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Dark Riku

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This article is about the seeker of darkness.
You may be looking for Riku Replica.
Dark Riku

Dark Riku (Black Coat)

Japanese ダーク・リク
Rōmaji Dāku Riku

Type Replica
Voice actors (Ja:) Mamoru Miyano
(En:) David Gallagher
Games Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
Kingdom Hearts III
Dark Riku

Kingdom Hearts III
A member of the real Organization XIII.

He looks exactly like Riku, except a year younger, and he wears the Organization's black coat.
Location HP Strength Defense EXP
Keyblade Graveyard 1800 59 30 0
Physical Fire Blizzard Thunder Water
×1.0 ×1.0 ×1.0 ×1.0 ×1.0
Aero Dark Neutral Rapid-fire
×1.0 ×0.2 ×1.0 ×0.5
Freeze Electrify Stun Hunny
Reaction
Endurance
Revenge
Value
Attraction
Magnification
Damage
Limit
0 6.5 ×0.5 24

Rewards
Sora: Max MP +5[1]
World(s)
Keyblade Graveyard
"You're not... real... I'm... the real one..."
—Dark Riku to Riku

Dark Riku is Riku Replica's time-traveling heart in a new, replica body, and was originally believed to be the real Riku from back when he was possessed by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. He is a member of the real Organization XIII, infused with a fragment of Xehanort's heart. After Dark Riku is defeated in Keyblade Graveyard, his body is used to resurrect Naminé.

Story

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

Riku Replica's heart is brought from the past and placed in a new vessel to serve as a member of the Real Organization XIII as "Dark Riku". Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

Prior to receiving a fragment of Master Xehanort's heart, Dark Riku is sent to Prankster's Paradise to unnerve Riku by recreating his kidnapping of Pinocchio. When caught, Dark Riku reveals himself and silently leaves via a corridor of darkness; his appearance prompts Riku to recall the original Riku Replica.

Later, Dark Riku joins the other members of the real Organization XIII in Where Nothing Gathers at The World That Never Was. His time soon runs out after the Organization's attempt to induct Sora is stymied, however, and he is returned to his proper place in history.

Kingdom Hearts III

Riku fights Dark Riku
Dark Riku fights Riku.

In San Fransokyo, Dark Riku conducts an experiment to see if a heart can be recreated from data. He uses a chip designed by Hiro Hamada to forge a heart born from conflict, and with it, he is able to unleash Dark Baymax upon Sora and company.

At the Keyblade Graveyard, Dark Riku confronts the seven Guardians of Light and demonstrates his superior strength for them after mocking the real Riku. Dark Riku is ultimately defeated after a clash with Sora; his heart is extracted by the current version of himself who had been coexisting within Riku's heart, Riku Replica, leaving behind an empty replica vessel. The vessel is then collected by Demyx, who takes it to Radiant Garden. Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

After Master Xehanort's defeat, the empty vessel is used to give Naminé a body.

Design

Dark Riku is a replica of the real Riku's younger self, and is thus physically identical to him. His eyes are initially aquamarine, later turning yellow after Xehanort places his heart inside him. Dark Riku primarily wears a black coat, entering Dark Mode to challenge the seven guardians of light.

Forms

Personality

As in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, this version of the Riku Replica considers himself to be the "real" Riku, superior to the actual one in every way. He acts just as his counterpart did when possessed by Ansem: arrogant, cruel, and remorseless. For much of Kingdom Hearts III, Dark Riku allows Sora and his friends to believe he is the real Riku's possessed self from the past.

Abilities

Like his other self, Dark Riku has all the real Riku's powers. He fully embraces the darkness in battle, and he wields a version of the Soul Eater. With the fragment of Xehanort's heart within him, Dark Riku's powers are stronger than his other self; able to manifest darkness in the shape of Xehanort and summon Heartless and Nobodies from it.

He is also able to manipulate darkness into temporary shapes, mimicking the damaging crystals used by Xemnas and the homing darkness claw used by Anti Black Coat

Dark Riku is also capable of using Dark Corridors to reach alternate dimensions outside the three main realms, being able to retrieve the original Baymax. Shown to be good with mixing magic with technology, Dark Riku attempts to craft an artificial heart using Baymax's old combat chip by imbuing it with negative emotions from the victims the Heartless attack and the positive emotions from having the Darkubes fight Sora.

Strategy

Kingdom Hearts III

Dark Riku is fought as one of the bosses at the Keyblade Graveyard, fought alongside Xigbar. Sora has Riku as an ally during this fight.

Dark Riku's fighting style is much like the Riku Replica's. He often attacks with multiple combos: either generating a sword beam from his Soul Eater before lunging forward, or a devastating three-hit combo that generates shockwaves in its wake. Much like Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, Dark Riku occasionally employs mines of darkness that explode after a short period of time, and can send out a pool of darkness that generates claws; Dark Riku's versions of the attacks are purple to match his Dark Mode suit. His ultimate attack is a hybrid of Dark Aura and the Riku Replica's Helm Splitter technique. When using this attack, he crashes down on Sora and Riku seven times before one final crash that leaves shockwaves of darkness.

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind

Keyblade Graveyard

Dark Riku's first fight in Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind is nearly identical to in the base game. This time, however, the player can choose to play as either Sora or Riku.

Data Rematch

Dark Riku's data is a boss fight in the Limitcut Episode. His battle tactics have received a significant upgrade.

Dark Riku is quick and aggressive, retaining most of his attacks in battle. He summons mines in a much greater frequency and can perform unblockable attacks, such as launching red beams from his Soul Eater and even heavy slashes. He also liberally employs Barrier and can perform Counter Blast when struck during this phase. His ultimate attack implements more elements from Dark Aura than before, with him dashing at Sora while invincible.

Videos

Dark Riku – Kingdom Hearts III

Notes and references

  1. ^ Shared with Xigbar