Needle Cannon

A needle-themed weapon that pierces through defenses with precision.

The Needle Cannon is a specialized weapon featured in the Ruby-Spears animated series, co-produced by Capcom. It serves as the signature armament of Needle Man, a Robot Master originally created by Dr. Light as an industrial robot before being reprogrammed by Dr. Wily. In this adaptation, the weapon distinguishes itself from standard plasma cannons through its unique design and function. Unlike Mega Man's default buster, which fires energy blasts, the Needle Cannon launches a physical projectile capable of piercing targets. This tool represents a key element of the conflict between Wily's forces and Mega Man, appearing whenever Needle Man engages in combat. However, unlike in the games, Mega Man does not copy or use the Needle Cannon in the series, as he does not gain weapons from Robot Masters in the Ruby-Spears cartoon.

Quick Facts

Source boss: Needle Man

Lore & Background

In the Ruby-Spears animated series, the Robot Masters are generally depicted as Dr. Wily's own creations, not reprogrammed Light robots. However, Needle Man is an exception: he was originally one of Dr. Light's industrial robots, reprogrammed by Wily to serve his schemes, just as in the games. The series establishes that Needle Man is distinct from others due to his needle-themed appearance and weaponry. In the animated narrative, Needle Man's role involves serving Dr. Wily alongside other robots like Cut Man and Guts Man. The weapon itself is a defining characteristic of the character, noted specifically in the cast list as his primary offensive tool.

Reader's Guide

For viewers tracking the Robot Masters in the series, Needle Man appears as a recurring antagonist voiced by Garry Chalk. His weapon, the Needle Cannon, is explicitly named in the character descriptions provided for the show. To encounter this threat, one must look to the episodes featuring Wily's reprogrammed industrial robots. Needle Man is part of the group originally built by Dr. Light for construction purposes before his defection. Fans can identify him by his needle theme and his association with the other original six robots now serving Wily.