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{{Game|BBS|FMB}}
{{Game|RCO|BBS|FMB|DDD|DHD}}
{{InfoCharacter
{{suite}}
{{Character
|name=Braig
|name=Braig
|image=[[File:Braig.png|200px]]
|image=[[File:Braig (Scarred) KHBBS.png|350x400px]]
|game=[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]
|katakana=ブライグ
|kana=ブライグ
|romaji=Buraigu
|romaji=''Buraigu''
|es=Braig
|world=[[Radiant Garden]]
|fr=Braig
|role=Apprentice<br>Antagonist
|type=Entelechy
|first=''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''
|charworld1=Radiant Garden
|engvoice=[[Wikipedia:James Patrick Stuart|James Patrick Stuart]]
|game1=Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
|japvoice=[[Wikipedia:Hochu Otsuka|Hochu Otsuka]]}}
|game2=Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
{{Q|For a Keyblade Master, you're not very - what's the word - good?|Braig}}
|enva=James Patrick Stuart
'''Braig''' is one of the six apprentices of [[Ansem the Wise]], and the original persona of [[Xigbar]]. He serves as a supporting antagonist in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''.
|java=Hōchū Ōtsuka
|journalBBS=A mysterious man who is up to something behind the scenes.<br><br>He and Master Xehanort have an understanding; Braig staged the Master's kidnapping to draw the darkness out of Terra, but that same darkness left Braig scarred.
|s1=Luxu
|s2=Brain
|s3=Bragi
|s4=Xigbar
|journalDDD=The human form of Xigbar, one of Organization XIII's members. He became a Nobody during a certain experiment.
}}
{{Q|Hey, it's okay. This is all connected to the ancient Keyblade War, isn't that right? Whatever. I got my hands full with my own plans. So, which poor soul will it be?|Braig playing dumb to Young Xehanort}}
'''Braig'''<ref>Braig's name is misspelled as "Bleig" in [[Secret Ansem's Report 3]] within the North American version of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', but was corrected to "Braig" in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix]]''.</ref> is a supporting antagonist in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]''. A vessel of the ancient [[Keyblade Master]] [[Luxu]], he is one of [[Ansem the Wise]]'s apprentices and the human form of [[Xigbar]].
 
==Story==
===Before ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''===
Having been instructed by his master to transfer his [[heart]] from one vessel to the next until the fated "Dark Master" appeared to reenact the [[Keyblade War]], Luxu's final role was to become an ally of this individual, [[Master Xehanort]], and aid in his plans in order to continue to observe the future. Luxu decides to pose as a braggart seeking the Keyblade, and chooses Braig as his final vessel.{{Storylink|Secret Report 13}}


==Journal Entry==
===''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''===
===''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''===
''A mysterious man who is up to something behind the scenes.''
As Braig, he served as an apprentice to [[Ansem the Wise]], the king of [[Radiant Garden]]. He engineered a "chance" encounter with Xehanort,<ref>'''''[[Secret Report 13]]''''', '''Unknown:''' "Until now, I have watched over the course of events from a distance. Perhaps the time has come to intervene. I need only play the role of a fool desirous of the Keyblade's power. I will don the mask of his ally in order to keep watch over my Keyblade from close by."</ref> in which the Keyblade Master agreed to make Braig a [[Keyblade wielder]] in exchange for assisting in his plans to create the [[χ-blade]], and later serving as one of Xehanort's thirteen [[Seekers of Darkness]].<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts III]]''''', '''Xigbar:''' "The old coot promised to [[Bequeathing|bequeath]] me his. Why else do you think I'd put up with all his nonsense?"</ref> As part of their bargain, Braig pretended to take Xehanort captive in order to cultivate [[Terra]]'s [[darkness]].


''He and Master Xehanort have an understanding; Braig staged the Master's kidnapping to draw the darkness out of Terra, but that same darkness left Braig scarred.''
[[File:A Shady Character 01 KHBBS.png|thumb|left|Braig explains Master Xehanort's capture to Terra.]]
Braig locates Terra after he separates from Aqua and Ventus, and leads the skeptical Terra toward the Purification Factory to show him Master Xehanort chained up, much to Terra's horror. Braig then engages Terra in a duel under the pretense of trying to take the boy's [[Keyblade]]. Terra is initially reluctant to fight back out of fear of succumbing to the darkness, but Xehanort goads him on by insinuating that Terra is shaming himself. Conceding to Xehanort's provocations, Terra fights back, in the process drawing on his darkness and scarring Braig. After Terra leaves, the bandaged Braig furiously attempts to gun down Xehanort for setting him up as "collateral damage", but Master Xehanort threatens him into backing down. Sometime later, Xehanort infuses a piece of his heart into Braig's.


==Story==
Braig later appears in the [[Keyblade Graveyard]], his body having adopted Master Xehanort's yellow eyes and pointed ears; his hair has also grayed somewhat, and he now has a patch over his eye. He appears in front of [[Aqua]] and [[Ventus]], who taunts them and attempts to turn them against Terra by bringing up [[Eraqus]]'s demise. After mocking the angry glare Ventus gives him, Braig is challenged by Aqua and defeated. Since he only needed to buy time for [[Vanitas]] to arrive, Braig promptly flees to Radiant Garden.
===''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep''===
{{Q|Oh, so this kiddo thinks he's a full-fledged Keyblade wielder? He's got the angry look down.|Braig to Ventus}}
Braig confronts [[Terra]] when he comes to [[Radiant Garden]], claiming to have captured [[Master Xehanort]]. Braig leads the skeptical Terra underneath Radiant Garden, where he shows Master Xehanort chained to a large pole, to Terra's horror. Braig then engages Terra in a duel, intent on eliminating him and taking his Keyblade. Terra is  reluctant to fight back out of fear of succumbing to the darkness and endangering Master Xehanort, until the latter screams for him to use the Keyblade and avoid shaming [[Master Eraqus]]. Terra fights back and eventually defeats Braig by using the power of darkness, in the process scarring Braig's face and permanently damaging his eye.


However, it later turns out that Braig was working with Master Xehanort. Angered greatly at the loss of his right eye and scarring on his face, Braig attempts to shoot Master Xehanort from behind, claiming that Xehanort said he wouldn't get hurt, but Master Xehanort threatens him into backing down and continuing with their plan to make Terra succumb to the darkness.  
[[File:Where the Heart Goes 03 KHBBS.png|thumb|Braig carries Terra-Xehanort, asking Dilan to take in the armor and [[Stormfall|Keyblade]].]]
Braig later discovers [[Terra-Xehanort]] and [[Aqua]] had fought in Radiant Garden, leading [[Dilan]] and Ansem to an amnesiac young man who resembles Terra, but with silver hair. The youth gives his name as "Xehanort", to Braig's delight. He asks Dilan to gather Aqua's discarded [[Keyblade Armor]] and [[Stormfall]] Keyblade as he carries Terra-Xehanort to the castle on Ansem's order.


He later appears in the [[Keyblade Graveyard]] having succumbed to the darkness himself, indicated by his remaining eye becoming yellow, and his ears becoming pointed. He appears in front of [[Aqua]] and [[Ventus]], attempting to get them to attack Terra and kill him for his role in the death of Eraqus, but they refuse to forsake their friend. After paying particular attention to and mocking the angry glare Ventus gives him, Aqua battles Braig for trying to turn them against their friend and defeats him. He begins to escape, and Aqua chases after him, but she realizes that she can't leave Ven in his fragile state alone, so she stops and allows Braig to return to Radiant Garden.
Braig later approaches the new Xehanort, now an apprentice under Ansem, and is dismayed to find that the new Xehanort does not recognize him, and Braig's attempts to help Xehanort remember to serve only to annoy him. At one point, Braig questions if this new Xehanort is actually Terra, but Xehanort still does not respond, much to Braig's relief. Nevertheless, Braig promises to look out for Xehanort.
{{-}}


Later, back at the Radiant Garden, Braig leads [[Dilan]] and Ansem to an amnesiac young [[Xehanort]], the result of Master Xehanort possessing Terra's body, and smiles discreetly but triumphantly to himself, relieved that his friend's plan worked.
===Between ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' and ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''===
After Ansem began performing tests on Xehanort's heart, Braig convinces the other apprentices to aid him and Xehanort in conducting inhumane experiments on the human heart and the darkness within it, in the attempt to remove one's sense of self, which would allow them to create vessels for Master Xehanort's heart. These experiments led to the mass release of [[Heartless]] into the [[Realm of Light]].{{Storylink|Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance}} Among the subjects was a girl dubbed "[[Subject X]]" with no memory of her past aside from the phrase "May your heart by your guiding key" and that she needed to meet five certain people again. Braig freed her for an unknown reason.{{Storylink|Secret Report 1}}<ref>'''''[[Secret Report 1]]''''': "One day, a man came to take me from the prison. I could not see him for the darkness, save that he wore an eyepatch."</ref><!-- leading Ansem to put an end to their experiments as he feared they caused the girl to vanish.{{?}} Xehanort, on the other hand, believed Ansem had found something in Subject X's memories and hid her away.{{Storylink|Kingdom Hearts III}}{{?}}--cite correct report---->


However, Braig later approaches the new Xehanort, now an apprentice under Ansem, and is dismayed to find that the new Xehanort does not recognize him, and Braig's attempts to help Xehanort remember prove only to annoy him. Braig, at one point, questions if this new Xehanort is actually Terra, but Xehanort still does not respond, much to Braig's relief. Braig nevertheless says in a friendly manner that he's got Xehanort's back.
[[File:My Name is Ansem 04 KH3D.png|thumb|left|After being stabbed by Xehanort, Braig falls to the ground and loses his heart.]]
Soon after, Braig, Xehanort, Dilan, [[Aeleus]], and [[Even]] banished Ansem the Wise to the [[Realm of Darkness]], {{Storylink|Secret Ansem Reports}} telling [[Ienzo]] that Ansem had gone mad and abandoned them. {{storylink|Kingdom Hearts III}} They continue their experiments in the meantime until Even and Ienzo are overcome by darkness in Ansem's computer room. Braig demands an explanation from Xehanort, who summons his [[No Name]] Keyblade and stabs Braig in the chest, removing his heart.{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance}} Not long afterward, Xehanort, taking the name "Ansem", gave his own heart over to darkness, becoming a Heartless and Nobody. Although his heart was removed and became a Heartless, Braig's strong will enabled his body to continue existing as the [[Nobody]] Xigbar. Under [[Xemnas]], Xehanort's Nobody, and Xigbar, the Nobodies of the six apprentices formed [[Organization XIII]].
{{-}}


===Between ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' and ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days''===
===''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded''===
Braig became one of six apprentices to Ansem the Wise, the ruler and scientist of Radiant Garden, alongside Dilan, [[Even]], [[Aeleus]], [[Ienzo]], and Xehanort. After Ansem began performing tests on Xehanort's heart, Braig convinces the other apprentices to aid him and Xehanort in conducting inhumane experiments on the human heart and the darkness within it. Such experimentation led to the mass creation of [[Heartless]]. Ansem quickly discovered their secret experiments, and immediately ordered them to stop. One day, after being advised to review their research data by [[Mickey Mouse|King Mickey]], Ansem found that the effects of their experiments had become irreversible.
[[File:Destiny 01 KHREC.png|thumb|Braig asks Young Xehanort which of the former Organization XIII members will become Master Xehanort's next vessel.]]
Following the destruction of Organization XIII and their Heartless counterparts, Braig, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo, Isa, and Lea are restored within [[Ansem's Study]]. Braig is awakened by a time-traveling [[Young Xehanort]] and realizes that he must become Xigbar again to continue Master Xehanort's plan. The two discuss the plan for a short period, then agree to bring Isa with them, as [[Saïx]].{{storylink|Destiny}}
 
===''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''===
When Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo, and [[Lea]], awaken in Radiant Garden, Braig's and [[Isa]]'s absence causes them to think the two have not returned, which prompts Lea to venture out to search for them.


Eventually, Braig and the other five apprentices dabbled too deep into darkness through their continued experiments. Braig, along with the others, was consumed by the darkness, producing a Heartless. However, the apprentices all had strong wills, and so a [[Nobody]] was also created, Xigbar. The six Nobodies formed [[Organization XIII]], and banished Ansem the Wise to the [[Realm of Nothingness]].
Later, Xigbar reveals Braig's pact with Xehanort to [[Sora]], as well as the fact that he himself is "already half-Xehanort."


==Appearance==
==Design==
Braig wears a guard's uniform with a dark slate grey jacket, silver highlights, and two rows of gold buttons on the front. He wears a black belt and white gloves adorned with a silver, curled heart symbol. His jacket bears some resemblance to Xigbar's [[Black Coat|black coat]], sporting the same pointed shoulders. He also wears black, knee-high boots and a tattered, red scarf. In terms of facial features, Braig sports brown eyes, though they turn gold upon his acceptance of the darkness, upturned eyebrows, and dark, shoulder-length hair that he wears slicked back. After his fight against Terra, he loses his right eye eye and receives a jagged scar over his left cheek, making him and Master Eraqus the only two characters that are seen receiving scars during the story. Once he is able to take the bandages off, Braig wears an eyepatch to cover his lost eye.
Braig wears a guard's uniform with a dark slate grey jacket, silver highlights, and two rows of gold buttons on the front. He wears a black belt and white gloves adorned with a silver, curled heart symbol. His jacket bears some resemblance to Xigbar's [[black coat]], sporting the same pointed shoulders. He also wears black, knee-high boots and a tattered, red scarf. In terms of facial features, Braig sports brown eyes, though they turn to gold upon his acceptance of a piece of Master Xehanort's heart, upturned eyebrows, and dark, shoulder-length hair that he wears slicked back. After his fight against Terra, he loses his right eye and receives a jagged scar over his left cheek, making him and Master Eraqus the only two characters that are seen receiving scars during the story. After he takes the bandages off, Braig wears an eyepatch to cover his lost eye. Braig's ears also gain noticeable points after he accepts a piece of Master Xehanort's heart.


Braig wields two Arrowguns shaped like crossbows. They are colored in shades of silver and a faded, metallic purple and adorned with the same curled heart symbol as his gloves.
Braig wields two Arrowguns shaped like crossbows. They are colored in shades of silver and a faded, metallic purple and adorned with the same curled heart symbol as his gloves.


==Personality==
==Personality==
Since Braig is the original persona of Xigbar, he possesses some of Xigbar's personality. He is shown to have a laid-back, cocky attitude, doesn't often take things seriously, and often quips "As if." Braig can also be cold and merciless at times, seen once when he kidnaps Master Xehanort and tries to eliminate Terra for his Keyblade (although this was later revealed to be staged by Master Xehanort), and again when he tries to destroy Aqua and Ventus to get Terra to fall to darkness and cruelly asking who wants to go first. He often refers to Master Xehanort as an "old coot".
Since Braig is the original persona of Xigbar, he possesses most of Xigbar's personality. He is shown to have a laidback, cocky attitude, and he often does not take things seriously. Braig often refers to Master Xehanort as an "old coot" and, like Xigbar, punctuates his sentences with, "As if." Braig appears to be cruel and sadistic at times, as seen when he nonchalantly approaches Aqua and Ventus and asks which one of them wants to be destroyed first. He is a skilled manipulator, easily goading Terra into fighting him and successfully stalling for time in his battle with Aqua.
 
Braig has a deep fascination with the Keyblade and his desire to possess one of his own is what led him to join Master Xehanort in the first place. Ultimately, he allowed Master Xehanort to begin transforming him into one of his twelve vessels just to gain the ability to wield a Keyblade, even at the eventual cost of his individuality. Though normally loyal to Xehanort, Braig attempted to attack the old man after his fight with Terra, angry that he had been hurt despite Xehanort's guarantee to the contrary.


==Fighting Style==
Braig's infatuation with the Keyblade is simply a cover used to join Master Xehanort and serve as his right-hand. With no knowledge of the future or the true extent of Xehanort's plans, Braig follows his master's orders loyally by assisting Xehanort when both serve as Ansem the Wise's apprentices, becoming a Nobody in the process, and aids the villain in recreating the Keyblade War and completing Kingdom Hearts.
{{Q|You better start running!|Braig, during his battle with Terra}}
{{Main|Braig (Boss)}}
Braig, like his Nobody Xigbar, wields twin Arrowguns in battle, using them to fire a variety of quick shots. He uses a telescopic view in battle and is able to walk upside-down via space distortion. Like his Nobody's, Braig's HUD display has a silhouette of his Arrowguns in each of the four cardinal directions. The shots Braig fires when he is sniping are violet like Xigbar's, but they seem to have explosive properties to them. He can also combine his two weapons into one in order to fire powerful shots in rapid succession.


When ''Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep'' was released in America, his targeting reticule was changed drastically, much like his [[Nobody]], [[Xigbar]]. Instead of the reticule used when fighting [[Terra]] (which resembled a sniper rifle scope), the American version simply showed three violet dots, vaguely showing Braig's aim.
The end of ''Kingdom Hearts III'', however, reveals that as a vessel of Luxu, Braig and Xigbar's personality is an entire ruse Luxu made up in order to get close to Master Xehanort.


[[Image:Braig gun comparison.jpg|200px|bottom|thumb|The Japanese release on the left, English on the right.]]
==Abilities==
{{Q|You better start running!|Braig, during his battle with Terra}}
[[File:Braig Battle 01 KHBBS.png|200px|bottom|thumb|The Japanese release on the left, English on the right.]]
Like Xigbar, Braig wields twin [[Arrowgun]]s in battle, using them to fire a variety of quick shots. He uses a telescopic view in battle and is able to teleport, warp his bullets, and levitate upside-down via space distortion. As with Xigbar, in the original Japanese release of ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', Braig's HUD display has a silhouette of his Arrowguns in each of the four cardinal directions, which is drastically altered in the Western release and ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix]]'' to show three violet dots vaguely showing Braig's aim. The shots Braig fires when he is sniping are violet like Xigbar's, but they seem to have explosive properties to them. He can also combine his two weapons into one in order to fire powerful shots in rapid succession. Braig is also very agile, able to make high leaps into the air, and quickly run around opponents while leaving after-images of himself.


==Quotes==
*''"The old coot knows how to take punishment. Just like I know how to deal it out."''<br>
*''"If I heard the old guy right, you're what they call "Keyblade Master" material. So if I defeat you, that makes me the real "Keyslinger", if you catch my drift. Not the most polite way to go about it... but what can ya do?"''<br>
*''"I didn't sign up to be collateral damage! No way, as if!"''<br>
*''"I mean, what's a little scratch on my face. All things considered. I'm just glad he didn't steal my heart like Princess Whatever-It-Was. That'd ruin my week for sure."''<br>
*''"You two think you've got some grand role to play. As if. You're only here so that when I finish you off, Terra will succumb to the darkness. So, who wants to go first?"''<br>
*''"I keep forgetting, don't mess with Keyblade wielders. but you know what. That just proves I made the right choice."''
{{-}}
{{-}}
<center><gallery>
File:Braig's Arrowgun.png|One of Braig's Arrowguns
</gallery></center>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Braig_concept_art.png|Official Artwork of Braig from the ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania''.
File:Braig KHBBS.png|Braig as he appeared prior to getting scarred.
Image:Braig_Patch.png|Render of Braig with his scar and eyepatch.
Image:Braig4.jpg|Braig's telescopic view during his battle against Terra in the Japanese version.
Image:Vs. Braig.jpg|Braig walking upside-down during his battle with Terra.
Image:Braig_and_MX.png|Braig threatened by Master Xehanort.
Image:Braigs Bandages.png|Braig in bandages.
Image:Braig Scar Patch.jpg|Braig comments on Ventus's glare.
Image:Braig_Xehanort.png|Braig wonders if Xehanort is Terra.
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Trivia==
==Notes and references==
*Braig is briefly mentioned in the [[Ansem Reports|Secret Ansem Reports]] in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]''. In the North American release, his name was mistranslated as "Bleig".
{{reflist}}
*Much like Xigbar in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Braig's telescopic view from his "sniper rifle" in his fight against Terra is changed for the North American and European versions.
*When turning to his telescopic view, Braig combines his Arrowguns to what looks like a rifle in the Japanese release. However, this ability was removed in the English release.
*Along with Aeleus, Braig is the only Pre-Organization XIII member to appear that never have their name spoken in a cutscene.
 
==See also==
*[[Xigbar]]
[[fr:Braig]]


{{Coded}}
{{BBS}}
{{BBS}}
[[Category:Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep characters]]
{{DDD}}
[[Category:Original characters]]
[[Category:Antagonists]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Hollow Bastion/Radiant Garden]]
[[Category:Somebody]]

Latest revision as of 22:39, 4 September 2024

Braig

Braig with his eyepatch in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'

Japanese ブライグ
Rōmaji Buraigu
Voice actors (Ja:) Hōchū Ōtsuka
(En:) James Patrick Stuart
Homeworld Radiant Garden
Games Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Variations
Luxu
Brain
Bragi
Xigbar
Braig

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
A mysterious man who is up to something behind the scenes.

He and Master Xehanort have an understanding; Braig staged the Master's kidnapping to draw the darkness out of Terra, but that same darkness left Braig scarred.
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
The human form of Xigbar, one of Organization XIII's members. He became a Nobody during a certain experiment.
"Hey, it's okay. This is all connected to the ancient Keyblade War, isn't that right? Whatever. I got my hands full with my own plans. So, which poor soul will it be?"
—Braig playing dumb to Young Xehanort

Braig[1] is a supporting antagonist in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. A vessel of the ancient Keyblade Master Luxu, he is one of Ansem the Wise's apprentices and the human form of Xigbar.

Story[edit]

Before Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

Having been instructed by his master to transfer his heart from one vessel to the next until the fated "Dark Master" appeared to reenact the Keyblade War, Luxu's final role was to become an ally of this individual, Master Xehanort, and aid in his plans in order to continue to observe the future. Luxu decides to pose as a braggart seeking the Keyblade, and chooses Braig as his final vessel. Secret Report 13

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

As Braig, he served as an apprentice to Ansem the Wise, the king of Radiant Garden. He engineered a "chance" encounter with Xehanort,[2] in which the Keyblade Master agreed to make Braig a Keyblade wielder in exchange for assisting in his plans to create the χ-blade, and later serving as one of Xehanort's thirteen Seekers of Darkness.[3] As part of their bargain, Braig pretended to take Xehanort captive in order to cultivate Terra's darkness.

Braig explains Master Xehanort's capture to Terra.

Braig locates Terra after he separates from Aqua and Ventus, and leads the skeptical Terra toward the Purification Factory to show him Master Xehanort chained up, much to Terra's horror. Braig then engages Terra in a duel under the pretense of trying to take the boy's Keyblade. Terra is initially reluctant to fight back out of fear of succumbing to the darkness, but Xehanort goads him on by insinuating that Terra is shaming himself. Conceding to Xehanort's provocations, Terra fights back, in the process drawing on his darkness and scarring Braig. After Terra leaves, the bandaged Braig furiously attempts to gun down Xehanort for setting him up as "collateral damage", but Master Xehanort threatens him into backing down. Sometime later, Xehanort infuses a piece of his heart into Braig's.

Braig later appears in the Keyblade Graveyard, his body having adopted Master Xehanort's yellow eyes and pointed ears; his hair has also grayed somewhat, and he now has a patch over his eye. He appears in front of Aqua and Ventus, who taunts them and attempts to turn them against Terra by bringing up Eraqus's demise. After mocking the angry glare Ventus gives him, Braig is challenged by Aqua and defeated. Since he only needed to buy time for Vanitas to arrive, Braig promptly flees to Radiant Garden.

Braig carries Terra-Xehanort, asking Dilan to take in the armor and Keyblade.

Braig later discovers Terra-Xehanort and Aqua had fought in Radiant Garden, leading Dilan and Ansem to an amnesiac young man who resembles Terra, but with silver hair. The youth gives his name as "Xehanort", to Braig's delight. He asks Dilan to gather Aqua's discarded Keyblade Armor and Stormfall Keyblade as he carries Terra-Xehanort to the castle on Ansem's order.

Braig later approaches the new Xehanort, now an apprentice under Ansem, and is dismayed to find that the new Xehanort does not recognize him, and Braig's attempts to help Xehanort remember to serve only to annoy him. At one point, Braig questions if this new Xehanort is actually Terra, but Xehanort still does not respond, much to Braig's relief. Nevertheless, Braig promises to look out for Xehanort.

Between Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days[edit]

After Ansem began performing tests on Xehanort's heart, Braig convinces the other apprentices to aid him and Xehanort in conducting inhumane experiments on the human heart and the darkness within it, in the attempt to remove one's sense of self, which would allow them to create vessels for Master Xehanort's heart. These experiments led to the mass release of Heartless into the Realm of Light. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Among the subjects was a girl dubbed "Subject X" with no memory of her past aside from the phrase "May your heart by your guiding key" and that she needed to meet five certain people again. Braig freed her for an unknown reason. Secret Report 1[4]

After being stabbed by Xehanort, Braig falls to the ground and loses his heart.

Soon after, Braig, Xehanort, Dilan, Aeleus, and Even banished Ansem the Wise to the Realm of Darkness, Secret Ansem Reports telling Ienzo that Ansem had gone mad and abandoned them. Kingdom Hearts III They continue their experiments in the meantime until Even and Ienzo are overcome by darkness in Ansem's computer room. Braig demands an explanation from Xehanort, who summons his No Name Keyblade and stabs Braig in the chest, removing his heart. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Not long afterward, Xehanort, taking the name "Ansem", gave his own heart over to darkness, becoming a Heartless and Nobody. Although his heart was removed and became a Heartless, Braig's strong will enabled his body to continue existing as the Nobody Xigbar. Under Xemnas, Xehanort's Nobody, and Xigbar, the Nobodies of the six apprentices formed Organization XIII.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded[edit]

A screenshot from the cutscene "Destiny."
Braig asks Young Xehanort which of the former Organization XIII members will become Master Xehanort's next vessel.

Following the destruction of Organization XIII and their Heartless counterparts, Braig, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo, Isa, and Lea are restored within Ansem's Study. Braig is awakened by a time-traveling Young Xehanort and realizes that he must become Xigbar again to continue Master Xehanort's plan. The two discuss the plan for a short period, then agree to bring Isa with them, as Saïx. Destiny

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance[edit]

When Dilan, Even, Aeleus, Ienzo, and Lea, awaken in Radiant Garden, Braig's and Isa's absence causes them to think the two have not returned, which prompts Lea to venture out to search for them.

Later, Xigbar reveals Braig's pact with Xehanort to Sora, as well as the fact that he himself is "already half-Xehanort."

Design[edit]

Braig wears a guard's uniform with a dark slate grey jacket, silver highlights, and two rows of gold buttons on the front. He wears a black belt and white gloves adorned with a silver, curled heart symbol. His jacket bears some resemblance to Xigbar's black coat, sporting the same pointed shoulders. He also wears black, knee-high boots and a tattered, red scarf. In terms of facial features, Braig sports brown eyes, though they turn to gold upon his acceptance of a piece of Master Xehanort's heart, upturned eyebrows, and dark, shoulder-length hair that he wears slicked back. After his fight against Terra, he loses his right eye and receives a jagged scar over his left cheek, making him and Master Eraqus the only two characters that are seen receiving scars during the story. After he takes the bandages off, Braig wears an eyepatch to cover his lost eye. Braig's ears also gain noticeable points after he accepts a piece of Master Xehanort's heart.

Braig wields two Arrowguns shaped like crossbows. They are colored in shades of silver and a faded, metallic purple and adorned with the same curled heart symbol as his gloves.

Personality[edit]

Since Braig is the original persona of Xigbar, he possesses most of Xigbar's personality. He is shown to have a laidback, cocky attitude, and he often does not take things seriously. Braig often refers to Master Xehanort as an "old coot" and, like Xigbar, punctuates his sentences with, "As if." Braig appears to be cruel and sadistic at times, as seen when he nonchalantly approaches Aqua and Ventus and asks which one of them wants to be destroyed first. He is a skilled manipulator, easily goading Terra into fighting him and successfully stalling for time in his battle with Aqua.

Braig has a deep fascination with the Keyblade and his desire to possess one of his own is what led him to join Master Xehanort in the first place. Ultimately, he allowed Master Xehanort to begin transforming him into one of his twelve vessels just to gain the ability to wield a Keyblade, even at the eventual cost of his individuality. Though normally loyal to Xehanort, Braig attempted to attack the old man after his fight with Terra, angry that he had been hurt despite Xehanort's guarantee to the contrary.

Braig's infatuation with the Keyblade is simply a cover used to join Master Xehanort and serve as his right-hand. With no knowledge of the future or the true extent of Xehanort's plans, Braig follows his master's orders loyally by assisting Xehanort when both serve as Ansem the Wise's apprentices, becoming a Nobody in the process, and aids the villain in recreating the Keyblade War and completing Kingdom Hearts.

The end of Kingdom Hearts III, however, reveals that as a vessel of Luxu, Braig and Xigbar's personality is an entire ruse Luxu made up in order to get close to Master Xehanort.

Abilities[edit]

"You better start running!"
—Braig, during his battle with Terra
The Japanese release on the left, English on the right.

Like Xigbar, Braig wields twin Arrowguns in battle, using them to fire a variety of quick shots. He uses a telescopic view in battle and is able to teleport, warp his bullets, and levitate upside-down via space distortion. As with Xigbar, in the original Japanese release of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Braig's HUD display has a silhouette of his Arrowguns in each of the four cardinal directions, which is drastically altered in the Western release and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix to show three violet dots vaguely showing Braig's aim. The shots Braig fires when he is sniping are violet like Xigbar's, but they seem to have explosive properties to them. He can also combine his two weapons into one in order to fire powerful shots in rapid succession. Braig is also very agile, able to make high leaps into the air, and quickly run around opponents while leaving after-images of himself.

Gallery[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ Braig's name is misspelled as "Bleig" in Secret Ansem's Report 3 within the North American version of Kingdom Hearts II, but was corrected to "Braig" in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.
  2. ^ Secret Report 13, Unknown: "Until now, I have watched over the course of events from a distance. Perhaps the time has come to intervene. I need only play the role of a fool desirous of the Keyblade's power. I will don the mask of his ally in order to keep watch over my Keyblade from close by."
  3. ^ Kingdom Hearts III, Xigbar: "The old coot promised to bequeath me his. Why else do you think I'd put up with all his nonsense?"
  4. ^ Secret Report 1: "One day, a man came to take me from the prison. I could not see him for the darkness, save that he wore an eyepatch."