Zantetsuken

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Terra using Zantetsuken in Dwarf Woodlands

Zantetsuken (ザンテツケン) is an ability which appears in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. It consists of holding the Keyblade tip-backwards, then performing a single powerful slash through the opponent's body so quickly that the cut doesn't appear until after the technique is finished. It is usually a ground combo finisher, and can defeat minor enemies in a single hit.

Mechanics

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

In Kingdom Hearts Final Mix it requires 2 AP to equip.

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

In Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix it is only available while using Limit Form, but when executed it instantly removes one Drive Bar.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, the damage it inflicts is sharply reduced, and instead it is able to break the opponent's card and render it unreloadable.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

In Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Zantetsuken is an Ultimate Attack Command that takes up one slot in the Command Deck, has a maximum level of 5, has a normal reload time of 20 seconds, and fills the Command Gauge by 40%.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

In Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, Zantetsuken is an Attack Command that has a memory consumption of 22% of memory and a reload time of 25 seconds.

Learning Zantetsuken

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

• Sora learns "Zantetsuken" after defeating the Kurt Zisa.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

+ + (0 or 27)

• Sora learns "Zantetsuken" starting at level 22.

Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories

+ + (0 or 27)

• Sora learns "Zantetsuken" starting at level 27.

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

• Limit Form has "Zantetsuken" as a default ability.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

• Terra can create Zantetsuken through Command Melding.
• Terra can purchase Zantetsuken from the Command Shop for 1700 munny once five worlds are cleared or the command has already been obtained elsewhere.
• Terra can purchase Zantetsuken from the Medal Shop in the Mirage Arena for 1000 medals.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

• Data-Sora can create Zantetsuken through Command Conversion.
• Data-Sora can obtain Zantetsuken as the ★ reward for defeating the Ice Titan at Critical difficulty.

Recipes

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Zantetsuken is an Ultimate-class Attack Command that can be melded through two different recipes, listed in the Giga Attack Recipe.

• The first recipe can only be melded by Terra and is a type B recipe that has a 20% chance of transforming into Ars Solum when Terra melds it.
  • Stopga (LV4) + Dark Haze (LV4)
• The second recipe can only be melded by Terra and is a type F recipe that has a 20% chance of transforming into Ars Solum when Terra melds it.
  • Stopga (LV4) + Sonic Blade (LV5)

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

Zantetsuken is an Attack Command that can be converted through one recipe.

• Judgment Triad + Gravity Drop

Other appearances

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

While wielding the Oathkeeper, Two Become One, or Dream Sword, the ground combo finisher is a Zantetsuken-like slash.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

Data-Sora's second ground finish is a Zantetsuken-like slash, and Keychains with Sonic Arts Overclock abilitiy will have Zantetsuken-like slash as their ground finish.

Etymology

In the Final Fantasy series, "Zantetsuken" (斬鉄剣, lit. "Iron-cutting Sword") is the signature technique of the summon Odin, and is sometimes mimicked by Gilgamesh. It typically inflicts Instant Death upon all enemies.

Trivia

• Zantetsuken is the only attack within the Kingdom Hearts series that uses romanized Japanese in the English versions of the games.