The evolution of Digimon was initially simple, as Digimon Digivolved from Baby to In-Training to Rookie, to Champion, to Ultimate, and finally Mega form. These levels indicated a Digimon’s strength and often were used to determine the outcome of most fights. However, in Digimon Adventure 02’s first episode this simplistic power structure went out the window. Not only is Davis introduced to his partner Veemon in his Rookie form but he soon Armor Digivolves into Flamedramon with the help of the Digi-Egg of Courage, an egg with flame decals and a metal blade coming out of it. Davis instinctually picked up the egg and shouts “Digi Armor Energize” releasing the Digi-Eggs power and bonding with Veemon.
In the second arc of the series, Veemon as well as the others are able to Digivolve into their Champion forms, forcing viewers to wonder what levels the Armor Digivolutions were. To date, only Digimon Adventure 02 used the Digi-Egg concept and online sources will state that these forms are adjacent to Champion level though usually thought to be slightly weaker. The Digi-Eggs was also a way for the franchise to pass the torch to this new generation of DigiDestined by having most of them named after the crests worn by the original cast like Courage, Friendship, and Love. These new kids embodied the characteristics of their predecessors and often fought alongside them as they saved the Digital World. Here are the 10 Armor Digivolutions ranked from silly to awesome.
10 Submarimon
Armadillomon’s second armor Digivolution is Submarimon who's not only a Digimon but also a vehicle. Using the Digi-Egg of Reliability, Submarimon turns into a literal submarine including a cockpit that Cody can fit into to fight alongside his partner. He shoots super-compressed oxygen at his enemies with his attack, Oxygen Torpedo. While Submarimon is only useful near a body of water, he is one of the only Digimon that can take their human partner under the water, with the exception of Whamon, who has often housed DigiDestined in his large whale mouth.
9 Nefertimon
Kari and T.K. were the only two original DigiDestined to gain a D-3 Digivice and join the second generation. In Digimon Adventure, Kari earned the Crest of Light which allowed Gatomon to Digivolve into AngeWomon. Similarly in Digimon Adventure 02, Kari inherits the Digi-Egg of Light which gives Gatomon the ability to Digivolve into Nefertimon. She looks like the Sphinx in Egypt but white and with more cat-like features. Her main attack is “Rosetta Stone” which summons a tablet of ancient inscriptions engraved with DigiCode to attack enemy Digimon. She can also perform “Golden Noose” with Pegasusmon, which binds enemies in a rope of light.
8 Pegasusmon
Like Kari, T.K. earned the Crest of Hope in the original series, which allowed Angemon to Digivolve into MagnaAngemon, and in the sequel series, T.K. inherits the Digi-Egg of Hope which gives Patamon the ability to Digivolve into Pegasusmon.
His main attack is “Star Show” which sends down a cluster of energy stars at his enemies. Pegasusmon looks like a flying horse version of Patamon, outfitted with golden armor and wings. In addition, Pegasusmon has a joint attack with Nefertimon called “Golden Noose” which binds enemies in a rope of light.
7 Halsemon
In the second episode of Digimon Adventure 02, Yolei finds the Digi-Egg of Love which reveals her partner Digimon, Hawkmon, and gives him the power to Digivolve into Halsemon. Like Hawkmon, Halsemon is a bird-like Digimon with a winged helmet containing the symbol of the Crest of Love, which was awarded to Sora in the first season. His main attack is “Tempest Wing” which allows Halsemon to create a tornado by quickly spinning around. Yolei is often seen riding Halsemon whether the team is traveling or to support her partner in the heat of battle.
6 Digmon
Digmon is good at one thing and that’s digging. Cody uses the Digi-Egg of Knowledge to Digivolve his partner Digimon, Armadillomon. The insect looking Digimon has wings and sports yellow armor as well as drills protruding from his hands and face. He attacks his enemies by either generating fissures with his move “Rock Cracking” or can shoot his drills with his “Gold Rush”. All of the Armor Digimon shout their name and title when they Digivolve; for example, Flamedramon says “Fire of Courage”. In the English-Dub they accidentally had Digmon saying “Drill of Power” and later changed the mistake having him say “Drill of Knowledge”; the character even acknowledged the change in a voice-over at the beginning of the season's second half.
5 Rapidmon
Rapidmon never appears in Digimon Adventure 02 and makes his only appearance in Digimon: The Movie. When the DigiDestined are losing to Cherubimon, Angemon and Angewomon show up to release the Golden Armor Digi-Eggs. Willis’ partner Terriermon used the Digi-Egg of Destiny to Digivolve into Rapidmon.
Rapidmon looks like a giant armored rabbit with holy rings around its legs. His attack is “Rapid Fire” which shoots homing missiles from both of his arms. While this version of Rapidmon never returns, a green version appears in Digimon’s third season, Digimon Tamers, as Terriermon's Ultimate form.
4 Raidramon
Raidramon is Veemon’s second Armour Digivolution form. In episode 11, the team finds the Digi-Egg of Friendship which turns Veemon into a four-legged Digimon sporting black and yellow armor and a lightning-shaped rod coming out of his head. Raijin in Japanese refers to the Thunder God and is the inspiration for Raidramon. He possesses thunder based attacks like his “Lightning Blade”. In addition to being powerful, Raidramon is often used as a mode of transportation for the DigiDestined, as shown in Digimon: The Movie when Veemon Digivolves and carries Davis, Willis, and Terriermon to meet up with the others.
3 Flamedramon
Introduced in the first episode of Digimon Adventure 02, Flamedramon makes his debut as the evolved form of Veemon when he uses the Digi-Egg of Courage to Digivolve. As his name suggests, Flamedramon’s abilities are all fire-related with his popular “Fire Rocket” attack. While his body has the same blue skin as his Veemon form, he sports a type of body armor that is decked out in flame decals.
2 Shurimon
Hawkmon’s second armor Digivolution is with the Digi-Egg of Sincerity where he becomes Shurimon. He is named after the Shuriken ninja weapon and as such his hands and feet are shuriken, held together by a vine-like body. Shurimon is also dressed like a ninja and wears a headband that possesses the Crest of Sincerity which was given to Mimi Tachikawa and her plant-like partner, Palmon. Shurimon is known for his “Double Stars” attack which uses his coiled limbs to unleash his shuriken appendages to cut down enemy Digimon.
1 Magnamon
Making his debut in the final battle against the Digimon Emperor, Veemon used the Golden Armor Digi-Egg of Miracles to Digivolve into Magnamon. Like Flamedramon, he has Veemon’s blue skin but with gold plated armor. Magnamon only appears one more time in the Digimon Adventure 02 world in Digimon: The Movie where he fights alongside Rapidmon to fight the evil Cherubimon. Magnamon also appears in the fifth season of Digimon, Digimon Data Squad, where he is part of the guardian Digimon known as the Royal Knights, alongside Gallantmon and Omnimon.