Triad Thunder

Triad Thunder
Mega Man X using Triad Thunder.
Weapon Information
Script:	トライアードサンダー
Romaji:	Toraiādo Sandā
In-Game Information
Obtained from:	Volt Catfish
Effective against:	Crush Crawfish Bit Volt Kurageil
Cost:	Normal: 1 unit (normal X) 1/2 unit (with complete Armor) Charged: 3 units (charged) 1 1/2 unit (with complete Armor)
Capacity:	Normal: 28 uses (normal X) 56 uses (with complete Armor) Charged: 10 uses (normal X) 19 uses (with complete Armor)
Type:	Electric (normal) Electric, Full-Screen (charged)
Series Information
In-game appearances:	Mega Man X3 Project X ZoneProject X Zone 2

Triad Thunder (トライアードサンダー, Toraiādo Sandā) is the Special Weapon that X obtains from defeating Volt Catfish in Mega Man X3. In its uncharged state, the weapon causes three orbs to surround X, in an upwards triangular pattern, which conduct electricity between them to form a triangle, and then fire a trio of electric blasts outward before falling down off the screen. If the FIRE button is pressed when the orbs appear, the pods will then change formation to an upside-down triangular fashion for an additional use of the same amount of Weapon Energy used to fire the weapon in the first place. The player can change the pods back to their original position, and can even change it up to three times unless either the weapon runs its course, an enemy makes contact with any of the pods, or the player runs out of Weapon Energy.

When fully charged, X smashes his fist against the ground, releasing electric sparks along the floor and walls. Any enemies touching the ground during this attack will be destroyed or heavily damaged. This can also be used to destroy some obstacles and open new paths, like the ropes holding rocks in Tunnel Rhino's stage.

Crush Crawfish, Bit and Volt Kurageil share a weakness to this weapon.

Damage data chart

Damage values in units in Mega Man X3.

Triad Thunder
Boss	Damage
	Normal	Charged
Maoh the Giant	--	--
Toxic Seahorse	1:1	1:2
Tunnel Rhino	0:0	2:0
Volt Catfish	0:0	1:0
Crush Crawfish	3:2	3:3
Neon Tiger	1:1	2:1
Gravity Beetle	1:1	1:1
Blast Hornet	1:1	1:1
Blizzard Buffalo	1:1	2:1
Bit	3:2	1:5
Byte	1:1	1:1
Vile MK-2 (Kangaroo Armor)	0:0	1:0
Vile MK-2 (Vile)	0:0	1:0
Godkarmachine O Inary	1:1	1:--
Vile MK-2 (Goliath Armor)	1:1	0:2
Vile MK-2 (Vile)	0:0	1:1
Press Disposer	1:1	1:--
Volt Kurageil	3:2	-
Dr. Doppler	1:1	2:2
Sigma	1:1	1:1
Kaiser Sigma	0:0	0:0

• For Triad Thunder, the first set of values is damage done in its normal state; first number is damage done with the electrified pods, the second number is from the lightning bolts fired from them. For the second set of values, the first number is damage done with the initial shockwave, and the second number is damage done with the electric balls that follow it.
  • For Crush Crawfish, using a charged Triad Thunder against him will not only damage and stun him from the initial attack, but he will be stunned long enough to take damage from the electric balls, resulting in a total of six units of damage done to him.
    • Additionally, there is a glitch that allows Crawfish to be hit multiple times by the initial attack, easily doing 60-100% damage. The best way to see this is to have him hit by one of the rays from the last phase of the normal Triad Thunder, timed long enough to reach full charge while he's still stunned. Unleash while he's flashing, and it results in multiple hits draining his life repeatedly. This is best done when you are in opposite corners (e.g. X on the upper-right, Crawfish on the lower-left).
  • Using a charged Triad Thunder will have no effect on Volt Kurageil as the shockwave cannot damage it, nor can the electric balls that follow it even reach it.
  • For Godkarmachine O Inary and Press Disposer, the only time when they can be damaged is from the initial shockwave.

Other appearances

• Triad Thunder appeared in Mega Man Xtreme 2, but it works in a different way from Mega Man X3 and had its name shorted as Tri-Thunder outside Japan.
• Triad Thunder is one of many weapons X uses in the crossover game Project X Zone and its sequel during his finisher.

Gallery

X using a Triad Thunder in Mega Man X3

X using a charged Triad Thunder in Mega Man X3

X equipped with Triad Thunder.

Artwork by Keisuke Mizuno in Kotobukiya model kits.

Screenshots

Animation

X using Triad Thunder in Mega Man X3.

X using charged Triad Thunder in Mega Man X3.

Trivia

• In the official art of Mega Man X using Triad Thunder, his armor is depicted as being lavender-and-mint green; in Mega Man X3, however, the color scheme for his sprite is purple-and-green.
• The charged form of Triad Thunder is a reference to Japanese mythology in which a catfish named Namazu causes earthquakes.
• The way X executes the charged version of the Triad Thunder is similar to how Spark Mandrill performs his Electric Spark move during the fight against him in Mega Man X.
• A Jazwares X figure was released that featured the Triad Thunder color, but incorrectly labeled as Magnet Mine on the packaging.
• The charged version of this weapon is similar to Scramble Thunder.