Replica

A Replica (レプリカ) is an artificial copy of another being. The first Replica seen (though not the first produced) in the series is Riku Replica in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. A second Replica is later revealed to be the fourteenth member of Organization XIII, Xion, Experiment No. i in the Organization's Replica Program. Also, in the manga adaptation of Chain of Memories, Vexen makes a vast amount of Replicas of himself, which survive into Kingdom Hearts II.

Nature
Replicas (also referred to as puppets by some other characters) are synthetic copies of other people. While the exact method of creating a Replica is unknown as of yet, they have been shown to be able to be created out of different materials. Riku Replica was created using data collected by Vexen from his fight with the real Riku. He believed he was the real Riku due to Naminé's memory manipulation.

Xion, an imperfect Replica of Sora, was made by Vexen on Xemnas's orders with some of Sora's memories that "leaked" while he was in a Memory Pod. Xion was so different from Sora because the memories she was made from took the physical appearance of Sora's most important and strongest memory: Kairi. Replicas, like Nobodies, fade into Darkness after they are defeated. Xion, however, turned into a sea shell as she faded back to Sora, due to Kairi's and therefore her own likeness toward sea shells.

Replicas have emotions, and therefore have the ability to feel. Most Replicas have a mysterious, stoic nature and very seldom give straight answers. Also, a trait shared by all Replicas show in any version of the series is that they are very sensitive about the fact that they are copies. Riku Replica, upon learning he was a Replica, constantly referred to himself as "fake" and became obsessed with trying to become a different being than Riku. Xion even refers to herself as a "puppet" after she learns of her existence. In the manga, the Vexen Replicas are very quiet and sad compared to the original Vexen, telling the Riku Replica that "we are all failed experiments".

Abilities
Replicas seem to have a few unique abilities. Replicas appear to be able to fight as soon as they are created, not needing to learn fighting techniques or become stronger. This is most likely a trait passed down from the person they were created from. The most prominent ability Replicas have is the ability to absorb the life-force of other beings, increasing the Replica's overall power and allowing them to use any unique abilities the being absorbed may have had. In fact, the main reason for Xion's creation was for her to absorb Roxas and become the "new" Sora, to prevent the real Sora from ever awakening from his sleep. Also, Riku Replica absorbed Zexion's energy in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, something that was encouraged by Axel. This indefinitely made Zexion fade as his power seeped out, and in turn, this made Riku Replica obtain more power.