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Soldier

Revision as of 22:31, 3 December 2023 by Aid1043 (talk | contribs) (KHDR Episode 5)
Soldier
Japanese ソルジャー
Rōmaji Sorujā

Type Emblem Heartless
Games Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Kingdom Hearts coded
Kingdom Hearts χ
Kingdom Hearts III
Kingdom Hearts Dark Road
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
Variations
Stealth Soldier
Deserter
Sergeant
Commander
Pumpkin Soldier
Diver
High Soldier

The Soldier is an Emblem Heartless introduced in Kingdom Hearts.

Story

Kingdom Hearts

Sora spots his first Soldier when he enters the Second District, as an exhausted man is caught by the Heartless and has his heart stolen. The heart is transformed into a Soldier Heartless, which escapes through a Corridor of Darkness. A platoon of Soldiers later lays siege to the Hotel in which Sora, Donald, Goofy, Leon, Yuffie, and Aerith are discussing the situation, and Leon helps hold them off so that Sora can escape and find the leader of the local Heartless, the Guard Armor.

Kingdom Hearts II

As Sora first returns to Hollow Bastion, a troop of Soldiers run past. Later on, another swarm steals the 100 Acre Wood novel, damaging it and shunting Sora back out of it. Sora defeats them and retrieves the book, returning it to Merlin and going out to retrieve the stolen pages.

Design

Soldiers have a much more refined appearance than Shadows, appearing as a noble knight-type warrior at first glance. A closer examination reveals the Soldiers are just as beastly as the other Heartless. Their muscular forms are clad in a bluish-black body suit bearing the Heartless emblem and purple inverted emblems trimmed in gold on the knees. They wear black, silver trimmed shoes that end in spiral toes, silver wristbands, and a silver knight's helm decorated with two angular, eye-like spirals on the front and a yellow stripe at the base of the curled silver plume. Its true Heartless behavior comes out on a close examination of their fierce blue and red-tipped claws, and their shadowed faces with bright yellow eyes and toothy maw.

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Soldiers have their colors swapped with the Air Soldier, shading them in black, tan, and brown.

The Soldier's name references soldiers serving the military. This highlights the Heartless's battle capabilities. They also appear in large numbers, referencing an army. This is reflected in the names of its variants, such as the Sergeant and the Commander.

Strategy

Kingdom Hearts

Sora earns Tech Points every time he successfully blocks a Soldier's attacks.[7][8] Soldiers often appear en masse, and can quickly kill Sora if they surround him, so prevent them from doing so.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories

Deck

Card 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
  Soldier
[KH CoM]
X O O X X X X X X X
  Soldier
[KH Re:CoM]
X O O O X X X X X X
Attacks

Technique Element Status Power Cards
Scratch Attack (引っかき攻撃
Hikkaki Kōgeki
?)
[KH CoM]
Physical x1.5  
Swings its arm and scratches like throwing a ball.
Spin Kick (回転蹴り
Kaitengeri
?)
[KH CoM]
Physical x2.0  
Pulls back one leg, then kicks while spinning like a top.
Scratch (引っかき
Hikkaki
?)
[KH Re:CoM]
Physical x2.0  
Roundhouse Kick (まわし蹴り
Mawashigeri
?)
[KH Re:CoM]
Physical x2.5  

Kingdom Hearts II

Soldiers are common enemies that are simple to deal with alone, as their attacks can easily be reacted to and guarded, though they can pose more of a threat in groups. They will always respond to damage with Kick Shower, allowing Sora to bait this attack out to counter with the powerful Cyclone Reaction Command.

Technique Element Power Guard?
Claw Attack (引っかき攻撃
Hikkaki Kougeki
?, lit. "Scratching Attack")
Physical x1.0 O
Scratches with right hand.
Two-Stage Claw (2段引っかき
2-dan Hikkaki
?, lit. "Two-step Scratch")
Physical Scratch: x1.0
Lunge: x0.5
O
Scratches with right hand, then lunges with left hand.
Spin Kick (回転蹴り
Kaitengeri
?)
Physical x1.5
Jumps and performs a downward spinning kick.
Kick Shower (あびせ蹴り
Abise Keri
?, lit. "Pouring Kicks")
Physical x1.5
Glows, then jumps and swings legs.
Guard/Block: △ = Can be blocked; O = Can be blocked and interrupted (melee) or deflected back (projectile); X = Cannot be blocked.
Reaction Commands
Reaction Command Element Power Description
Cyclone (サイクロン
Saikuron
?)
Physical x4.0 Can be used when a Soldier uses its Kick Shower attack.
Leap aside to avoid Kick Shower and attack while jumping. Unavailable in the Pride Lands.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

Soldiers have a fairly predictable pattern of running around and stopping, or if close enough to the target it will run to the target and stop before using one of its attacks. Both of its attacks have a delay before hitting the target, making it easy to react to. Blocking its kick attack will cause it to fall over, allowing more damage to be dealt.

Technique Element Status Power Block?
Scratch (ひっがき Higgaki?)   0.90
Scratches at the target with its claw.
Pouring Kicks (あびせ蹴り Abise Keri?)   1.43
Swings and kicks at the target.
Guard/Block: △ = Can be blocked; O = Can be blocked and interrupted (melee) or deflected back (projectile); X = Cannot be blocked.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

Technique Element Status Power Block?
Scratch (引っかき
Hikkaki
?)
  1.00 (normal)
1.16 (bugged)
Scratches with its left claw.
Kick Storm (あびせ蹴り
Abise Keri
?, lit. "Pouring Kick")
  1.25 (normal)
1.31 (bugged)
Glows, then jumps up and swings its leg down.
Guard/Block: △ = Can be blocked; O = Can be blocked and interrupted (melee) or deflected back (projectile); X = Cannot be blocked.
Coliseum
Technique Target Element Power Hit Rate Critical Rate Guard Timing
Kick Storm (あびせ蹴り
Abise Keri
?, lit. "Pouring Kick")
Near (Single) 0.8 95% 4% Late
Jumps up and swings its leg down.

Kingdom Hearts III

Just like in previous games, the Soldier can be easily killed with a few hits, and they have the same attacks. All attacks can be blocked, but the Aerial Whirlwind Kick will break Sora's guard, allowing the use of Risk Dodge. Blocking Scratch and Combo Lunge will cause the Soldier to stagger.

Technique Element Status Power Block? Repel LV
Scratch (引っかき
Hikkaki
?)
Physical 1.0 2
Scratches with right hand.
Combo Lunge (コンボ突き
Konbo Tsuki
?)
Physical 1.0 x 2 hits 2
Grabs enemy with right hand and strikes with left hand.
Aerial Whirlwhind Kick (空中旋風蹴り
Kūchū Senpūgeri
?)
Physical 1.5 △ (Risk Dodge) 3
Jumps straight overhead and launches a swooping kick.
Pouring Kicks (あびせ蹴り
Abise Keri
?)
Physical 1.0 2
Glows, then jumps and swings legs.
Guard/Block: △ = Can be blocked; O = Can be blocked and interrupted (melee) or deflected back (projectile); X = Cannot be blocked.

Notes and references

  1. ^ x0.8 after rescue.
  2. ^ x0.6 after rescue.
  3. ^ a b c Only appears when summoned by a Crescendo.
  4. ^ Soldiers can drop Pulsing Stones during fights that require you to fill up Boo's Laugh Gauge in Monstropolis.
  5. ^ a b 35 prior to August 12, 2020.
  6. ^ a b 168 prior to August 12, 2020.
  7. ^ In Kingdom Hearts, before Kairi's rescue, Sora earns one Tech Point every time he successfully blocks a Soldier's attack. This number was increased to two Tech Points for every successful block in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.
  8. ^ In Kingdom Hearts, after Kairi's rescue, Sora earns nine Tech Points every time he successfully blocks a Soldier's Scratch Attack.