The Evangelion

Some spoilers!
The huge, biomechanical robots known as the Evangelion or Evas are the only manmade weapons capable of taking on the Angels and winning. Because of the Angels' protective AT (Absolute Terror) Field, any type of conventional or nuclear weapon is rendered near useless. Although they can be damaged by the powerful N2 mines, the Angels are capable of regeneration. Presumably because of the predicted return of the Angels in 2015 by the Dead Sea Scrolls, construction of the Evangelion was begun well before they began to arrive.

The Evas are well constructed and strong enough to withstand most direct Angel attacks, but are not invincible. One of their main drawbacks is their energy source, which is derived from an umbilical cable connected to the back of the robot's spinal cord. If the cable is severed, the Eva can only operate for 5 minutes at normal capacity and 1 minute at peak before it shuts down. If this situation is imminent, Nerv will attempt to recover the pilot as soon as possible. Interestingly, Seele in episode 20 was very concerned with the fact that Eva-01 had become self-sustaining, although there was nothing they could do about it.



Prototype Eva-00

The one-eyed Eva-00 was the first Evangelion created and as such, one of the hardest to control. It has experienced control problems during the start up test with Rei Ayanami and the compatability test with Shinji Ikari. In both cases, the Eva went berserk, breaking its restraints and attacking the control room. Rei was severely injured in the first instance, putting her out of combat action until episode 5. It appears that she is the only one capable of piloting Eva-00.
This Eva did not see action until the appearance of the 5th Angel Ramiel. Until then, it was held in stasis, enclosed by the special bakelite which was used to restrain it when it went berserk a week before Shinji's arrival at Nerv. Work to free it and make it operational again was underway in episode 5. During Battle Plan Yashima, Eva-00 functioned as a shield for Eva-01 and sustained heavy damage. It did not appear again until episode 11. In the interim, it was fitted with shoulder blades and its color changed from orange to blue. Since then, Eva-00 had participated in joint operations with Eva-01 and Eva-02, assisting in the destruction of the 9th and 10th Angels. Its left arm was sliced off by the 13th Angel and it was heavily damaged in action against the 14th Angel.

Test Type Eva-01

The second non-production model Evangelion as well as the one that has received the foremost attention in the series. Until the arrival of Eva-02, it functioned as the frontline Evangelion due to Eva-00's frozen state. In contrast to the latter's going berserk within the testing lab, Eva-01 displays the tendency to go berserk in battle, which has proven most effective against the Angels it has faced, yet also raises questions regarding the Evas' true nature. Its exclusive pilot is Shinji Ikari, who experienced a synchronization rate of more than 40% his first time piloting, and against the 14th Angel, reached 400%. Rei Ayanami was rejected during the compatability test.
This Eva has one of the sturdiest constructions, seeing combat service since the first episode and not being damaged sufficiently to involve long-term repair. It has also displayed the ability to regenerate body parts and generate an AT Field. It appears to be the most bestial of the three Evas. Eva-01 has gone berserk against the 3rd, 4th, 12th, and 13th Angels, eating the 14th. For some reason, it has a red core and seems to possess the spirity of Shinji's mother, Yui Ikari. When it consumed the 14th Angel it became an S2 entity, capable of functioning without an external power source. On two occassions Shinji was trapped within Eva-01 and had visions revealing his psyche as well as the Eva's true nature.

Production Model Eva-02

The first production model assembled and tested in Germany with Sohryu Asuka Langley as its exclusive pilot. Eva-02 has the least number of problems than the previous two models and has not yet malfunctioned. It possesses four eyes as well as good handling, and has done very well in combat. It first saw action on the open sea against the 6th Angel and was able to start up on its own power on the transport ship carrying it. Since then it has also fought the 8th Angel within a volcano using the special D type equipment and has assisted the other two Evas in destroying the 7th, 9th, 10th, and 12th Angels. In facing the 14th Angel, Eva-02's arms and head were sliced off.
Production Model Eva-03

The first American production model, Eva-03 had two eyes like Eva-01 and slightly resembles it facially. Otherwise, it looks like the other Evas and is black. Flown to Japan after the disappearance of the American second Nerv branch, it was tested at Matsushiro base with Touji Suzuhara as the Fourth Child. The 13th Angel somehow invaded Eva-03 and took control of it, destroying the base and heading for Tokyo-3. It defeated Eva-00 and Eva-02, displaying amazingly good combat ability without the use of weapons. Like Eva-01, it also broke its mouth restraints. When Eva-01's dummy plug was activated, Eva-03 was torn to shreds and its dummy plug crushed. Touji lost an arm and a leg.
Production Model Eva-04

The second American production model, it vanished along with Nerv's second branch during the testing of an S2 engine. This model is identical to Eva-03 with the exception of a silver body.
Mass Production Model Eva-05 through 13

The slightly smalelr white Evas capable of flight that appear in both Evangelion movies. All nine are S2 entities controlled by the dummy plugs of Kaoru Nagisa and all possess cores. They have wings and appear to lack eyes. They were able to defeat and destroy Eva-02 and initiated the Third Impact with Eva-01, after which they became relics. Primary weapon is a lance, one of which turned into the Spear of Longinus and disabled Eva-02.
The Evangelion Arsenal Data compiled from Newtype 100% Evangelion.

The Evas are capable of taking the Angels on in hand to hand combat depending on the circumstances and type of Angel being faced, as was the case with the 3rd and 13th Angels. However, this is not always feasible, and there are several additional weapons that they may utilize in combat.

Blade weapons

Battle axe

A large, single-headed axe used by Eva-02 in episode 16.
Progressive knife
Carried on the Eva in one of the shoulder casings for immediate use and capable of cutting through an AT Field. There are two types, one with a fixed blade and one with a retractable blade. The former is seen being used by Eva-01, the latter by Eva-02 in episode 10 with the D type equipment.
Sonic glaive
A pole arm/spear used by Eva-01 and Eva-02 against the 7th Angel in episode 9. The blade appears to be of the same material used on the progessive knife. It cut through the Angel which then split into two parts.

Guns

Automatic pistol

A handgun used by Eva-01 in episode 16. It appears to have a magazine feed, but this is not known for sure nor how many shots it has.
Palette rifle
A short range automatic weapon stored in the armament buildings of Tokyo-3. It was used by Eva-01 against the 4th Angel in episode 3.
Positron rifle
Apparently a longer range equivalent of the palette rifle, but not capable of automatic fire. There are three types:
The first is the normal white model of which part slings over the Eva's shoulder for use, but has not yet been seen in the series. It was deemed to lack the power and range to defeat the 5th Angel.

In episode 5, Eva-01 used a sniper version belonging to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces that required all of Japan's energy to operate and only had single shot capability. Although each shot had to be chambered manually, it was very powerful and succeeded in destroying the 5th Angel.

Eva-00 used a shorter and smaller version of the JSDF rifle against the 12th angel in episode 16, which may be an Eva-issue weapon. Each round seems to load automatically.

Rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher

These were used by Eva-02 against the 14th Angel in episode 19 when it penetrated the Geofront. It looks like a hand-held bazooka with a rectangular magazine above and behind the hand grip.

Other stuff

D type equipment

Equipment meant for operating in extremely harsh conditions. Used by Eva-02 in episode 10 when it descended into a volcano, it consisted of a white diver's suit that encased the Eva, as well as a special inflatable plug suit for Asuka to resist very high pressure.
Electromagnetic cage
Used by Eva-02 in the attempted capture of the 8th Angel deep within Mt. Asama in episode 10 and only meant to contain the egg. When the Angel quickly matured and hatched, it destroyed the cage.
Heat shield
Part of a rocket's heat shield used by Eva-00 in Battle Plan Yashima to protect Eva-01 in episode 6. The shield almost totally disintegrated against the Angel's energy beam.
N2 mine/bomb
Mainly a UN weapon used against the Angels to slow them down by forcing them to spend time regenerating what was blown or melted away. Used against the 14th Angel by Eva-00 to no effect in episode 19.
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