Maverick Hunters

The Maverick Hunters, known as Irregular Hunters (イレギュラーハンター) in Japan, are a law enforcement organization founded by Dr. Cain, dedicated to protecting humans and the world at large from Maverick attacks.

The main Maverick Hunter headquarters, stationed in Abel City, was featured in The Day of Σ, only to be heavily damaged near the end of the OVA.



Main Leadership

 * Dr. Cain (As the founder, he played a leader role before his retirement sometime pre-X5)
 * Signas (Commander post-X4)
 * X (Figurehead)
 * Zero (Unknown)
 * Colonel Redips (Far East HQ commander, turned traitor)

Units
The Maverick Hunters are divided in different units. It is unknown how many units exist. Most units disbanded after the fall of Eurasia, including the 17th Elite Unit, the remaining Maverick Hunters reuniting to assist on the efforts of restoring Earth.

0th Special Unit (Shinobi Unit)
0th Special Unit (Shinobi Unit) (第0特殊部隊（忍び部隊）), also known as the Special #0 Class Unit and Zero Unit, is an unit that appears to focus on covert missions.

Members:
 * Zero (Commander post-X2)
 * Blast Hornet (Vice-commander pre-X2)
 * Magna Centipede

4th Land Unit
The 4th Land Unit (第4陸上部隊) is an unit that focuses on land missions. It was one of the few units that did not participate in Sigma's rebellion due to their leader's constant abuse of the members for their size.

Members:
 * Flame Mammoth (Leader before defection)

6th Armada
The 6th Armada (第6艦隊) is an unit that focuses on aquatic missions.

Members:
 * Launch Octopus
 * Wheel Gator (Adjutant)
 * Bubble Crab
 * Squid Adler (Retired pre-X5 due to the death of Launch Octopus)

7th Airborne Unit
The 7th Airborne Unit (第7空挺部隊) is an unit that focuses on aerial missions.

Members:
 * Storm Eagle (Commander before defection)
 * Overdrive Ostrich

8th Armored Unit
The 8th Armored Unit (第8機甲部隊) is an unit that appears to contain members with high defense.

Members:
 * Armored Armadillo (Commander before defection)

9th Special Unit (Ranger Unit)
The 9th Special Unit (Ranger Unit) (第9特殊部隊（レンジャー部隊）) is an unit whose members appear to work as rangers.

Members:
 * Sting Chameleon

13th Polar Region Unit
The 13th Polar Region Unit (第13極地部隊) is an unit that focuses on cold regions.

Members:
 * Chill Penguin

14th Special Unit
The 14th Special Unit (第１４特殊部隊) was led by Magma Dragoon before the fall of Sky Lagoon.

Members:
 * Magma Dragoon (Commander pre-X4)

17th Elite Unit
The 17th Elite Unit (第17精鋭部隊) contains elite Hunters.

Members:
 * Sigma (Commander pre-X1)
 * Zero (Commander in X1)
 * X (Commander post-X1, temporarily retired pre-X7)
 * Vile
 * Chill Penguin (during The Day of Sigma)
 * Storm Eagle (during The Day of Sigma)
 * Boomer Kuwanger
 * Spark Mandrill
 * Flame Stag
 * Gravity Beetle
 * Mac

Navigators

 * Alia
 * Pallette
 * Layer
 * "Navigators" (unnamed, Maverick Hunter X)
 * Iris (deceased)

Other members

 * Axl (post-X7)
 * Lifesaver (Medical control officer)
 * Douglas (Mechanic)
 * Double
 * Web Spider (Retired pre-X4, joined Repliforce)
 * "Green Biker Dude"
 * Shadow (turned traitor)
 * Depth Dragoon (Far East HQ)

Rankings
Within the Maverick Hunters is a set group of rankings to determine not just how powerful a Reploid is, but also to determine how efficient they are. The highest rank is Special A Class (特A級), given to high performance Reploids such as Zero, Vile, and Sigma. X was originally a B Class (B級) Hunter due to his personality, but later he also became a Special A Class Hunter.

Mega Man X5 was the first game to give a Hunter Rank to the player. Each game from Mega Man X5 to Mega Man X8 has different criteria for obtaining ranks depending of the player's performance. As ranks B and SA are the only ones mentioned in the story, it is unknown if some of the other ranks such as PA and UH are part of the Hunter's ranking or a gameplay extra.


 * Rank E - Lowest rank in Mega Man X5.


 * Rank D - Starting rank in Mega Man X6.


 * Rank C


 * Rank B - Mega Man X's original rank, due to his hesitation for battle. This is his starting rank in Mega Man X5.


 * Rank A - This was expanded upon for Mega Man X8, where the player could gain "AA" and "AAA" rankings. "AAA" was the highest ranking for that game.


 * Rank S - Only used in Mega Man X: Command Mission and featured in Mega Man X4, Cyber Peacock's stage, and the only rank mentioned in the game. Mega Man X, Zero, and Axl all share this rank.


 * Rank SA - SA is short for "Special A" (スペシャルA). In an alternate ending of Mega Man X5, Mega Man X obtains this rank and matches power with his fallen comrade Zero. This rank is associated with Mega Man X and Zero's two-time nemesis Dynamo, implying that he is strong enough to be compared with an Special A Class Maverick Hunter.


 * Rank GA - Stands for "Gold A" (ゴールドA). In Mega Man X6, this rank is obtained by collecting 1200 Nightmare Souls.


 * Rank PA - Stands for "Platina A" (プラチナA). Notoriously hard to get in Mega Man X5, but easy to get in Mega Man X6 by collecting 5000 Nightmare Souls, easier to collect by "farming" them from Dynamo.


 * Rank MEH/MMH - The highest rank in Mega Man X5. The rank was renamed MMH is the English version, being displayed on the Mission Report screen, but the change wasn't applied in the English save screen, being MEH in both Japanese and English versions.


 * Rank UH - Stands for "Ultimate Hunter" (アルティメットハンター). The highest rank in Mega Man X6 and X7. In Mega Man X6, X and Zero can obtain this rank by collecting 9999 Nightmare Souls. This rank allows them to equip up to five Parts (which is the maximum limit for each character).