Dark Chip

Dark Chip
General Infomation
Type:	Battle Chip
Inventor(s):	Dr. Regal
Effect(s):	Dark Power
Series Information
In-Game Appearance(s):	Mega Man Battle Network 5 Mega Man Battle Network 4
Other Appearance(s):	MegaMan NT Warrior Axess Rockman EXE Stream
Sprites

Dark Chips (ダークチップ, Dāku Chippu) are vastly powerful Battle Chips created by Dr. Regal, which increase a NetNavi's power beyond limits, but destroy the Navi's connection with its operator. With their Dark Soul overwhelming them, they turn them into Dark Navis known as Darkloids.

Dark Chips can be strongly compared to drug addiction in both the games and anime in many ways. Interestingly, MegaMan can control Dark Chip influence if used, but an overload of dark energy like a Dark Chip implant or a direct infusion of Dark Power will cause him to turn into Dark MegaMan.

Appearances

In the games

In Mega Man Battle Network 4, Dark Chips will appear when MegaMan's Emotion Window enters the Anxious emotion. Which occurs after taking several hits in succession without fighting back. They will take up the last two slots of the Custom Screen, and cannot be used with any other chip, aside from another Dark Chip. If MegaMan starts out in Evil emotion, he can enter the battle with Dark Chips already displayed.

In Mega Man Battle Network 5, the Dark Chips are Battle Chips that must be added to the Folder, with their own code. Each folder can hold up to three Dark Chips at one time. If MegaMan turns Anxious emotion or Evil emotion in this game, Dark Chips are guaranteed to appear in the next opening of the Custom Screen.

Dark Chips are the most powerful chips in both games, but they give MegaMan a battle bug that disrupts his moves and abilities. Additionally, after the battle, they will deduct 1 HP permanently from MegaMan's maximum HP. MegaMan can also use them as Chaos Unison, which bypasses the side effects. It also acts as a second Double Soul, as the same Chaos Unison and Double Soul can be used in the one battle.

In the anime

Dr. Hikari states that the Dark Chips are a type of chip which trades a Navi's soul for power (sort of like "a deal with the devil"). They start out using them to become more powerful, but soon become addicted and need them. After a while of addiction, it starts to corrupt their data, until eventually they become so corrupted that they are deleted.

The chips were made by Dr. Regal with his knowledge of the science he obtained from being a probe of Duo to give to Darkloids as payments for their alliance. The chips simply power up whatever NetNavi uses them (however, it is later shown there are still dark versions of chips like Dark Sword and Dark Cannon), but they still turn them evil. The power up they receive is great, as shown when FlashMan first used it; he was able to easily break through MegaMan's Bamboo Sword Battle Chip with his bare hands and overwhelmed MegaMan from that. Ms. Yuri had also spread the Dark Chips to other people in order to widen its influence as well as to acquire new allies to serve under them as members of Nebula.

Another side effect, likely created to coincide with the fact they permanently remove HP in the games, is that over time they delete the data of whatever NetNavi uses them, which was revealed to be Dr. Regal's intention all along, as he used the Darkloids as his puppets and would use the promise of great power from the Dark Chips as rewards so that the very same chip would eventually delete them should they ever attempt to rebel against him or when he feels their services were of no longer needed. The Dark Chips were also exceedingly addictive, as SavageMan stated that with the Dark Chips deleting parts of his data completely, he needed the Dark Chips themselves just to momentarily replace the lost data.

Excess use of the Dark Chips also begin to appear on the NetNavis as well, as displayed by when SavageMan first showed to have a more savage look with his horn, mane, and claws growing longer, and finally when he turned purple from it. It affected FlashMan and DesertMan as well, but only showing purple spots on them, and their eyes no longer able to be seen.

ProtoMan became dark in episode 27 of Axess after Chaud slotted in an extra strong Dark Chip to fight ShadeMan. ProtoMan served LaserMan at first with a normal darker color, but after failing to steal the data for the new PET, LaserMan altered ProtoMan's own programming and data in order to make him into a pure Darkloid that would be able to use Dark Chips to empower him, without any of the negative effects.

Dr. Hikari and other scientists searched for a cure of the Dark Chips ailments, and eventually discovered one later in the episodes, as the Vaccine Chip. They attempted to use it on Dark ProtoMan, but despite the attempts, the Vaccine Chip failed to work due to how his programs were altered. However, the Vaccine Chips were still functional in removing the dark affects from others that weren't altered like Dark ProtoMan was.

Effects

Dark Chips have several effects:

• When any number of Dark Chips have been used in battle, the user permanently loses 1 HP from their maximum HP count until a maximum of 500 HP is removed or if 1 HP is left.

• Using a Dark Chip will result in a bug occurring in MegaMan, depending on the Dark Chip used.

• When MegaMan has used enough Dark Chips, his body will become extremely dark. He will start battles in Evil emotion and loses the ability to enter any other emotion nor use Double Soul and Chaos Unison. He also gains the ability to use exclusive Evil Chips, DS Chips, and will enter a "berserker" state on a lethal hit. To cleanse MegaMan of evil, one must complete battles without using Dark Chips and this process can be sped up by running the "Soul Cleaner" NaviCust Program. (Note Soul Cleanser can take a long time to work, and you still won't get your max HP back from any Dark Chip use.)
• Dark Chips cannot be used against Duo.

List of Dark Chips

In both Battle Network 4, Dark Chips always have the same description: "DARKCHIP CREATED BY DESIRE". Additionally, there are chips that can be only used if MegaMan starts in Evil emotion. These chips are normally tagged with "Evil Chip!" in the description; most of these chips are Mega Chips.

In Battle Network 4, the bugs are inflicted after MegaMan selects the chip and exits the Custom Screen.

Mega Man Battle Network 4
#	Image	Name	Type	Damage	Description
-		Dark Sword (ダークソード)		500 max	Range equal to Life Sword and does damage equal to the enemy with the most health. MegaMan gets a bug that causes him to constantly move forwards.
-		Dark Bomb (ダークボム)		200	Tossed three squares ahead, damages that square and all eight squares around it. MegaMan gets a bug that causes him to constantly move backwards.
-		Dark Stage (ダークステージ)		-	Changes panels on user's side to dark holes, changes panels on enemy's side to swamp. MegaMan gets a bug that makes his Custom Screen chip options reduced by one, to a minimum of two.
-		Dark Cannon (ダークキャノン)		999 max	Damage equal to the difference between the users current HP and their max HP. MegaMan gets a bug that reduces all his Buster stats to 1. His charge shot is also replaced with shooting out a flower, which will put the enemy's MegaMan into Angry emotion.
-		Dark Recover (ダークリカバリー)		-	Heals 1,000 HP. MegaMan gets a bug that drains his HP while in battle and while the Custom Screen is open.
-		Dark Lance (ダークランス)		999 max	Hits the back row and does damage equal to half of the HP of the opponent with the most hit points. MegaMan gets a bug that drains his HP while the Custom Screen is open.
-		Dark Vulcan (ダークバルカン)		20	Fires twenty-four consecutive powerful shots. MegaMan gets a bug that gives him confused status, which reverses all his directional controls.
-		Dark Spread (ダークスプレッド)		400	Fires a spreader chip. MegaMan gets a bug that turns all panels he steps off into Swamp Panels.

In Battle Network 5, the bugs are inflicted after using the chip. If the attack is used through Chaos Unison, it will inflict a weaker variation of the bug on the opponent.

Mega Man Battle Network 5
#	Image	Name	Type	Damage	Description
1		Dark Sword (ダークソード)		400	Range equal to Life Sword and does 400 damage to the enemy. After use, MegaMan gets a bug that make his normal buster shot shoot blanks 50% of the time.
2		Dark Tornado (ダークトルネード)		50	A tornado is created two squares ahead of MegaMan, hitting eight times. Its range will expand relative to the amount of times MegaMan has been flinched. The max range is a plus shape achieved after flinching three times. After use, MegaMan gets a bug that makes him lose 100 HP every time he opens the Custom Screen; his HP drops to 1 instead if it is 100 or less.
3		Dark Circle (ダークサークル)		300	A cursor circles the outer panels of the enemy area, and upon pressing the A button deals 300 damage to the current and six more panels on the outside, effectively hitting seven separate squares. This attack can hit multiple times if the enemy area is reduced. After use, MegaMan gets a bug that makes him lose 100 HP every time he opens the Custom Screen; his HP drops to 1 instead if it is 100 or less.
4		Dark Meteor (ダークメテオ)		100	A large number of meteors fall rapidly onto the enemy(s) current panels, destroying any panel they come into contact with, and cracking panels with objects on them. After use, MegaMan gets a bug that drains his HP while the Custom Screen is open.
5		Dark Thunder (ダークサンダー)		200	A large purple thunder ball with high damage slowly weaves its way around the field to the target. Stuns on contact with an enemy. After use, MegaMan gets a bug that drains his HP while the Custom Screen is open.
6		Dark Recovery (ダークリカバリー)		-	Heals 1,000 HP. After use, MegaMan get a bug where his HP drains rapidly while in battle.
7		Dark Sonic (ダークサウンド)		-	A black virus appears, and when it plays its song, the opponent(s) become paralyzed and flinch at the same time. After use, MegaMan gets a movement bug that only lets him teleport to the edge of his side of the field.
8		Dark Invisible (ダークインビジ)		-	The user immediately hits Evil Emotion's berserk mode and attacks rapidly without any control from the player, drawing selection from their most used chips and Program Advance throughout the game.. After use, MegaMan gets a movement bug that only lets him teleport to the edge of his side of the field.
9		Dark Plus (ダークプラス)		-	Powers up the next chip or Program Advance for +50 damage per hit. After use, MegaMan gets a movement bug that only lets him teleport to the edge of his side of the field.
10		Dark Lance (ダークランス)		400	Deals wood damage to the back enemy row, also launching the enemy forward. After use, MegaMan gets a bug that gives him the confused status every time he flinches.
11		Dark Drill (ダークドリル)		100	A powerful drill hits two panels directly in front of MegaMan. Enemies hit by the drill are pushed back and continue to take hits if they cannot move further. Deals 100 breaking damage a hit for six hits maximum. After use, MegaMan gets a bug where the panels he steps off turn into Swamp Panels.
12		Dark Wide (ダークワイド)		300	A large three-panel-wide water pulse flies across the stage, hitting and passing through all enemies and obstacles. This attack does not damage guarded enemies. After use, MegaMan gets a bug that make his normal buster shot shoot blanks 50% of the time.

Obtaining

There are four ways to obtain Dark Chips:

1. Enter the "Anxious" or "Evil" emotion. (MMBN4)
2. Buy them from people who say they have "a really rare/powerful/alternate-colored chip". (MMBN5)
3. Use the Lotto Number. (Certain types only in MMBN5)
4. Find them in Blue or Purple Mystery Datas. (MMBN5)

Gallery

MegaMan NT Warrior Axess

Dark Chip anime design sheet.

Crushed Dark Chip anime reference.

FlashMan's Dark Chip, episode 4.

VineMan's Dark Chip, episode 7.

ShadowMan's Dark Chip, episode 12.

SavageMan's Dark Chip, episode 17.

FlashMan's Dark Chip, episode 20.

VideoMan's Dark Chip, episode 25.

BurnerMan's Dark Chip, episode 30.

Dr. Regal's Dark Synchro Chip, episode 51.

Rockman.EXE Stream

A Dark Chip, episode 17.

Trivia

• The concept of the Dark Chip, and by extension the Dark Power, is highly similar to the concept of Evil Energy found in the Classic Timeline. This is further reinforced by its appearance alongside the arrival of Battle Network's Duo.EXE, just as the Evil Energy's discovery was accompanied by the arrival of the classic Duo in Mega Man 8.
• Dark Chips were removed in Battle Network 6, but Dark Sword and Dark Thunder made a return as Giga Chips, Bug Rise Sword and Bug Death Thunder. When used, it replaces MegaMan's Charge Shot and every use will consume a BugFrag. If BugFrag stock is depleted, it will turn into a normal Sword and Thunder chip attack respectively.
  • In Japan, one can use toy Dark Chips in Battle Network 6 through the Beast Link Gate. They are simplified version of previous Dark Chips as they all only apply an HP Bug.
• Chaud, in both the anime and Battle Network 4, has resorted to using a Dark Chip on ProtoMan when backed into a corner; both instances led ProtoMan to be consumed by a powerful Dark Soul, though he curiously shows no physical detriment after being freed.
• Chaos Unisons are a safe way to use dark chips; however, the player must be careful to time their Charge Shot properly.
  • However, an exploit exists to ensure that there are truly no consequences from using a Chaos Unison: If the player pauses the game during the charge shot, they can see if the shot is currently "safe" (purple) or "dangerous" (green). The button can be released before unpausing in the former case to use the attack risk-free; in the latter case, the player will simply unpause without releasing the button and repeat the process until the green charge shot is found.
• The only time the use of dark chips is inconsequential is when fighting ShadeMan in Castillo, the bug will take place but MegaMan won't permanently lose HP.
  • However, an exploit exists that have similar results. If the player draws Dark Chips without using them and recycles the chips via JunkSoul, they can be used without any consequences.
• There is a chip in the MegaMan NT Warrior anime which works similar to a Dark Chip; it is called the Great White Angel Chip (also known as the Twisted Chip, or Devil Chip in Japanese). As with a Dark Chip, it makes the NetNavi more powerful and evil. However, it does not addict and corrupt the Navi permanently like a Dark Chip would, and its effects can be undone simply by loading new chip data. This particular chip was given to Maylu by Yahoot disguised as Higsby during the N1 Grand Prix as a part of World Three's plot to defeat their enemies.

  

  MegaMan.EXE after using a Dark Chip.

• In Mega Man Battle Network 5: Double Team DS, after using a Dark Chip and jacking out, the appearance of MegaMan in the PET will have a slightly darker shade. Oddly, his iris will still be in a normal shade of color.