Dark Aura

Dark Aura (ダークオーラ, Dāku Ōra)
Rush enemies repeatedly with blade in hand. Only available in Dark Mode.[KH CoM] Rush enemies repeatedly with blade in hand. Finish off by stabbing Soul Eater into the ground for a column of light that confuses the enemy. Only available in Dark Mode.[KH Re:CoM]
Element	Power	Card Combination	Enemy Card Boost
Neutral	x5.0 per hit[KH CoM] Light pillars: x3.0[KH CoM] x3.0 per hit[KH Re:CoM] Shockwave: x5.0[KH Re:CoM]	+ + (27) Dark Mode only	—

Dark Aura (ダークオーラ, Dāku Ōra)
Stops enemy movements with dark magic spells as commanded when Sora's combo is about to end. MP Cost: 10
Attack	Element	Power	Drive Value	Deflect	Finishing Blow
Dark Aura	Physical	x0.25	—	X	X
AP Cost		2	MP Cost		0

Dark Aura (ダークオーラ, Dāku Ōra)
Multi-rush the enemy, then drive your Keyblade into the ground to make a shockwave.
Attack	Element		Power	Reaction Value	Status		Guard?
Rush	Dark		0.4	1	—		▲
Dive attack	Dark		4.8	3	—		▲
Pillars of darkness	Dark		1.2	2	—		▲
Reload Speed				Dream Eater Bonus
42 seconds				Strength +4, Dark Resistance +10
Buy		Bargain		Sell		Shop LV
—		—		1000		—

Dark Aura (ダークオーラ, Dāku Ōra)
Attributes		Target	Gauge Cost	Damage
Speed	Reversed	All	3	7★: x7.55 SN++: x19.10 - 21.97
7★: Deals 6 hits. 1 turn: ↑ R-STR by 3, STR & DEF by 1. SN++: Deals 6 hits. 1 turn: Medal STR +10000, self [↑ STR, R- & PSM-STR 15], targets [↓ DEF, R- & PSM-DEF 15], SP ATK B +220%. Count ±0. Critical hit chance: 50%.

Dark Rush (ダークオーラ, Dāku Ōra, lit. "Dark Aura")
Attributes		Target	Gauge Cost	Damage
Speed	Reversed	All	4	7★: x7.76 - 8.94
7★: Deals 8 hits. 2 turns: ↑ R-STR by 3, ↓ targets' DEF by 1. Inflicts more damage the higher the slot number.

Dark Aura, also translated as Dark Rush in Kingdom Hearts Union χ, is technique introduced in Kingdom Hearts. It is a signature move of Riku, and it appears repeatedly throughout the Kingdom Hearts series. It typically allows the user to rush enemies repeatedly from all directions, finishing by plunging their weapon into the ground, releasing columns of energy radially. The attack often deals dark damage.

There is a variation of Dark Aura exclusive to Kingdom Hearts II in which Riku launches spheres of dark flame at the opponent, a technique similar to Dark Firaga.

Mechanics

In Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, Dark Aura is an attack sleight that Riku can use while in Dark Mode. When used, Riku performs 6 rush attacks at the enemy before following with a groundward attack that generates pillars of light and a shockwave. The columns of light that conclude the attack may confuse enemies when hit.

In Kingdom Hearts II, Dark Aura is an action ability exclusive to Riku. It allows Riku to fire spheres of dark flame that can stop enemies on contact, and is performed by pressing to use the Dark Aura Reaction Command after Sora reaches the end of an attack combo. It costs two AP to equip and ten MP to use. While playing as Riku in the final battle with Xemnas during his Bind Attack, Dark Aura can be used by pressing .

In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Dark Aura is an attack command exclusive to Riku that uses two slots and has a reload time of 42 seconds. It grants +4 to Strength and +10 to Dark Resistance when attached to a Dream Eater recipe. When used, Riku performs 8 rush attacks at an enemy that is targetted the moment the command is used, before following with a groundward attack that generates pillars of darkness in a sphere around the dive impact.

In Kingdom Hearts Union χ, Dark Aura is a special attack that targets all enemies. It costs 3 special attack gauges to perform, 0 gauges for Dark Aura +5 in the English version. Dark Aura +7 ignores enemy counters, and has a 50% chance to deal critical damage.

Special attack	Rarity	Base	•	••	•••	••••	•••••		Hits
Dark Aura +5	6★	x1.70	x1.74	x1.78	x1.82	x1.86	x1.90		6
Dark Aura +6	7★	—	—	—	—	—	x7.55		6
Dark Aura +7	SN++	—	—	—	—	—	x19.10 - 21.97		6

Special attack	Player Buff			Target Debuff		Duration
	+5	+6	+7	+5-6	+7
Dark Aura	+1	+1  +3  +1	+10000  +15  +15  +15  +15  +15  +220%	—	-15  -15  -15  -15  -15	1 turn

Special attack	Rarity	Base	•	••	•••	••••	•••••		Hits
Dark Aura +5	6★	x1.39	x1.59	x1.79	x1.99	x2.19	x2.39		6
Dark Aura +6	7★	—	—	—	—	—	x7.55		6
Dark Aura +7	SN++	—	—	—	—	—	x19.10 - 21.97		6

Special attack	Player Buff			Target Debuff		Duration
	+5	+6	+7	+5-6	+7
Dark Aura	+1  +1	+1  +3  +1	+10000  +15  +15  +15  +15  +15  +220%	—	-15  -15  -15  -15  -15	1 turn

Dark Rush is a special attack that targets all enemies. It costs 4 special attack gauges to perform. It inflicts more damage the higher the slot number.

Special attack	Rarity	Base	•	••	•••	••••	•••••		Hits
Dark Rush +5	6★	x2.10 - 3.28	x2.20 - 3.38	x2.30 - 3.48	x2.40 - 3.58	x2.50 - 3.68	x2.60 - 3.78		8
Dark Rush +6	7★	—	—	—	—	—	x7.76 - 8.94		8

Special attack	Player Buff		Target Debuff	Duration
	+5	+6	+5-6
Dark Rush	—	+3	-1	2 turns

Learning Dark Aura

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories

• Riku learns Dark Aura once he obtains the ability to enter Dark Mode.

Kingdom Hearts II

• Riku has Dark Aura as a default ability.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

• Sora and Riku can purchase Dark Aura from the Ghostabocky Ability Link for 400 Link Points.
• Sora and Riku can purchase Dark Aura from the Keeba Tiger Ability Link for 400 Link Points.

Kingdom Hearts Union χ

• Dark Aura +5 is the special attack of medal 450: Roxas & Axel & Xion.
• Dark Aura +6 is the special attack of medal 1129: Roxas & Axel & Xion.
• Dark Aura +7 is the special attack of medal 1129: SN++ - Roxas & Pals.
• Dark Rush +5 is the special attack of medal 657: Dark Riku.
• Dark Rush +6 is the special attack of medal 1257: Dark Riku.

Other appearances

Riku is fought several times as a boss throughout the Kingdom Hearts series. Dark Aura serves as one of his desperation attacks in each of these encounters.

Kingdom Hearts

Initially, Riku could only use Dark Aura while under Ansem's influence.

When Sora faces Riku for the second time while Riku is under the possession of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness in Hollow Bastion, Dark Aura serves as Riku's strongest attack. It is used when he is low on HP and his hand is glowing in a sphere of dark energy.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories

+ +

The Riku Replica can utilize Dark Aura as a Sleight during his final battles in Sora's story and Reverse/Rebirth. Unlike Riku, who needs a card value of 27 to execute Dark Aura, the Riku Replica can use it with any value.

The finisher of the Riku Replica's version of Dark Aura has about two times the range of the real Riku's.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

During his battle with Roxas in The World That Never Was, Riku is able to use Dark Aura once he charges the Oblivion Keyblade. Rather than attacking while teleporting over the whole arena, Riku simply attacks Roxas's position. In Mission Mode, Anti-Riku can use Dark Aura as well.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

Data-Riku during his third phase and Data-Riku (Bugged) can use Dark Aura.

Trivia

• In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, if Riku is caught in a Kooma Panda's Tea Table Flip during the initial start-up of Dark Aura, a glitch will occur that causes him to pass through the floor and remain in the animation until the either the player resets the game or the Drop Gauge gets fully depleted. The same glitch occurs if Riku tries to use Dark Aura on a Cera Terror.

See also

• Dark Firaga
• Ghost Drive