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Keyblade Armor: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Terra, Aqua, and Ven's Armors KHBBS.png|200px|right]]
{{cleanup|add "regalia" from KHUX}}
{{nihongo|'''Keyblade Armor'''|キーブレード鎧|Kīburēdo Yoroi}} is a suit of armor worn by [[Keyblade wielders]]. It first appears in ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', as the remnants of [[Terra]] and [[Aqua]], and is used throughout ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' by Terra, [[Ventus]], Aqua, and the digital simulations of [[Master Eraqus]] and [[Master Xehanort]]. One of its most important qualities is that it protects the wearer from the darkness surrounding the [[Lanes Between]], much like the [[Black Coat]].<ref>'''Xehanort's Report II''': ''"Our Master instructed us to don armor while traveling between worlds, so that we might shield ourselves from the darkness. But there, in the Lanes Between, I could feel the force of it—the power—and from then on, I forwent my armor's "protection." I had been told the darkness would devour me, but what terrors could it possibly hold, so long as I found the strength to control it?"''.</ref> However, it is also worn during battle, at the user's discretion.
[[File:Terra, Aqua, and Ven's Armors KHBBS.png|thumb|200px|Terra, Ventus, and Aqua in their suits of Keyblade Armor.]]
{{nihongo|'''Keyblade Armor'''<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Signature Series Strategy Guide|Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Signature Series Guide]]''''', '''pg. 75:''' "In the final battle, Xehanort takes Terra's body, leaving you to fight from within your Keyblade Armor."</ref>|鎧|Yoroi|lit. "Armor"}} is a suit of armor worn by [[Keyblade wielders]]. It is introduced in ''Kingdom Hearts II'' worn by [[Xemnas]]. One of its most important qualities is that it protects the wearer from the darkness surrounding the [[Lanes Between]], much like the [[black coat]] and the [[Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather|good fairies]]' garments.<ref>'''Xehanort's Report II:''' "Our Master instructed us to don armor while traveling between worlds, so that we might shield ourselves from the darkness. But there, in the Lanes Between, I could feel the force of it—the power—and from then on, I forwent my armor's "protection." I had been told the darkness would devour me, but what terrors could it possibly hold, so long as I found the strength to control it?"</ref> However, it is also worn during battle, at the user's discretion.


Pieces of the armor usually appear as part of the user's normal clothing, such as their boots or belts. However, the armor's left [[wikipedia:pauldron|pauldron]] is more important—by pressing it, the user activates the rest of the armor, which appears in a flash of light. Despite the fact that it usually appears and disappears magically, the armor can also be removed physically, as [[Terra-Xehanort]] did once he had gained control of Terra's body, and Aqua did to give Terra's body a vessel to take him out of the [[Realm of Darkness]]. Despite its heavy appearance, the armor does not appear to impede movement in any way.
Pieces of the armor usually appear as part of the user's normal clothing, such as their boots or belts. However, the armor's left {{w|pauldron}} is more important—by pressing it, the user activates the rest of the armor, which appears in a flash of [[light]]. Despite the fact that it usually appears and disappears magically, the armor can also be removed physically, as [[Terra-Xehanort]] did once he had gained control of Terra's [[body]], and Aqua did to give Terra's body a vessel to take him out of the [[Realm of Darkness]].  


==Design and conception==
The armor can also act on its own to protect the user, should they be tossed to the Lanes Between unknowingly;{{fact}} Ventus was tossed to the Lanes by the [[Star Shard]], [[Xehanort]] and the [[χ-Blade]]. In the third case, the armor is shown to repair the helmets immediately to provide air for the wearer.{{fact}} Despite its heavy appearance, the armor does not appear to impede movement in any way.
In [[The Gathering]] and the [[Birth by sleep (Video)|Birth by sleep]] videos, the Armor worn by Terra, Aqua, and Ventus have capes. The capes were removed in ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' due to frame rate issues.<ref>Nomura: We wanted to make it so that as many people could play together as possible, but in the end we could only do six. By the way, in the ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' secret movie you can see Terra in his armor with a cape, but we took off the cape in this game. It was to make processing easier when you’re playing with six people. Processing of moving fabric can be slow, so the speed it runs at is completely different if he has a cape or not.</ref>


Nomura stated in an interview that he chose armor to hide Terra, Aqua and Ventus's faces so as to avoid using the [[Black Coat|black Organization XIII coats]] again; furthermore, he was influenced by the recent release of ''Final Fantasy XII'', which featured the armored [[finalfantasy:Archadian Judges|Archadian Judge Magisters]].{{fact}}<!--source for FF12 being the source-->
==Development==
In "[[The Gathering]]" and "{{c|Birth by Sleep|video}}", Terra, Ventus, and Aqua each have capes attached to their suits of Keyblade Armor, but these capes were removed in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'' due to frame rate issues.<ref>'''Interviewer:''' " I was very surprised to hear that in VS Arena Mode you could play with six other people." / '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "We wanted to make it so that as many people could play together as possible, but in the end we could only do six. By the way, in the ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'' secret movie you can see Terra in his armor with a cape, but we took off the cape in this game. It was to make processing easier when you're playing with six people. Processing of moving fabric can be slow, so the speed it runs at is completely different if he has a cape or not." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/Famitsu-Interview-Nomura-New-1269 Translation via KHInsider]</ref> In ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX]] '', during the final cutscene in Terra's story, the Lingering Will sprouts a cape, maintaining continuity between ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' and later appearances such as ''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix]]'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''. All three Keyblade wielders' armors are also seen with capes in ''[[Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind]]''.
 
{{w|Tetsuya Nomura}} stated in an interview that he chose to use armor to hide Terra, Aqua, and Ventus's yet-to-be-designed faces to avoid using the [[black coat]]s of [[Organization XIII]] again. Nomura's decision was also influenced by the recent release of ''Final Fantasy XII'', which featured the armored {{ff|Archadian Judges|Archadian Judge Magisters}},<ref>'''''{{w|Weekly Famitsu}}''''', '''Interviewer:''' "Does that mean the players know of these people?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura:''' "I just haven't drawn their faces. (laugh) I can't hide their faces with black hoods like in KH:FM's secret movie, too. Who knows what kind of grudges I'll invite if I just change the hood's color. (laugh) That's why I chose armors. First, I only drew the atmosphere and the rest is done by the staff. But FF12 has Judge in armor, so I made a more heroic design for them." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/Famitsu-2006-Nomura-Interview-2569 Translation via KHInsider].</ref> as well as an early, canceled project of his.<ref>[http://www.siliconera.com/2014/07/25/tetsuya-nomuras-batman-figurine-came-canceled-videogame-project/ '''''Siliconera: Tetsuya Nomura's Batman Figurine Came From A Canceled Videogame Project''''']</ref>
 
In ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', at the [[Mirage Arena]], Terra, Ventus, and Aqua can change the hues of their armor.


==Story==
==Story==
===''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''===
===''Kingdom Hearts Dark Road''===
[[File:Gathering 01 KHBBS.png|200px|thumb|right|Aqua, Terra, and Ventus summoning their Armor.]]
[[Master Odin]] teaches his students [[Xehanort]], [[Eraqus]], [[Vor]], [[Urd]], [[Bragi]], and [[Hermod]] how to use their Keyblade Armor and Keyblade Gliders so they can travel between worlds and search for their seven missing upper classmates.
According to [[Xehanort's Report|his Reports]], Master Xehanort had once worn his Armor as instructed, but when he felt the darkness of the [[Ocean Between]], he decided to embrace it, rather than avoiding it.
 
When traveling through the [[Corridors of Darkness]], Xehanort decides to remove his Keyblade Armor, causing him to lose consciousness. Upon waking up, he is greeted by [[The Master of Masters]], who explains that the black cloaks are far better at warding off darkness than the armor.
 
===''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''===
[[File:Gathering 01 KHBBS.png|200px|thumb|Aqua, Terra, and Ventus summoning their Armor.]]
According to [[Xehanort's Report]], Master Xehanort had once worn his Armor as instructed, but when he felt the [[darkness]] of the [[Ocean Between]], he decided to embrace it, rather than avoiding it.


Terra, Ventus, and Aqua wear their Armor whenever they enter the Lanes Between, or when they land at the [[Mirage Arena]]. They also activate the armor when they are attacked by Xehanort at the [[Keyblade Graveyard]].
Terra, Ventus, and Aqua wear their Armor whenever they enter the Lanes Between, or when they land at the [[Mirage Arena]]. They also activate the armor when they are attacked by Xehanort at the [[Keyblade Graveyard]].


{{canon}}
When Terra defeats Master Xehanort in their final battle, the elderly Keyblade Master unlocks his own [[heart]]. Terra attempts to protect himself from Xehanort by quickly activating his armor, but Terra's darkness allows Xehanort to take control anyway. Terra's armor falls to the ground in pieces as the new, younger Terra-Xehanort walks off, but rises again as Terra's [[soul]] animates it. It creates the [[Will's Cage]] around the two, forcing Terra-Xehanort to turn and fight. It manages to knock out Terra-Xehanort, who is swallowed by the [[χ-blade]]'s aura and transported to [[Radiant Garden]]. Its job done, it kneels down with its [[Ends of the Earth]] Keyblade in its hands, and remains there for the next eleven years.
At the Mirage Arena, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua can change the hues of their armor.
 
{{canonend}}
After leaving Ventus in the [[Chamber of Waking]] and encountering a confused Terra-Xehanort at Radiant Garden, Aqua damages Terra-Xehanort enough for Terra's heart to temporarily take control and cause Master Xehanort to force Terra-Xehanort into stabbing himself with the [[No Name]] [[Keyblade]], knocking his body out. Both Aqua and Xehanort fall into the Realm of Darkness. Aqua removes her armor, and instructs both it and her [[Rainfell]] Keyblade to take Xehanort back through the closing portal to Radiant Garden. [[Dilan]] later discovers the unconscious Xehanort and Aqua's armor, and [[Ansem the Wise]] instructs [[Braig]] to carry Xehanort, and Dilan to bring the armor back to the [[Hollow Bastion]].
 
After Xehanort became [[Xemnas]], he placed Aqua's armor within the [[Chamber of Repose]], where he often went to speak to it. [[Xigbar]] eventually noticed Xemnas's conversations with Aqua's armor, and would bring it up to [[Zexion]].{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix}}
 
===''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''===
When she fights [[Roxas]], [[Xion]] dons a suit of armor that combines motifs from the Keyblade Armor, the [[Nobody]] emblem, and Sora's own clothes. At times, the armor also has wings, extra arms, or trailing ribbons that draw from Sora's memories, and a set of "Keyblades" which do the same.
{{-}}
 
===''Kingdom Hearts II''===
[[File:To End It All 01 KHIIFM.png|thumb|left|Xemnas donning Master Xehanort's Keyblade Armor during his battle against Sora and Riku.]]
During the [[Battle of the 1000 Heartless]], [[Xemnas]] visits Aqua's armor and [[Keyblade]], addressing it as his "friend."{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix}}


When Terra defeats Master Xehanort in their final battle, the elderly Keyblade master unlocks his own heart. Terra attempts to protect himself from Xehanort by quickly activating his armor, but Terra's darkness allows Xehanort to take control anyway. Terra's armor falls to the ground in pieces as the new, younger Terra-Xehanort walks off, but rises again as Terra's soul animates it. It creates the [[Keyblade Graveyard#Will's Cage|Will's Cage]] around the two, forcing Terra-Xehanort to turn and fight. It manages to knock out Terra-Xehanort, who is swallowed by the [[χ-blade]]'s aura and transported to [[Radiant Garden]]. Its job done, it kneels down with its [[Ends of the Earth]] Keyblade in its hands, and remains there for the next eleven years.
A portal to the Keyblade Graveyard appears at [[Disney Castle]] at one point, and [[Sora]], [[Donald]], and [[Goofy]] enter it to find Terra's [[Lingering Will]]. It first mistakes Sora to be [[Riku]], and finally Master Xehanort, before attacking him in a great rage. Upon its defeat, the Lingering Will realizes it has attacked the wrong person, and respectfully acknowledges Sora as a [[Keyblade Master]].


After leaving Ventus in the [[Chamber of Waking]] and encountering a confused Terra-Xehanort at Radiant Garden, Aqua damages Terra-Xehanort enough for Terra's heart to temporarily take control and lock away both his and Xehanort's hearts, knocking his body out. Both Aqua and Xehanort fall into the Realm of Darkness. Aqua removes her armor, and instructs both it and her Keyblade to take Xehanort back through the closing portal to Radiant Garden. [[Dilan]] later discovers the unconscious Xehanort and Aqua's armor, and [[Ansem the Wise|Ansem]] instructs [[Braig]] to carry Xehanort, and Dilan to bring the armor back to the [[Hollow Bastion]].
Xemnas dons Xehanort's Keyblade Armor while attacking Sora and Riku atop his [[Game:Xemnas|Dragon Form]]. During this fight, Xemnas is also able to use the weapons of the recently destroyed members of [[Organization XIII]].
{{-}}


After Xehanort became [[Xemnas]], he placed Aqua's armor within the [[Chamber of Repose]], where he often went to speak to it.
===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===
[[File:Armor Clad in Darkness 01 KH3D.png|thumb|right|Despite the protection of Ventus's Keyblade Armor, Sora is trapped and possessed by darkness.]]
When [[Sora]]'s heart is damaged while fighting [[Xemnas]] and [[Young Xehanort]], it begins to fall into darkness. Ventus's heart, which rests within Sora's, summons Ventus's Keyblade Armor to shield Sora's heart from the darkness until it can be healed.  


===''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]''===
However, by the time Riku enters Sora's heart, the armor has itself become immersed in darkness, transforming it into a Nightmare which uses Sora's body and Keyblade along with Ventus's own fighting style. The armor is destroyed by Riku after a long, grueling battle, and his victory was the deciding factor in his being named a Keyblade Master by [[Yen Sid]].
[[File:Xion Final Form KHD.png|125px|thumb|right|Xion in her armor]]
When she fights [[Roxas]], [[Xion]] dons a suit of armor that combines motifs from the Keyblade Armor, the [[Nobody]] emblem, and Sora's own clothes. At times, the armor also has wings, extra arms, or trailing ribbons that draw from Sora's memories, and a set of "Keyblades" which do the same.
{{-}}
{{-}}


===''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''===
===''Kingdom Hearts III''===
<!--this section includes plot additions from KH2FM-->
Following the [[Replica Xehanort]]s's defeat, Master Xehanort absorbs their essence to create a new Keyblade Armor before fighting Sora, Donald, and Goofy. After an arduous battle, the trio is able to destroy the armor.
<!--rewrite with respect to BbS section


[[Xemnas]] came before Aqua's Armor and Keyblade, addressing it as his "friend", which was noticed by [[Xigbar]], who pointed this out to [[Zexion]].
After Sora rescues [[Kairi]], the Replica Xehanorts fuse into a copy of Xehanort's armor, but are repelled and destroyed by the [[Guardians of Light]].
-->
A portal to the Keyblade Graveyard appears at [[Disney Castle]] at one point, and [[Sora]], [[Donald Duck|Donald]], and [[Goofy]] enter it to find Terra's [[Lingering Will]]. It first mistakes Sora to be Aqua, then Ventus, then [[Riku]], and finally Master Xehanort, before attacking him in a great rage. Upon its defeat, the Lingering Will realizes it has attacked the wrong person, and respectfully acknowledges Sora as a [[Keyblade Master]].


Xemnas dons Xehanort's Keyblade Armor while attacking Sora and Riku atop the [[Game:Xemnas|World of Nothingness]]. During this fight, Xemnas is also able to use the weapons of the recently destroyed members of Organization XIII.
Shortly after Master Xehanort’s defeat, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus decide to venture into the Realm of Darkness to find Sora, donning their Keyblade Armor before they departed.{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind}}


==List of Armors==
==List of armors==
<gallery>
File:No Heart KHBBSFM.png|[[Xehanort]]'s original Keyblade Armor, later worn by [[Xemnas]].
File:Armor of Eraqus KHBBSFM.png|[[Eraqus]]'s Keyblade Armor.
File:Keyblade Armor (Bragi) KHDR.png|[[Bragi]]'s Keyblade Armor.
File:Keyblade Armor (Hermod) KHDR.png|[[Hermod]]'s Keyblade Armor.
File:Keyblade Armor (Urd) KHDR.png|[[Urd]]'s Keyblade Armor.
File:Keyblade Armor (Vor) KHDR.png|[[Vor]]'s Keyblade Armor.
File:Keyblade Armor (Terra) KHBBS.png|[[Terra]]'s Keyblade Armor, later possessed by his [[Lingering Will]].
File:Keyblade Armor (Ventus) KHBBS.png|[[Ventus]]'s Keyblade Armor, later worn by Sora.
File:Keyblade Armor (Aqua) KHBBS.png|[[Aqua]]'s Keyblade Armor.
File:Armored Ventus Nightmare KH3D.png|Ventus's Keyblade Armor worn by Sora and corrupted by a [[Armored Ventus Nightmare|Nightmare]].
File:Keyblade Armor (Xehanort) KHIII.png|Xehanort's second Keyblade Armor, later worn by the merged [[Replica Xehanort]]s.
</gallery>
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Armor of the Master KHBBSFM.png|[[Eraqus]]'s Keyblade Armor
File:Xion Final Form KHMOM.png|[[Xion]] in her armor.
File:No Heart KHBBSFM.png|[[Xehanort]]'s Keyblade Armor, later worn by Xemnas
File:Keyblade Armor (Terra) KHBBS.png|[[Terra]]'s Keyblade Armor, later possessed by his [[Lingering Will]]
File:Keyblade Armor (Ventus) KHBBS.png|[[Ventus]]'s Keyblade Armor
File:Keyblade Armor (Aqua) KHBBS.png|[[Aqua]]'s Keyblade Armor
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Gallery==
==Other appearances==
<!--I don't think we need these:
===''Kingdom Hearts χ''===
In ''Kingdom Hearts x[chi]'', the {{c|Player|khx}}s could earn a Keyblade Armor resembling their [[Union]]'s design during the third Anniversary event.


File:XemnasArmorArt.PNG|Artwork of Xehanort in his armor
File:Armored Terra Art.png|Artwork of Terra in his armor
File:Armored Ventus Art.png|Artwork of Ventus in his armor
File:Armored Aqua Art.png|Artwork of Aqua in her armor
-->
<!--rename:
"Keyblade Armor (X - Inactive) Artwork.png
-->
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:Terra Armor.png|Terra's armor as it appears when not in use
Unicornis Armor (Male) KHX.png|The male version of the Unicornis Armor.
File:Ventus Armor.png|Ventus's armor as it appears when not in use
Unicornis Armor (Female) KHX.png|The female version of the Unicornis Armor.
File:Aqua Armor.png|Aqua's armor as it appears when not in use
Anguis Armor (Male) KHX.png|The male version of the Anguis Armor.
Anguis Armor (Female) KHX.png|The female version of the Anguis Armor.
Leopardus Armor (Male) KHX.png|The male version of the Leopardus Armor.
Leopardus Armor (Female) KHX.png|The female version of the Leopardus Armor.
Vulpes Armor (Male) KHX.png|The male version of the Vulpes Armor.
Vulpes Armor (Female) KHX.png|The female version of the Vulpes Armor.
Ursus Armor (Male) KHX.png|The male version of the Ursus Armor.
Ursus Armor (Female) KHX.png|The female version of the Ursus Armor.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Notes and references==
==Notes and references==
{{reflist|1}}
{{reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 75: Line 102:
*[[Keyblade Glider]]
*[[Keyblade Glider]]
{{BBS}}
{{BBS}}
{{KH2}}
{{DDD}}
{{KH3}}
{{KHDR}}
[[es:Armadura de la Llave Espada]]
[[de:Schlüsselschwertrüstung]]
[[Category:Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]
[[Category:Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]

Latest revision as of 22:20, 14 April 2024

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Terra, Ventus, and Aqua in their suits of Keyblade Armor.

Keyblade Armor[1] ( Yoroi?, lit. "Armor") is a suit of armor worn by Keyblade wielders. It is introduced in Kingdom Hearts II worn by Xemnas. One of its most important qualities is that it protects the wearer from the darkness surrounding the Lanes Between, much like the black coat and the good fairies' garments.[2] However, it is also worn during battle, at the user's discretion.

Pieces of the armor usually appear as part of the user's normal clothing, such as their boots or belts. However, the armor's left pauldron is more important—by pressing it, the user activates the rest of the armor, which appears in a flash of light. Despite the fact that it usually appears and disappears magically, the armor can also be removed physically, as Terra-Xehanort did once he had gained control of Terra's body, and Aqua did to give Terra's body a vessel to take him out of the Realm of Darkness.

The armor can also act on its own to protect the user, should they be tossed to the Lanes Between unknowingly;[citation needed] Ventus was tossed to the Lanes by the Star Shard, Xehanort and the χ-Blade. In the third case, the armor is shown to repair the helmets immediately to provide air for the wearer.[citation needed] Despite its heavy appearance, the armor does not appear to impede movement in any way.

Development[edit]

In "The Gathering" and "Birth by Sleep", Terra, Ventus, and Aqua each have capes attached to their suits of Keyblade Armor, but these capes were removed in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep due to frame rate issues.[3] In Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX , during the final cutscene in Terra's story, the Lingering Will sprouts a cape, maintaining continuity between Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and later appearances such as Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts III. All three Keyblade wielders' armors are also seen with capes in Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind.

Tetsuya Nomura stated in an interview that he chose to use armor to hide Terra, Aqua, and Ventus's yet-to-be-designed faces to avoid using the black coats of Organization XIII again. Nomura's decision was also influenced by the recent release of Final Fantasy XII, which featured the armored Archadian Judge Magisters,[4] as well as an early, canceled project of his.[5]

In Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, at the Mirage Arena, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua can change the hues of their armor.

Story[edit]

Kingdom Hearts Dark Road[edit]

Master Odin teaches his students Xehanort, Eraqus, Vor, Urd, Bragi, and Hermod how to use their Keyblade Armor and Keyblade Gliders so they can travel between worlds and search for their seven missing upper classmates.

When traveling through the Corridors of Darkness, Xehanort decides to remove his Keyblade Armor, causing him to lose consciousness. Upon waking up, he is greeted by The Master of Masters, who explains that the black cloaks are far better at warding off darkness than the armor.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

Aqua, Terra, and Ventus summoning their Armor.

According to Xehanort's Report, Master Xehanort had once worn his Armor as instructed, but when he felt the darkness of the Ocean Between, he decided to embrace it, rather than avoiding it.

Terra, Ventus, and Aqua wear their Armor whenever they enter the Lanes Between, or when they land at the Mirage Arena. They also activate the armor when they are attacked by Xehanort at the Keyblade Graveyard.

When Terra defeats Master Xehanort in their final battle, the elderly Keyblade Master unlocks his own heart. Terra attempts to protect himself from Xehanort by quickly activating his armor, but Terra's darkness allows Xehanort to take control anyway. Terra's armor falls to the ground in pieces as the new, younger Terra-Xehanort walks off, but rises again as Terra's soul animates it. It creates the Will's Cage around the two, forcing Terra-Xehanort to turn and fight. It manages to knock out Terra-Xehanort, who is swallowed by the χ-blade's aura and transported to Radiant Garden. Its job done, it kneels down with its Ends of the Earth Keyblade in its hands, and remains there for the next eleven years.

After leaving Ventus in the Chamber of Waking and encountering a confused Terra-Xehanort at Radiant Garden, Aqua damages Terra-Xehanort enough for Terra's heart to temporarily take control and cause Master Xehanort to force Terra-Xehanort into stabbing himself with the No Name Keyblade, knocking his body out. Both Aqua and Xehanort fall into the Realm of Darkness. Aqua removes her armor, and instructs both it and her Rainfell Keyblade to take Xehanort back through the closing portal to Radiant Garden. Dilan later discovers the unconscious Xehanort and Aqua's armor, and Ansem the Wise instructs Braig to carry Xehanort, and Dilan to bring the armor back to the Hollow Bastion.

After Xehanort became Xemnas, he placed Aqua's armor within the Chamber of Repose, where he often went to speak to it. Xigbar eventually noticed Xemnas's conversations with Aqua's armor, and would bring it up to Zexion. Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days[edit]

When she fights Roxas, Xion dons a suit of armor that combines motifs from the Keyblade Armor, the Nobody emblem, and Sora's own clothes. At times, the armor also has wings, extra arms, or trailing ribbons that draw from Sora's memories, and a set of "Keyblades" which do the same.

Kingdom Hearts II[edit]

Xemnas donning Master Xehanort's Keyblade Armor
Xemnas donning Master Xehanort's Keyblade Armor during his battle against Sora and Riku.

During the Battle of the 1000 Heartless, Xemnas visits Aqua's armor and Keyblade, addressing it as his "friend." Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

A portal to the Keyblade Graveyard appears at Disney Castle at one point, and Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter it to find Terra's Lingering Will. It first mistakes Sora to be Riku, and finally Master Xehanort, before attacking him in a great rage. Upon its defeat, the Lingering Will realizes it has attacked the wrong person, and respectfully acknowledges Sora as a Keyblade Master.

Xemnas dons Xehanort's Keyblade Armor while attacking Sora and Riku atop his Dragon Form. During this fight, Xemnas is also able to use the weapons of the recently destroyed members of Organization XIII.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance[edit]

Despite the protection of Ventus's Keyblade Armor, Sora is trapped and possessed by darkness.

When Sora's heart is damaged while fighting Xemnas and Young Xehanort, it begins to fall into darkness. Ventus's heart, which rests within Sora's, summons Ventus's Keyblade Armor to shield Sora's heart from the darkness until it can be healed.

However, by the time Riku enters Sora's heart, the armor has itself become immersed in darkness, transforming it into a Nightmare which uses Sora's body and Keyblade along with Ventus's own fighting style. The armor is destroyed by Riku after a long, grueling battle, and his victory was the deciding factor in his being named a Keyblade Master by Yen Sid.

Kingdom Hearts III[edit]

Following the Replica Xehanorts's defeat, Master Xehanort absorbs their essence to create a new Keyblade Armor before fighting Sora, Donald, and Goofy. After an arduous battle, the trio is able to destroy the armor.

After Sora rescues Kairi, the Replica Xehanorts fuse into a copy of Xehanort's armor, but are repelled and destroyed by the Guardians of Light.

Shortly after Master Xehanort’s defeat, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus decide to venture into the Realm of Darkness to find Sora, donning their Keyblade Armor before they departed. Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

List of armors[edit]

Other appearances[edit]

Kingdom Hearts χ[edit]

In Kingdom Hearts x[chi], the Players could earn a Keyblade Armor resembling their Union's design during the third Anniversary event.

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Signature Series Guide, pg. 75: "In the final battle, Xehanort takes Terra's body, leaving you to fight from within your Keyblade Armor."
  2. ^ Xehanort's Report II: "Our Master instructed us to don armor while traveling between worlds, so that we might shield ourselves from the darkness. But there, in the Lanes Between, I could feel the force of it—the power—and from then on, I forwent my armor's "protection." I had been told the darkness would devour me, but what terrors could it possibly hold, so long as I found the strength to control it?"
  3. ^ Interviewer: " I was very surprised to hear that in VS Arena Mode you could play with six other people." / Tetsuya Nomura: "We wanted to make it so that as many people could play together as possible, but in the end we could only do six. By the way, in the Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix secret movie you can see Terra in his armor with a cape, but we took off the cape in this game. It was to make processing easier when you're playing with six people. Processing of moving fabric can be slow, so the speed it runs at is completely different if he has a cape or not." Translation via KHInsider
  4. ^ Weekly Famitsu, Interviewer: "Does that mean the players know of these people?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "I just haven't drawn their faces. (laugh) I can't hide their faces with black hoods like in KH:FM's secret movie, too. Who knows what kind of grudges I'll invite if I just change the hood's color. (laugh) That's why I chose armors. First, I only drew the atmosphere and the rest is done by the staff. But FF12 has Judge in armor, so I made a more heroic design for them." Translation via KHInsider.
  5. ^ Siliconera: Tetsuya Nomura's Batman Figurine Came From A Canceled Videogame Project

See also[edit]