Shotlock

The two forms of the Shotlock reticule; the left one still has time, whereas the one on the right does not.

Shotlock (シュートロック, Shūto Rokku, lit. "Shoot Lock") is a technique in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, and Kingdom Hearts III.

Mechanics

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

In Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, a Shotlock is initiated by holding down and simultaneously (or just in the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix port). The user enters a targeting mode and locks onto enemies, and by pressing ( in the Japanese version), the user then initiates a powerful attack that hits all targeted enemies. By locking onto the maximum amount of enemies, additional attacks can be added by following on-screen prompts. The amount of time the user has to lock onto targets depends on the Focus Gauge, which empties when the attack is initiated and can be refilled by attacking enemies and using Ethers. The rate at which the locking on occurs varies with each Shotlock and increases with level. Most of the Shotlocks in Birth by Sleep can be learned by all three Keyblade wielders, but they each also get a few that are unique to themselves.

Each Shotlock can be enhanced by performing a certain action to add extra attacks. There are four methods of adding extra attacks, which determine the Shotlock's class.

• Class A (ボタン連打, Botan Renda, lit. "Button Barrage") Shotlocks involve pressing the button ( button in the Japanese version) rapidly.
• Class B (ランダム, Randamu, lit. "Random") Shotlocks involve pressing random buttons when prompted.
• Class C (タイミング, Taimingu, lit. "Timing") Shotlocks involve performing well-timed button presses.
• Class D (パツド回転, Paddo Kaiten, lit. "Pad Rotation") Shotlocks involve rotating the analog pad.

Mechanically, the Shotlocks can also be sorted into four distinct paradigms (except for Dark Link which is unique):

• Projectile-type Shotlocks, covering the first five listed below, involve launching a barrage of projectiles one after the other that zero-in on targets. All of these use Class A extra attacks to add projectiles.
• Salvo-type Shotlocks, covering the next five, involves charging energy into the tip of the Keyblade that subsequently bursts into projectiles. Extensions are performed under Class C, repeating the technique until a bad timing is performed or the maximum number of allowed salvos has been fired.
• Rush-type Shotlocks, covering the eleventh through fourteenth, see the character charging around the battlefield to strike at targets. Lightning Ray uses Class A extensions to perform addition dashes while the others all use Class B to perform diving strikes that culminate in a powerful finisher.
• Ultimate-type Shotlocks, covering the last three on the list before Dark Link, are all unique to one character and each uses unique attack styles. Ultima Cannon uses Class C to perform a single extra shot while the others use Class D to perform one final attack.

Notably, each of the first three types features exactly three Shotlocks shared by all characters.

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-

In Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, a Shotlock is initiated by holding down . The user enters a targeting mode and locks onto enemies, and the Shotlock begins by pressing ( in the Japanese version). Triggering a Shotlock slows down time for the duration of the Focus gauge's depletion, allowing the player to maximize the number of lock-ons while minimizing damage and interference. Prism Rain is the only Shotlock available.

Kingdom Hearts III

In Kingdom Hearts III, the mechanics are similar to Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-. Shotlocks are now tied to Keyblades, and each Keyblade has a certain amount of Shotlocks. Most Keyblades have two Shotlocks, one activated with an incomplete lock and another with a max lock. However, Ultima Weapon and Destiny's Embrace each have just one Shotlock activated with one lock, Shooting Star and Hunny Spout's max-level Shotlocks depend on whether a max lock was used on a single target or a group of enemies, and Master's Defender and Braveheart's Shotlocks only prompt additional attacks when used at max lock similar to previous games. Visually, all of Sora's max-level Shotlocks implement the corresponding Keyblade's Formchange, with his clothes transforming into the corresponding Form for the duration of the Shotlock. As in Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, time is slowed while locking onto enemies; however, timers, such as the ones seen in minigames, as well as the Doom counter used by Marluxia's Replica Data, will still run at normal speed. The Airstep Flowmotion technique is also executed from the Shotlock menu by pressing .

List of Shotlocks

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Name	Max Locks	Max LV	Element	Class	Description	Obtained
Meteor Shower (メテオシャワー, Meteo Shawā)	30	4	Neutral	A	Launch small, star-like projectiles at targets. Has an especially high lock-on count.	Terra/Ventus/Aqua: Rare bonus on the Royal Board, Command Melding.
Flame Salvo (フレイムバースト, Fureimu Bāsuto, lit. "Flame Burst")	15	4	Fire	A	Launch fireballs at targets.	Terra: Chest at the Vault. Ventus: Initial Aqua: Purchase at the Medal Shop.
Chaos Snake (カオススネーク, Kaosu Sunēku)	20	4	Neutral	A	Launch projectiles that zigzag at targets and confuse enemies they hit.	Terra/Ventus/Aqua: Clear the final match of Fruitball.
Dark Volley (ブラックボレー, Burakku Borē, lit. "Black Volley")	18	5	Dark	A	Launch dark projectiles at targets. Has a high lock-on count.	Terra: Defeat Braig.
Bubble Blaster (バブルブラスト, Baburu Burasuto, lit. "Bubble Blast")	15	5	Neutral	A	Launch bubbles at targets.	Aqua: Initial
Ragnarok (ラグナロク, Ragunaroku)	16	4	Neutral	C	Launch a single salvo of light projectiles.	Terra/Ventus/Aqua: Rare bonus on the Keyblade Board and Secret Board.
Thunderstorm (サンダーストーム, Sandāsutōmu)	5	4	Thunder	C	Launch a single salvo of electric blasts. Even one blast by itself packs a significant punch.	Terra: Chest at The Chateau. Ventus: Chest at the Mousehole. Aqua: Chest at the Foyer.
Bio Barrage (バイオバラージュ, Baio Barāju)	8	4	Neutral	C	Launch a salvo of projectiles that poison targets.	Terra/Ventus/Aqua: Purchase at the Medal Shop, Command Melding.
Pulse Bomb (パルスボム, Parusu Bomu)	20	5	Neutral	C	Launch energy blasts from the tip of your Keyblade and bombard targets with a series of small explosions. Has a high lock-on count.	Ventus: Chest at the Ship Hub.
Prism Rain (レインボウシャワー, Reinbou Shawā, lit. "Rainbow Shower")	16	5	Neutral	C	Launch a salvo of rainbow-colored orbs.	Aqua: Chest at the Ship Hub.
Photon Charge (フォトンチャージ, Foton Chāji)	15	4	Neutral	B	Rush targets repeatedly and attack with the power of light.	Terra/Ventus/Aqua: Special bonus on the Skull Board, purchase from the Medal Shop.
Absolute Zero (アブソリュートゼロ, Abusoryūto Zero)	12	4	Blizzard	B	Cloak yourself in ice and rush targets repeatedly.	Terra: Chest at the Gizmo Shop. Ventus/Aqua: Chest at the Gates.
Lightning Ray (ライトニングレイ, Raitoningu Rei)	18	4	Neutral	A	Rush targets repeatedly with lightning speed.	Terra/Ventus/Aqua: Rare bonus on the Spaceship Board and Secret Board, Command Melding.
Sonic Shadow (ソニックシャドウ, Sonikku Shadou)	10	5	Neutral	B	Become one with the shadows and rush targets repeatedly, blinding the enemies you hit.	Terra: Initial
Ultima Cannon (アルテマキャノン, Arutema Kyanon)	16	6	Neutral	C	The ultimate Shotlock. Transform your Keyblade into an enormous weapon that causes massive explosions with every blast.	Terra: Complete the Keepers of the Arena battle.
Multivortex (マルチボーテックス, Maruchibōtekkusu)	30	6	Neutral	D	The ultimate Shotlock. Rapidly swing the Keyblade and harness the wind to launch shockwaves at targets with every stroke.	Ventus: Complete the Keepers of the Arena battle.
Lightbloom (シャイニーブルーム, Shainī Burūmu, lit. "Shiny Bloom")	20	6	Neutral	D	The ultimate Shotlock. Perform a series of graceful spins as you fire blasts of light in all directions.	Aqua: Complete the Keepers of the Arena battle.
Dark Link (ダークオブリンク, Dāku obu Rinku, lit. "Dark of Link")	20	—	Dark	N/A	—	Ventus: Usable during Vanitas's D-Link.

Kingdom Hearts III

Name	AP	No. of Locks	Description	Keyblade/Obtained
King of Hearts (キングオブハート, Kingu obu Hāto, lit. "King of Heart")	—	1~23	Fire a burst of magical projectiles from the end of your Keyblade.	Kingdom Key, Midnight Blue, Phantom Green, Dawn Till Dusk, Elemental Encoder, Advent Red
Ragnarok (ラグナロク, Ragunaroku)	—	24	Fire streams of brilliant light that fly at targets.	Kingdom Key, Midnight Blue, Phantom Green, Dawn Till Dusk, Elemental Encoder, Advent Red
Drain Shock (ドレインショック, Dorein Shokku)	—	1~15	Absorb HP from targets.	Hero's Origin
Atomic Deluge (アトミックヘビーレイン, Atomikku Hebī Rein, lit. "Atomic Heavy Rain")	—	16	Use a shield to scatter lightning in all directions.	Hero's Origin
Meteor Shower (メテオシャワー, Meteo Shawā)	—	1~17	Spin your Keyblade and send shooting stars careening toward targets.	Shooting Star
Diving Barrage (ダイブバラージュ, Daibu Barāju, lit. "Dive Barrage")	—	18	Rain magical arrows down on targets from directly overhead.	Shooting Star
Cluster Cannonade (クラスターランチャー, Kurasutā Ranchā, lit. "Cluster Launcher")	—	18	Launch a giant rocket that splits into many smaller projectiles.	Shooting Star
Ghost Horde (ゴーストデュエル, Gōsuto Dyueru, lit. "Ghost Duel")	—	1~11	Create avatars that charge at targets repeatedly.	Favorite Deputy
Drill Dive (ドリルダイブ, Doriru Daibu)	—	12	Warp around and fly at targets repeatedly.	Favorite Deputy
Shimmering Drops (ゴールデンドロップ, Gōruden Doroppu, lit. "Golden Drop")	—	1~27	Absorb HP from targets.	Ever After
Spectral Rays (プリズムレイ, Purizumu Rei, lit. "Prism Ray")	—	28	Attack by surrounding yourself with reflectors and bouncing magical light off them.	Ever After
Snakebite (スネークバイト, Sunēkubaito)	—	1~17	Fire a burst of snake-like projectiles from the end of your Keyblade.	Happy Gear
Warp Trick (デジョントリック, Dejon Torikku, lit. "Dezone Trick")	—	18	Create a network of portals and attacks from all directions.	Happy Gear
Diamond Dust (ダイヤモンドダスト, Daiyamondo Dasuto)	—	1~23	Launch a series of spinning ice blades toward targets.	Crystal Snow
Frozen Crescents (フローズンクレセント, Furōzen Kuresento, lit. "Frozen Crescent")	—	24	Slash at targets repeatedly with blades of ice.	Crystal Snow
Hunny Burst (ハニーバースト, Hanī Bāsuto)	—	1~27	Fire a burst of honey projectiles from the end of your Keyblade.	Hunny Spout
Hunny Drizzle (ハニーダウンプール, Hanī Daunpūru, lit. "Honey Downpour")	—	28	Rain honey down on targets from directly overhead.	Hunny Spout
Sweet Surprise (ホーミングランチャー, Hōmingu Ranchā, lit. "Homing Launcher")	—	28	Launch a giant glob of honey that splits into many smaller projectiles.	Hunny Spout
Cubic Stream (キュービックトレイン, Kyūbikku Torein, lit. "Cubic Train")	—	1~23	Spin your Keyblade and send block-like projectiles careening toward targets.	Nano Gear
Zone Connector (ゾーンコネクター, Zōn Konekutā)	—	24	Create a network of portals and attack from all directions.	Nano Gear
Blade Storm (ソードストーム, Sōdo Sutōmu, lit. "Sword Storm")	—	1~31	Launch a series of spinning wind blades toward targets.	Wheel of Fate
Flag Rampage (フラッグランページ, Furaggu Ranpēji)	—	32	Slash at targets repeatedly with blades of wind.	Wheel of Fate
Blades of the Round (エッジオブラウンド, Ejji obu Raundo, lit. "Edge of Round")	—	1~23	Launch a series of spinning blades of light toward targets.	Starlight
Union Ragnarok (ユニオンラグナロク, Yunion Ragunaroku)	—	24	Fire streams of brilliant light that fly at targets.	Starlight
Steam Spiral (スパイラルスチーム, Supairaru Suchīmu, lit. "Spiral Steam")	—	1~31	Spin your Keyblade and send fireworks careening toward targets.	Grand Chef
Fruit Crusher (フルーツクラッシュ, Furūtsu Kurasshu, lit. "Fruits Crush")	—	32	Use a shield to scatter fruit in all directions.	Grand Chef
Phantom Rush (ファントムラッシュ, Fantomu Rasshu)	—	1~15	Create avatars that charge at targets repeatedly.	Classic Tone
Noise Flux (ノイジージャンプ, Noijī Janpu, lit. "Noisy Jump")	—	16	Warp around and fly at targets repeatedly.	Classic Tone
Infinity Circle (インフィニティサークル, Infiniti Sākuru)	—	1	Gather magical forces and unleash them, devastating the surrounding area.	Ultima Weapon
Sunray Blast (サンセットブライト, Sansetto Buraito, lit. "Sunset Bright")	—	1~31	Spin your Keyblade and send shards of light careening toward targets.	Oathkeeper
Bladefury Eclipse (ドーンエクリプス, Dōn Ekuripusu, lit. "Dawn Eclipse")	—	1~31	Launch a series of spinning dark blades toward targets.	Oblivion
Stellar Inception (ステラインセプション, Sutera Insepushon)	—	32	Blast enemies with a galaxy of stars.	Oathkeeper, Oblivion
Focus Syphon (フォーカスアスピル, Fōkasu Asupiru, lit. "Focus Asper")	3	18	Add a special shotlock to your repertoire that costs no Focus. You will absorb Focus from the targets you lock on to. Stack the ability to increase the effect.	Sora: Obtain the AR Device, Get an A-rank in Verum Rex: Beat of Lead, Score 29,000 or more points in the Watermelon Flan mini-game.
Prism Rain (レインボーシャワー, Reinbō Shawā, lit. "Rainbow Shower")	—	1~28	—	Master's Defender (Aqua)
Dark Divide[KH III RM] (ダークディバイド, Dāku Dibaido)	—	1~28	—	Braveheart (Riku)
Heart of a Princess[KH III RM] (プリンセスハート, Purinsesu Hāto, lit. "Princess Heart")	—	1	—	Destiny's Embrace (Kairi)

Other appearances

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

During the last stage of the final battle between Ventus and Vanitas, Vanitas uses a Shotlock called "Dark Cannon", in which Vanitas fires a beam of dark energy, augmented by a rotating triangle of blue crystals. Through his D-Link with Vanitas, Ventus gains a gold-colored version of the same Shotlock, named "Dark Link", which he can use to combat Vanitas's Dark Cannon. The secret boss, Vanitas Remnant, can also use Dark Cannon, but the attack cannot be countered.

The Vanitas Remnant also utilizes a unique Shotlock during the battle against it. Vanitas Remnant takes an identical position as when using Dark Cannon, and surrounds itself in a black ball before shooting out copies of itself which make one slash before freezing in place.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

The Armored Ventus Nightmare utilizes a Shotlock against Riku during the final battle. When Riku absorbs his Dream Eaters to counter, the rest of the battle involves the two of them rushing against each other until one of them is knocked out.