Formchange is anability that allows the user to transform theirKeyblade and access new abilities. It was first demonstrated inKingdom Hearts II Final Mix and was introduced as a gameplay mechanic inKingdom Hearts III.

Development[edit]

The concept of having the Keyblade transform into different forms has existed sinceKingdom Hearts II Final Mix with theLingering Will being able to transform theEnds of the Earth Keyblade into different forms. The idea was to incorporate it intoKingdom Hearts III's gameplay to show the growth of Sora's skill as he trained and become a more masterful Keyblade wielder.^[1]

Guardian Form and Strike Form were originally referred to asGuard Form (ガードフォーム, Gādo Fōmu^?) andPower Form (パワーフォーム, Pawā Fōmu^?) in early gameplay notes and were considered Drive Forms before the formal introduction of the Formchange concept.^[2][3]

Mechanics[edit]

Formchange is a mechanic that borrows cosmetic and technical concepts fromCommand Styles andDrive Forms both, and allowsSora to manipulate his Keyblade's form similar to the wielders fromKingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.

Formchanges are triggered viaSituation Commands after achieving sufficient damage with a Keyblade. Certain Keyblades also have the ability to Formchange a second time.

Activating a Formchange triggers an attack known as aKeyblade Cinematic that varies depending on the Formchange. There are two types of Keyblade Cinematics: Formchange Performance Attacks, used bySecond Form,Light Form,Dark Form,Double Form,Rage Form, andSpellweaver, and Keyblade Transformation Attacks, used by the other Formchanges. When Keyblade Cinematics are set to Normal, most Formchange Performance Attacks use an animation of Sora twirling his Keyblade in hand, briefly dismissing it, and then activating the Formchange akin to Drive Forms, unleashing a short-ranged, neutral-element shockwave that instantly triggers the Formchange. Rage Form's Formchange Performance Attack instead has Sora dive into an orb of darkness before bursting out of it in Rage Form, and Spellweaver's Formchange Performance Attack uses the animation ofStyle Changes fromKingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-. Keyblade Transformation Attacks have different animations depending on the Formchange. When Keyblade Cinematics are set to Basic, all Formchanges except Spellweaver use a simplified version of the basic Formchange Performance Attack.

Each Formchange has a set base duration, indicated by an orange gauge in the Command Menu that continuously depletes. Once this gauge becomes empty, the currently active Formchange will automatically end. Formchanges with a dedicated finish command (Second Form,Rage Form and all Formchanges with theUltimate Finish ability) can also be ended early by activating this command.

If a Formchange has its own finish command, filling the Situation Command gauge with this form active will extend the availability of its finish command, and thus extend the Formchange's duration as well. Conversely, theTime Break status can also prematurely end an active Formchange if it fully depletes its time gauge, or the gauge of its finish command (if any).

Formchanges will also remain active with a frozen time gauge duringTeam Attacks,Attractions, andLink Summons (except Rage Form and Spellweaver). Additionally, if the player is in the middle of a combo while the Formchange gauge runs out, the Formchange itself will remain until the player's combo ends.

When Sora has multipleKeychains equipped, activating a Formchange command will always switch Sora's current Keychain to the one corresponding to the newly active Formchange. In addition, only the Formchange associated to Sora's active Keychain will have its time gauge deplete; active Formchanges for inactive Keychains will have their gauges frozen. This allows the player to store away any Formchange they are not currently using.

While in a Formchange, the user is immune to negative status effects (with the exception ofTime Break) and will heal any the user is afflicted with. However, Formchanges (like other Situation Commands) cannot be activated if the player is incapacitated by status effects like Stun, Freeze, or Burn.

Unlike Drive Forms, Formchanges do not carry over into most cutscenes.^[4] Formchanges used while Sora wears hisKingdom Hearts II outfit do not change his appearance, with the exception of Rage Form.

As with otherSituation Commands, activating Formchanges commands or their finishers is disabled in the vicinity of NPCs, such as in Port Royal's Seaport inThe Caribbean. The commands' timer will nonetheless continue to deplete in these areas, and any previously activated Formchange will remain active when exploring areas with NPCs.

List of Forms and Formchanges[edit]

Second Form allows Sora to access his abilities from previous adventures, similar toLimit Form. The color scheme of Sora's clothing changes to resemble hisKingdom Hearts II outfit. It is triggered by theKingdom Key,Starlight,Midnight Blue,Phantom Green,Dawn Till Dusk,Elemental Encoder,Advent Red, andDead of Night.

The Keyblade used determines the third level finisher: Starlight uses a finisher called "Ancient Light", which draws enemies in before releasing several Keyblades made oflight to strike them, while the others useArs Arcanum instead.

Guardian Form emphasizes defensive capabilities. Sora wears yellow clothing reminiscent ofMaster Form. It is triggered byHero's Origin,Hunny Spout, andClassic Tone.

The Formchanges areCounter Shield (Hero's Origin),Hunny Blasters andHunny Launcher (Hunny Spout),Boom Hammer andClock Drill (Classic Tone).

Strike Form emphasizes strong physical attacks. Sora wears red clothing reminiscent ofValor Form. It is triggered byFavorite Deputy,Happy Gear, andWheel of Fate.

The Formchanges areHyper Hammer andDrill Punch (Favorite Deputy),Agile Claws andTwin Yo-Yos (Happy Gear),Highwind andStorm Flag (Wheel of Fate).

Element Form emphasizesmagic and long-range attacks. Sora wears blue clothing reminiscent ofWisdom Form. It is triggered byShooting Star andEver After.

The Formchanges areDouble Arrowguns andMagic Launcher (Shooting Star), andMirage Staff (Ever After).

Blitz Form emphasizes speed and mobility. Sora wears green clothing. It is triggered byCrystal Snow,Nano Gear, andGrand Chef.

The Formchanges areBlizzard Claws andBlizzard Blades (Crystal Snow),Nano Arms (Nano Gear), andFrying Pan (Grand Chef).

Rage Form allows Sora to channel hisdarkness in desperate circumstances. Sora takes on the appearance of aPureblood Heartless, similar toAntiform. It has a chance of being triggered when Sora reaches critical health, regardless of current Keyblade. After using the commandRiskcharge, Sora will gain extra strength at the expense of half his current health.

While in hisKingdom Hearts II attire, Sora's appearance in Rage Form is identical to Antiform.

Ultimate Form unleashes the ultimate power of the Keyblade. Sora wears white clothes reminiscent ofFinal Form. It is triggered byUltima Weapon.

While attacking, Sora will summon a variety of swords that will surround him and will be used in finishers, he uses a pattern of magic and uses the symbolism of chains during some attacks.

Light Form allows Sora to harness the power of light. It is triggered byOathkeeper.

Dark Form allows Sora to harness the power of darkness. It is triggered byOblivion.

Double Form allows Sora to harness light and darkness together. It is triggered by Oathkeeper and Oblivion.

When attacking, Sora dual-wields both Keyblades in a manner similar to Roxas.

Spellweaver is a Formchange exclusive toAqua during her playable segments. It is triggered byMaster's Defender.

This formchange behaves almost exactly like theStyle Change fromKingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, albeit with slightly faster combo speed, and a Finish command available upon activation like Sora's Formchanges.

Other appearances[edit]

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix[edit]

The many Formchanges of the Lingering Will's Keyblade.

TheLingering Will is the first character to demonstrate Formchanges. It can Formchange theEnds of the Earth into a variety of weapons, such as a whip, aKeyblade Glider, the Cannon Gun, and a drill.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

Terra,Aqua,Ventus, andNo Heart can Formchange their Keyblades intoKeyblade Gliders. Terra can also Formchange his Keyblade into theUltima Cannon, whichTerra-Xehanort inherits, and No Heart can Formchange its Keyblade into a variety of weapons such as greaves and a shield.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance[edit]

Young Xehanort can Formchangehis Keyblade into a whip during his fight againstRiku.

Kingdom Hearts III[edit]

Sora's max-levelShotlocks incorporate his corresponding Keyblade's Formchanges.Lea can Formchange theBond of the Blaze Keyblade into theEternal Flames Chakrams. Young Xehanort also Formchanges his Keyblade into a whip during the fight against him,Xemnas, andAnsem, Seeker of Darkness.Master Xehanort can Formchange theχ-blade into cannons.

When fighting Terra-Xehanort, the Lingering Will Formchanges its Keyblade into a whip and theUltima Cannon.

Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind[edit]

Young Xehanort's data replica can Formchange his Keyblade into a whip, and Master Xehanort's can Formchange the χ-blade into a variety of weapons, such as a whip, chakram, cannons or dual-sided blade.

Notes and references[edit]

• Forms