Custom Gauge

The Custom Gauge is a recurring element in all of the main games of the MegaMan Battle Network series and MegaMan Star Force series. In both series, the player starts battles by selecting Battle Chips or Battle Cards in the Custom Screen. However, once the battle begins, players may not select more Battle Chips or Battle Cards until the Custom Gauge fills up completely and the player presses either the L or R button. The Custom Gauge normally takes about 8 to 10 seconds to completely fill.

Turns
Each time the Custom Gauge reaches full and the Custom Screen is opened is considered one turn. Some transformations and battles are limited to a set amount of turns, after which a specific effect will happen, such as the transformation being cancelled.

Soul Unison

 * Main Article: Soul Unison

In MegaMan Battle Network 4 and MegaMan Battle Network 5, Soul Unisons will only last a total of three turns. After this time, MegaMan.EXE will revert to his normal state. Similarly, Chaos Unisons will only last a single turn. In Battle Network 5, there are some Navi Customizer items that can extend the length of time that Soul Unisons will last.

Beast Out

 * Main Article: Beast Out

In MegaMan Battle Network 6, after the Beast Out transformation is implemented, MegaMan's Emotion Window receives an Emotion Counter, which normally maxes out at 3. This Counter determines how many turns he can use Beast Out. At the start of each turn while Beast Out is active, the Counter decreases by 1, and at the end of the turn where it reaches 0, Beast Out is cancelled and MegaMan enters a Tired state, where he cannot enter Full Synchro.

If he attempts to use Beast Out after entering the Tired state, it triggers Beast Over, which turns MegaMan berserk but boosts the power of all his attacks. Once the Custom Gauge fills, however, the Custom Screen is forcibly opened, terminating Beast Over and forcing MegaMan into a Very Tired state, which greatly impedes his battle performance.

Unlike the turn counter for Double Souls, the Emotion Counter carries over between battles, and finishing a battle without using Beast Out will increase the Counter by 1.

Liberation Missions

 * Main Article: Liberation Mission

In MegaMan Battle Network 5's Liberation Missions, players must fight the clock during any virus and boss battle. Each time the Custom Gauge reaches full during combat, the Custom Screen is automatically and forcibly opened. Because players only have three turns to beat a virus or boss during Liberation Missions, this limits how long players can fight, because battles are forcibly ended when the gauge fills up on the last turn.

Bosses who are not defeated by the time the last turn ends in a Liberation Mission will still retain any damage to their HP taken during fight(s).

Battle Chips
There are several Battle Cards and Battle Chips that affect the Custom Gauge, or are affected by the Custom Gauge.

Slow Gauge
Halves the Custom Gauge's filling speed. This is vital during Liberation Missions since it buys more time for the player to defeat viruses, giving a greater possibility for One Turn Liberates.

Fast Gauge
Doubles the Custom Gauge's filling speed. This is vital for quickly deleting bosses, especially where SP chips are concerned since they power up with faster deletions.

Full Custom
Automatically refills the Custom Gauge.

Custom Sword
The battle chip custom sword is a sword with a 2X3 radius. Its power is based upon the fullness of the Custom Gage. The beginning of the match starts it off 10 damage reaching attack power above 200 damage shortly before the gage reaches fullness. Once the gage fills, the sword's power drops down to zero.

Custom Volt 1, 2, 3
It releases an electric blast in a t-shaped pattern, hitting the panel ahead and the 3 in the column in front of it. It gains 100 extra points of damage for every percent of the Custom Gauge filled. If the Gauge is completely filled, it deals no extra damage just the default damage.

Trivia

 * MegaMan Star Force 1 and 2 lack any Battle Cards that affect the Custom Gauge. Instead, Brother Bands with Pegasus players (Star Force 1), or Ability Waves (Star Force 2 and 3) can speed up the rate at which the Gauge fills.