Spikes

Spikes are the main, infamous death hazard in the Mega Man games. They usually instantly kill the player if he comes in contact with them. This article refers to the deadly spikes that are usually static (though some are animated but don't actually change positions). From Mega Man Xtreme 2, electricity replaces spikes from Berkana's and Gareth's stages.

Defense Against Spikes

 * Taking damage from an enemy and touching the spikes during the slight invincibility period. (However, this doesn't work in the first Mega Man game)
 * Certain Armors and parts. Both the Gaea Armor (Mega Man X5) and Shadow Armor(Mega Man X6) will render X invincible against spikes. The Prickle Barrier part and the Strong series armor in Mega Man X8 and Mega Man Zero 4, respectively, offers damage instead of death from spikes (and other instant fatality hazards, except pits.), although the former is only temporary and only effective for a short amount of time.
 * Some Cyber Elves have the ability to nullify instant death from spikes.

Exceptions

 * Mega Man X2. The spikes in Morph Moth's level don't instant kill.
 * Mega Man Network Transmission. If you power up Mega Man enough times any of the spikes throughout the video-game will not kill him in 1 hit.