Just about every Mega Man or Mega Man X game has an element robot or reploid in them. Usually, the elements are fire, ice, water, electric, and even air. Mega Man X5 is no exception. X5 has a fire maverick (Burn Dino), wind/air (The Skiver), electric (Squid Adler), and a water maverick. The water maverick is Duff McWhalen also known as Tidal Whale). McWhalen is not also just a water boss but he also serves as the ice boss too. Anyway, lets learn about Duff McWhalen.

Duff McWhalen is a Sperm Whale. He has all the features seen in all species of whales. He is portrayed as having navy, green, and teal/turquoise armor. Being a whale he has a very large mouth compared to the other mavericks from Mega Man X5.

Duff McWhalen was created to be a naval officer and to protect the North Atlantic Ocean. His second job when he was not on duty was to be the curator of a oceanographic naval museum. He would bring pieces of ship wrecks, subs, naval ships to the museum. His main job though as mentioned was to protect the North Atlantic Ocean. He was to protect the ocean from those that wanted to do bad things with or to the ocean. Mainly he would go after, those not following naval treaties, polluters, poachers, and others. It is revealed his rank was a Captain. He had a lot of reploids serving under him. Being a Captain and officer he often assisted the maverick hunters especially X and Zero. While he was not a member he also worked with Repliforce. Repliforce was originally designed to be a military police organization. They were also supposed to work with the maverick hunters. Basically, both organizations were supposed to assist and support one another. Basically, McWhalen worked with both organizations when it came to the ocean. This also meant he saw the events of X4 the tragic war between the Hunters and Repliforce unfold.

McWhalen had a lot of responsibilities. Sometimes he could be reckless and giving reckless orders. However, he would still get the job done. He was doing both of his jobs very well when the events of X5 unfolded. Sigma sent the space colony to crash into the Earth. In the meantime Sigma scattered his virus the Sigma Virus across the globe. Even the ocean was not safe from the virus. The Maverick Hunters needed hydrogen to boost their laser weapon in an attempt to destroy the space colony before it crashed. X and Zero went to the ocean to see if McWhalen would let them have some hydrogen. To their horror McWhalen had been infected by the virus. His unit also got infected and some of the ships including submarines he had in his museum also got infected and came to life. X and Zero had no choice but to destroy their once comrade.

Personality Wise: McWhalen is very protective of the Ocean. After all, he was made to protect the ocean. A role he takes very seriously. He also takes his role as Captain very seriously telling X and Zero that he is a man of the sea and as a captain he must go down with his crew as they all were infected. It is revealed that he could make reckless decisions at times. Still, he was a very competent and capable leader. His main fault was his stubborn personality. Being a protector of the ocean he refused to let his friends use the ocean to produce hydrogen. On the other hand, this may have been the virus taking control of him. As he says I know I am in the wrong and I will lose but I'm infected when confronted by X and Zero. Furthermore, it seems that he does have a sense of morality about him.

Another part of his personality is he believes he must go down with his ship. In this case his crew had become infected and he too was infected. This comes from the old tell a captain goes done with his ship. It could also be that McWhalen knew he could not save his crew and their was nothing for him anymore. He also seems to have some trust issues. Him having trust issues could be because he saw the Hunters and Repliforce nearly destroy one another. In addition, he seems to be well aware of what the Sigma Virus does as he knows that being infected he is a maverick and will have to be killed by X and Zero.

Here is his conversations with X and Zero

X (First Time)

McWhalen welcome fellow Captain X (some transcripts he says fellow officer)
X-I would like to use this ocean you know the situation right.
McWhalen-I see your going to use it for nuclear infusion to power the laser weapon.
X- If you know that work and cooperate with us.
McWhalen-X I'm a man of the sea. If you want to use hydrogen you will have to battle me. I have already become infected. I know this is stupid but I challenge you.
X- I accept your challenge.

X (Second Time)

McWhalen- X I'm a man of the sea. There is nothing for me anymore. I want to share the same destiny as the ocean. I have been infected. Please retire me X before I become a maverick. Let me rest in peace.

Zero (First Time)

McWhalen- Zero long time no see
Zero- We need to use the ocean for hydrogen.
McWhalen- You need to produce nuclear infusion for the laser weapon.
Zero-Yes please cooperate
McWhalen- Zero I have become infected. I challenge you to a duel
Zero- Your ship is about to set sail goodbye

Zero (Second Time)
McWhalen- Zero its later to see you then I thought. Tell me is it very bad on land.
Zero-starts to speak
McWhalen-The world is in a crisis. I have been infected with the virus. Fight me in a duel do not hold back as I am a maverick.
Zero- May you rest in peace

His conversations reflect his personality. The conversations may imply that McWhalen has some honor about him as an officer. As he is aware is what is happening to him and wants to die in battle. However, this could be because he is a military person and wants to be killed as if he died in battle rather than be a victim of the Sigma Virus.

As I mentioned McWhalen is the water and ice boss in this game. here are his attacks.

McWhalen will try to swim toward the player and use his large size to corner them. His main attacks involve ice. His first attack is to send blocks of ice toward the player in an attempt to corner them. His second attack, is to send several ice blocks at the player. His final Ice attack is actually deadly. He will send an entire string of ice blocks at the player and activate spikes on the other side of the wall. The ice blocks will try to push you into the spikes for instant death. His other attack is an ice/water hybrid called goo shaver this sends frozen water chunks at the player in attempt to do extra damage.

He does have weaknesses though. Being large he is not very agile even in the water. He moves slowly even when swimming. He is weak to the Crescent Shot (Grizzly Slash weapon) or Crescent Slash. This slashes his ice and cuts him. In fact, it takes him out quickly. Being slow he also leaves himself open for more attacks.

Normally, McWhalen would be thought of as another victim in the Maverick Wars. However, he is not like other X5 characters that where victims such as the Skiver, Squid Adler, Izzy Glow, and to some extent Axle the Red. The reason being is he challenged X and Zero to give him a military death. Basically, he wanted to be killed in battle while he was still in his right mind. This also fits into his personality of being a man of the sea and being a military officer. He is one of two military officers in Mega Man X5 the other being the Skiver. The difference compared to the other characters that were victims is that Squid Adler requested to be killed, Dr. Izzy Glow was just stubborn and wanted to be killed, Axle just wanted to be left alone until he became infected. The skiver despite being a military officer himself, and a good one at that, saw the horrors of war as well as the Sigma virus and wanted to be killed before he turned into a maverick as he knew what was to come. McWhalen actually wanted to go out fighting a military death.

In my opinion I think Capcom wanted players to feel sympathy for the other characters that I mentioned above, but not Duff McWhalen. I think they wanted players to think okay he wants to die with honor and go out fighting. He is not my favorite character in the game, but he is an interesting character. This completes my Bio of Duff McWhalen.