Kingdom Key









The Kingdom Key is the most recognizable Keyblade in the Kingdom Hearts series, and is the form used in almost all depictions of the weapon. It has appeared in every entry of the series to date. In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, it can be upgraded to the Kingdom Key+ and the Kingdom Key++.

The Kingdom Key draws out the true power of Sora's Keyblade, even though it is not the strongest Keychain. As such, it is the true form of his Keyblade, which means that it is also the default form of Roxas's and Xion's Keyblades. The Kingdom Key first appears when Sora receives the Keyblade during the destruction of the Destiny Islands, in Kingdom Hearts, but is not wielded by Sora alone; Riku, Roxas, and Xion have also used it, and King Mickey is often seen wielding a color-inverted version of the weapon. For Riku, the Keyblade takes the form of the Kingdom Key when he takes it from Sora, and for Roxas and Xion, the Keyblade they wield is in fact Sora's Keyblade, existing in multiple places at once. Roxas also obtains a second Kingdom Key after absorbing Xion; however, this is not Xion's Keyblade, but is in fact Ventus's Keyblade. The Kingdom Key is the only Keychain Sora uses in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. The Kingdom Key also appears in the secret video The Gathering, where Terra pulls it from the ground at Keyblade Graveyard.

The Kingdom Key D, a color-inverted Kingdom Key which King Mickey wields, is in fact the Keyblade from the Realm of Darkness, which he obtained to mirror Sora's Keyblade from the Realm of Light. This purpose is reflected in its coloration - where Sora's Keyblade is silver, Mickey's is gold, and the same goes for their hilts. Even the rainguard, blue on Sora's Kingdom Key, is red on Mickey's. The only section not color-inverted is the handle, which instead of being white as opposed to the Kingdom Key's black, is instead a faded gold.

In Kingdom Hearts coded, Data Sora gains a data-version of the Kingdom Key in his Awakening. It is destroyed by Maleficent at Agrabah, but he gains a new Keyblade at Hollow Bastion. According to King Mickey, this Keyblade is closely connected to the power of the Heart.

Design
The Kingdom Key is depicted as a classic skeleton key approximately 3.5' long, with a long silver Keychain extending from the hilt, and a Hidden Mickey token on the end of the Keychain. The blade and teeth of the Keyblade are silver, the rainguard is blue, and the hilt is gold. The teeth of the Keyblade form the outline of a crown which matches the crown charm Sora wears.

Other Appearances
Most Kingdom Hearts merchandise features the Kingdom Key as Sora's weapon, including the Volume One and Volume Three Sora figures that appear in the Formation Arts Figures. Along with being the Keyblade packaged with "normal" Sora in the Series 1 Play Arts Figures, it is also seen with Roxas' figure and the rare Sora Limit Form figure.

On the cheat disc Ultimate Codes: Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy X, there are codes for two keyblades named the Big Hong Key and Small Hong Key. These are simply the Kingdom Key (the Big Hong Key being an enlarged version) with their textures removed, making them pure white.

Also, through use of a cheat device in Kingdom Hearts 2, a keyblade named FAKE can be accessed. It has no picture in the menu, as only a map icon will appear, though it's actual appearance is the same as the Kingdom Key.

Trivia

 * The Kingdom Key is the form depicted in all pre-rendered videos, as it is the only Keychain which is possessed throughout each game. For example, no matter what Keychain you use to fight World of Chaos, the cutscenes afterward depict the Kingdom Key in its place.
 * In the secret movie in The Gathering the Kingdom Key, along with Kingdom Key D and Way to the Dawn, were shown in the Keyblade Graveyard. However in the actual game, the Kingdom Key was never found in any parts of the game.