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<div style="text-align:center">[[File:Kingdom Hearts Logo KH.png|200px]][[File:Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Logo KHFM.png|200px]][[File:Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX Logo KHHD.png|200px]][[File:Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX Logo KH.png|200px]]</div>
<div style="text-align:center">[[File:Kingdom Hearts Logo KH.png|200px]][[File:Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Logo KHFM.png|200px]][[File:Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX Logo KHHD.png|200px]][[File:Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX Logo KH.png|200px]]</div>
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{|style="background:forestgreen; color:white; float:right; border-radius:10px; border:3px solid #006400"
!style="background:#006400"|About stats
!style="background:#006400; border-radius:10px 10px 0 0"|About stats
|-
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|Before making a choice, here's what you need to know about the stats:
|Before making a choice, here's what you need to know about the stats:
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*Item slots is how many items you can bring into battle
*Item slots is how many items you can bring into battle
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Welcome to the beginning of this walkthrough. This walkthrough will guide you through the first game in a wonderful series about friendship, courage, and bashing peoples' brains in with gigantic keys. Now then, let us begin!
Welcome to the beginning of this walkthrough. This walkthrough will guide you through the first game in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series. This walkthrough is usable for the original ''Kingdom Hearts'', ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'', and the ''HD 1.5 ReMIX'' version of ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix''.


===I've Been Having These Weird Thoughts Lately...===
{|style="float:left; width:420px"
After the opening movie, you find yourself on a platform with Snow White on it, eerie music in the background, and a mysterious voice asking you if you can walk. Walk to the center of the platform, and three pedestals will appear, each holding a weapon (yes, a shield is a weapon in these games). You're now forced to choose one of the weapons, and give up a second one. The choice you make determines your stats and the order in which you learn your abilities. You'll also get to use the chosen weapon for this tutorial part, so that's a pretty nice bonus.
!style="border-top-right-radius:5px; border-top-left-radius:5px; background:#8B4513; color:#FFFFFF; width:135px"|Treasure List
 
|colspan="2" width="285px"|
{|
|-
|colspan="3" style="background:#D2691E; border-radius:5px; border-top-left-radius:0px"|
{|style="width:100%"
|style="border-right:1px solid #000000; width:33%"|⬜ Potion
|style="border-right:1px solid #000000; width:33%"|
|style="width:33%"|
|}
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{{-|left}}
===Choose your weapon===
After the opening movie, you find yourself on a platform with Snow White on it, eerie music in the background, and a mysterious voice asking you if you can walk. Walk to the center of the platform, and three pedestals will appear, each holding a weapon. You're now forced to choose one of the weapons, and give up a second one. The choice you make determines your stats and the order in which you learn your abilities. You'll also get to use the chosen weapon for this tutorial part.
{|style="width:100%"
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{|style="background:#6495ED; color:white; width:600px" border="2"
{|style="background:#6495ED; color:white; width:600px" border="2" cellspacing="0"
!colspan="7" style="background:royalblue"|Stats
!colspan="7" style="background:royalblue"|Stats
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|-style="background:royalblue"
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|-style="background:#DC143C"
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|width="4%" rowspan="2" style="font-size:12px; color:white; text-align:center"|'''Level'''
|width="4%" rowspan="2" style="font-size:12px; color:white; text-align:center"|'''Level'''
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{|border="2" style="text-align:center; background:#DA70D6; font-size:10px; width:525px" cellspacing="0"
|-style="background:#9932CC"
|-style="background:#9932CC"
|width="4%" rowspan="2" style="font-size:12px; color:white; text-align:center"|'''Level'''
|width="4%" rowspan="2" style="font-size:12px; color:white; text-align:center"|'''Level'''
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Some popular choices are:
If you're new to the series, I can imagine you're even more confused after seeing those tables, so let me give you some popular choices:
*Choose Dream Shield, give up Dream Sword - This is a very good beginner setup. Choosing the shield gives you defensive abilities quite early, and giving up the sword instead of the rod gives you a little extra AP to equip them.
*Choose Dream Shield, give up Dream Sword - This is a very good beginner setup. Choosing the shield gives you defensive abilities quite early, and giving up the sword instead of the rod gives you a little extra AP to equip them.
*Choose Dream Rod, give up Dream Shield - If you want to focus on using Magic, you have to choose the Dream Rod. Those two extra MP are going to make a ton of difference in both the amount of Magic you can use, as well as the power of your spells. The difference between giving up the sword or shield is an extra 2 STR or DEF, which isn't that much, but giving up the shield has you start with just 1 DEF, which is not a lot.
*Choose Dream Rod, give up Dream Sword - If you want to focus on using Magic, you have to choose the Dream Rod. Those two extra MP are going to make a ton of difference in both the amount of Magic you can use, as well as the power of your spells. The difference between giving up the sword or shield is an extra 2 STR or DEF, which isn't that much, but giving up the shield has you start with just 1 DEF, which is not a lot.
*Choose Dream Sword, give up Dream Shield - The Dream Sword is the least useful of the three. It gives you more STR at the beginning, and gives you more combo moves early on, but none of that really matters at the end. The difference between giving up the rod or shield is 2 AP or 1 DEF, of which 2 AP is the better deal.
*Choose Dream Sword, give up Dream Shield - The Dream Sword is the least useful of the three. It gives you more STR at the beginning, and gives you more combo moves early on, but none of that really matters at the end. The difference between giving up the rod or shield is 2 AP or 1 DEF, of which 2 AP is the better deal.
{|style="background:#696969; color:white; float:right; width:250px" border="1"
 
Once you've made your choice and confirmed it, the floor will break beneath you and you'll fall to another platform featuring Cinderella.
{|style="background:#696969; color:white; float:right; width:350px" border="2" cellspacing="0"
!style="background:#000000" colspan="2"|Shadow
!style="background:#000000" colspan="2"|Shadow
|-
|-
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|
|
*Scratch Attack
*Scratch Attack
*Thrust Attack
*Lunge Attack
*Jump Attack
*Jump Attack
|-
|-
!style="background:#000000" colspan="2"|Strategy
!style="background:#000000" colspan="2"|Strategy
|-
|-
|style="font-size:0.9em" colspan="2"|Shadows are quite easy to beat. They do have the annoying ability of sinking into the ground, making them invulnerable until they resurface.
|colspan="2"|Shadows are quite easy to beat. They do have the annoying ability of sinking into the ground, making them invulnerable until they resurface.
|}
|}
Once you've made your choice and confirmed it, the floor will break beneath you and you'll fall to another platform featuring Cinderella.
===Learn to fight===
 
{|style="background:forestgreen; color:white; float:left; width:120px; margin-right:5px" border="1" cellspacing="0"
{|style="background:forestgreen; color:white; float:left; width:120px; margin-right:5px" border="1"
!style="background:#006400"|Potion
!style="background:#006400"|Potion
|-
|-
|[[File:Icon Potion KH.png|30px|center]]
|[[File:Icon Potion KH.png|30px|center]]
|-
|-
|style="font-size:0.9em"|''Restores 30 HP of one character. Can be equipped.''
|''Restores 30 HP of one character. Can be equipped.''
|}
|}
===Open the door!===
You'll summon the weapon you chose, and learn about HP and MP, and how to attack. And now it's time for your very first battle. Introducing the most basic of Heartless: the [[File:Heartless Emblem.png|x20px]]'''[[Shadow|<span style="color:purple">Shadow</span>]]'''. A bunch of them appear, but you only need to defeat one for the others to retreat. You'll learn about EXP and prizes, and another Shadow will try to attack you from behind. That might be a problem if it weren't for a very useful tool: Lock-on. Lock-on allows you to target and follow a specific enemy. Use Lock-on to defeat the group of Shadows, and a retreating Shadow will cause you to sink into darkness until you awake on a third platform, featuring three unidentified women, and a semi-transparent door.
You'll summon the weapon you chose, and learn about HP and MP, and how to attack. And now it's time for your very first battle. Introducing the most basic of Heartless: the [[File:Heartless Emblem.png|x20px]]'''[[Shadow|<span style="color:purple">Shadow</span>]]'''. A bunch of them appear, but you only need to defeat one for the others to retreat. You'll learn about EXP and prizes, and another Shadow will try to attack you from behind. That might be a problem if it weren't for a very useful tool: Lock-on. Lock-on allows you to target and follow a specific enemy. Use Lock-on to defeat the group of Shadows, and a retreating Shadow will cause you to sink into darkness until you awake on a third platform, featuring three unidentified women, and a semi-transparent door.


Walk up to the door and you'll learn about examining. Examine the door and a treasure chest will appear. Walk up to it and open it to obtain... nothing. A crate now appears, so go ahead and smash it. Inside you'll find a [[File:Icon Potion KH.png|x20px]]'''[[Potion|<span style="color:green">Potion</span>]]'''. The door frame now becomes solid and a barrel appears. Lift the barrel and the rest of the door will materialize. Now it's time to open the door and face your fate.
Walk up to the door and you'll learn about examining. Examine the door and a treasure chest will appear. Walk up to it and open it to obtain...nothing. A crate now appears, push it and then smash it. Inside you'll find a [[File:Icon Potion KH.png|x20px]]'''[[Potion|<span style="color:green">Potion</span>]]'''. The door frame now becomes solid and a barrel appears. Lift the barrel and the rest of the door will materialize. Now you can open the door.


===Choices, choices===
 
{|style="background:#6495ED; color:white; float:right; width:350px; margin-right:5px" border="1"
===Making the right choice===
!style="background:royalblue"|What choice to make
{|style="background:#6495ED; color:white; float:left; width:350px; margin-right:5px; border-radius:10px; border:3px solid royalblue"
!style="background:royalblue; border-radius:10px 10px 0 0"|What choice to make
|-
|-
|What choice you should make regarding your EXP growth kind of depends on your playstyle. If you're a beginner, or just looking for a quick run-through, "dawn" will be the best option, as it levels you up quicker at lower levels. If you're planning on getting Sora to LV 100, "dusk" is a better option, as the total EXP required is a lot lower. If you're not sure, you can always choose "noon".
|What choice you should make regarding your EXP growth kind of depends on your playstyle. If you're a beginner, or just looking for a quick run-through, "dawn" will be the best option, as it levels you up quicker at lower levels. If you're planning on getting Sora to LV 100, "dusk" is a better option, as the total EXP required is a lot lower. If you're not sure, you can always choose "noon".
|}
|}
...but not yet. You find yourself on a wooden structure overlooking a vast ocean with three other characters. Fans of the ''Final Fantasy'' series might recognize them as Selphie from ''Final Fantasy VIII'', and Tidus and Wakka from ''Final Fantasy X''. Each will ask you a question, with three possible answers. The answers you give decide the amount of EXP you'll need to level up. There are three possible outcomes: "dawn" will require less EXP in the beginning but more at the end, "dusk" will require more EXP at the beginning but less at the end, and "noon" is kind of balanced between the two. Fortunately, there's no complicated formula for what choices to make. The top answers will result in dawn, the middle answers in noon, and the bottom answers in dusk. After answering all three, you get to confirm your choose to the voice in the sky. Afterwards, you'll find yourself on another station, featuring Aurora. Walk towards the light, and you'll learn about the Menu screen. However, you can't open it during battle and you're sort of surrounded by Shadows at the moment, so it'll have to wait.
 
You find yourself on a wooden structure overlooking a vast ocean with three other characters. Fans of the ''Final Fantasy'' series might recognize them as Selphie from ''Final Fantasy VIII'', and Tidus and Wakka from ''Final Fantasy X''. Each will ask you a question, with three possible answers. The answers you give decide the amount of EXP you'll need to level up. There are three possible outcomes: "dawn" will require less EXP in the beginning but more at the end, "dusk" will require more EXP at the beginning but less at the end, and "noon" is kind of balanced between the two. Fortunately, there's no complicated formula for what choices to make. The top answers will result in dawn, the middle answers in noon, and the bottom answers in dusk. After answering all three, you get to confirm your choice. Afterwards, you'll find yourself on another station, featuring Aurora. Walk towards the light, and you'll learn about the Menu screen. However, you can't open it during battle and a bunch of Shadows appear.


After the battle, a Save Point appears. Save Points allow you to save your game (obviously), but standing on one also restores your HP and MP. Stand on the Save Point and a beam of light creates a stairway.
After the battle, a Save Point appears. Save Points allow you to save your game (obviously), but standing on one also restores your HP and MP. Stand on the Save Point and a beam of light creates a stairway.
 
{{-}}
{|
|-valign="top"
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===Time to face your dark side===
===Time to face your dark side===
Once you've saved (or not), head up the stairs. In a cutscene you see your shadow grow to the size of a giant. Meet the very first boss battle, the [[File:Heartless Emblem.png|x20px]]'''[[Darkside|<span style="color:purple">Darkside</span>]]'''
Once you've saved (or not), head up the stairs. In a cutscene you see your shadow grow to the size of a giant. Meet the very first boss battle, the [[File:Heartless Emblem.png|x20px]]'''[[Darkside|<span style="color:purple">Darkside</span>]]'''
{|style="background:#F08080; color:white; float:right; width:350px; margin-right:5px" border="1"
{|style="background:#696969; color:white; width:800px" border="2" cellspacing="0"
!style="background:#DC143C"|About Tech Points
!style="background:#000000" colspan="4"|Darkside
|-
|-
|Tech Points are bonus EXP obtained during battle. Tech Points can be earned by deflecting attacks with precise timing, or using certain Magic on specific enemies. There's no limit to the amount of Tech Points you can obtain during battle, which makes some fights a good way to grind just by parrying attacks. (More about that in the next part)
|rowspan="8"|[[File:Darkside KH.png|400x400px|center]]
|}
!style="background:#000000" rowspan="2"|HP
{|style="background:#696969; color:white; width:800px; margin-left:80px" border="1"
!style="background:#000000"|Original
!style="background:#000000" colspan="3"|Darkside
!style="background:#000000"|Final Mix
|-style="text-align:center"
|180||240
|-
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[File:Darkside KH.png|400x400px|center]]
!style="background:#000000" rowspan="2"|EXP
!style="background:#000000"|HP
!style="background:#000000"|Original
|180
!style="background:#000000"|Final Mix
|-style="text-align:center"
|18||18
|-
|-
!style="background:#000000" colspan="2"|Attacks
!style="background:#000000" colspan="3"|Attacks
|-
|-
|colspan="2"|
|colspan="3"|
*Dark Homing
*Dark Homing
*Dark Punch
*Dark Punch
|-
|-
!style="background:#000000" colspan="2"|Strategy
!style="background:#000000" colspan="3"|Strategy
|-
|-
|style="font-size:0.9em" colspan="2"|The Darkside can only be damaged by hitting its hands or its head.  
|colspan="3"|The Darkside can only be damaged by hitting its hands or its head.  


When it lowers its arm and charges it with energy, it will slam it in the ground, so get out of the way. Once it hits the ground, it will leave its fist on the ground for a little while, giving you the opportunity to attack it. However, a pool of darkness around its fist will spawn Shadows, so be sure to take those out too.
When it lowers its arm and charges it with energy, it will slam it in the ground, so get out of the way. Once it hits the ground, it will leave its fist on the ground for a little while, giving you the opportunity to attack it. However, a pool of darkness around its fist will spawn Shadows, so be sure to take those out too.
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If you get low on HP, you should use the Potion obtained before, or defeat some Shadows and collect the HP prizes they drop. If you keep attacking, it should go down pretty quickly. And if it doesn't, well, you don't actually have to win this fight. If you lose, the story will continue like normal.
If you get low on HP, you should use the Potion obtained before, or defeat some Shadows and collect the HP prizes they drop. If you keep attacking, it should go down pretty quickly. And if it doesn't, well, you don't actually have to win this fight. If you lose, the story will continue like normal.
|}
|}
Win or lose, once the battle is over, the Darkside will drown you in darkness. And thus ends the story of Sora. Next up: ''Chain of Memories''. Just kidding, of course. This was only the tutorial. Head on over to the next page to continue this walkthrough.
|
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{|style="background:#F08080; color:white; width:350px; border-radius:10px; border:3px solid #DC143C; margin-left:100px" align="center"
!style="width:33%|
!style="background:#DC143C; border-radius:10px 10px 0 0"|About Tech Points
!style="width:33%|'''Dive to the Heart'''
|-
!style="width:33%|'''[[User:TheSilentHero/Walkthrough/Destiny Islands|Destiny Islands >>>]]'''
|Tech Points are bonus EXP obtained during battle. Tech Points can be earned by deflecting attacks with precise timing, or using certain Magic on specific enemies. There's no limit to the amount of Tech Points you can obtain during battle, which makes some fights a good way to grind just by parrying attacks. (More about that in the next part)
|}
|}
Win or lose, once the battle is over, the Darkside will drown you in darkness. Head on over to the next page to see what happens next.
{|border="3" cellpadding="5" style="width:100%; border-radius:20px 20px 0 0"
!style="width:33%; border-top-left-radius:15px"|
!style="width:33%"|'''Dive to the Heart'''
!style="width:33%; border-top-right-radius:15px"|'''[[User:TheSilentHero/Walkthrough/Destiny Islands|Destiny Islands >>>]]'''
|}
|}
__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 17:52, 18 January 2024

Kingdom Hearts Logo KH.pngKingdom Hearts Final Mix Logo KHFM.pngKingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX Logo KHHD.pngKingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX Logo KH.png
About stats
Before making a choice, here's what you need to know about the stats:
  • HP is the amount of damage you can take before you die
  • MP is the amount of Magic you can use, and the power of magical abilities
  • AP is the amount of Abilities you can equip.
  • STR is the amount of damage you deal with physical attacks
  • DEF is the amount of damage you receive from attacks
  • Item slots is how many items you can bring into battle

Welcome to the beginning of this walkthrough. This walkthrough will guide you through the first game in the Kingdom Hearts series. This walkthrough is usable for the original Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, and the HD 1.5 ReMIX version of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.

Treasure List
⬜ Potion

Choose your weapon

After the opening movie, you find yourself on a platform with Snow White on it, eerie music in the background, and a mysterious voice asking you if you can walk. Walk to the center of the platform, and three pedestals will appear, each holding a weapon. You're now forced to choose one of the weapons, and give up a second one. The choice you make determines your stats and the order in which you learn your abilities. You'll also get to use the chosen weapon for this tutorial part.

Stats
Choice LV 1 Stats LV 100 Stats
Original Final Mix
Choose Dream Sword
Give up Dream Rod
  • 18 HP
  • 2 MP
  • 1 AP
  • 5 STR
  • 2 DEF
  • 3 Item slots
  • 84 HP
  • 8 MP
  • 37 AP
  • 57 STR
  • 52 DEF
  • 7 Item slots
  • 87 HP
  • 8 MP
  • 49 AP
  • 49 STR
  • 46 DEF
  • 7 Item slots
Choose Dream Sword
Give up Dream Shield
  • 18 HP
  • 2 MP
  • 3 AP
  • 5 STR
  • 1 DEF
  • 3 Item slots
  • 84 HP
  • 8 MP
  • 39 AP
  • 57 STR
  • 51 DEF
  • 7 Item slots
  • 87 HP
  • 8 MP
  • 51 AP
  • 49 STR
  • 45 DEF
  • 7 Item slots
Choose Dream Rod
Give up Dream Sword
  • 18 HP
  • 3 MP
  • 3 AP
  • 2 STR
  • 3 DEF
  • 3 Item slots
  • 84 HP
  • 10 MP
  • 39 AP
  • 54 STR
  • 53 DEF
  • 6 Item slots
  • 87 HP
  • 10 MP
  • 51 AP
  • 46 STR
  • 47 DEF
  • 6 Item slots
Choose Dream Rod
Give up Dream Shield
  • 18 HP
  • 3 MP
  • 3 AP
  • 4 STR
  • 1 DEF
  • 3 Item slots
  • 84 HP
  • 10 MP
  • 39 AP
  • 56 STR
  • 51 DEF
  • 6 Item slots
  • 87 HP
  • 10 MP
  • 51 AP
  • 48 STR
  • 45 DEF
  • 6 Item slots
Choose Dream Shield
Give up Dream Sword
  • 18 HP
  • 2 MP
  • 3 AP
  • 3 STR
  • 4 DEF
  • 3 Item slots
  • 84 HP
  • 8 MP
  • 39 AP
  • 55 STR
  • 54 DEF
  • 8 Item slots
  • 87 HP
  • 8 MP
  • 51 AP
  • 47 STR
  • 48 DEF
  • 8 Item slots
Choose Dream Shield
Give up Dream Rod
  • 18 HP
  • 2 MP
  • 1 AP
  • 4 STR
  • 4 DEF
  • 3 Item slots
  • 84 HP
  • 8 MP
  • 37 AP
  • 56 STR
  • 54 DEF
  • 8 Item slots
  • 87 HP
  • 8 MP
  • 49 AP
  • 48 STR
  • 48 DEF
  • 8 Item slots
Level Abilities (Original)
Choose Dream Sword Choose Dream Rod Choose Dream Shield
6
9 Combo Plus Scan Guard
12 Vortex Treasure Magnet Scan
15 Scan MP Haste Lucky Strike
18 Blitz Counterattack Second Chance
21 Berserk Critical Plus Counterattack
24 Counterattack Guard Jackpot
27 Air Combo Plus Aerial Sweep Treasure Magnet
30 Aerial Sweep Treasure Magnet
33 Treasure Magnet MP Rage Blitz
36 Guard Berserk MP Rage
39 Lucky Strike Treasure Magnet
42 Combo Plus
45 MP Haste Vortex
48 Critical Plus Second Chance Berserk
50
51 Second Chance MP Rage Critical Plus
54 Jackpot
55
57 MP Rage Vortex Air Combo Plus
60 Treasure Magnet Air Combo Plus Aerial Sweep
63 Jackpot Blitz MP Haste
66 MP Rage Combo Plus MP Rage
69 Lucky Strike Critical Plus Critical Plus
72 Combo Plus
75 Air Combo Plus Air Combo Plus Combo Plus
78 Critical Plus Combo Plus Air Combo Plus
81
84 Combo Plus Combo Plus Combo Plus
87
90 Critical Plus Critical Plus Critical Plus
93
96 Combo Plus Combo Plus Combo Plus
99
100
Level Abilities (Final Mix)
Choose Dream Sword Choose Dream Rod Choose Dream Shield
6 Sliding Dash Stun Impact Slapshot
9 Scan Treasure Magnet Berserk
12 Slapshot Ripple Drive Tech Boost
15 Counterattack Scan Guard
18 Tech Boost Hurricane Blast Stun Impact
21 Combo Plus MP Haste Scan
24 Guard Air Combo Plus Lucky Strike
27 Hurricane Blast Tech Boost Leaf Bracer
30 Treasure Magnet
33 Blitz Guard
36 Treasure Magnet Aerial Sweep Second Chance
39 Ripple Drive Leaf Bracer Sliding Dash
42 MP Rage Jackpot
45 MP Haste Air Combo Plus Counterattack
48 Second Chance Lucky Strike Critical Plus
50 Combo MasterSymbol - Crown.png
51 Stun Impact Sliding Dash Hurricane Blast
54 Combo MasterSymbol - Crown.png
55 Combo MasterSymbol - Crown.png
57 Vortex Counterattack Treasure Magnet
60 Aerial Sweep Berserk Blitz
63 MP Rage Jackpot Combo Plus
66 Combo Plus
69 Leaf Bracer Slapshot Ripple Drive
72 Air Combo Plus Treasure Magnet MP Haste
75 Treasure Magnet MP Rage Critical Plus
78 Berserk Blitz Vortex
81 Tech Boost Tech Boost Tech Boost
84 Critical Plus Vortex Aerial Sweep
87 MP Rage Combo Plus Combo Plus
90 Lucky Strike Second Chance MP Rage
93 Combo Plus Combo Plus Air Combo Plus
96 Air Combo Plus Critical Plus Combo Plus
99 Critical Plus Combo Plus Air Combo Plus
100 Jackpot Critical Plus MP Rage

Some popular choices are:

  • Choose Dream Shield, give up Dream Sword - This is a very good beginner setup. Choosing the shield gives you defensive abilities quite early, and giving up the sword instead of the rod gives you a little extra AP to equip them.
  • Choose Dream Rod, give up Dream Sword - If you want to focus on using Magic, you have to choose the Dream Rod. Those two extra MP are going to make a ton of difference in both the amount of Magic you can use, as well as the power of your spells. The difference between giving up the sword or shield is an extra 2 STR or DEF, which isn't that much, but giving up the shield has you start with just 1 DEF, which is not a lot.
  • Choose Dream Sword, give up Dream Shield - The Dream Sword is the least useful of the three. It gives you more STR at the beginning, and gives you more combo moves early on, but none of that really matters at the end. The difference between giving up the rod or shield is 2 AP or 1 DEF, of which 2 AP is the better deal.

Once you've made your choice and confirmed it, the floor will break beneath you and you'll fall to another platform featuring Cinderella.

Shadow
Shadow KH.png
Attacks
  • Scratch Attack
  • Lunge Attack
  • Jump Attack
Strategy
Shadows are quite easy to beat. They do have the annoying ability of sinking into the ground, making them invulnerable until they resurface.

Learn to fight

Potion
Icon Potion KH.png
Restores 30 HP of one character. Can be equipped.

You'll summon the weapon you chose, and learn about HP and MP, and how to attack. And now it's time for your very first battle. Introducing the most basic of Heartless: the Heartless Emblem.pngShadow. A bunch of them appear, but you only need to defeat one for the others to retreat. You'll learn about EXP and prizes, and another Shadow will try to attack you from behind. That might be a problem if it weren't for a very useful tool: Lock-on. Lock-on allows you to target and follow a specific enemy. Use Lock-on to defeat the group of Shadows, and a retreating Shadow will cause you to sink into darkness until you awake on a third platform, featuring three unidentified women, and a semi-transparent door.

Walk up to the door and you'll learn about examining. Examine the door and a treasure chest will appear. Walk up to it and open it to obtain...nothing. A crate now appears, push it and then smash it. Inside you'll find a Icon Potion KH.pngPotion. The door frame now becomes solid and a barrel appears. Lift the barrel and the rest of the door will materialize. Now you can open the door.


Making the right choice

What choice to make
What choice you should make regarding your EXP growth kind of depends on your playstyle. If you're a beginner, or just looking for a quick run-through, "dawn" will be the best option, as it levels you up quicker at lower levels. If you're planning on getting Sora to LV 100, "dusk" is a better option, as the total EXP required is a lot lower. If you're not sure, you can always choose "noon".

You find yourself on a wooden structure overlooking a vast ocean with three other characters. Fans of the Final Fantasy series might recognize them as Selphie from Final Fantasy VIII, and Tidus and Wakka from Final Fantasy X. Each will ask you a question, with three possible answers. The answers you give decide the amount of EXP you'll need to level up. There are three possible outcomes: "dawn" will require less EXP in the beginning but more at the end, "dusk" will require more EXP at the beginning but less at the end, and "noon" is kind of balanced between the two. Fortunately, there's no complicated formula for what choices to make. The top answers will result in dawn, the middle answers in noon, and the bottom answers in dusk. After answering all three, you get to confirm your choice. Afterwards, you'll find yourself on another station, featuring Aurora. Walk towards the light, and you'll learn about the Menu screen. However, you can't open it during battle and a bunch of Shadows appear.

After the battle, a Save Point appears. Save Points allow you to save your game (obviously), but standing on one also restores your HP and MP. Stand on the Save Point and a beam of light creates a stairway.

Time to face your dark side

Once you've saved (or not), head up the stairs. In a cutscene you see your shadow grow to the size of a giant. Meet the very first boss battle, the Heartless Emblem.pngDarkside

Darkside
Darkside
HP Original Final Mix
180 240
EXP Original Final Mix
18 18
Attacks
  • Dark Homing
  • Dark Punch
Strategy
The Darkside can only be damaged by hitting its hands or its head.

When it lowers its arm and charges it with energy, it will slam it in the ground, so get out of the way. Once it hits the ground, it will leave its fist on the ground for a little while, giving you the opportunity to attack it. However, a pool of darkness around its fist will spawn Shadows, so be sure to take those out too.

When it lowers itself on its knees, and pushes its chest forward with its arms back, it will fire homing projectiles. With good timing, these projectiles can be deflected, giving you some Tech Points in the progress. During this move, its hands are low enough to attack.

If you get low on HP, you should use the Potion obtained before, or defeat some Shadows and collect the HP prizes they drop. If you keep attacking, it should go down pretty quickly. And if it doesn't, well, you don't actually have to win this fight. If you lose, the story will continue like normal.

About Tech Points
Tech Points are bonus EXP obtained during battle. Tech Points can be earned by deflecting attacks with precise timing, or using certain Magic on specific enemies. There's no limit to the amount of Tech Points you can obtain during battle, which makes some fights a good way to grind just by parrying attacks. (More about that in the next part)

Win or lose, once the battle is over, the Darkside will drown you in darkness. Head on over to the next page to see what happens next.

Dive to the Heart Destiny Islands >>>