The Heartless (ハートレス,Hātoresu?) are physical, living manifestations of the darkness within people's hearts. They manifest in two forms; "Pureblood" and "Emblem" (Emblem Heartless being created artificially), and they behave entirely devoid of emotion, hence the name "Heartless".[1]
As Xehanort had yet to release the Heartless in earnest, very few Heartless appear during Terra, Ventus, and Aqua's adventure. When Ventus had still been Master Xehanort's apprentice, Xehanort had summoned several Neoshadows in order to force the boy to embrace his darkness, but Ventus refused, and was soundly beaten by the Heartless instead of them stealing his heart.
Much later on, as Aqua wanders the Realm of Darkness following her battle with Terra-Xehanort, she encounters a pack of Darksides. Although she immediately summons Master Keeper, she decides that fighting would be useless, and lets the Darksides come at her to end her misery. However, both the Earthshaker and Wayward Wind come to her rescue, a last symbol of hope from her old friends Terra and Ventus, and destroy the Darksides.
Between Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts
Some time after Xehanort was taken in by Ansem the Wise, Ansem became worried about the darkness and the threat it posed to the people of his kingdom, Radiant Garden. Ansem began his experiments with psychological tests, with the help of Even. One of the willing subjects was the amnesiac Xehanort, whose dormant powers Ansem could sense. At the time, Ansem and Xehanort had tried ethical experiments, but this led to their subjects' hearts to collapse.
Following this, King Mickey befriended Ansem and warned him about the dangers the Heartless presented, giving Ansem an ultimatum: continue his research and endanger his world or stop his research and keep Radiant Garden safe. Ansem chose to end his research, but Xehanort continued on with the experiments after recruiting Ansem's other apprentices, Braig, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, and Ienzo. As they dabbled deeper into darkness in their research on the Heartless, they went insane and revolted against their teacher, Ansem. They banished him to the Realm of Darkness, where his lust for revenge drove him to become the mastermind, DiZ.
Without their master to bar them from unethical methods, the apprentices experimented further on the Heartless, creating a Manufactory below Ansem's lab to produce artificial Heartless—the Emblems. In time, the Heartless escaped Hollow Bastion and began terrorizing the city of Radiant Garden, devouring many hearts and many innocent lives lost.
The Heartless appeared inside Sora's Awakening in preparation for the coming invasion of Destiny Islands. They succeeded in separating Riku from the world, and consumed Destiny Islands and everyone who lived on the islands, all except Sora, who slew many of them with the Keyblade. After he escaped, he met Leon and Yuffie, who told him about the Heartless, what creates them and what attracts them to people: the darkness in every heart (it is later revealed in the Ansem reports that the heartless' goal is to feed off of the energy of the hearts of people and worlds). This lead to Sora fighting the Heartless alongside Donald Duck and Goofy in an effort to save the worlds.
Sora rushes to Kairi, and then encounters the Ansem-possessed Riku, who explains that Kairi's heart was inside of Sora the whole time. He also tells Sora his false name (Ansem). Ansem needed Kairi's heart so that the Heartless could devour the worlds, but Sora stood against him, and defeated him. Ansem fell, but he took Riku along with him as his vessel. After turning into a Heartless to restore Kairi's heart, then regaining his human shape from Kairi's own heart, Sora went out to save Riku from Ansem and the rest of the Heartless in End of the World.
Ansem used the Heartless to try and annihilate Sora so that he could unlock Kingdom Hearts, but he was bested once again. Ansem proceeded to reach out to Kingdom Hearts to try and control the darkness from within. However, Sora spoke out, saying that he was wrong, and in actuality, Kingdom Hearts was made of Light. The light, shining through toward Ansem, destroyed his dark-fused body, giving Sora enough time to try to seal the door. This kept many Heartless from escaping the Realm of Darkness through the door.
The Heartless that appear in all of the worlds recreated from Sora's memories of his last adventure are fake, while the ones infesting the top floor of Castle Oblivion are real. The Organization was still using Sora to free hearts from the Heartless even at this point. However, the Heartless were most probably not on the Thirteenth floor until Larxene's death.
Roxas was sent by Xemnas, Xehanort's Nobody, to work with other Organization members and release the hearts of every Heartless that he encounters. Since only Emblem Heartless release hearts, the Organization only seeks to slay their kind; Pureblood Heartless are seen only as obstacles. This also explains when you destroy a Pureblood Heartless, such as a Shadow, on a "collect hearts" mission, they do not add to your mission gauge.
Roxas's sole purpose in the Organization is to destroy Emblem Heartless, and in doing so complete Kingdom Hearts for the Organization.
After Sora awakens in Twilight Town, he travels to the Mysterious Tower, where he meets Pete, Maleficent's second in command, who is working to try and make an army of Heartless for Maleficent to use. After a skirmish with a couple of Heartless, Sora realizes that the worlds are still in danger. He meets with the Tower's master, Yen Sid, who explains Sora's new mission to him, though the Heartless have returned, they are not the main enemy this time; the new enemies are the Nobodies.
After learning that Organization XIII was using Sora to release the hearts of every Heartless he destroyed so that the Organization could take them and create their own Kingdom Hearts, Sora heads for the Organization's base, The World That Never Was, to try and destroy their Kingdom Hearts. After Ansem the Wise was sent to the Realm of Darkness by his exploding machine that damaged Xemnas' Kingdom Hearts, the hearts falling from the wounded moon attracted the Heartless below the castle. The Heartless climbed the castle to seek whatever they could eat. Maleficent and Pete ironically fought off their minions, the Heartless, while Sora, Kairi, Riku, and the others went on to defeat Xemnas in exchange for the Organization's castle.
The Heartless appear once again as enemies inside of the digital world in Jiminy's Journal. They are not the actual Heartless, but rather the information regarding Heartless that Jiminy wrote down during Sora's first adventure (hence why they have no real hearts to release). The Heartless cause tons of havoc in their data worlds by infecting System Sectors, which cause a variety of glitches in the world they are infesting. While inside a System Sector, Heartless can gain increased abilities by fusing with Bug Blox to become Bugged heartless. When Bugged, they become fuzzy pitch black with menu screen floating around them.
Due to the nature of the Sleeping Worlds, Heartless can not invade worlds sealed within slumber. However, through a carefully laid out plan in advance, "Ansem" is able to manifest within the Sleeping worlds, making him the only Heartless boss fought in the game, twice. While entering Sora's Dive to the Heart, Riku is attacked by various copies of Sora's Heartless/AntiSora.
It should be noted Heartless along side Nobodies were originally going to appear in this game commonly, but where scrapped in favor of the Dream Eaters.
Nature
Pureblood Heartless are natural Heartless, born from the darkness in people's hearts. They are ink-black in color, with yellow beady eyes. They are more common in places that are close to or saturated in darkness. Upon their destruction, they simply disappear in puffs of darkness, without a heart leaving its body.
Emblem Heartless, on the other hand, were originally created from machines that reproduce the process of a heart being consumed by darkness. Afterward, stolen hearts can become Emblems. They have more varied shapes, colors, and are branded with Xehanort's symbol to differentiate them from the Pureblood ones. They are more common on the worlds within the Realm of Light, and usually mimic the shape of creatures or objects within that world.
Heartless, Emblem or Pureblood, possess several key characteristics that define them as Heartless. All Heartless are created when the darkness that resides in a person's heart consumes him or her, thus giving the darkness shape and form (this process occasionally forms Nobodies, which are born from the body and soul left behind when the heart is lost). Being born from darkness, they are mindless and act on instinct, their only goal to find hearts, and consume them to create more Heartless. But what they desire above all are the hearts of worlds, and thus they enter worlds in search of the way into the hearts of the worlds. When they consume these colossal hearts, the remains of the world form new worlds, such as Traverse Town and the End of the World.
At the same time, Heartless seek out the users of the Keyblade, since the Keyblades are able to vanquish Heartless very effectively. In order to stop the users of the Keyblades, the Heartless use the Keyblade itself as a homing beacon, but ultimately desire to take the heart that commands it. Because of this, Keyblade wielders and everyone around them are under constant attack.
The Heartless, being mindless, usually have no master to direct their actions and instead act on the instinct to gather more hearts. However, there are some higher beings who can command them. Higher ranking Heartless can act as leaders themselves; either as leuitenants, like the Guard Armor, or as de facto rulers, like Xehanort's Heartless. Also, Heartless will obey those with an affinity for darkness and a strong will. If many people attempt to control them, the Heartless will side with whomever is most powerful. Those with hearts, such as Maleficent, endanger themselves however, as the Heartless are attracted to their hearts and if they show weakness, the Heartless will not think twice of consuming their hearts. Nobodies, on the other hand, can fully command them without this risk, since they have no hearts to feed on. However, as stated by Pete, in a world that is too close to darkness, such as The World That Never Was, the Heartless will not obey anyone, no matter how strong they are.
Heartless make use of the "corridors of darkness", inter-dimensional pathways that connect the many worlds. These pathways are located in the Realm of Darkness, and thus are very dangerous to use if one is not accustomed to the darkness.
Heartless that emerge from various places. They sneak up to their enemies and strike them with sharp claws. They are extremely tenacious, often chasing their prey to the end.
Heartless wielding a large sword. These winged Heartless can move freely through the air. Besides their sword, they attack with their tail and wings. With their high attack power, they often defeat their foes quickly.
Enormous Heartless that appeared in Destiny Islands with Shadows. It led the Shadows in the battle against Sora when he first received the Keyblade. Although Sora defeated it, the island was swallowed by the darkness.
A Heartless that appears bringing along many allies. With their powers combined, they try to defeat Sora while, at the same time, reviving fallen comrades, which makes these Heartless experts in teamwork. Leave one alive and it will call new allies, so it's a good idea to stay on your toes until the very end.
A Heartless that pops up in all kinds of places. The Shadow ambles around and attacks without warning. It is completely untouchable while hiding within the darkness.
An extremely agile Heartless. It dives into shadows before it pops up in front of its enemy and delivers a rolling attack. The Neoshadow moves in the shadows, making it a difficult opponent to fight.
It produces a shadow on the ground before attacking. Catch it off guard right after it attacks. Once it tries to jump and attack, use the reaction command Aerial Dance for a flurry of attacks!
These living collectives are made up of multiple Possessors, and can drain life from anything they touch. When dealt lethal damage, the collective splits into individual creatures, so be prepared to face them.
Both fast and strong, these Heartless pose a serious threat. They attack with a fearsome shockwave. Time your combo finisher so it connects right after they catch their sword. This will cancel the shockwave and leave them open.
A Pureblood Heartless that flows across the ground as a shadow, completely immune to attack. It may unleash a shockwave as it emerges, so stay on guard. Block when it charges you to earn a few precious seconds during which you can deal double damage.
This advanced form of the Pureblood Neoshadow can't be knocked off balance, and retains the ability to unleash a shockwave as it resurfaces from the ground. Block when it charges you to earn a few precious seconds during which you can deal double damage.
Though faster and more powerful, these Heartless are otherwise the same as the Invisible. They attack with a fearsome shockwave. Time your combo finisher so it connects right after they catch their sword. This will cancel the shockwave and leave them open.
Heartless which lurk here, there, and everywhere. They hide themselves beneath their own shadows as they draw close to their prey, then lash out with sharpened claws. Don't want to get caught shadowboxing? Then wait till they surface to strike.
Heartless hewn from the very shadows. Usually they just waft through the air, but they can be annoyingly unpredictable, bobbing around erratically or charging right at you without a moment's warning.
Powerful Heartless equipped with long, hefty swords. They can levitate and move swiftly through the air. Magic will slow them down, but be careful when you move in for the strike. Get too eager and Invisibles will counterattack—and boy, does it hurt when they do.
A giant, heavy-hitting Heartless that tried to put Sora's lights out. And while Sora triumphed over the Darkside, he wasn't ready for the downside: getting swept into the dark torrent that ensued.
Heartless that pose as prize blox, but they don't stick around for long. When threatened, they scramble hither and thither, and eventually disappear. If you want to defeat one, do it quickly.
Sora’s Heartless, who has gained incredible power within the confines of the datascape. He can dive underground and then reemerge for a brutal attack, so stay on your toes and be ready to dodge.
Sora’s Heartless, empowered further within the datascape. Faced with countless Keyblades and ruthless attacks, Sora had to struggle just to stay in the fight.
One of the many forms the heart takes after being swallowed by darkness.
A being that appears along with the darkness, it searches for hearts in order to attack them.
Heartless that emerge from various places. They are brisk in their movements, and rush into their opponents. However, they are not that tenacious. They often appear in numbers, though they lack teamwork.
Big round Heartless. They seem tame and laid-back, but go berserk when they are angered. With their brute strength, they can inflict great damage, so be on your guard.
Spellcasting Heartless. While hovering about, they attack by casting Fire. Having low HP, they keep their distance from their opponents, making them difficult to attack. They absorb fire attacks.
Spellcasting Heartless. They heal themselves and other Heartless with Cure. They are slow-moving, but hover high in the air and absorb most magic attacks.
Heartless resembling a monkey. With great physical strength and agility, they often strike with combination attacks. Avoid close-range battles with them if possible.
Heartless resembling a monkey. Unlike Powerwilds, they attack from long range with a sling shot. They scamper about during battle, making them difficult to hit.
Heartless that mostly appear in Agrabah. They are well-balanced offensively and defensively. Besides strong physical attack, they use fire, and they block attacks against them. Their movement is their weakness.
Heartless that mostly appear in Atlantica. They roam in dark areas and emit light from their eye to target their enemies. They can warp from one place to another.
Heartless resembling a jellyfish. You receive damage just from colliding with it. They move slow, but break up into many Sea Neons if struck. They fling their tentacles away to keep their enemies away.
Heartless that acts with Aquatank. Unpredictable creatures, dashing forward one minute, cowardly retreating the next. They are invigorated by the sparks from Aquatank.
Heartless resembling a fish that calmly swim the seas. They are often carrying Screwdivers. Leisurely large creatures that do not attack unless provoked.
Winged Heartless that mostly appears in Halloween Town. They can move from one place to another almost without notice. Since they are prone to sneak attack, they often get caught off guard by counter attacks.
Heartless that mostly appear in Neverland. They are quite combative with their swords. They often just focus on the enemies in front, making them vulnerable to attacks from behind.
Winged Heartless that mostly appear in Neverland. They are extremely combative and are hardly ever caught off guard. They attack with martial-arts-like techniques.
Giant Heartless that attack from the air. They are quite swift for their size and are hard to attack, especially while they are high in the air. Counterattacking when they come down would be most effective.
Flying Heartless that cast potent spells. They are born of holy spells. They attack from long range with magic. They block physical attacks with their wings, making them difficult to defeat.
Leader of the Heartless in Traverse Town. It falls apart when it receives damage, but each part attacks individually. Sora meets Donald and Goofy for the first time just before fighting this Heartless.
Heartless called by Jafar to stop Aladdin. Its long body is composed of a number of Pot Spiders linked together. Even if its body comes apart, it can regenerate itself by gathering other pots.
Immensely powerful Heartless. With their large frame, they trample enemies, and repel most attacks. Damaging their weak point makes them lose consciousness. Strike them with potent attacks while they are down.
Ghostlike Heartless who haunted the clock tower standing far away from Neverland. Fluttering his eerie cloak, he cast a spell to take Sora's heart. Having no physical body, regular attacks were useless, but in the end Sora and company discovered his weakness and prevailed.
Heartless who emerged from the Keyhole opened by the princesses. He swung his six powerful arms to attack Sora and company and block their attacks. But Sora sought out his weakness and emerged the victor.
Heartless that emerge from various places. They are brisk in their movements, and rush into their opponents. However, they are not that tenacious. They often appear in numbers, though they lack teamwork.
This Soldier has the same appearance as that of a Soldier, but it's hard to spot. Appearing in a group of other Heartless, this one attacks from afar, stealthily and annoyingly. However, once it's weakened, it'll come out of hiding.
Big round Heartless. They seem tame and laid-back, but go berserk when they are angered. With their brute strength, they can inflict great damage, so be on your guard.
Spellcasting Heartless. While hovering about, they attack by casting Fire. Having low HP, they keep their distance from their opponents, making them difficult to attack. They absorb fire attacks.
Spellcasting Heartless. They heal themselves and other Heartless with Cure. They are slow-moving, but hover high in the air and absorb most magic attacks.
Using the art of multiplying, this Heartless confuses its foes. If you attack any of the copies rather than the real one, it will get a chance to attack back and, eventually, will end up fleeing. But if you keep a good eye on the real one and attack it continuously...
Heartless resembling a monkey. With great physical strength and agility, they often strike with combination attacks. Avoid close-range battles with them if possible.
Heartless resembling a monkey. Unlike Powerwilds, they attack from long range with a sling shot. They scamper about during battle, making them difficult to hit.
A Heartless in the form of a monkey. It's usually seen playing around aimlessly, but on some occasions it stays alarm as to look for an enemy. When this Heartless spots Sora, it will call for allies to shoot him with slingshots.
Heartless that mostly appear in Agrabah. They are well-balanced offensively and defensively. Besides strong physical attack, they use fire, and they block attacks against them. Their movement is their weakness.
A very uninteresting pot changed into a Heartless through the powers of darkness. Unlike the Pot Spider, it uses a very strong pot so just attacking it won't defeat it. Worse, there's poisons in the pot and this enemy will throw around solid bits of poison as it attacks.
Heartless that mostly appear in Atlantica. They roam in dark areas and emit light from their eye to target their enemies. They can warp from one place to another.
A Heartless that looks much like the Search Ghost that happens to dwell in Monstro's body. Attacks through use of weaponry won't do damage and will not cause it to drop items at all, obviously. However, if you go near it and use items...
Heartless resembling a jellyfish. You receive damage just from colliding with it. They move slow, but break up into many Sea Neons if struck. They fling their tentacles away to keep their enemies away.
Heartless that acts with Aquatank. Unpredictable creatures, dashing forward one minute, cowardly retreating the next. They are invigorated by the sparks from Aquatank.
Heartless resembling a fish that calmly swim the seas. They are often carrying Screwdivers. Leisurely large creatures that do not attack unless provoked.
A Heartless that resembles the Aquatank that, rather than swimming in the ocean, swims in the air. At high speeds too! Just chasing this one by air won't do; it will fire Heartless that resemble Screwdivers called "Missile Divers", causing an intense aerial battle to start. Note this Heartless acts quite rudely if one carries lots of Munny around and encounters this foe.
Winged Heartless that mostly appears in Halloween Town. They can move from one place to another almost without notice. Since they are prone to sneak attack, they often get caught off guard by counter attacks.
Heartless that mostly appear in Neverland. They are quite combative with their swords. They often just focus on the enemies in front, making them vulnerable to attacks from behind.
Winged Heartless that mostly appear in Neverland. They are extremely combative and are hardly ever caught off guard. They attack with martial-arts-like techniques.
Giant Heartless that attack from the air. They are quite swift for their size and are hard to attack, especially while they are high in the air. Counterattacking when they come down would be most effective.
White Mushrooms become a source of luck when they summon this guy, a gigantic Heartless. It likes dancing more than fighting, so when it starts dancing, it seems like it can't stop itself.
Flying Heartless that cast potent spells. They are born of holy spells. They attack from long range with magic. They block physical attacks with their wings, making them difficult to defeat.
A Heartless that wanders in Halloween Town. Normally, it would be relaxing and completely carefree, but when made serious, its movements grow quick and will resort to striking its enemies repeatedly. This Heartless can summon Gargoyles and use many other moves. If one doesn't use this Heartless's moves against itself, then defeating it will be an ordeal.
Leader of the Heartless in Traverse Town. It falls apart when it receives damage, but each part attacks individually. Sora meets Donald and Goofy for the first time just before fighting this Heartless.
A Heartless that resembles the Guard Armor. After the parts separate, it becomes the Armored Torso (the torso), Gauntlets (arms), and Hammer Legs (legs), and it seems all the parts move in their own ways. These five parts entered in a fighting tournament as a team.
A Heartless that resembles the Stealth Sneak. However, its abilities have been made stronger compared to the Stealth Sneak. For example, it has the ability to hide its appearance and can move around quickly as it attacks which makes this Heartless quite an annoying foe. It seems just one is enough to fight, but two are fought as a team in a certain fighting competition.
Heartless called by Jafar to stop Aladdin. Its long body is composed of a number of Pot Spiders linked together. Even if its body comes apart, it can regenerate itself by gathering other pots.
Immensely powerful Heartless. With their large frame, they trample enemies, and repel most attacks. Damaging their weak point makes them lose consciousness. Strike them with potent attacks while they are down.
A Behemoth species that is above all others. As it name says, it can do more destruction compared to the other Behemoth species, even if it holds the same attacks as a Behemoth. Its large body and power make it seem quite formidable, but its weak point is just like a Behemoth's.
A subspecies of Behemoth. Even if it does resemble a Behemoth, its abilities to fight are not as high as one. However, its ways of fighting and weak point are exactly like a Behemoth's.
Ghostlike Heartless who haunted the clock tower standing far away from Neverland. Fluttering his eerie cloak, he cast a spell to take Sora's heart. Having no physical body, regular attacks were useless, but in the end Sora and company discovered his weakness and prevailed.
Heartless who emerged from the Keyhole opened by the princesses. He swung his six powerful arms to attack Sora and company and block their attacks. But Sora sought out his weakness and emerged the victor.
A rotund Heartless. The Large Body repels frontal attacks with its jiggly belly. Sometimes it throws its weight around and shakes the ground, so jumping is key.
A magic-wielding Heartless that drifts through the air. It's flighty and hard to hit. The Red Nocturne attacks with Fire from a distance, and absorbs fire damage.
A magic-wielding Heartless that drifts through the air. The Yellow Opera hurls itself at enemies or attacks with Thunder. It absorbs all lightning damage.
A magic-wielding Heartless that drifts through the air. It doesn't attack, but it can cast Cure to heal other Heartless. The Green Requiem is slow, but is healed by basic elemental magic, making it tough to squash.
A gunpowder-packed barrel transformed by the darkness into a Heartless. The Barrel Spider sets upon anyone foolish enough to think it's an ordinary barrel.
A winged Heartless that mostly sticks to Neverland. It's not armed, but it doesn't need to be. The Air Pirate deals a brutal punch right after its fist flashes.
A Heartless that mostly sticks to Neverland. A skilled swordsman, the Pirate can knock its enemies out cold and then finish them off with a vicious combo. If its sword flashes, watch out!
An aggressive, poisonous Heartless, not to be confused with the White Mushroom. The Black Fungus likes to paralyze its foes and toy with them. It's tough to beat, but victory doesn't go unrewarded...
A Heartless that primarily resides in Hollow Bastion. Its shield stops head-on physical and magical attacks, and can launch fireballs. The Defender is also a skilled card user, and will break the cards of unprepared opponents.
It will block attacks dealt from the front, so a good option is to perform a series of combos from behind, finishing with Full Swing. When enraged it will repeatedly tackle it's target. That's the time to use reaction commands. Use Kickback to finish the battle!
Immune to fire magic, it parries most attacks dealt from the front. Use the Rush attack from behind and defeat it with a combo attack. Parry its fire bombs for a chance to unleash Full Swing!
It chases its target with determination while scattering mines, so be wary when fighting this creature. When its HP gets low, it places a large mine. Avoid it before it explodes. It easily resists magic, so don't be shy about using the Keyblade!
Its swiftness makes it hard to attack, so wait until it is still before attacking. Use magic to stop its movements. Avoid its retaliating tackling kicks by using the reaction commands!
It won't move until approached, so move in swiftly and attack. It becomes tired and lets its guard down after counterattacks. Attack then for an easy battle.
It stays in place and shoots seeds. Use reaction commands when it counterattacks with its roots. Use Root Ravager to uproot and attack surrounding enemies at once!
A great mage who can handle all three types of elemental magic. It bears a striking resemblance to Red Nocturne, Blue Rhapsody, and Yellow Opera when changing stance for use of each magic. It is immune to all magic, and should be defeated immediately.
A rare Heartless that can be found in certain worlds. It appears when you poke around various areas of the map. It only appears in certain areas, and once it appears, it will not appear in that area for a while. Use the reaction command to get items. Figure out its secret pattern to get specific items.
Using the art of multiplying, this Heartless confuses its foes. If you attack any of the copies rather than the real one, it will get a chance to attack back and, eventually, will end up fleeing. But if you keep a good eye on the real one and attack it continuously...
It moves underground, so follow the clouds of dust for its position. Use a finishing move to lure it out of the ground. Attack when its face pops out of the ground!
The soldier and lance don't get along, so it will be easy to catch this enemy off guard.
When its HP gets low, the lance goes nuts. Grab it with Lance Tug to attack surrounding enemies. A good strategy is to lower its HP and wait for the chance to use Lance Tug.
When its HP gets low, it unleashes its Press attack. Use Bump and Meteor Strike for a counterattack combo! Meteor Strike can be done in succession, so make sure to grab surrounding enemies as well!
It has very high defense, and can only take damage in the face. Attack the face!
If caught by it's snag laser, use the reaction command Bolt Reversal continuously to escape. If successful, a big explosion will unleash damage upon nearby enemies.
It can fly around or transform into a tank. In the air, it follows its target around, so keep a fair distance. The tank attacks from afar, so close in while dodging the cannons. Watch out for the electric attack unleashed during its transformation!
Once the battle begins, there is no fleeing. It has three types of punches, so figure out which it will unleash and choose an appropriate strategy. Its tackling punch is powerful, so defeat it quickly with successive reaction commands!
It charges its target in a group. Use the reaction command Rising Sun when it jumps into the sky, as it is about to unleash a tackling attack. Use Rising Sun in succession for various combos!
Use reaction Commands Snag, then Sparkle Ray to attack surrounding enemies with a laser! Keep an eye out for opportunities to use reaction commands even if the laser attack is parried!
It will block attacks dealt from the front, so a good option is to perform a series of combos from behind, finishing with Full Swing. When enraged it will repeatedly tackle it's target. That's the time to use reaction commands. Use Kickback to finish the battle!
Immune to fire magic, it parries most attacks dealt from the front. Use the Rush attack from behind and defeat it with a combo attack. Parry its fire bombs for a chance to unleash Full Swing!
It chases its target with determination while scattering mines, so be wary when fighting this creature. When its HP gets low, it places a large mine. Avoid it before it explodes. It easily resists magic, so don't be shy about using the Keyblade!
Its swiftness makes it hard to attack, so wait until it is still before attacking. Use magic to stop its movements. Avoid its retaliating tackling kicks by using the reaction commands!
Because it attacks so quickly, there is hardly any time in which this Heartless's guard is down. By using attacks like Magic, halt it in its tracks. Its chain of kicks it lets out is when it's most susceptible to damage. Counter with a Reaction Command!
It won't move until approached, so move in swiftly and attack. It becomes tired and lets its guard down after counterattacks. Attack then for an easy battle.
It stays in place and shoots seeds. Use reaction commands when it counterattacks with its roots. Use Root Ravager to uproot and attack surrounding enemies at once!
A great mage who can handle all three types of elemental magic. It bears a striking resemblance to Red Nocturne, Blue Rhapsody, and Yellow Opera when changing stance for use of each magic. It is immune to all magic, and should be defeated immediately.
A rare Heartless that can be found in certain worlds. It appears when you poke around various areas of the map. It only appears in certain areas, and once it appears, it will not appear in that area for a while. Use the reaction command to get items. Figure out its secret pattern to get specific items.
Using the art of multiplying, this Heartless confuses its foes. If you attack any of the copies rather than the real one, it will get a chance to attack back and, eventually, will end up fleeing. But if you keep a good eye on the real one and attack it continuously...
It moves underground, so follow the clouds of dust for its position. Use a finishing move to lure it out of the ground. Attack when its face pops out of the ground!
The soldier and lance don't get along, so it will be easy to catch this enemy off guard.
When its HP gets low, the lance goes nuts. Grab it with Lance Tug to attack surrounding enemies. A good strategy is to lower its HP and wait for the chance to use Lance Tug.
When its HP gets low, it unleashes its Press attack. Use Bump and Meteor Strike for a counterattack combo! Meteor Strike can be done in succession, so make sure to grab surrounding enemies as well!
It has very high defense, and can only take damage in the face. Attack the face!
If caught by it's snag laser, use the reaction command Bolt Reversal continuously to escape. If successful, a big explosion will unleash damage upon nearby enemies.
It can fly around or transform into a tank. In the air, it follows its target around, so keep a fair distance. The tank attacks from afar, so close in while dodging the cannons. Watch out for the electric attack unleashed during its transformation!
A Heartless with the ability to become invisible. Although Lock-On doesn't work when this enemy is invisible, if a hit is landed, then it won't be able to disappear for a little while. When it's in its mask form, no attacks have any effect on it. After attacking, its guard is down, so focus when fighting this Heartless.
Once the battle begins, there is no fleeing. It has three types of punches, so figure out which it will unleash and choose an appropriate strategy. Its tackling punch is powerful, so defeat it quickly with successive reaction commands!
If it chooses a prey, it won't ever let it run. It will stop in the air to punch its target repeatedly. This Heartless punches in three different ways, but it gives signs as to which punch will be used. Learn the patterns and strike accordingly.
It charges its target in a group. Use the reaction command Rising Sun when it jumps into the sky, as it is about to unleash a tackling attack. Use Rising Sun in succession for various combos!
Use reaction Commands Snag, then Sparkle Ray to attack surrounding enemies with a laser! Keep an eye out for opportunities to use reaction commands even if the laser attack is parried!
Quick to flee from threats, these small Heartless will attack anyone who takes down another of their number with a flurry of kicks. Block to send them sprawling.
Blocking works well against these mid-sized Heartless to stop their various kick attacks and create an opening. You can also nullify their attacks and trip them up by hitting them with a combo finisher when they start kicking.
A large flying Heartless. The toxic cloud it spits forth as it chases down targets will gradually drain the HP of anyone trapped within its bounds. Land a combo finisher to clear the cloud.
These large flying Heartless travel along a set path, making ambush a useful tactic. Their speed grows faster as their HP drops, rendering them increasingly tricky to finish off.
These small flying Heartless are able to spontaneously appear behind their targets and possess them. If you are ensnared, rapidly press buttons to shake loose. Hover Ghosts are quick to blink out of harm's way, but negative status effects will prevent them from vanishing.
These mid-sized flying Heartless are able to spontaneously appear behind their targets and possess them. Though they behave similarly to Hover Ghosts, physical attacks won't stagger them. Remember, there's no shame in falling back to regroup.
These small plant Heartless are rooted to the ground. They strike from afar with a seed cannon that can be turned on other foes with a well-timed block, or even used to destroy the Dire Plant itself.
TIP: Flower-based attacks like their seeds can blind you, which causes your attacks to miss.
These mid-sized plant Heartless are rooted to the ground. They strike from afar with bouncing fireballs, but are slow to react. A nimble fighter can easily get behind them and eliminate them from the rear.
These large plant Heartless are rooted to the ground. They strike from afar with homing ice shots that ricochet off walls, but they can be returned with a block. At close range, they'll attempt a head-butt, after which they'll be wide open for a counter attack.
These small Heartless cause the most trouble when they toot their horns to heal themselves and their cohorts. The wind missiles they shoot can be returned with a block.
TIP: Wind-based attacks can air-toss you. While airborne you become an easy target and will take more damage if hit.
These mid-sized Heartless cause the most trouble when they toot their horns to heal themselves and their cohorts. Block and you can deflect the bouncing fireballs they spew.
These mid-sized Heartless cause the most trouble when they toot their horns to heal themselves and their cohorts. Block and you can deflect the homing water missiles they spew.
These mid-sized Heartless are accomplished mages. While not aggressive, they grant allies an impenetrable barrier. Attack them until they get dizzy to make them drop their books, disabling any active barriers. The fallen books can then be knocked away. They have high defense, but are vulnerable to magic. Exploit that fact.
These mid-sized Heartless begin a countdown to self-detonation if you deflect their head-butts with a block. Strike them during the countdown to send their payload hurtling into other enemies.
TIP: Ice-based attacks like their explosion can freeze you, robbing you of the ability to move.
These mid-sized Heartless begin a countdown to self-detonation if you deflect their head-butts with a block. Avoid being sucked in by the whirlwind they produce during the countdown by jumping or gliding away.
These large versions of the Minute Bomb act similarly, but produce a much broader blast when they self-detonate. They also won't stagger from regular attacks, making them a dangerous foe. Take ample care when facing them.
Uncombative by nature, these large capsule Heartless will disappear after a short time. They hold rare and valuable prizes, however, and should be defeated when possible. They gain speed as they take damage. Don't let them get away!
These mid-sized cannon Heartless fire shots that rain down from above. Use dodge rolls or air slides to evacuate the target area. Their head-on shots can freeze victims, but can also be batted back with a block. Regular attacks won't throw them off balance. Be careful.
These mid-sized cannon Heartless fire shots that rain down from above. Use dodge rolls or air slides to evacuate the target area. Their head-on shots can't be blocked, and will also warp victims into point-blank range. Regular attacks won't throw them off balance. Be careful.
Mid-sized versions of the Li'l Cannon, these foes fire shots that rain down from above. Use dodge rolls or air slides to evacuate the target area. Though strong across the board and immune to being stunned by attacks, their head-on shots can be batted back with a block.
These mid-sized foes follow the same basic patterns as the Icy Cube, while also adding a rolling shockwave to their arsenal that steadily advances on its target. Fire magic is extremely effective.
These large flying drone Heartless fire a super laser that damages anything in its path, friend or foe. Regular attacks will not stagger the Guardian. To disable its super laser, jolt it with Thunder.
TIP: Nil-based attacks like the super laser can null your defense, increasing the damage you take.
Raw noise is the chief weapon of these large Heartless that lurk in treasure chests. Return their sound bullets and avoid getting flip-footed by blocking.
These mid-sized flying Heartless put the wind to expert use when attacking. They move swiftly, so wait for them to swoop low, then strike. Also, note that they are immune to Aero magic.
These mid-sized flying Heartless put the wind to expert use when attacking. They move swiftly, so wait for them to swoop low, then strike. Also, note that they are immune to Aero magic.
These large flying Heartless put the wind to expert use when attacking. They move swiftly, but are vulnerable just after kicking, so be ready to mount a counteroffensive. They also retain their kind's immunity to Aero magic.
These mid-sized flying Heartless put the wind to expert use when attacking. They move swiftly, but are vulnerable just after kicking, so be ready to mount a counteroffensive. They also retain their kind's immunity to Aero magic.
This improved version of the Guard Armor still uses the same basic tactics. The powerful shockwave it produces causes it to drop its head. Strike then and the body will eventually fall to pieces. Start with limbs and take them all out.
This newcomer to Wonderland splits in two, attacking as a pair. Unless both halves are defeated at the same time, they will continue the cycle of merging and splitting.
Counter its flamethrower with ice magic—Blizzaga if possible. Aeroga will halt its fiery spin attack.
These large plant Heartless are rooted to the ground. They strike from afar with poison shots that cannot be blocked. At close range, they'll attempt a head-butt, after which they'll be wide open. They are also susceptible to Fire magic.
These large flying drone Heartless fire a super laser that tears apart anything in its path, friend or foe. While regular attacks will not stagger the Destroyer, jolting it with Thunder magic will disable its super and double laser.
As aggressive as they are large, these foes still rely on kick attacks that can be deflected with a well-timed block. Note, however, that their size prevents normal attacks from knocking them off balance.
Armor covers every inch of these large Heartless, allowing them to deflect blows from every direction. Instead, aim for the head and knock them down, rendering them vulnerable to further attack. Use Fire magic to keep them down longer.
Armor covers every inch of these large Heartless, allowing them to deflect blows from every direction. Instead, aim for the head and knock them down, rendering them vulnerable to further attack. Use Thunder magic to keep them down longer.
Armor covers every inch of these large Heartless, allowing them to deflect blows from every direction. Instead, aim for the head and knock them down, rendering them vulnerable to further attack. Use Blizzard magic to keep them down longer.
Larger and faster than the Bad Dog, but these canine Heartless bark just the same. Physical attacks won't knock them off balance. Exploit their weakness to magic instead.
Sharp spikes cover these large Heartless. Though they are impervious during their spin attack, you can slow their onslaught with a block, bringing them to an eventual halt. Alternatively, Thunder magic will stop them with a single blast.
Sharp spikes cover these large, fiery Heartless. Though they are impervious during their spin attack, you can slow their onslaught with a block, bringing them to an eventual halt. Alternatively, Blizzard magic will stop them with a single blast.
These large flying Heartless are able to spontaneously appear behind their targets and possess them. Though they behave similarly to Hover Ghosts, physical attacks won't stagger them.
This sword-wielding Heartless's skillful defense makes it tough to finish off. Its spinning slash has the added effect of damage-draining HP from victims. Watch for it, then evade or deflect it with a block.
This large and aggressive knight Heartless's skillful defense makes it tough to finish off. Though its focused slash can be stopped with a block, blasting the knight with Thundaga while it is storing up energy will stagger it, opening it up to extra damage, especially from magic.
This fiery knight Heartless's skillful defense makes it tough to finish off. Though its focused slash can be stopped with a block, blasting the knight with Blizzaga while it is storing up energy will stagger it, opening it up to extra damage.
This icy knight Heartless's skillful defense makes it tough to finish off. Though its focused slash can be stopped with a block, blasting the knight with Firaga while it is storing up energy will stagger it, opening it up to extra damage, especially from magic.
This lightning knight Heartless's skillful defense makes it tough to finish off. Though its focused slash can be stopped with a block, blasting the knight with Aeroga while it is storing up energy will stagger it, opening it up to extra damage, especially from magic.
This magic-resistant knight Heartless's skillful defense makes it tough to finish off. Though its focused slash can be stopped with a block, blasting the knight with Aeroga while it is storing up energy will stagger it, opening it up to extra damage, especially from magic.
These large aerial Heartless are hard to hit in mid-flight. Strike their wings and tail to force them to land, then target the head, which is susceptible to Blizzard magic.
These large aerial Heartless use their potent ice breath to attack their prey. Strike their wings and tail to force them to land, then focus attacks on their head, which is weak against Fire.
These large aerial Heartless use their potent water breath to attack their prey. This strain cannot be forced to land, so be sure to face them well-equipped to do combat in midair.
These large aerial Heartless can't be harmed by blows to the head, instead warping to a remote location on impact. They won't warp, however, if you attack their wings or tail, so focus attacks there. Go in equipped for aerial combat.
These large aerial Heartless use their potent whirlwind breath to attack their prey. They are hard to hit in mid-flight, so strike their wings and tail to force them to land, then focus attacks on their head, which is weak against Thunder magic.
Large and deadly, these flying Heartless pack extreme power and high HP levels. Their arsenal includes Meteor breath and an invincible charge, and all of their attacks can inflict negative status effects on contact. This specimen is easily in the strongest class of Heartless. Prepare accordingly.
The cannonballs this heavy tank Heartless fires can be returned with a block to take out the archers perched atop it.
The battering ram that emerges from its mouth before it charges is especially weak. Capitalize on that vulnerability, but be sure to get out of there before it begins its advance.
A massive plant-like Heartless with a savage claw attack. The toxic pollen it spews from its head saps victims' HP for as long as they breathe it. Destroy all of the Tentaclaws to dizzy the main body, then move in. Note that defeating Tentaclaws or hitting them with magic will speed up the pollen bursts.
You need to destroy all the tail segments of this avian Heartless to reveal its core.
After each segment is destroyed, the Ruler of the Sky will glow red and charge its foes. Wait too close to the water's surface and it will fire a salvo of water shots.
Once the core is exposed, avoid the spray of coins and counter with Fire magic.
Winged Heartless that can strike from midair. Don't let their frantic flying throw you off; be patient and eventually you'll spot your chance to attack.
Plump Heartless whose big, round bellies bounce back most attacks. To take these jiggle-tanks down, you'll need to slip underneath them when they jump, then strike from behind.
Spell-slinging Heartless that float on the breeze, but that doesn't mean they're a breeze to take down. Keep your distance and they'll try to toast you with Fire magic; get too close and they'll run away. Good thing they don't have much HP.
Spell-slinging Heartless who like to chill in midair. Their other hobby; chilling YOU with Blizzard magic—and don't expect them to sit still if you try to chase them down. Good thing they don't have much HP.
Floating, spell-slinging Heartless—but don't fall for the friendly ghost act. They will zap you with Thunder magic at the first chance they get, and zoom away if you try to go after them. Good thing they don't have much HP.
Spell-slinging Heartless that drift in midair, ready to cast Cure magic if one of their cohorts' HP drifts into the red. They can heal themselves, too, and will try to flee if you attack them. Good thing they don't have much HP.
Large, flying Heartless that drive straight at their prey from above. Unfortunately, "the bigger they are" doesn't apply here; Wyverns move fast and mean business. Hit them with magic, though, and you can reduce their altitude, bringing them down within reach of a jumping attack.
Heartless that tote eerie shields which bite at you, cast Fire and Blizzard—and, of course, repel your attacks. Thankfully, Defenders are slow and easy to get the jump on.
The kind of Heartless nightmares are made of. In addition to having high Strength, it can use its shield to repel attacks, and it will teleport after you if you try to create some distance. Attempt this fight knowing that it may be your last.
A rare Heartless. On the off chance you do find one, it will flee left and right and soon disappear if you don't keep it in your clutches. They're not easy to defeat—but rewards await if you do.
Heartless with a knack for magic. Fire? Check. Blizzard? Yup. Thunder? You bet. Wizards are pros at all of it, but they do have one fatal flaw: low HP.
The hulking head honcho of the Heartless haunting Traverse Town. Before you can say that five time fast, this brute will have already blasted you with its powerful cannon, so keep your eyes peeled: if it assumes a defensive stance, rush in there first and clobber the creep with a combo.
The Heartless responsible for the memory mix-up in Wonderland. Its fiery juggling and uncanny ability to turn space topsy-turvy gave Sora a run for his money. Wait for an opening, then use projectiles to put a frown on this clown.
Heartless do have a large role in fanfiction, but when it comes to cosplaying, they are not as popular. The main reason is the huge variety of shapes and colors and lack of humanoid figures. Despite the difficulty of the cosplay, they do tend to be well-received. Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, obviously, is also the prime Heartless people tend to choose — not only because of his impeccable human features without casting his Heartless side away, but also because of his role, as he is one of the most memorable characters in the whole Kingdom Hearts series.
Notes and references
↑Ansem Report 2: "One thing I am sure of is that they are entirely devoid of emotion".
↑Ansem, Seeker of Darkness appears to have characteristics of both Emblem and Pureblood Heartless, in both his human and world forms. In both forms, he carries the Heartless emblem on his chest, though in human form it could possibly be an article of clothing. Notably, though, the similar outfit worn by Master Xehanort does not possess the emblem. Furthermore, the shadowy symbiote attached to him in both forms possesses the "hollow heart" shared by many other Pureblood Heartless. Though it is uncertain what the situation of this Heartless is, it is possible that this makes him both an Emblem and Pureblood Heartless.
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