Magic
| For other uses, seeMagic (disambiguation). |
Magic (まほう, Mahou?) is a type of skill that appears throughout theKingdom Hearts series.
Magic can be either offensive or supportive, and it differs from weapon skills in that its usage is generally limited by some factor, such as the player's currentMP, and that its potency is determined by theMagic stat (maximum MP inKingdom Hearts). InKingdom Hearts,Kingdom Hearts II, andKingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, offensive magic is the only way to inflict elemental damage. Additionally, many types of magic inflictstatus effects on enemies.
Party members who specialize in magic includeDonald Duck,Jack Skellington, andZexion.[citation needed]
Magical power is associated with wisdom, as indicated by the descriptions of theDream Rod andStruggle Wand, as well asWisdom Form. It is also associated with the color blue, the color of theMP gauges appearing inKingdom Hearts andKingdom Hearts II, the color ofmagic cards inKingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, and the signature color of Wisdom Form. In the menus, magic is represented by a symbol of Donald's mage hat.
InKingdom Hearts andKingdom Hearts II, choosing theDream Rod in theDive to the Heart grants greater magic-casting ability uponleveling up earlier in-game. Magic-focused play styles are considered to be among the more difficult to use, owing largely to the care that must be taken of elemental effects, as some enemies may either be immune to and/or healed by certain elements, as well as the limitation of a finite amount of MP which must be carefully managed, with the assistance of restorativeitems andabilities such asMP Haste andMP Rage.
Usage[edit]
Many individuals in theKingdom Hearts universe are capable of using magic. All wielders of theKeyblade are capable of learning magic, and magic of the Keyblade itself is capable of great feats, being able to lock aworld'sKeyhole, opengates, and transform into different forms. Some specialize in the use of magic, such as Donald Duck,Merlin, andYen Sid. Those that are adept at magic can use it in a wide variety of uses outside of combat, such as transformations, transportation between worlds, realms, or even time periods, or casting enchantments or curses. Like many techniques, spells are often accompanied by an invocation, such as "Light!" when casting aHoly spell.
Mechanics[edit]
Kingdom Hearts[edit]
There are seven types of basic magic that become available throughoutKingdom Hearts, which are upgraded upon reaching certain milestones, up to maximum of three tiers. They are accessible from theCommand Menu under "Magic", and three of them can be set to shortcuts at a time for easy access during battle.
Casting magic costs MP, which can be recovered by collectingMP Orbs, attacking enemies, using restorative items such asEthers, or by touching aSave Point. Some party members'abilities can also restore MP. The length of the MP gauge determines how effective magic casts are, and as basic magic gets upgraded to higher tiers, it will become even more powerful.
InKingdom Hearts,summoning is categorized as magic.
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories[edit]
- Main articles:Magic card and Magic sleights
Magic cards represent the types of magic that appeared inKingdom Hearts. They are colored blue, as aresummon cards. By usingsleights, higher-tiered magic can be used in battle, as can advanced magic techniques, such asTornado andMega Flare.
Kingdom Hearts II[edit]
There are six types of basic magic inKingdom Hearts II, which are upgraded upon reaching certain milestones, up to a maximum of three tiers. They are accessible from theCommand Menu under "Magic", and four of them can be set to shortcuts at one time for easy access during battle. Most magic can be cast in combos, similarly toattack combos, ending with a slightly more powerful magic finisher. Magic combos are affected by combo-related abilities, such asCombo Plus andFinishing Plus, and magic attacks can be interspersed with weapon attacks in one combo.Magnet andCure magic cannot be used to make a combo, though the former by itself acts as a finisher that can chain into another finisher with Finishing Plus equipped.
Casting magic costs MP, which can be recovered by collecting MP orbs, using restorative items such as Ethers, entering aDrive Form, or by touching a Save Point. If the MP gauge is fully emptied,MP Charge begins, during which the gauge is replaced with the pink Charge gauge. While the Charge gauge gradually empties, magic cannot be used, but portions of the gauge can be emptied immediately in the same manner as recovering MP.
Wisdom Form,Master Form, andFinal Form have abilities that enhance the casting of magic, whileValor Form andLimit Form disable the use of magic.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days[edit]
- See also:Panel System andMagic Panel
InKingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, magic can be used during missions when magic panels are installed into thepanel grid. The number of available casts for a type of basic magic is determined by the number of installed panels for that type, but casts can be restored mid-mission by using items such as Ethers. Linking basic magic panels to special magic panels willincrease the level orgrant multiple casts of that magic.
There are five varieties of magic that appear, each with three tiers; however, unlike in other games, different tiers of one type of magic will have different effects. For example,Fire launches a homing fireball, Fira shoots a penetrating fireball straight ahead, and Firaga launches a large fireball with slight homing capabilities into the air, after which it explodes.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]
- Main article:Magic command (KHBBS)
InKingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, a wide variety of magic techniques are available, basic and advanced, in the form of magic commands. As withattack commands, magic commands go through a cool-down period before they can be used again, but otherwise, their use is not limited.
Magic commands may be dropped by enemies, purchased from shops, found in smalltreasure chests, or obtained from variousmini-games, such as theCommand Board.
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded[edit]
- Main article:Magic command (KHREC)
InKingdom Hearts Re:coded, magic commands return in the same capacity as inKingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.
They may be found inrare prize blox, purchased from shops, or awarded for high ranks in boss battles.
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance[edit]
- Main article:Magic command (KH3D)
InKingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, magic commands return in the same capacity as inKingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep andKingdom Hearts Re:coded.
Magic commands may be purchased from shops, found in large chests, obtained throughAbility Link or won from mini-games.
Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-[edit]
Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage- uses the same magic system fromKingdom Hearts II.
There are only four types of basic magic available, which are at their respective third tiers from the beginning. They are accessible from theCommand Menu under "Magic", and four of them can be set to shortcuts at one time for easy access during battle. Most magic can be cast in combos, similarly to attack combos, ending with a slightly more powerful magic finisher.[?]
Casting magic costs MP, which can be recovered by collecting MP orbs, using restorative items such as Ethers, or by touching a Save Point. If the MP gauge is fully emptied, MP Charge begins, during which the gauge is replaced with the pink Charge gauge. While the Charge gauge gradually empties, magic cannot be used, but portions of the gauge can be emptied immediately in the same manner as recovering MP.
In addition to standard magic, magicSituation Commands are introduced. If the gauge above the Command Menu is filled by inflicting damage with magic, a Situation Command will appear above the Command Menu for the attribute that was used the most to fill the gauge. The tier will be one above the tier of the magic that was used.
Kingdom Hearts III[edit]
Kingdom Hearts III uses the same magic system asKingdom Hearts II andKingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-.
There are six types of basic magic, with three tiers becoming available upon reaching certain milestones. Unlike in pastKingdom Hearts games, higher tiers of magic consume more MP; for instance,Fire costs 10 MP, Fira 14 MP, and Firaga 20 MP. They are accessible from the Command Menu under "Magic", and each type of magic can be switched to any of the available tiers in the menu for access in the field. Up to twelve of them can be set to shortcuts at one time for easy access during battle. Most magic can be cast in combos, similarly to attack combos, ending with a slightly more powerful magic finisher. Magic combos are affected by combo-related abilities, such as Combo Plus andMagic Galvanizer, and magic attacks can be interspersed with weapon attacks in one combo.Cure magic cannot be used to make a combo.
Casting magic costs MP, which can be recovered by collecting MP orbs, using restorative items such as Ethers, or by touching a Save Point. If the MP gauge is fully emptied, MP Charge begins, during which the gauge is replaced with the pink Charge gauge. While the MP Charge gauge gradually empties, magic cannot be used, but portions of the gauge can be emptied immediately in the same manner as recovering MP.
The magic Situation Commands fromKingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage- return, now calledGrand Magic. Again, Grand Magic commands will be one tier above the magic that triggered them. Certainabilities obtained through equipping specific weapons or accessories or through aFull Course Bonus allow grand magic commands to generate more easily during battle, as well as grant access to the otherwise unavailable Curaza command.
The way magic is cast can change based on the currentFormchange. The different styles of magic casting are:
- Basic Style (基本スタイル, Kihon Sutairu?): The standard use of magic. Each type of offensive magic has a unique casting effect. This style is used by every Keyblade's base form,Second Form,Counter Shield,Mirage Staff,Nano Arms,Frying Pan,Ultimate Form,Light Form,Dark Form andDouble Form.
- Proximity Style (近接スタイル, Kinsetsu Sutairu?): Offensive magic is cast in a dome or circle around Sora, damaging nearby enemies in a manner similar to Fire magic inKingdom Hearts II. This style is used byHyper Hammer,Agile Claws,Blizzard Claws,Blizzard Blades,Storm Flag andBoom Hammer.
- Dual Style (二連スタイル, Ni-ren Sutairu?): Offensive magic is cast as small projectiles that are fired in paired bursts. Each successive tier of offensive magic increases the number of projectiles per burst by one. This style is used byDouble Arrowguns,Twin Yo-Yos, andHunny Blasters.
- Artillery Style (砲撃スタイル, Hōgeki Sutairu?): Offensive magic is cast as a large cannonball-like projectile that explodes on impact, similar to Firaga inKingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. This style is used byMagic Launcher,Drill Punch,Hunny Launcher,Highwind, andClock Drill.
These styles also apply to all offensive Grand Magic spells.
Additionally, the effect of offensive magic changes also when cast underwater. Both Magic spells and Grand Magic Situation Commands are also disabled in areas populated with NPCs, such asTwilight Town's Neighborhood.
As playable characters,Riku has access toThundaga and Curaga magic, whileAqua has access to Firaga,Blizzaga, Thundaga, and Curaga.
InKingdom Hearts III Re Mind, as playable characters,Roxas can useWaterga and Curaga, while Kairi has access to all six spells.
Unlike previous games, all five playable characters can cast spells while in motion as part of a combo. However, spells cast as combo finishers or Grand Magic cannot be cast in motion and will immobilize their user during spellcasting. Additionally, during Formchanges that use the "Proximity" or "Artillery" style, all spells, Cure included, can only be cast in a stationary stance.
Recurring magic[edit]
- Fire, Fira, Firaga, Firaza
- Blizzard, Blizzara, Blizzaga, Blizzaza
- Thunder, Thundara, Thundaga, Thundaza
- Cure, Cura, Curaga, Curaza
- Aero, Aerora, Aeroga, Aeroza
- Gravity, Gravira, Graviga
- Zero Gravity, Zero Gravira, Zero Graviga, Zero Graviza
- Stop, Stopra, Stopga
- Magnet, Magnera, Magnega
- Reflect, Reflera, Reflega
- Water, Watera, Waterga, Waterza
Origin and naming[edit]
Many of the magic that appears in theKingdom Hearts series borrows heavily frommagic in theFinal Fantasy series. This includes elemental types, as well as specific spells, such asFire,Curaga, andReflect. The distinction betweenBlack, or offensive magic, andWhite, or supportive magic, is not carried over toKingdom Hearts, however.
Also borrowed fromFinal Fantasy is the naming convention of basic magic. In most installments ofFinal Fantasy, the second and third tiers of magic are usually denoted by the suffixes-ra and-ga, respectively. This convention is followed inKingdom Hearts, with one notable exception: While the fourth tier of magic inFinal Fantasy, when included, is-ja,Kingdom Hearts uses the suffix-gun, localized in English as-za inKingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance andKingdom Hearts III and-ja inKingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-. Someaccessories are named after the fourth tier of magic, using the suffix-gun (e.g.,Firagun Bangle), as are twoReaction Commands,Firagun andBlizzagun.
Abilities[edit]
Certain abilities enhance or facilitate the use of magic, generally by boosting magical damage, elemental damage, or MP recovery.
- MP Haste
- MP Rage
- Fire Boost
- Blizzard Boost
- Thunder Boost
- Magic Lock-On
- Crime & Punishment
- Magic Haste
- Magic Spice
- Master Magic
- Endless Magic
- Leaf Bracer
- Cure Boost
- Magic Galvanizer
- Full MP Blast
InKingdom Hearts, some party members also possess abilities that mimic the effects of spells.
- Jack Skellington'sBlazing Fury (Fire)
- Jack Skellington'sIcy Terror (Ice)
- Jack Skellington'sBolts of Sorrow (Thunder)
- Ariel'sThunder Potion (Thunder)
- Tarzan'sHealing Herb (Cure)
- Ariel'sCure Potion (Cure)
- Jack Skellington'sGhostly Scream (Gravity)
- Tarzan'sWind Armor (Aero)
- Ariel'sAero Potion (Aero)
- Peter Pan'sStorm's Eye (Aero)
- Peter Pan'sTime-Out (Stop)
| Kingdom Hearts coded |
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| Data-Sora Cloud -Hercules -Donald Duck -Goofy |
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| Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep & 358/2 Days Original Soundtrack -Simple and Clean |
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