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RELATED: The Best Gaming Controllers in 2024

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Key Takeaways

• Kingdom Hearts 3 offers a variety of Keyblades with unique abilities and Formchanges
• Some Keyblades focus on magic, others on strength, providing strategic options for combat
• Obtaining powerful Keyblades like Ultima Weapon requires significant in-game achievements.

As far as Kingdom Hearts games go, the latest addition makes for an impressive hack-and-slash experience. Kingdom Hearts 3 delivers not only visually but also in terms of stylish combat mechanics. From Shotlocks to Flowmotion commands, Sora can unleash a multitude of flashy combos that can knock down even the toughest enemies.

Of course, his weapon of choice makes a comeback in a big way. This time around, every Keyblade can undergo upgrades and Form changes, giving each one its own utility at every point in the game. Despite the reduced number of Keyblades available, each one proves useful in its own way. However, this doesn’t stop some from outshining others.

Updated on September 16, 2024, by Justin Flynn: Kingdom Hearts 3 follows Sora on yet another dangerous adventure, and like with his previous journeys, this one provides him with a great selection of reliable weapons. Coming with Formchanges and unique abilities, each Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 3 does something worthwhile, but some are simply better than others. With the series having finally come to Steam, even more gamers have had the chance to dive into the world of Kingdom Hearts and wield the mighty Keyblade. For both newcomers and longtime fans alike looking to get the most out of this weapon, here is a ranking of the best Keyblades in Kingdom Hearts 3.

19 Kingdom Key

Sora’s Default Weapon

• Strength: +9
• Magic: +8
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Treasure Magnet, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Default weapon

The Kingdom Key is Sora’s most iconic Keyblade, but it will usually be unequipped fairly quickly after something better is unlocked. When activated, its Formchange, Second Form, permits Sora the opportunity to perform some of his more iconic Kingdom Hearts 2 abilities.

Boasting a somewhat disappointing 4 Strength and 3 Magic, the Kingdom Key is far from a reliable means of vanquishing Sora’s foes. However, it can be useful for those who wish to collect the treasure dropped by Sora’s enemies thanks to its Treasure Magnet ability. As his default weapon, Sora will have access to the Kingdom Key from the beginning of the game.

18 Elemental Encoder

Increases The Drop Rate Of Items But Is Lacking In Power

• Strength: +9
• Magic: +9
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Lucky Strike, Magic Roulette, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Automatically unlocked for Epic Games Store players

The Elemental Encoder is essentially a recoloring of Mickey’s Star Cluster Keyblade. The Elemental Encoder is unlocked automatically for those playing Kingdom Hearts 3 via the Epic Games Store, and its black-and-white color palette helps it to stand out from its similar-looking counterparts.

Providing Sora with 4 Strength and 4 Magic, this particular Keyblade doesn’t offer much in terms of stats, but its abilities can be pretty useful, especially during the early-game. Lucky Lucky increases the drop rate of items when defeating enemies, and Magic Roulette allows Sora to make use of Grand Magic even when he has not filled the Grand Magic gauge.

17 Dead Of Night

A Good Option For Those Looking To Farm Rare Items During The Early-Game

• Strength: +9
• Magic: +9
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Lucky Strike, Magic Roulette, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Automatically unlocked for Steam players

Like the Elemental Encoder, the Dead of Night is also a recoloring of Mickey’s new Keyblade. The Dead of Night is available to those playing Kingdom Hearts 3 via Steam, and it is arguably one of the cooler-looking Keyblades available in the entire game.

Boasting a typical 4 Strength and 4 Magic, this Keyblade quickly proves itself to be easily replaceable, but it does come with some unique abilities that can be quite useful. The Lucky Strike ability increases the chance of enemies dropping rare items, and Magic Roulette allows Sora to execute Grand Magic without filling the Grand Magic gauge.

16 Dawn Till Dusk

Somewhat Weak But Grants Sora Access To A Powerful Fire Spell

• Strength: +9
• Magic: +9
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Fire Boost, Firaza, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Available to purchase through the Microsoft Store and the PlayStation Store

The Dawn Till Dusk can be purchased from the Microsoft Store and the PlayStation Store. Like the Elemental Encoder and Dead of Night, it is essentially another recoloring of Mickey’s new Keyblade, the Star Cluster, and though it is pretty to look at, it is a weapon that is destined to be replaced as players progress.

Offering a lackluster 4 Strength and 4 Magic, the Dawn Till Dusk Keyblade is more-or-less on par with the Kingdom Key, but fans of Fire magic will likely enjoy the abilities it comes with. Even at its base level, this Keyblade allows Sora to cast Firaza, a devastating AoE spell that can tear through groups of enemies with ease.

15 Starlight

Allows Sora To Recover His MP More Quicky But Is Surprisingly Weak For When It’s Unlocked

• Strength: +9
• Magic: +9
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) MP Haste, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Beat the Demon Tide in the Keyblade Graveyard

The Starlight Keyblade is unlocked once Sora, Donald, and Goofy have defeated the Demon Tide in The Keyblade Graveyard. Most fans would expect a decent reward after vanquishing such a formidable opponent, but sadly, the Starlight Keyblade is one of the weakest weapons in the game.

With its 4 Strength and Magic, the Starlight Keyblade is only slightly better than the Kingdom Key, so there isn’t much point in equipping it at this point in the game. Its Formchange, Second From S, allows Sora to perform some classic Kingdom Hearts 2 moves, but the player would benefit more from prioritizing strength over nostalgia for the yet-to-come battles.

14 Shooting Star

Provides Sora With A Fun Ranged Approach To Combat, But Better Options Are Available

• Max Strength: +8
• Max Magic: +10
• Abilities: Magic Treasure Magnet (Lv. 0), Formchange Extender (Lv. 4)
• How to Get: Complete the first visit to Twilight Town

Sora receives the Shooting Star Keyblade during his first visit to Little Chef’s Bistrot. Players who wish to prioritize Magic over Strength will find plenty of use for this Keyblade during the beginning of the game thanks to its 5 Magic and 3 Strength, but they will soon find themselves replacing it with something better.

It can be a big help during the Toy Story and Tangled worlds, but as soon as Sora receives the Ever After Keyblade, the Shooting Star will quickly be forgotten. Though it’s one of the weaker weapons in the game, its Double Arrowguns and Magic Launcher Formchanges can be a great help when players wish to attack from a distance.

13 Hero’s Origin

A Great Early-Game Option For Those Looking To Prioritize Defense

• Max Strength: +10
• Max Magic: +7
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Defender, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Complete the visit to Olympus

The Hero’s Origin Keyblade is obtained after Sora defeats the Titans in Olympus. Though it’s only the second Keyblade he unlocks, it can be extremely beneficial to have during most of Kingdom Hearts 3’s boss battles.

It only has 5 Strength and 2 Magic, but it features one of the most reliable means of defense in the entire game. The Counter Shield Formchange allows Sora to block oncoming attacks and redirect them back at his enemies. If timed correctly, deflected attacks can deal a baffling amount of damage. The Grand Chef Keyblade offers a similar ability, but it takes much more effort to obtain. Until it’s unlocked, the player should make use of Hero’s Origin in its stead.

12 Hunny Spout

A Must-Have For Ranged Enthusiasts And Ingredient Hunters

• Max Strength: +9
• Max Magic: +9
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Harvester, (Lv. 6) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Complete the visit to the 100 Acre Wood

This Keyblade isn’t just fun to use; it’s also super cute. The weapon has a nostalgic wooden handle with a stack of Pooh’s favorite honey pots making up the rest of the blade. Sora will unlock the Hunny Spout Keyblade after completing the heartwarming 100-Acre Woods story.

The Hunny Spout has a good balance of stats, with a Magic of 6 and Strength of 5, and it has powerful Form Change attacks. The Keyblade Formchanges include Hunny Launcher and Hunny Blasters, along with the Shotlocks named Hunny Burst, Hunny Drizzle, and Sweet Surprise, which deal critical slowdown effects on the opponent. The Harvest ability that comes with this Keyblade also allows Sora to collect an additional ingredient whenever they acquire a single one, making it incredibly useful for those going for 5 Stars in Le Grand Bistrot.

11 Favorite Deputy

A Solid Early-Game Weapon That Offers Reliable Form Changes

• Max Strength: +10
• Max Magic: +8
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Lucky Strike, (Lv. 4) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Complete the visit to the Toy Box

Favorite Deputy is the Keyblade obtained after completing the Toy Box world’s story. It has a maximum Strength of 10 and Magic of 8. Two stand-out features of this Keyblade include its Lucky Strike ability and its Formchanges. Lucky Strike increases the likelihood of synthesis materials dropping, making it very useful for upgrading other items.

The Boost Hammer and Drill Punch Formchanges transform the Keyblade into a giant hammer and drill, respectively. The hammer deals with groups especially well, while the drill can focus loads of damage on a single target.

10 Crystal Snow

A Mobility And Magic-Focused Weapon That Prevents The User From Being Frozen

• Max Strength: +8
• Max Magic: +11
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Freeze Protection, (Lv. 9) Blizzard Boost
• How to Get: Complete the visit to Arendelle

This beautiful Keyblade does an excellent job of representing the frozen land of Arendelle, where players can nab it. With a maximum 8 Strength and 11 Magic, Crystal Snow focuses more on casting powerful spells. However, it handles very well as a physical weapon in both of its Formchanges.

Blizzard Claw turns it into a set of icy claws, while the Blizzard Blade acts as a pair of ice skates and arm blades. Freeze Protection also aids in negating the Freeze status, and Blizzard Boost increases the power of Blizzard spells.

9 Ever After

Provides Sora With Great Range, Mobility, And Emergency Heal Opportunities

• Max Strength: +7
• Max Magic: +11
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Leaf Bracer, (Lv. 4) Aeroza, (Lv. 10) Aero Boost
• How to Get: Complete the visit to the Kingdom of Corona

The Ever After Keyblade is unlocked after Sora defeats the Grim Guardianess in the Kingdom of Corona. It may not seem like a great addition to Sora’s arsenal with its 2 Strength, but its 7 Magic can be a great help to those who utilize Magic.

Its Mirage Staff Formchange allows Sora to glide across the arena while dealing out magical attacks from a distance. If Sora attacks from different locations in quick succession, a flurry of magical bursts will launch in the direction of his enemies. Its Shimmering Drops Shotlock can also be a great means of replenishing Sora’s health. Though it’s one of the weaker Keyblades in Kingdom Hearts 3, this ability alone makes it a must-have for late-game battles.

8 Grand Chef

A More Magic-Oriented Hero’s Origin

• Max Strength: +9
• Max Magic: +11
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Wizard’s Ruse, (Lv. 3) Chef Extraordinaire
• How to Get: Achieve 5 Star with Le Grand Bistrot

This impressive Keyblade isn’t the easiest to obtain, as the Grand Chef requires Sora to have cooked every single recipe in Kingdom Hearts 3. Not only that, but it requires Sora to have achieved an “Excellent” rating on each recipe. To collect all recipes, Sora will need to have gathered every ingredient and used them to create stunning meals in Little Chef’s Bistro. Only then can he get the Grand Chef Keyblade, which boasts Magic of 7 and Strength of 5 at its base level.

Grand Chef can transform into a gigantic frying pan that hits a lot of opponents at once and moves very quickly. It’s great for clearing out big groups of enemies all at once. Even if Sora already has a better Keyblade by the time he unlocks the Grand Chef, it’s still an awesome achievement to get it.

7 Happy Gear

A Great Option For Those Who Enjoy Using Shotlocks

• Max Strength: +11
• Max Magic: +7
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Focus Converter, (Lv. 6) Full MP Blast
• How to Get: Complete the visit to Monstropolis

This Keyblade, acquired after completing Monstropolis, focuses primarily on physical attack. When fully upgraded, it offers 11 Strength and 7 Magic, and it allows players to use Shotlocks often thanks to its Focus Converter ability.

Despite its lower Magic stat, its secondary Full MP Blast ability gives spells a power boost when at full MP. Its Assault Claw Formchange is similar to Crystal Snow’s Blizzard Claw, but the Twin Yoyo Formchange transforms into a set of deadly spinning projectiles. Its finishing moves make quick work of single targets.

6 Wheel Of Fate

An Incredibly Powerful Late-Game Weapon That Provides Sora With Great Formchanges

• Max Strength: +11
• Max Magic: +9
• Abilities: (Lv. 6) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Complete the visit to The Caribbean

Players nab this swashbuckling Keyblade after completing the story in The Caribbean. It has a decent mix of 11 Strength and 9 Magic when fully upgraded. On top of that, the Keyblade also has the ability to cast Waterza to deal water-based damage in a massive spread.

Its Highwind Formchange transforms the Keyblade into a spear, while the Storm Flag changes it into a large banner-like flag. Both swipe and lunge at enemy targets to deal with crowds and bosses effectively. In this way, Wheel of Fate perfectly combines power with style.

5 Nano Gear

A Great Late-Game Keyblade That Gives Sora Stun Protection

• Max Strength: +10
• Max Magic: +9
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Stun Protection, (Lv. 6) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Complete the visit to San Fransokyo

Nano Gear appears late in Kingdom Hearts 3 after completing the San Fransokyo world. It carries 10 Strength and 9 Magic at its maximum level and comes paired with the Stun Protection ability. This helps immensely with hard-hitting bosses that would otherwise render Sora immobile for a short time.

Nano Gear’s only Formchange, Nano Arms, changes into a variety of weapons depending on the attack. It also comes with a powerful finisher that skewers enemies with teleporting nanobot spears. Those tiny black dots pack a serious punch.

4 Oblivion

An Incredibly Strong Weapon With A Powerful Dual Wield Formchange

• Max Strength: +13
• Max Magic: +11
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) HP Converter, (Lv. 4) Situation Boost, (Lv. 9) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Use the Proof of Times Past at a Moogle shop

In the 1.07 update of Kingdom Hearts 3, the two coolest Keyblades in the entire series were added to the game: Oblivion and Oathkeeper. They are no easy weapons to unlock, proving to be a challenge for even the most skilled, veteran players. Players have to obtain the Proof of Time Past in order to get the Oblivion.

This requires them to have completed the game on Critical Mode, which is regarded as the most difficult mode of any Kingdom Hearts game in the franchise. It’s totally worth it though, offering a whopping 13 Strength and 11 Magic, with a powerful Dark Form and Double Form.

3 Oathkeeper

A More Balanced Oblivion That Also Offers A Great Dual Wield Formchange

• Max Strength: +12
• Max Magic: +12
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) MP Converter, (Lv. 4) Situation Boost, (Lv. 9) Formchange Extender
• How to Get: Use the Proof of Promises at a Moogle shop

Unlocking this Keyblade will take a lot of time and effort, as it requires players to have obtained the Proof of Promise. This Proof can be unlocked when players find all 90 Lucky Emblems in the game. They have to locate and take a photo of every emblem, each of which is hidden all across the worlds, with some being in very difficult and tricky spots.

Oathkeeper is very balanced, just like the Oblivion Keyblade, with 12 Strength and 12 Magic. It grants access to a Light Form and a Double Form finisher, which unlocks the highly loved ability to dual wield Keyblades in battle. The Oathkeeper Keyblade, dual-wielded with the Oblivion, is an iconic look for Sora, as the two blades have been seen paired together in the prior games.

2 Classic Tone

The Most Powerful Magic Option In The Game

• Max Strength: +11
• Max Magic: +14
• Abilities: (Lv. 0, Lv. 6, & Lv. 9) MP Haste
• How to Get: Achieve high scores in the Classic Kingdom games

Only a few Keyblades unlock by means outside the main story, and Classic Tone is one such Keyblade. Sora must first find and set record scores on all 23 Classic Kingdom mini-games. Afterward, this powerful yet unconventional Keyblade becomes available. Its 11 Strength and 14 Magic are no joke.

Classic Tone’s Formchanges, Boom Hammer, and Clock Drill, mimic that of the Favorite Deputy Keyblade. Even so, it proves itself more powerful by coming with three MP Haste abilities equipped, granting access to more magic attacks.

1 Ultima Weapon

The Strongest Weapon That Sora Can Unlock

• Max Strength: +13
• Max Magic: +13
• Abilities: (Lv. 0) Air Combo Boost, Combo Boost, Situation Boost
• How to Get: Item Synthesis

While it may seem obvious at this point, Ultima Weapon nevertheless proves to be the superior Keyblade in all facets. It has a balanced yet impressive 13 Strength and Magic. Combo Boost and Air Combo Boost improve the damage output of combo attacks, and Situation Boost fills the Situation Command gauge much faster.

Not only that, but its Ultimate Form comes with a massive power boost and a slew of abilities. While it may take some time to synthesize this weapon, it once again proves to be worth the effort.