General Info

Shield Glitch
When equipped with the saber and Boomerang Shield, Zero can hold the shield and slash relatively quickly. Enemies won't get iframes from the slash, allowing Zero to hack away. 
 Keep in mind Zero cannot dash while holding the shield, so be careful if you have to dodge.

Weapon Experience
This game has a weapon experience system. You start the game unable to do a triple slash or fire a full charge buster shot, or apply elemental chip effects to those weapons. 
 Weapons gain experience through attacking enemies, so the more you use one the faster you can gain these effects. There are a few grind spots if you want to grind it out, but those take time. 
 Weapon values filled in by Mrcab in a very not scientific attempt to measure things. More info is welcome. Better answers may be available in the Tutorial videos on Youtube 
 Z-Saber 
 Numbers generated with standing single slashes at the purple pillars, then doubling the result for two hits per slash 
 Level Chart 
 
 
 
 Level 
 XP needed 
 Effect 
 
 
 1 (Start) 
 0 
 Single sword slash. Normal jump slash. No elemental effects 
 
 
 2 
 30 
 2 standing slash combo 
 
 
 3 
 150 
 3 standing slash combo 
 
 
 4 
 550 
 Can Charge saber attack and apply elemental chip damage 
 
 
 5 
 > 1650? 
 "Quick Charge" (for saber) 
 
 
 6 
 
 Dashing Attack 
 
 
 Special 
 100 XP from specifically Jump Slashes 
 Jump Spin attack 
 
 
 
 XP Chart 
 
 
 
 Attack 
 XP Gained 
 
 
 Normal Combo 
 
 
 
 Jump Slash 
 
 
 
 Charge Slash 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Z-Buster 
 Number generated by shooting first rolling enemy at start of Aztec Falcon mission with lemons 
 Level Chart 
 
 
 
 Level 
 XP Needed 
 Benefit 
 
 
 1 
 0 
 3 lemons, half charge but no full charge. No elemental benefits 
 
 
 2 
 190 
 4th lemon on screen 
 
 
 3 
 350 
 Full charge. Applies elemental effects 
 
 
 4 
 1150 
 Quick Charge (for Buster) 
 
 
 
 Triple Rod 
 Number of standing single stabs at the sand snakes at the start of the shuttle mission 
 
 
 
 Level 
 XP Needed 
 Benefit 
 
 
 1 
 0 
 Standing stabs in 7 directions, areal down stab 
 
 
 2 
 35 
 Press attack again to extend the rod and stab a second time. Combo pierces ifames 
 
 
 3 
 120 
 Extends rod and combo to a third hit 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 Shield Boomerang 
 
 
 
 Level 
 XP Needed 
 Benefit 
 
 
 1 
 
 Block shots. Charge to throw shield.

Elemental Weaknesses
Enemies in the Zero series don't have traditional Mega Man "weaknesses," but often take extra damage from elemental attacks. 
 Applying Elements 
 Elements are applied by a fully charged attack (Yellow charge not green). 
 In future Zero games (not Zero 1), specific EX techniques also have effects. 
 In Zero 1, you need to gain weapon skill with the buster or saber before either one can apply elements. You need the "can charge another level" upgrade. 
 The shield boomerang can be used with an element immediately. 
 Weaknesses 
 
 Ice works against electricity (Harpuia, the Red Beatle) 
 Electricity works against Fire (Anubis, Fefnir, Hanumachine (the monkey), Train Core, Ganishariff (the Elephant)) 
 Fire works against Ice and water (Leviathan, Staggroff) 
 
  

Flameberger's Zero 1 Tutorial
https://youtu.be/gd687sAQCyo?t=444