attacks is to latch his chain on to the ceiling and spit vine growing seeds in X's direction while gradually pulling himself up; these vines can be destroyed by two normal shots. He will also spin his chain in front of him as a form of defense (which only Sonic Slicer can cancel) and throw it horizontally (if it catches a far wall he will pull himself in that direction). When Sponge's health is less than half he will become enraged and electrified, causing lighting to cast at random in the room for a brief moment; he is also invulnerable in this state. Wire Sponge is easily fought with just the X-Buster firing charged shots, but if the final blow is dealt with the Sonic Slicer, he will be split in half. He is also vulnerable to the Speed Burner.

When Zero faces him in Mega Man Xtreme 2, he can be defeated faster with the Drill Crush.

Mega Man X2 stats

 * Height: 188 cm (6'2")
 * Weight: 96 kg (212 lbs)
 * Power: 6400rp
 * Speed: 4800rp

Stage names

 * Weather Control Center stage (気象コントロールセンターステージ), from the Mega Man X2 stage select screen, Rockman X2: Soul Eraser and Compendium of Rockman X. Sometimes reduced to "Weather Control stage" and "Weather stage" in some sources.

Stage enemies
Enemies in Wire Sponge's stages:
 * Aclanda (not present in Mega Man Xtreme 2)
 * Croak Hopper
 * Scriver
 * Sky Farmer
 * Rightod
 * Sabottein
 * Sole Solar
 * Weather Crystal

Rockman X Manga
Wire Sponge has the distinction of being the only Maverick to survive his battle with X in the Rockman X2 manga, being repaired by Dr. Cain immediately following his defeat. This is due to Dr. Cain telling X to drop the idea of continuing the battle after Sponge revealed he was scared of fighting anymore. This is further shown by the fact that it was Dr. Cain who had stopped X from shooting Sponge by using his electrified cane to interfere.

Archie Comics
Wire Sponge was one of many Mavericks who appeared in the Worlds Unite event after being cloned by Sigma. He and most of his fellow Mavericks from the series were dispatched to various worlds through Genesis Portals to plant Unity Engines, following a brief attack on the heroic crew of the Sky Patrol.

Trivia

 * While Wire Sponge is named after a sponge (technically an animal) outside Japan, his design and original name is derived from "hechima", Japanese for luffa, a vine plant that produces a cucumber like vegetable that is dried and sold to be used as a cleaning sponge.
 * His stage has the distinction of having the unique Weather Changing System, which affects the behavior of most enemies and even the character movement. This can also be considered a prelude to the Weather System from Mega Man Zero 4.
 * This also makes the Weather Control Center one of the few stages in the series where it rains, along with Rainy Turtloid's stage in Mega Man X6 and Wind Crowrang's stage in Mega Man X7.
 * Although Wire Sponge is not an electric-type Maverick, Zero learns an electric-type attack from him (appropriately named "Lightning") in Mega Man Xtreme 2. This is most likely based on the lightning attack Wire Sponge uses after being reduced to critical health in Mega Man X2.
 * Wire Sponge's death animation with the Sonic Slicer is somewhat a precursor to the death animations of enemies in the Mega Man Zero series when killed with the Z-Saber.
 * Oddly, in Mega Man Xtreme 2, hitting Wire Sponge on the final blow with his weakness, the Fire Wave, will cause him to split in half, much like a Sonic Slicer would from Mega Man X2.

