Ars Arcanum

Ars Arcanum (ラストアルカナム), translated as "Final Arcana" in Kingdom Hearts II and "Last Arcanum" in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, is a technique introduced in . It allows the user to attack enemies with a flurry of powerful attacks, typically thirteen in number.

Mechanics
In Kingdom Hearts, Ars Arcanum is a special ability activated by selecting the Arcanum (アルカナム) command. Sora launches a seven-hit combo, during which he is invulnerable to damage, at which point he is given the option to perform Bash (ブレイク) to execute a follow-up slash. After five successful Bash attacks, the Finis (ジ・エンド) command will appear, triggering a final, somersaulting strike. In the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX release, the commands are implemented as Reaction Commands. It should be noted that the Bash and Finis commands drop the invincibility that Sora has during the rush of the first seven blows, so it can be risky to continue the attack. The seventh blow of the initial rush and all the subsequent commands can land critical hits. Ars Arcanum costs 4 to equip and 3 MP to use.

In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Ars Arcanum is an attack sleight that delivers eight powerful blows, followed by a forward somersaulting slash. In Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, it follows the original version more closely and is harder to interrupt, and five additional strikes can be added by pressing when prompted, but pressing the button at the wrong time cancels the combo. Its card combination is:

In Kingdom Hearts II, Final Arcana is a limit that is exclusive to "Master" Genie. The limit begins with Arcana, in which Sora and Genie clutch arms and whirl around in large circles. Afterwards, Bash causes Genie to transform into a large head that spins around, while shooting magical bullets.

In Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Last Arcanum is also an action ability exclusive to Limit Form. It is a limit that is equipped by default and costs 75 MP to use. It is automatically assigned to in the shortcuts menu. On activation, Sora performs the initial seven-hit combo, and up to five more strikes can be executed through the Reaction Command. Afterwards, the Reaction Command is replaced with to perform the final attack. The initial seven-hit combo has full invincibility frames.

In Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Ars Arcanum is an Ultimate exclusive to Ventus that takes up two slots, has a maximum level of 6, has a normal reload time of 25 seconds, and fills the Command Gauge by 6%.

In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Ars Arcanum is an exclusive to Sora that uses two slots in the Command Deck and has a reload time of 36 seconds. It grants +4 to Strength when attached to a Dream Eater recipe. Unlike prior incarnations, this version of the attack no longer requires button prompts for the whole combo. Sora no longer is ground-based during the attack, allowing it to be performed in midair but at the cost of its prior invincibility in previous games (it instead gains super armor).

Kingdom Hearts

 * Sora learns Ars Arcanum after defeating Captain Hook in Neverland.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

 * Sora can learn Ars Arcanum when he reaches level 37.

Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories

 * Sora can learn Ars Arcanum when he reaches level 42.

Kingdom Hearts II

 * "Master" Genie has Final Arcana as his Limit.

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

 * "Master" Genie has Final Arcana as his Limit.
 * Limit Form has Last Arcanum as a Limit ability.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

 * Ventus can create Ars Arcanum through Command Melding.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

 * Sora can obtain Ars Arcanum from a chest at the Contorted City.
 * Sora or Riku can purchase Ars Arcanum from the Lord Kyroo Ability Link for 10 LP.
 * Sora or Riku can purchase Ars Arcanum from the Skelterwild Ability Link for 400 LP.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Ars Arcanum is an Ultimate-class Attack Command that can be melded through nine different recipes, listed in the Giga Attack Recipe.
 * The first recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe.
 * Aerial Slam (LV4) + Blitz (LV4)
 * The second recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe that has a 10% chance of transforming from Aerial Slam.
 * Aerora (LV3) + Fire Strike (LV3)
 * The third recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe that has a 5% chance of transforming from Slot Edge.
 * Cura (LV2) + Blizzard Edge (LV2)
 * The fourth recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe that has a 5% chance of transforming from Slot Edge.
 * Cura (LV2) + Poison Edge (LV2)
 * The fifth recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe that has a 5% chance of transforming from Blizzard Edge.
 * Quick Blitz (LV2) + Blizzara (LV2)
 * The sixth recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe that has a 5% chance of transforming from Blizzard Edge.
 * Quick Blitz (LV2) + Blizzard (LV2)
 * The seventh recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe that has a 10% chance of transforming from Blitz.
 * Quick Blitz (LV3) + Slot Edge (LV3)
 * The eighth recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe that has a 5% chance of transforming from Blizzard Edge.
 * Sliding Dash (LV2) + Blizzara (LV2)
 * The ninth recipe can be melded by Ventus, and is a recipe that has a 5% chance of transforming from Blizzard Edge.
 * Sliding Dash (LV2) + Blizzard (LV2)

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Although Ars Arcanum cannot be performed by any playable character,     can perform a modified version of Ars Arcanum in her third form.

Etymology
Ars Arcanum gets its name from the Latin ars meaning 'technique', 'skill' or 'art' and arcanum meaning 'secret'. Its Japanese name is "Last Arcanum", meaning "Last Secret".

Trivia

 * In Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix, all of Ars Arcanum's attacks do not trigger any rise to an enemy's retaliation point. Only the final Reaction Command does so, but it causes a higher chance of targets reaching their retaliation point sooner.