The Keyblade
Primary weapon of the series
A weapon tied to the strength of the heart, able to seal worlds, release captive hearts, and carry both heroic and destructive legacies.
Keyblades are weapons connected to hearts, modeled after the ancient χ-blade. A wielder can summon one, fight with it, and use it to open or close special locks and passages. Defeating Heartless with a Keyblade can free captive hearts; sealing a world's Keyhole protects its heart from intrusion.
A Keyblade is not proof of moral purity. Heroes, Xehanort, and the ancient wielders all use them. Their power depends on the heart and the wielder's capabilities. There are however keyblades of Light and Darkness.
A common misconception is that every keyblade sora uses are seperate individual keyblades. Instead Sora switches out the keychain on his Keyblade which changes the keyblades form, and abilities.
An inheritance ceremony can make someone eligible to become a wielder when performed by a qualified wielder of sufficient strength. Terra bequeaths that potential to Riku, and Kairi touches Aqua's Keyblade as a child. The keyblade can also choose its wielder, the Kingdom Key reaches Sora when Riku falls to darkness, and later chooses to stay with Sora.
Keyblade Master is a rank that can be achieved via a Mark of Mastery exam. Riku, Aqua and Mickey are all Keyblade Masters. This comes with special knowledge of the worlds and often entails great power such as the Power of Waking.
Keyblades also have the power to transform into other weapons gifting unique power based on the keychain attached.
Two keyblades are of note. the χ-blade which is the counterpart of Kingdom Hearts, and the "No Name" the keyblade of the Master of Master's containing his all seeing eye.
Related
- Sora
- Riku
- Kairi
- Luxu
- Master of Masters
- Vali
- Strelitzia
- King Mickey
- Terra
- Aqua
- Aced
- Ventus
- Gula
- Invi
- Ava
- Ira
- Young Xehanort
Tagged in
- Kingdom Hearts (Story & Lore)
- Kingdom Hearts (Story & Lore)
- Aqua (Characters)
- Terra (Characters)
Sources
- The power of waking — purpose, uses, and consequences – Kingdom Hearts Wiki