Sting Chameleon/Maverick Hunter X

"Maverick, Schmaverick! I don't care so long as I make my mark!"

- Sting Chameleon

Sting Chameleon, known as Sting Chameleao (スティング・カメリーオ) in Japan, is one of the eight Mavericks from Mega Man Maverick Hunter X. Originally a Maverick Hunter in the 9th Special Battalion, Sting Chameleon fell in with Sigma's rebellion, believing Sigma will be become the king of a new world where he can leave his mark.

Overview

 * From the instruction manual:

SPIRIT SHARP-SHOOTER OF THE HAUNTED FOREST

''Reploid who belongs to the 9th Special Battalion (Rangers). Using his tongue for quick attacks, along with his ability to blend into his surroundings, makes him a highly-skilled Hunter. On the other hand, he goes too far in his mantra of "by any means necessary," and is called a coward for his sometimes sly, sneaky tricks. Bested by Sigma, he joins the rebellion, using his skills learned as a Ranger to be the first line of defense for the forest base.''

Chameleon Sting

''Emits high-level optical laser beams in 3 directions. Can also fire up and down at the same time.''

History
Sting Chameleon bases himself in a jungle where he is confronted by X. X reprimands Sting Chameleon for joining Sigma, but Sting Chameleon states that Sigma will become the king of the new world and the two fight. In Free Play and Hard Mode, Sting Chameleon hints that Sigma may have taken hostages to force Sting Chameleon into complying with him, but he quickly drops the act and reveals he only wishes to leave his mark on the world. He is revived alongside the other Mavericks in Sigma's fortress, where he is a mindless shell of himself. X defeats him again, destroying him for good.

In Vile mode, Sting Chameleon admits his respect for Vile, who asks him to step aside. Sting Chameleon refuses, and is destroyed.

Strategy
In Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, he can fire a faster, yellow-colored Chameleon Sting from his mouth after a short charge, which is more difficult to dodge from the opposite side of the room due to the beams traveling in a slightly narrower spread, leaving less room to jump between. He will always come to the ground to do this move, however, so that gives the player two separate warnings (grounding himself and charging). However, his most lethal attack is hanging from the ceiling by his tongue and causing spikes to rain on the player. There is no safe spot during this attack, so to avoid this attack the player should keep dashing in between the spikes to avoid them, and wait for Sting Chameleon to halt the attack before blasting him.

Dialogue
X - Normal Mode=Sting Chameleon: Nyah hah ha! Poor wittle X... Everyone's betrayed you...

X: Sting Chameleon! So Sigma's even managed to pull you into his scheme!

Sting Chameleon: That's Master Sigma to you, X! He'll be king when the new world is born. Treat him with respect!

X: I don't want to live in a world with him in charge! X - Free Play/Hard Mode=X: Why have you all fallen in with Sigma?

Sting Chameleon: Nyah hah ha! Well... Some of us can't help it. Maybe there are hostages involved and there's nothing we can do...

X: Don't you know that what you're doing is considered Maverick? Well? Don't you?

Sting Chameleon: Maverick, Schmaverick! I don't care so long as I make my mark! Vile=Sting Chameleon: Whoo hoo! It's Vile... I used to have nothing but respect for you, you know.

Vile: In that case, get out of my way and let me pass.

Sting Chameleon: Nyah hah ha! I don't think so! We're going to have to fight!

Vile: If you say so... I won't let you or Sigma stand in my way!

Trivia

 * Sting Chameleon and Vile share voice actors: both are voiced by Roger Rhodes and Hiroshi Shimozaki.
 * His weapon, Chameleon Sting, which is simply his two English names reversed.
 * In Free Play/Hard mode, Sting Chameleon tells X to consider that maybe there are hostages involved and there's nothing The Maverick Hunters can do. This is most likely a reference to Mega Man 4, in which Dr. Cossack sent his robots to battle Mega Man because Dr. Wily kidnapped Kalinka.