High Max

High Max, known as HI-MAX (ハイマックス) in Japan, is a Reploid made by Gate with a piece of Zero's DNA. Gate uses him as a false leader in his "investigation" of the Zero Nightmare in order to goad Reploids into working with him. High Max is shown to be very arrogant and considers himself superior to both X and Zero in terms of specs. When they defeat him, he expresses surprise that they were able to do so.

When first encountered, he is practically invincible and X must simply outlast him. When encountered again, whether in the secret areas (after Zero is regained) or in Gate's Lab, the player must get creative to defeat him. X should stun him with charged X-Buster shots and, while he's stunned, use the Magma Blade (or even better, the Nova Strike). The Shadow Armor's charged attack is also effective against him, and High Max also takes considerable damage from said armor's Giga Attack. Zero should reverse this — use Shouenzan, and then regular Z-Saber strikes. With patience, persistence, and perhaps both Sub Tanks full, High Max should not be much of a problem.

By defeating High Max in the secret area, Gate will appear in a cutscene to challenge the Maverick Hunters directly, and the first Secret Laboratory stage will become accessible, even without having to defeat the remaining Mavericks, if any.