Kingdom Key

Kingdom Hearts II; Kingdom Key
	"A keychain attached to the Keyblade. Increases defense at critical moments." [KH II]; "A keychain attached to the Keyblade. Halves damage taken in critical situations." [KH II FM]
Token
Japanese	キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn
Translation	Kingdom Chain
Stats
Ability
	Defender[KH II]; Damage Control[KH II FM]
Obtained
	Fight the "Mysterious Enemy" at The Old Mansion.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories; Kingdom Key
	"The default weapon. Not very powerful, but reliable and easy to handle."
Japanese	キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn
Translation	Kingdom Chain
Stats
Element
	Physical
Obtained
	Default

Kingdom Hearts; Kingdom Key
	"The key chain attached draws out the Keyblade's true form and power."
Token
Japanese	キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn
Translation	Kingdom Chain
Stats
Obtained
	Speak to Riku after the Heartless attack Destiny Islands.

Kingdom Key
TCG

Oh no! The water! I'm in big trouble if I don't fetch it!

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Issues: Etymology: "Keys to the Kingdom" - see χ-blade for added info

This article is about Sora's version of the Kingdom Key.
You may be looking for King Mickey's version, the upgrade for Mickey's Keyblade, or Xion's version.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Kingdom Key
"The most basic of Keyblades. Install a weapon panel to transform it."
Token
Japanese		キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji		Kingudamu Chēn
Translation		Kingdom Chain
Stats
Strength				Magic
Base	Unit	Ultima		Base	Unit
+15	+0	+85		+0	+0
Defense		Crit Rate		Crit Bonus
Base	Unit	Base	Unit	Base	Unit
+0	+0	+0	+0	+2	+0
Attack Speed		Approach Speed
Attack Speed		Ground		Air
1.0		1.0		1.0
Obtained
No Gear (Roxas/Xion)

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Kingdom Key+
"An upgraded Kingdom Key."
Token
Japanese		キングダムチェーン+
Rōmaji		Kingudamu Chēn+
Translation		Kingdom Chain+
Stats
Strength				Magic
Base	Unit	Ultima		Base	Unit
+124	+4	+15		+30	+4
Defense		Crit Rate		Crit Bonus
Base	Unit	Base	Unit	Base	Unit
+0	+4	+10	+4	+19	+4
Attack Speed		Approach Speed
Attack Speed		Ground		Air
1.0		1.0		1.0
Abilities
1: Defender 2: Damage Control 3: Second Chance
Obtained
Zero Gear (Roxas/Xion)

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Kingdom Key
"The most basic of Keyblades."
Token
Japanese		キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji		Kingudamu Chēn
Translation		Kingdom Chain
Stats
Strength				Magic
Base	Unit	Ultima		Base	Unit
+100	+1/ +2/ +3	+15		+0	+1/ +2/ +3
Defense		Crit Rate		Crit Bonus
Base	Unit	Base	Unit	Base	Unit
+0	+1/ +2/ +3	+7	+1/ +2/ +3	+7	+1/ +2/ +3
Attack Speed		Approach Speed
Attack Speed		Ground		Air
1.0		1.0		1.0
Abilities
1: Defender 2: Damage Control 3: Second Chance
Obtained
No Gear, Skill Gear, Skill Gear+, Technical Gear, Technical Gear+, Duel Gear, Duel Gear+, Loaded Gear, Loaded Gear+, Chrono Gear, Chrono Gear+, Phantom Gear, Phantom Gear+, Phantom Gear++, Lift Gear, Lift Gear+, Nimble Gear, Nimble Gear+, Wild Gear, Wild Gear+, Ominous Gear, Ominous Gear+, Valor Gear, Valor Gear+, Fearless Gear, Fearless Gear+, Prestige Gear, Prestige Gear+, Hazard Gear, Hazard Gear+, Casual Gear, Mystery Gear (Sora)

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Kingdom Key+
"An upgraded Kingdom Key."
Token
Japanese		キングダムチェーン+
Rōmaji		Kingudamu Chēn+
Translation		Kingdom Chain+
Stats
Strength				Magic
Base	Unit	Ultima		Base	Unit
+115	+3	+15		+25	+3
Defense		Crit Rate		Crit Bonus
Base	Unit	Base	Unit	Base	Unit
+0	+3	+10	+3	+10	+3
Attack Speed		Approach Speed
Attack Speed		Ground		Air
1.0		1.0		1.0
Abilities
1: Defender 2: Damage Control 3: Second Chance
Obtained
Duel Gear++, Crisis Gear, Crisis Gear+, Rage Gear, Rage Gear+ (Sora)

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Kingdom Key++
"The ultimate Kingdom Key."
Token
Japanese		キングダムチェーン++
Rōmaji		Kingudamu Chēn++
Translation		Kingdom Chain++
Stats
Strength				Magic
Base	Unit	Ultima		Base	Unit
+120	+3	+15		+30	+3
Defense		Crit Rate		Crit Bonus
Base	Unit	Base	Unit	Base	Unit
+5	+3	+12	+3	+15	+3
Attack Speed		Approach Speed
Attack Speed		Ground		Air
1.0		1.0		1.0
Abilities
1: Defender 2: Damage Control 3: Second Chance
Obtained
Omega Gear, Omega Gear+, Champion Gear, Champion Gear+, Ultimate Gear, Ultimate Gear+ (Sora)

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Kingdom Key
"The keychain originally attached to your Keyblade. Its powers will serve you in countless battles."
Token
Japanese	キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn
Translation	Kingdom Chain
Stats
Length
Medium
Clock Abilities
LV1		LV2
Auto-Potion		Medic
LV3		LV4
Magic Upgrade		Attack Upgrade
Obtained
Select one Dream weapon and discard another in the Dive to the Heart.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Kingdom Key 1.5
"The keychain originally attached to your Keyblade. Its powers will serve you in countless battles."
Token
Japanese	キングダムチェーン1.5
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn 1.5
Translation	Kingdom Chain 1.5
Stats
Length
Medium
Clock Abilities
LV1		LV2
Auto-Potion		Medic
LV3		LV4
Magic Upgrade Magic Bracer		Attack Upgrade
Obtained
Defeat 30 enemies with the Kingdom Key.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Kingdom Key 2.0
"The keychain originally attached to your Keyblade. Its powers will serve you in countless battles."
Token
Japanese	キングダムチェーン2.0
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn 2.0
Translation	Kingdom Chain 2.0
Stats
Length
Medium
Clock Abilities
LV1		LV2
Auto-Potion		Medic Shell
LV3		LV4
Magic Upgrade Magic Bracer		Attack Upgrade
Obtained
Defeat 60 enemies with the Kingdom Key 1.5.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Kingdom Key 2.5
"The keychain originally attached to your Keyblade. Its powers will serve you in countless battles."
Token
Japanese	キングダムチェーン2.5
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn 2.5
Translation	Kingdom Chain 2.5
Stats
Length
Medium
Clock Abilities
LV1		LV2
Auto-Potion		Medic Shell Protect
LV3		LV4
Magic Upgrade Magic Bracer		Attack Upgrade
Obtained
Defeat 90 enemies with the Kingdom Key 2.0.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Kingdom Key 3.0
"The keychain originally attached to your Keyblade. Its powers will serve you in countless battles."
Token
Japanese	キングダムチェーン3.0
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn 3.0
Translation	Kingdom Chain 3.0
Stats
Length
Medium
Clock Abilities
LV1		LV2
Auto-Potion		Medic Shell Protect
LV3		LV4
Magic Upgrade Magic Bracer		Attack Upgrade Brick Wall
Obtained
Defeat 120 enemies with the Kingdom Key 2.5.

Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] Kingdom Key
"The Keyblade Sora began his journey with. It provides a balanced boost in Strength and Magic."
Token
Japanese	キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn
Translation	Kingdom Chain
Stats
Strength	Magic		Length
5	4		75
Critical Rate		Reailty Shift Rate
20%		5%
Obtained
Sora's default weapon

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage- Kingdom Key

Katakana	キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji	Kingudamu Chēn
Japanese	Kingdom Chain

Kingdom Hearts III Kingdom Key
"Your very first Keyblade."
Token
Japanese			キングダムチェーン
Rōmaji			Kingudamu Chēn
Translation			Kingdom Chain
Stats
Length
100
Formchange
Second Form
Shotlocks
King of Hearts, Ragnarok
Obtained
Default

Lv	Strength	Magic	Ability
0	+4	+3	Treasure Magnet
1	+4	+4	—
2	+5	+4	—
3	+5	+5	—
4	+6	+5	Formchange Extender
5	+6	+6	—
6	+7	+6	—
7	+7	+7	—
8	+8	+7	—
9	+8	+8	—
10	+9	+8	—

Lv	Materials
1	x1	x2
2	x1	x3
3	x1	x4
4	x1	x1
5	x1	x2
6	x1	x3
7	x1	x1
8	x1	x2
9	x1	x3
10	x1	x1

The Kingdom Key is the most iconic Keyblade in the Kingdom Hearts series, as it appears within each game of the series, and frequently serves as the default Keychain for cutscenes. In Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, it is the only Keychain that Sora can visibly use, while in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, it is the only Keychain of Xion's to appear in Story Mode, and excluding the final Mission, the only Keychain of Roxas's to appear in any cutscene. Furthermore, while Kingdom Hearts II normally depicts the equipped Keyblade within cutscenes, the Kingdom Key appears by default in the cutscene leading up to the Battle of the 1000 Heartless, and within the Album pictures of Jiminy's Journal. In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, it can be upgraded to the Kingdom Key+ and the Kingdom Key++.

The Kingdom Key draws out the true power of Sora's Keyblade, even though it is not the strongest Keychain. As such, it is the true form of his Keyblade, which means that it is also the default form of Roxas's and Xion's Keyblades. The Kingdom Key is not wielded by Sora exclusively; Riku, Roxas, and Xion have also used it, and King Mickey is often seen wielding the Kingdom Key D, a color-inverted version of the weapon.

For Roxas, the Keyblade he wields is in fact Sora's Keyblade, existing in multiple places at once.^[1] His determination to remember Xion after she returns to Sora awakens a second Kingdom Key, which is in fact Ventus's Keyblade.^[2] Meanwhile, Xion's version of the Kingdom Key is an imitation of Sora's Keyblade, due to her nature as a replica.

The Kingdom Key D, a color-inverted Kingdom Key which King Mickey wields, is the Keyblade from the Realm of Darkness, which he obtained to mirror Sora's Keyblade from the Realm of Light.^[3]

Story

Kingdom Hearts

When Riku opens the door in the Secret Place and allows the Heartless to invade, he chooses to accept the darkness and vanish into a portal of darkness. However, Sora touches the light in Riku's heart, forging and gaining access to the Kingdom Key in the process.^[4] Riku, as the Kingdom Key's intended wielder, is able to hold it briefly when he meets up with Sora in Traverse Town, but returns it to Sora.

When Sora arrives in Hollow Bastion to rescue Kairi, Riku reveals to Sora that Sora’s Keyblade is meant to be his own and summons it to his hand, where (if any other Keychain has been equipped) it reverts back to the Kingdom Key. However, when Sora later confronts Riku again, the strength of his heart allows him to make the Keyblade his own.

Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories

Due to the castle's rules, Sora cannot switch Keychains while in Castle Oblivion and is stuck with using the Kingdom Key, although he is able to channel the abilities of his past Keychains by using Attack Cards.

When Zexion disguises himself as Sora, he wields a fake Kingdom Key.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

Roxas and Xion wield the Kingdom Key as members of Organization XIII, and when he loans his Keyblade to her, she uses this form exclusively.

When Roxas first uses Synch Blade, he summons two Kingdom Keys, then transforms them into the Oathkeeper and Oblivion.

Kingdom Hearts II

When Roxas is attacked by a lone Dusk outside the Old Mansion, he attempts to use his Struggle Bat to ward it off, but it fails to touch the monster. At that moment, however, the Kingdom Key replaces the Struggle Bat in a haze of data, and Roxas is able to defeat the Dusk. The Kingdom Key continues to materialize whenever Roxas needs to fight off Nobodies, until he is attacked by Axel within the Old Mansion's Basement Corridor. There, Roxas instead summons the Oathkeeper and Oblivion, but after defeating Axel and proceeding to the chamber in which Sora slumbers, he uses the Kingdom Key one final time in an attempt to strike down DiZ.

Sora continues to use his Kingdom Key throughout his adventure.

Kingdom Hearts coded

Data-Sora gains a data-version of the Kingdom Key in his Dive to the Heart. Episode 1 It is destroyed by Maleficent at Agrabah Episode 5, but he gains a new Keyblade at Hollow Bastion. Episode 6 According to King Mickey, this Keyblade is closely connected to the power of the heart.^[5]

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

Sora uses the Kingdom Key throughout his Mark of Mastery exam, first using it to subdue Ursula. When Sora is corrupted by the Armored Ventus Nightmare, it wields a blackened Kingdom Key in a reverse grip, similar to Ventus. When Riku defeats the Nightmare, the Kingdom Key reverts to its original colors and Riku uses it to lock Sora's heart, then to open a portal back to the outside world.

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage

Sora uses the Kingdom Key to open a passageway to Olympus Coliseum.

Kingdom Hearts III

Sora continues to use the Kingdom Key as his main weapon. A replica Kingdom Key is also used by Xion and her Replica Xehanort counterpart.

Design

The Kingdom Key is depicted as a classic skeleton key approximately 3.5' long, with a long silver Keychain extending from the hilt, and a Hidden Mickey token on the end of the Keychain. In Kingdom Hearts, the token is formed from three spheres, while in other games the token is flat and seemingly cut from sheet metal. The blade and teeth of the Keyblade are silver, the rainguard is blue, and the guard is bright gold. The teeth of the Keyblade form the outline of a crown which matches the crown charm Sora wears.

Gameplay

Gameplay with the Kingdom Key varies, as its combo is normally influenced by the amount of Combo Boosts and other Combo influencing abilities the player has equipped. The weapon's base combo in nearly every game is a basic three hit attack: A downward swing, a forward thrust, and a turning sweep slash, while its aerial combo is a downward, then upward slash, finished with a mid-air spinning slash.

In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Roxas, Xion, and Sora have the opportunity to wield this weapon: Roxas and Xion, with no gears or the Zero gear equipped, and Sora, with any gear save for the Zero and Pandora gears.

Roxas and Xion have identical combos with both no gears and Zero gear. Their combo without any gears is the basic three hit combo, while his Zero gear combo is slightly different. It begins with a downward slash, followed by an upward swing with the capability of knocking the enemy in the air. From here, a -Combo is prompted, in which Roxas or Xion will perform a jump accompanied by a downward slash if executed. With another hit of the button, Roxas or Xion's -Combo concludes with a sliding swing of the Keyblade. If continued normally, combo concludes with a basic turning slash. The aerial combo for Roxas's Zero Gear is noticeably shorter, with only two hits. It begins with a basic downward slash and finishes with a spinning slash.

Sora's combos with the Kingdom Key, meanwhile, never change no matter what gear is equipped. It will always be the same, default, three-hit combo: a sideways swing, a forward thrust, and a turning slash. No -Combo opportunities are ever prompted. His swing speed, however, is noticeably faster than Roxas's.

Other appearances

Most Kingdom Hearts merchandise features the Kingdom Key as Sora's weapon, including the Volume One and Volume Three Sora figures that appear in the Formation Arts Figures. Along with being the Keyblade packaged with "normal" Sora in the Series 1 Play Arts Figures, it is also seen with Roxas's figure and the Sora Limit Form figure.

Another side, Another story...

At Memory's Skyscraper, Roxas briefly dual wields the Kingdom Key and Oathkeeper after tossing his Oblivion to a falling Riku.

The Gathering

At the Keyblade Graveyard, Terra pulls the Kingdom Key from the ground alongside Aqua and Ventus.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

In the opening video for Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, the Kingdom Key is briefly shown after Terra and Aqua, surrounded by many other Keyblades, are seen falling towards Ventus's Dive to the Heart station. The Kingdom Key and the Soul Eater land blade first into the station, shattering it into glass like pieces and revealing Ventus amongst them.

The logo sequence for the Keyblade Graveyard also depicts the Kingdom Key being thrust into the background, summoning the text.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance website

On the Japanese version of the Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance website, the Kingdom Key acts as a cursor for Sora's version of the website.

Disney Infinity 3.0

The Kingdom Key is the game's "ultimate unlock," and can be used if the player owns every available figurine for the game.

World of Final Fantasy

The Kingdom Key is wielded by Sora.^[6]

The Simpsons Game

The Kingdom Key can be seen in the "Big Super Happy Fun Fun Game" level, where a statue of Santa's Little Helper holds it in his mouth.^[7]

Final Fantasy Record Keeper

The Kingdom Key appears as a 5★ Keyblade. It can be acquired from the Key to Another World Event Dungeon as well as a Login Reward during the Kingdom Hearts collaboration event.

Face My Fear

The EP cover art for "Face My Fears" depicts Utada Hikaru wielding the Kingdom Key in her left hand.

Gallery

The black version of the Kingdom Key wielded by the Armored Ventus Nightmare.

Notes and references

^ Director's Secret Report XIII, p. 29; Tetsuya Nomura: "The Keyblade Roxas used was the same one that Sora lost temporarily in Castle Oblivion. And then the two of them were using that Keyblade at the same time, which is accounted for by the relationship between Roxas and Sora if you think about it. However, the fact that both of them are dual wielders actually means something rather major. This is connected to the story of "Xehanort's memories", and I cannot touch that topic with a ten foot pole right now." Translation via Goldpanner.
^ Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania, p. 617; Interviewer: "Why can Roxas dual-wield?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "Sora can wield two Keyblades at once because he has Ventus's as well as his own. As Roxas is a part of Sora, he also can use two. In Days, Roxas awakened his ability to dual wield after fighting Xion. In KHII, once Sora absorbs him, he can also dual-wield. Roxas awakens his ability to dual-wield with his will to not forget Xion, who also wielded a Keyblade." Translation via Lissar.
^ Director's Secret Report XIII, p. 28; Tetsuya Nomura: "In order to do that, the door had to be shut from both the side of light and the side of darkness, which required the use of Keyblades from both the Realm of Light and the Realm of Darkness. That is why King Mickey went to get a Keyblade from the Realm of Darkness - to serve as the counterpart to Sora's Keyblade of the Realm of Light." Translation via Goldpanner.
^ Kingdom Hearts Ultimania, p. 532; Interviewer: "Even though Riku was the rightful owner of the Keyblade, then why did Sora obtain the Keyblade in the beginning?" / Tetsuya Nomura: "Even though I would like to keep that obscure, there is a scene in Destiny islands where Riku is being swallowed by darkness, a light appears, and Sora first obtains the Keyblade. With the setting I created, the darkness that surrounds them is Riku's heart's darkness. At that moment, Sora enters the darkness, and the light he sees inside is Riku's heart's light. Sora, who was squirming in the darkness to save Riku, touched the light and temporarily obtained the Keyblade from Riku." Translation via Lissar.
^ Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, Mickey Mouse: "The Keyblade's power comes from the wielder's strength of heart. Once, an old friend said to me, 'A heart is so much more than any system.' The Keyblade we gave you before was one we created—it was nothing but data. To tell ya the truth, I never expected it to have the same kinda power as the real Keyblade. That weapon was just a replica; it didn't have any substance. That's why Maleficent could destroy it so easily. But, during your journey, you really made a connection with all of us. You've become more than the system, Sora. The power you found inside of you isn't like anybody else's. And when you accessed that power, that's what brought your Keyblade back."
^ Gematsu: World of Final Fantasy to add Sora from Kingdom Hearts via free DLC this winter
^ Screenshot of the Kingdom Key in "Big Super Happy Fun Fun Game" in The Simpsons Game