Chapter 5: Maverick Hunters Join Forces

Enemy	LE
Fire Glob	3000
Gulpfast	2400
Mega Mantor	5200
Preon Hybrid	2600
Preon Nurse	2400
Preon Shielder	2800
Preon Soldier	3200
Preon Tank	2000
Super Tripuffer	500

Item	Gem Color
Fire Guard	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Build LE	Blue
Ultra Blizzard	Blue
300 FME	Blue
1000z	Blue
Tank Parts	Pink
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
50 Tank Energy	Yellow
King of Hearts	Green
Build WE	Blue
800z	Blue
Build Speed	Blue
Boost Speed	Blue
Aero Buster	Green
Mini Battery	Pink
50 Tank Energy	Yellow
1000z	Blue
WE +5	Green
25 Tank Energy	Yellow
Gain Hyper	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Figure Token	Blue
Build Shield	Blue
Backup	Blue
Gain Hyper	Blue
100 Tank Energy	Yellow

New Party Members: Axl, Zero (leaves at the beginning of the next chapter)

Boss: Mach Jentler

Mechaniloids to get: Rush Loader, Einhammer (needs Ball and Chain), Killer Mantis

With Guadile on the team now as well as Cinnamon, things are looking up for the Resistance. However, X still worries about his friend Zero, since he hasn't heard from him in a while. A brief contact with Redips as well as talking with some of the citizens in Central Tower proves that Zero's still alive and that he's heading to Ulfat Factory which has been mass producing Preon units like crazy. With a "Let's move out!" from X, the next mission starts.

Note that if you get injured, you can come back to Central Tower and use the healing bed near where your missions begin. It's opposite of the Air Bus Station.

Since the Ulfat factor has a LOT of fire-type enemies, be sure to get some Fire Guard and Fire Resist Force Metals as well as some Ice Weapons. Don't forget to send out Mechaniloids while on your mission as well. When you're all healed up and set to go, talk to Nana to begin your mission.

When the group gets into the Factory, an alarm sounds. Seems like Zero just made things a bit tougher for you. Sometimes, I wish that he could be more subtle, but then again, he wouldn't be Zero, would he?

Note: Keep watch on what Preons you fight in this stage. If you face off against a Preon Counter, keep melee fighters in the main party. Also, watch for Preon Nurses. If you destroy the other enemies before the Nurse, it will heal you come its next turn, and if you leave it alone, it will leave with a "Thanks" and drop the Injector weapon for Cinnamon. Consider it a useful enemy while in this area since it'll keep you from using a lot of Sub-Tank Energy while exploring.

In the first room, you'll see some Mechaniloids. Heed Marino and Massimo's advice and don't move when the room turns red. If you do, you're forced into a fight. The trick with this is to listen to the sounds the Mechaniloid makes. It makes three pings before the room goes red, so try to move fast before it does. One word of advice: Don't DASH! Sure, it's faster, but I've been known to get caught on the third ping by dashing since you can't stop fast enough. In the room, make sure to get the Fire Guard and Figure Token. Afterwards, head north.

There's another security room to the north, so carefully make your way through it and grab the Figure Token, Build LE, and Ultra Blizzard as you make your way through. Head left to head into the furnace area to get 300 FME, 1000z, and a deactivated Rush Loader. Be wary of the Fire Globs, Super TriPuffers, and Gulp Fasts. The latter two will use Ultra Fires to heal themselves, and the Fire Glob will get powered up if hit with fire attacks. Once you're done in the furnace, backtrack and head to the second section.

The next area gets a little bit trickier with the maze of crates and security Mechaniloids that'll block your path, so follow your radar to get the Tank Parts and Figure Token. The door to the west is blocked by crates, so head north. Grab the Figure Token and head west into the Smelter grabbing the 50 Tank Energy as you go.

You'll find a deactivated Einhammer but you need to find a Ball and Chain to make it work, so remember where it is when you get that item. The King of Hearts weapon for Spider is just behind it, so grab it and go back to the security room grabbing a Build WE and 800z along the way. Go east to the next area.

In this area, there are large pile of crates but no security guards. Head a little bit farther in to trigger a cutscene. After the cutscene ends, Axl joins the party, but don't put him in just yet. In that same room, grab the Boost Speed and head left into the smelter. Take the Aero Buster for X and a Mini Battery. When you get done with this mission, go back to the Tianna Camp and pick up the Blowfish, since it needs a Mini Battery to work! Head back to the crate area and get the 50 Tank Energy. You can use the Save Point in the east hall. Do so and save. You can also use it to teleport back to base if you want to pick up some weapons for Axl or go to the Tianna Camp to get the Blowfish.

When you're done, head into the room with the control panels and conveyor belts. You can use these to get the 1000z, WE +5, 25 Tank Energy, and a Gain Hyper. After getting the items, use the belts again to get to the door to the north.

More conveyor belt fun here, and there's some more Preon guards to deal with (including Nurses! Yay!). At least you don't have to worry about random encounters in here at least. Make your way to the door while grabbing the eight Figure Tokens to head to the next area. You'll also trigger a cutscene with Zero as he's heading for Mach Jentler's (the boss of this area) quarters. When the cutscene ends, use the save point, check out the destroyed Reploids, and take the lift up.

There's a lot of downed Reploids here, and from the looks of the wounds, it looks like it's Zero's handiwork. Get the deactivated Killer Mantis as well as an Ice Missile and Fire Guard from the corpses before heading on. In the computer room, there's a Build Shield, Hunter Missile, and Build Armor waiting for you. Take them and head through the only unlocked door to trigger a cutscene.

Poor Zero. Even when he does get hurt, he seems to want to fight, doesn't he? Just when it looks bad for him, Axl and X come to his rescue, which is a change from what's usually seen from those three. After Jentler leaves, pick up the Build Power and Backup before heading out of the room.

Note: Zero has leveled up quite a bit since you last saw him. He's got two Heat Hazes and the Z-Sabre+ weapon. However, he has no Force Metals, so equip him as you see fit. If you want to get some new weapons for Zero, use the Save Point to head back to Central Tower. When you're ready, take the now-unlocked door to the north and grab the Gain Hyper and two 100 Tank Energy before going through the door, since Jentler is waiting for you!

*WARNING!* Mach Jentler

Unlike past bosses, Jentler has Preon Units to back him up (thanks to his Gentle Call). However, this can be used against him to make him eat up his turns instead of attacking. Also, since he's an air unit, it's VERY hard to hit him with melee fighters unless they have a Hawkeye on them. If he's knocked from the air by a strong attack, melee attacks will be able to hit until his next turn, and then he'll recover.

How to beat him: Gentler, like most of the enemies in this area, is weak against ice, so make sure everyone is equipped with Ice Missiles and Fire Guards to reduce the damage. If you have Marino or Zero in the party, make sure they're also equipped with their Ice weapons. X should be equipped with his Ice Buster. Axl can be a good party member since he can DNA change into Silver Horn. Make sure Gentler is on the ground before using this, or it won't hit. Ultra Blizzards work good here as well, so don't forget to use 'em. One rule of thumb: Do NOT put X into Hyper Mode. If you do, X'll heal Gentler instead of damaging him, so it's best not to do that. On the other hand, use the other Hyper Modes to really lay on the damage. Marino's is good here, since she can lay into Gentler with Blizzards, her normal attack, and Ice Missiles taking off at least a thousand points per round. If Gentler is in the air, he'll be able to dodge quickly, so before attacking with Zero, make sure to knock him out of the air and then wail into him with the Command Arts! Once he's down, his Preon units will vanish. You'll get 25 Subtank Energy, a complete Subtank, the MKII Fire Buster for X, and Gentler's DNA for Axl's DNA change! However, you're not done just yet...

With a laugh before he gets destroyed, Gentler explains that without him, Dubor, the machine that's been producing Preon units, can't be stopped! Get ready for four battles with Preon units one after the other! Each squad of four units gets tougher until you get to the four Preon Hybrids. You can use X's Hyper Mode on them, so go for it! After you defeat them, you'll get a cutscene where Axl saves the hunters by changing into Gentler to distract Dubor long enough for X and Zero to destroy it. With Dubor down, the mission is complete.