Game:Vanitas

Vanitas makes his debut and only appearance as a boss in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. Fought by Terra, Aqua, and Ventus, he is fought a total of seven times over the course of the entire game. While he only faces Terra as an aid to Master Xehanort during their final battle, he battles Ventus in hopes of making him stronger and with the goal of fusing with him in the end to create the X-Blade. Should Ventus fail to serve his purpose, he wishes to use Aqua as his "Plan B."

Terra's Scenario
The only time Vanitas ever faces Terra in combat is during the final battle with Xehanort, double-teaming the young Keyblade wielder alongside his master. During this battle, Terra has access to D-Links, Shotlocks, and Command Styles. While clearing this boss fight without the use of these special powers and abilities is quite doable, it is recommended that the player instead make full use of them.

It is very important that Terra immediately go on the offenseive at the start of the battle, as he now has two of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep's strongest bosses facing him at one time, the only instance in Terra's scenario where this is done. It is recommended that the player target Vanitas, the weaker of the two bosses, hammering him with physical attacks and magic, alike. Vanitas will mainly attempt to dodge the player's attacks, but certain abilities such as Chaos Rave will allow the player to stay on him. When Vanitas vanishes, Slide out of the way or fall victim to an attack in which the boss performs a downward strike with his Keyblade. When Vanitas sinks into the ground, only visible by a moving dark pool of darkness, immediately chain Slides together. Otherwise, Terra will be bombarded with fireballs as the boss re-emerges. Vanitas may leap into the air bombarding the player with dark lightning, or he even may shoot a single, large fireball that later splits into three homing ones. Slide can be used to dodge these attacks, as well.

Once enough HP has been depleted from Vanitas, the battle will automatically end, regardless of how much of it currently remains. So long as the player makes full use of their Shotlocks, Command Styles, and D-Links, healing with Curega or Sliding when necessary, this battle should not be that hard to complete. However, the player should remember that Master Xehanort is also present during the battle, and he may strike Terra with his Keyblade or shoot a long-range dark Blizzard spell in his direction. So long as the strategy used against Vanitas is carried out throughout the battle as the player attempts to defeat the dark enigma, Master Xehanort's presence in the battle will be irrelevant.

First Battle
Vanitas first fights Ventus in a two-part boss battle after luring him to the Keyblade Graveyard. The first will end only once enough HP has been depleted from Vanitas, the second beginning soon afterwards but granting the player the assistance of King Mickey. The player will also have access to Shotlocks, Command Styles, and D-Links, increasing the easiness of winning the battle along with Ventus's normal abilities.

Vanitas at first challenges Ventus with a goal of testing his power. During the first part of the two-part battle, the player should go on the offensive while also following a hit-and-run strategy, using both physical and magical attacks in a balanced manner. Vanitas may disappear during the battle, but the player should immediately Dodge Roll or fall victim to his downward strike. The boss may also shoot a single, large fireball at the player that will soon separate into three smaller, homing fireballs after traveling forward in the player's direction. Dodge Roll again can be used to avoid this attack. If Vanitas leaps into the air, he may strike the player with a dark lightning attack, which has a relatively long range. Dodge Roll is recommended in terms of avoiding it. The boss lastly may perform a simple two-hit physical combo, an attack easily dodged with Dodge Roll. In terms of offensive tactics for the player, Detona-Square and Tornado are highly recommended for use, as they will deal great damage to the boss, also interrupting his attacks. Whatever physical attacks the player attempts should be the most powerful in Ventus's arsenal. Continuation to use powerful physical and magic attacks is the key to ending the first part of the two-part battle with ease and minimal damage.

Now that King Mickey has joined Ventus in his battle with his darkness, Vanitas's goal is to eliminate them both. His HP will be the same as what it was depleted to in the first part of the battle, Vanitas also using the same battle tactics. Ventus can follow the same strategies as in the last battle to defeat Vanitas this time. In terms of King Mickey fighting alongside the player, his physical attacks are strong, and the player needn't worry when his HP reaches 0. He will automatically revive himself in time. One major advantage to fighting with Mickey on the player's side is he'll grant the usage of a powerful offensive ability, Burst of Faith. Again, continue using the same strategies as the first part of the battle, and take advantage of the King's presence.

So long as the player heals when necessary, utilizes their most powerful abilities whenever possible, and acknowledges King Mickey's presence in battle, then Vanitas should not be a challenge to defeat.

Second Battle
Ventus innitiates the second battle with the embodiment of his darkness, Vanitas previously attempting to eliminate Aqua after having ambushed her. His HP has not increased since the two-part battle, and Ventus no longer has King Mickey to aid him. By now, the player should not need his presence. The only thing the player need worry about would be the new attacks added to Vanitas's arsenal.

Vanitas will begin the battle by jumping onto a cloud of flying Keyblades. As he travels around the battlefield, he will cast dark Blizzard spells in Ventus's direction. These Blizzard spells have strong homing capabilities, but they can be dodged with relative ease. Vanitas also may sink into the ground once he dismounts the Keyblade storm, visible only as a mobile pool of darkness. Vanitas will travel to the player's location, so Dodge Roll to prevent being hit by several fireballs. Vanitas's other attacks are relatively the same as those he used in the first encounter with him, and they can be dodged the same way. As with the last battle, careful timing of Dodge Roll and a balanced use of physical and magic attacks are key to winning this battle. So long as the player heals when necessary and makes full use of Shotlocks, Command Styles, and D-Links, the battle should end with relative ease.

Third Battle
The final battle with Vanitas has come. He has entered Ventus's heart, fusing with him and creating an incomplete version of the X-Blade. This tremendous weapon has not only increased the strength of his attacks and changed those he can use, but his HP has also increased a great deal. Ventus has access to D-Links, Shotlocks, and Command styles during this battle, and the player should make full use of them.

Vanitas will first charge his weapon, surrounding it in a damaging aura. He will then proceed to lunge at the player. Dodge Roll can be used to avoid this attack. The boss also still favors the dark lightning attack, and he still has the ability to vanish and appear behind the player. Only the combo that occurs when this happens is different. Rather than performing a single, downward strike, Vanitas will slash the player multiple times. Vanitas also may begin to utilize an attack similar to Riku's Dark Aura, charging at Ventus at a fast pace multiple times, the X-Blade cloaking him in dark energy. Dodge Roll can be used to avoid this. While the player should continue to use a hit-and-run strategy, it is advised they use Tornado and Detona-Square to interrupt Vanitas's combos while still dealing great damage to him. Physical attacks should not be used as the main offense, as this will open the player to Vanitas's attacks. Instead, utilize magic or other long-ranged attacks to the fullest.

It is impossible to fully deplete Vanitas's HP at this point. It will remain at 1, Vanitas shattering the pillar on which he and Ventus fight. Vanitas will then become a temporary D-Link, granting Ventus the attacks that are key to defeating him once and for all, ironically his attacks. As the two Keyblade wielders float in a dark realm amidst shards of stained glass, the player can move to Vanitas's location and hit him with Dark Sprial or Dark Splicer. However, it is recommended that the player merely use their Shotlock, Dark of Link. This will cause Vanitas to fire his own version of the attack, Dark Cannon, to counter. As the two beams of energy collide, the player must rapidly tap a button or spin the analog stick to win the grapple. This must be repeated several times before the combo finisher, Last Charge, can be activated. Once this is done, Ventus will surround Vanitas with three beams of crystallized light. He will then shatter them, defeating Vanitas once and for all. So long as the player follows the correct strategies, makes full use of special abilities such as Comand Styles and heals when necessary, Vanitas should not be that much of a challenge. Once his defeated, the player will finally have cleared Ventus's scenario!