Summon
A Summon is a special character that can be magically called on to aid Sora in the Kingdom Hearts series. In terms of development, the main purpose of adding Summons was to add characters from Disney movies that weren't already represented by worlds. They have been present in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts II, although the mechanics differ from game to game. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is the first game in the series not to incorporate any form of summons.
Mechanics
Kingdom Hearts
The Summon menu in Kingdom Hearts is located within the Magic menu during battle. Each summon requires a specific amount of MP to be performed, and the summon lasts until its MP bar is fully consumed (or until the player dismissed it manually). In order to perform a summon, the player needs to have two friends in the battle with him, and they both must be conscious. This means that Sora cannot perform summons during battles he is fighting if he is alone or when one or both of his allies are knocked unconscious.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
In Chain of Memories, once Sora plays that specific summon's card, the summoned character will appear, perform one or more attacks/actions (depending on the amount of cards stocked) and immediately disappear.
Kingdom Hearts II
The Summon menu was given its own area in the Command Menu in Kingdom Hearts II because of the inclusion of a second menu that could be accessed during battle. In addition, Kingdom Hearts II summons no longer require MP to be summoned; they now use the Drive Gauge to count down their time instead, and again the player must have two friends in battle in order to perform a summon.
Leveling Up Summons
Summons in Kingdom Hearts II draw their power from a separate Summon Gauge (similar to the Drive Gauge), which can also be leveled up, allowing the Summon to remain with Sora for a longer period of time. One point of Experience is gained for every gauge expended while the Summon is on the field. A simple way to level up is by finding a safe place, call a Summon, and then wait as time whittles down the gauges before jumping into the Gummi Ship to reset the gauge to MAX.
However, a much faster way to level up the Summon Gauge is to call a Summon to the field, and then find enemies to fight. Closely watch the Summon Gauge, and attack enemies the moment the Gauge drops down a level. Each time you land an attack, the gauge will be boosted a little bit, so by constantly attacking to boost the gauge back up a level, it will drop back down again. Continue this method to boost the gauge back up a level each time you attack so it is then expended, and you'll acquire a point of Experience each time.
List of Summons
Kingdom Hearts
Simba
From the Earthshine Gem obtained from Leon during the second visit to Traverse Town.
Bambi
From the Naturespark Gem obtained after returning the first set of pages to Pooh's book.
Dumbo
From the Watergleam Gem found inside Monstro.
Tinker Bell
She joins the party after sealing Neverland's Keyhole.
Mushu
From the Fireglow Gem obtained after defeating Maleficent in her Dragon form.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
Simba
Leon gives Sora the Simba Card after he completes his tutorial.
Genie
Genie gives Sora the Genie Card after he completes the Agrabah floor.
Bambi
Sora obtains the Bambi Card after completing the 100 Acre Wood floor.
Dumbo
Sora obtains the Dumbo Card after he completes the Monstro floor.
Tinker Bell
Tinker Bell gives Sora her Tinker Bell Card after he completes the Neverland floor.
Mushu
The Mushu Card is located in a chest in the Key to Rewards Room on the Hollow Bastion floor.
Cloud
Cloud gives Sora the Cloud Card after he completes the Olympus Coliseum floor.
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Kingdom Hearts II
Chicken Little
Merlin gives Sora and co. the Baseball Charm after he tells them about Pooh's book.
Genie
Genie gives Sora the Lamp Charm after his first visit to Agrabah.
Stitch
The Ukulele Charm is placed in a chest in Ansem's Study during the second visit to Hollow Bastion. Its chest only appears after Sora and the others return from Space Paranoids to find the password to the dataspace.
Peter Pan
The Feather Charm is in a chest in the Ship Graveyard during the second visit to Port Royal.
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Trivia
- Peter Pan, Simba, Stitch, and Cloud are the only characters to appear as both Summons and Party Members.
- Dumbo, Bambi, and Chicken Little are the only summons whose worlds haven't been present in any games yet.
