Einherjar Eight Warriors

Craft and the Einherjar Eight Warriors

The Einherjar Eight Warriors (アインヘルヤル八闘士, Einherjar Eight Warriors) are a group of eight Mutos Reploids in Mega Man Zero 4. They are a special Neo Arcadian task force who carry out Operation Ragnarok under their leader, Craft.

History

The Einherjar is a special task force assembled by the leader of Neo Arcadia himself, Dr. Weil. Under the guidance of Craft, they execute Operation Ragnarok, destroying all inhabitable areas outside Neo Arcadia in order to discourage anyone from running from Weil's own tyrannical rule. They target Area Zero, hoping to reduce it to a wasteland before the Caravan can settle there.

Once the Eight Warriors are defeated by Zero, Weil transmits a message to Area Zero, proudly proclaiming that all the Resistance’s efforts are futile; the Einherjar were only a distraction so that Weil could finish construction on the Ragnarok space station.

Even though Weil was apparently killed during Craft's rebellion (the latter having fired Ragnarok's laser on Neo Arcadia, destroying it) the Resistance learns that Ragnarok's threat is far from over, since it is now falling towards Earth. Zero enters the station one more time, and faces the resurrected Einherjar once more. It is heavily implied that Weil had resurrected the Eight Warriors as part of the last line of defenses against Zero and the Resistance stopping the descent of Ragnarok. Zero defeats all of them a second time before going on to face Dr. Weil himself.

Members

The Einherjar are eight Mutos Reploids recruited by Dr. Weil from various sectors of Neo Arcadia. Some worked in the Neo Arcadian military, such as Tech Kraken and Popla Cocapetri, while others worked in environmental development, such as Noble Mandrago and Pegasolta Eclair. They were either promised power by Dr. Weil, followed Craft out of previous loyalty, or were brainwashed into subservience.

	Mino Magnus activates an electromagnetic generator in the Magnetic Zone, creating an abnormal magnetic field to disrupt Area Zero's technology and environmental control systems. Joined under the promise of limitless energy by Dr. Weil.
	Tech Kraken pilots a drill-equipped submarine in the Deep Sea, digging into a tectonic plate near Area Zero to trigger a destructive earthquake. Joined seemingly for a chance to fight against Zero to avenge Phantom and showed little care for the operation.
	Pegasolta Eclair occupies the Hanging Gardens, an aerial fortress with weather control equipment, to tear apart Area Zero with thunderstorms and acid rain. Joined after Dr. Weil turned him into a combatant, a long dream of his.
	Sol Titanion commandeers an Artificial Sun, amplifying its rays to unbearable temperatures that threaten to burn Area Zero into a desert wasteland. She went insane after Weil's forces attacked her and killed her counterpart she worked with, and joined him afterwards to satisfy her new desire for carnage.
	Fenri Lunaedge reactivates the Hibernation Chamber, an abandoned research facility containing lost Cyber-elf experiments that could damage Area Zero. Once driven berserk by an experimental Cyber-elf and frozen, he was awakened by Weil to serve him.
	Popla Cocapetri infects the Living City with a computer virus, driving its automated development program haywire and using it as a frontline base for operations against Area Zero. He serves Weil due to wanting revenge on society for making him obsolete with Hacker Cyber-elves.
	Noble Mandrago uses solar-powered nanomachines in the Underground Forest to threaten Area Zero's plant life, forcing accelerated chemosynthesis of the soil to invoke erosion and infertility. She was once benevolent, but Weil brainwashed her into thinking dominating nature was good.
	Heat Genblem acts as the power source for a mobile Particle Beam headed towards Area Zero, firing devastating lasers to ravage the landscape. He is far more loyal to Craft than Weil.

Other Appearances

• Four of the Einherjar - Titanion, Fenri, Pegasolta, and Mandrago - appear as secret bosses in Mega Man ZX. They can be fought in Area N if the player has a Mega Man Zero 4 cartridge in the Nintendo DS, or if Link Mode is activated in Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection.

Etymology

In Norse mythology, the einherjar are those that have died in battle and are brought to Valhalla by valkyries. They prepare daily for the events of Ragnarök, when they will advance for an immense battle.

Trivia

• In terms of release order, the Einherjar Eight Warriors are the first group of 8 bosses in the series to include female members in their ranks. Mega Man ZX and Mega Man ZX Advent would follow their example and have two female bosses among their main 8 boss line up.