Air Soldier

The Air Soldier is an Emblem Heartless that is found in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.

Design
A cousin of the Soldier, bearing the same shadowed face and jagged visage, the dark-skinned Air Soldier is kitted out for aerial battle in an modified aviator cap that covers the upper half of the face and boasts a pair of shiny-rimmed goggles; the propeller on the top of the cap, presumably assists it in hovering in battle, though its bat-like wings seem to do most of the flying work. The Air Soldier also wears thick black pants with an inverted brown Heartless-symbol silhouette at the knees, and bulky brown boots with blue and gold toes. It fights with black elbow-length gloves featuring metal bands at the top and sharp red claws that allow for painful attacks.

In Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, the Air Soldier and Soldier had their palettes switched, with the Air Soldier now shaded using the Soldier's bright blue and purple colors.

The term Air Soldier, along with the hat the Heartless wears, could be a reference to fighter pilots.

Strategy
For the majority of the time, the Air Soldier will hover just out of reach, then dashing in to attack the player. Fighting large groups of these enemies can be dangerous because of their high strength and quick attacks. When fighting a single Air Soldier, the player should use magic to stun it, then close the distance with their keyblade to finish it off. When fighting large groups, it’s a good idea to cast Thunder first off, then finish off the nearest Air Soldier. Cast Thunder again, and repeat. Remember to heal often, as the Air Soldier can defeat you on lower levels without taking your HP into critical beforehand.