Elements

Just like every other Mega Man series, there are weaknesses and strengths to attacks. In the Mega Man Battle Network franchise, there is a set of elements that are attached to Battle Chips, NetNavis, and viruses.

In Mega Man Battle Network, Mega Man Battle Network 2, and Mega Man Battle Network 3, there are five elements: Fire, Aqua, Elec, Wood, and null, or no element. If a viruses element was weak against a chip used, the virus will take twice damage. They would also gain territorial advantages on certain panels.

As the series progressed, more elements were added. This was needed because in the fourth and fifth editions of the game (Mega Man Battle Network 4 and 5), the Double Soul ability that replaced Style Change requires the sacrifice of a Battle Chip of the same element as the Double Soul being used. This resulted in a total of thirteen elements, though not all of the new elements are in both games.

At the end of the series in Mega Man Battle Network 6, there was another change due to the change from Double Soul to Cross System. There are a total of nine active elements, but some chips still have the element icon from the previous games. All the elements and their attributes are listed below.

[[File:BC Element Null.png]] Null/No element
The NetNavis and viruses element has no weaknesses or strengths. They are neither vulnerable nor advantageous in battles against foes of a particular element. However, some Navis (not to mention some of the transformations of MegaMan.EXE) grant a bonus or special effect to Null element Battle Chips.

Note: The Navis that grant the Soul Unisons in Mega Man Battle Network 4 and 5 resonate with particular chips, but if they are not of the four other original elements, then they are treated as being a Null Element.

Abilities
None.

Transformations

 * NormalStyle: The basic MegaMan.EXE style, no special abilites.
 * HubStyle: A style obtainable only in Mega Man Battle Network 2.

Bosses

 * GutsMan.EXE (BN1, BN2, BN3)
 * ProtoMan.EXE (BN1, BN2, BN3, BN6) as null
 * NumberMan.EXE (BN1) as null
 * BombMan.EXE (BN1)
 * ColorMan.EXE (BN1)
 * StoneMan.EXE (BN1)
 * MagicMan.EXE (BN1)
 * Life Virus (BN1)
 * AirMan.EXE (BN2)
 * QuickMan.EXE (BN2)
 * KnightMan.EXE (BN2) as null
 * ShadowMan.EXE (BN2) as null
 * CutMan.EXE (BN2)
 * GateMan.EXE (BN2)
 * Bass.EXE
 * Gospel (BN2)
 * BeastMan.EXE (BN3)
 * MetalMan.EXE (BN3) as null
 * KingMan.EXE (BN3)
 * DesertMan.EXE (BN3)
 * MistMan.EXE (BN3)
 * DarkMan.EXE (BN3)
 * Serenade.EXE (BN3)
 * Punk.EXE (BN3)
 * Alpha (BN3)
 * ShadeMan.EXE (BN4, BN5)
 * LaserMan.EXE (BN4)
 * NormalNavi (BN4)
 * HeelNavi (BN4)
 * TopMan.EXE (BN4)
 * KendoMan.EXE (BN4)
 * Duo.EXE (BN4)
 * GridMan.EXE (BN5)
 * Dark MegaMan.EXE (BN4, BN5)
 * CosmoMan.EXE (BN5)
 * Nebula Gray (BN5)
 * ElementMan.EXE (BN6)
 * JudgeMan.EXE (BN6)
 * CircusMan.EXE (BN6)
 * G-Beast (BN6 Gregar)
 * F-Beast (BN6 Falzar)
 * Gregar (BN6 Gregar)
 * Falzar (BN6 Falzar)

[[File:BC Element Heat.png]] Fire
The Navis and Viruses of this element are strong against Wood element opponents, and weak against Aqua element foes.

Characteristics
Many Fire chips tend to inflict large amounts of damage in one hit, which makes them extremely useful when combined with the double damage bonus to enemies on Grass Panels. Fire-attributed transformations also recognise this by giving large attack boosts to Fire chips to compensate for lack of number of hits. However, these chips have a tendency to cause flinching.

Abilities

 * If a target, virus or navi, is standing on a Grass Panel, Fire attacks do double damage regardless of the attribute of the Navi/virus, while also burning away affected Grass Panel(s). This stacks with the damage multiplier when a Fire attack hits a Wood enemy. (all games)
 * Fire attributed Navis/viruses do not take damage from lava panels. (BN 2 to 5)
 * Sea panels deal steady damage to Fire-types (BN5 only)

Transformations

 * All fire-attributed styles have the "Heat-" prefix.
 * Fire Soul (BN4 Red Sun)
 * Napalm Soul (BN5 Team ProtoMan)
 * Heat Cross (BN6 Gregar)
 * Charge Cross (BN6 Gregar)

Bosses

 * FireMan.EXE (BN1, BN4 Red Sun)
 * HeatMan.EXE (BN2, BN6 Gregar)
 * NapalmMan.EXE (BN2, BN5 Team ProtoMan)
 * FlameMan.EXE (BN3)
 * BurnMan.EXE/BurnerMan.EXE (BN4)
 * BlastMan.EXE (BN6)

[[File:BC Element Aqua.png]] Aqua/Water
The Navis and Viruses of this element are strong against Fire element opponents, and weak against Elec element foes.

Characteristics
Aqua attacks tend to be balanced, with a mix of status-inducing, multi-hitting, or powerful single hits. Transformations favour neither strategy, instead simply giving a x2 chip charge bonus that is beneficial to any manner of attack. With BN6's Aqua attacks being able to induce Freeze or Bubble status, Aqua attacks have shifted to being used to support Breaking and Elec attacks which deal double damage to enemies in said status effects.

Abilities

 * A water attributed Navi/virus will not slide on ice panels (all games)
 * Sea panels hide Aqua types, rendering them immune to all attacks, except Elec attacks, those that hit panels, or those that pierce Invis. (BN5 only)

Transformations

 * An Aqua attribute style will have the "Aqua-" prefix.
 * Aqua Soul (BN4 Blue Moon)
 * Toad Soul (BN5 Team Colonel)
 * Aqua Cross (BN6 Falzar)

Bosses

 * IceMan.EXE (BN1)
 * SharkMan.EXE (BN1)
 * FreezeMan.EXE (BN2)
 * ToadMan.EXE (BN2, BN5 Team Colonel)
 * BubbleMan.EXE (BN3)
 * ColdMan.EXE (BN4)
 * AquaMan.EXE/SpoutMan.EXE (BN4, BN6)
 * BlizzardMan.EXE (BN5)
 * DiveMan.EXE (BN6)

[[File:BC Element Elec.png]] Elec
The Navis and Viruses of this element are strong against Aqua element opponents, and weak against Wood element foes.

Characteristics
Elec attacks favour inducing status effects over anything else, at the cost of raw power. As a lot of Elec attacks inflict paralysis, they are favoured by those who seek quick deletions since it allows for otherwise clumsy chips to be aimed better, while also allowing for an immediate follow-up attack.

Abilities
When a Navi/virus is standing on an Ice or Sea panel, an Elec attack will do 2x damage regardless of the attribute of the Navi/virus. In BN6, this instead changes to doing double damage to enemies in the Bubble status. This stacks with the damage multiplier from hitting an Aqua element enemy with an Elec attack.

Transformations

 * An Elec style will have the "Elec-" prefix.
 * Thunder Soul (BN4 Red Sun)
 * Magnet Soul (BN5 Team ProtoMan)
 * Elec Cross (BN6 Gregar)

Bosses

 * ElecMan.EXE (BN1, BN6 Gregar)
 * MagnetMan.EXE (BN2, BN5 Team ProtoMan)
 * FlashMan.EXE (BN3)
 * SparkMan.EXE (BN4)
 * ThunderMan.EXE (BN2, BN4 Red Sun)
 * CloudMan.EXE (BN5)

[[File:BC Element Wood.png]] Wood
The Navis and Viruses of this element are strong against Elec element opponents, and weak against Fire element foes.

Characteristics
Wood attacks are notable for not causing flinching. This means that after such an attack connects, the enemy is still vulnerable to getting hit again, allowing for many attacks to be made in succession. Many Wood attacks also hit multiple times, and Wood-attributed transformations balance off this by simply giving small attack bonuses.

Abilities
When a Wood attribute Navi/virus stands on a Grass panel, they will regain HP.

Transformations

 * A Wood style will have the "Wood-" prefix.
 * Wood Soul (BN4 Blue Moon)
 * Tomahawk Soul (BN5 Team Colonel)
 * Tomahawk Cross (BN6 Falzar)

Bosses

 * WoodMan.EXE (BN1, BN4 Blue Moon)
 * PlanetMan.EXE (BN2)
 * SnakeMan.EXE (BN2)
 * PlantMan.EXE (BN3)
 * TomahawkMan.EXE (BN5 Team Colonel, BN6 Falzar)

[[File:TypeRecover.png]] Recovery (BN4 and 5 only)
The Recov/Recovery chips are main stays of the series, but these became an element in Battle Network 4 and 5 to provide a sacrifice chip for double souls. However, there are no Recov/Recovery element Navis or Viruses as it is only applied to recovery chips.

Characteristics
Recovery chips tend to lack offensive capability, instead focusing entirely on restoring one's own HP or providing support while in a pinch.

Transformations

 * Roll Soul (BN4 Red Sun)
 * Meddy Soul (BN5 Team ProtoMan)

Bosses

 * Roll.EXE (BN4 Red Sun)
 * Meddy.EXE (BN5 Team ProtoMan)

[[File:TypePlus.png]] Plus (BN4 to BN6 only)
The Plus chips, denoted with +/-, are another of the series mainstays that became an element in order to provide a sacrifice for Numbersoul. However, there are no Plus element Navis or Viruses at it is applied to chips that add effects and damage to other chips. While no transformation makes use of this element in BN6, some of the chips still have the element icon on them.

Characteristics
Plus chips are another support type, designed to raise the attack of one's own chips or Buster. One of this element's most common chips is the Atk+10 chip, which is always included in every folder.

Transformations

 * Number Soul (BN4 Blue Moon, BN5 Team Colonel)

Bosses

 * NumberMan.EXE (BN4, BN5) as +/-

[[File:TypeInvis.png]] Invisible/Invis (BN4 and 5 only)
This element was added in Battle Network 4 to the chips "Invis" and "Popup" for the new Soul Unison or Double Soul system. It was added to provide a sacrifice for Searchsoul and Shadowsoul. However, there are no Invisible/Invis element Navis or Viruses as it only applies to these chips.

Characteristics
These kinds of chips tend to provide temporary invincibility to attacks. However, several forms of attacks are still capable of damaging the player despite this.

Transformations

 * Search Soul (BN4 Red Sun)
 * Shadow Soul (BN5 Team Colonel)

Bosses

 * SearchMan.EXE (BN4 Red Sun) as Invis
 * ShadowMan.EXE (BN5 Team Colonel) as Invis

[[File:TypeObstacle.png]] Obstacle (BN4 to BN6)
This element was added in Battle Network 4 for the new Soul Unison or Double Soul system. It was added to provide a sacrifice for Junksoul and Colonelsoul. However, there are no Obstacle element Navis or Viruses as this is applied to Battle Chips that summons objects or viruses to the field. While no transformation specifically makes use of this element in BN6, some chips that summon objects still have the icon on them.

Characteristics
Obstacle chips summon obstacles, most often immediately in front of MegaMan. While a number of them have no innate attack capability, they can always be launched with Wind attacks, inflicting damage to any enemy they come into contact with equal to their current HP. Obstacle-related transformations always have the capability of converting obstacles on the field into a means of offense.

Transformations

 * Junk Soul (BN4 Blue Moon)
 * Colonel Soul (BN5 Team Colonel)
 * Dust Cross (BN6 Falzar), despite its Breaking type, still has an affinity for obstacles.

Bosses

 * JunkMan.EXE (BN4)
 * Colonel.EXE as Obstacle

[[File:TypeCrack.png]] Ground Cracking (BN4 only)
This element was added to prvide a sacrifice for Guts soul. It was taken out because it had no purpose other than that. However, there are no Ground element Navis or Viruses as it is applied to chip that crack panels or create holes in the field.

Characteristics
These form of chips are designed to crack or destroy panels on the field, in order to deprive the enemy of any territorial advantages caused by panel types or to control their movement space. Naturally, Metal panels cannot be cracked. Cracking chips also can deal damage to enemies hiding in PopUp.

Transformations

 * Guts Soul (BN4 Red Sun)

Bosses

 * GutsMan.EXE (BN4 Red Sun) as Ground Cracking

[[File:TypeCursor.png]] Cursor (BN5, BN6)
This element was added in BN5 as a replacement for the Ground/Ground Cracking element of BN4, and focuses on chips that having homing or targeting abilities. In BN6, it became part of the new cycle of elements, where the Navis and Viruses of this element became strong against Breaking element opponents and weak against Wind element foes. Prior to BN6, this element had no elemental strengths or weaknesses.

Characteristics
Cursor-type attacks have the notable ability of piercing Invis or flinching. They also allow for the player to decide their manner of attack, based on a "roulette" that shuffles between the few possible methods before the player stops it with the A button.

Transformations

 * Search Soul (BN4 Red Sun, BN5 Team ProtoMan)
 * Killer/Erase Cross (BN6 Gregar)

Bosses

 * SearchMan.EXE (BN5 Team ProtoMan) as Cursor
 * EraseMan.EXE

[[File:BC Attribute Break.png]] Breaking (BN4, BN5, BN6)
This element was added to provide a sacrifice for Metal and Knight Soul, but was kept in BN6 as an element for the new Cross Fusion system. In BN6, it is part of the new cycle of elements, where the Navis and Viruses of this element became strong against Sword element opponents and weak against Cursor element foes. Prior to BN6, this element had no elemental strengths or weaknesses.

Characteristics
Breaking attacks all have the ability to damage guarded enemies. Some even have the ability to crack or destroy the panels they hit. Multi-hitting Breaking attacks like DrillArm also do not cause flinching. Breaking attacks also cause double damage to any frozen enemies in BN6.

Transformations

 * Metal Soul (BN4 Blue Moon)
 * Knight Soul (BN5 Team Colonel)
 * Ground Cross (BN6 Falzar)
 * Dust Cross (BN6 Falzar)

Bosses

 * MetalMan.EXE (BN4 Blue Moon) as Breaking
 * KnightMan.EXE (BN5 Team Colonel) as Breaking
 * GroundMan.EXE (BN6 Falzar)
 * DustMan.EXE (BN6 Falzar)

[[File:BC Attribute Sword.png]] Sword (BN4, BN5, BN6)
The Sword chips have been part of the games from the very beginning. However, like the Recov chips and the Variable chips, Sword chips did not become a separate element until BN4 with the addition of the Double Soul system. It would retain its element status in BN6, having become part of the Cross Fusion system. In BN6, it is a part of the new element cycle, where it became strong against Wind element opponents and weak against Breaking element foes.

Characteristics
As evidenced by the Sword and Wide Sword chips in the starting folder, most Sword attacks tend to have high power, but lack range. However, there are also enemies that cannot be damaged by any means except for Sword attacks.

Transformations

 * Proto Soul (BN4 Blue Moon, BN5 Team ProtoMan)
 * Slash Cross (BN6 Gregar)

Bosses

 * ProtoMan.EXE (BN4 Blue Moon, BN5 Team ProtoMan) as Sword
 * SlashMan.EXE (BN6 Gregar)

[[File:BC Attribute Wind.png]] Wind (BN4, BN5, BN6)
This element was added in BN4 to provide chip sacrifices for Wind and Gyro Soul. It was retained in BN6 for the new cross system, becoming strong against Cursor attribute foes and weaker against sword attribute foes.

Characteristics
Wind attacks focus on shifting the positions of enemies and obstacles. When used on obstacles, they send it flying towards the edge of the screen, inflicting damage to any enemy it contacts equal to its current HP. Wind attacks also tend to remove Barriers and Auras regardless of their strength or whether they connected or not.

Transformations

 * Wind Soul (BN4 Red Sun)
 * Gyro Soul (BN5 Team ProtoMan)
 * Tengu Cross (BN6 Falzar)

Bosses

 * WindMan.EXE (BN4 Red Sun)
 * GyroMan.EXE (BN5 Team ProtoMan)
 * TenguMan.EXE (BN6 Falzar)