Vanitas Remnant

Vanitas's Sentiment (ヴァニタスの思念) appears as the secret boss found in the Keyblade Graveyard in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. Before attacking Terra, Ventus, or Aqua, its battle must first be accessed by entering a dark portal with a picture of the charm found on the end of the Keychain found on Vanitas's Keyblade, (similar to encountering an Absent Silhouette). The Sentiment drops a Hidden Gem when defeated.

Strategy
While Vanitas's Sentiment has significantly less HP (one bar) than some bosses previously fought, it is important not to underestimate it. Vanitas's Sentiment uses a skill-set similar to the true Vanitas, but with more powerful versions of Vanitas's attacks and the ability to heal itself whenever the player tries to do the same, excluding healing by potions. Each of these tactics have the potential to instantly drop the player's HP into the "Alarm Zone", thus the boss should be approached with caution. It also has some attacks that Vanitas could only do with the X-Blade, both complete and incomplete.

Some differences in Vanitas's Sentiment's moveset include the fact that its standard behind-aerial attack can hit multiple times, time before the attack when the boss freezes in place significantly shorter. The fireballs it shoots fire at a much faster pace.

Vanitas's Sentiment also has a fair share of new tactics in its arsenal, however, able to dash around in the shadows before several dark, crystalline and floating blades attack the player from both sides. When the boss holds its blade above its head, the Keyblade it holds powers up, leading to several powerful slashes, the combo finishing with a long-range slash in the shape of an "X" that will home in on the player unless it comes in contact with an obstacle beforehand. It may also surround itself in darkness, "shadow" versions of itself performing aerial combos.

Not only this, but Vanitas's Sentiment will then proceed to power up, surging with energy, attacking its opponent from beneath. It should be noted that several of his attacks can cause the player's view to be obstructed by darkness for a certain amount of time, making it easy to be hit by any follow-up attacks he may use. Vanitas's Sentiment also has the ability to perform a Shoot Lock, firing a massive laser with a relatively long range directly in front of it. The attack is easily avoidable, however, and it also leaves the boss open for attack.

It is best that the player keep a continuous hit-and-run pattern going during this battle. Victory is simply determined by the proper timing of Guard and attacks, as well as the equipment of proper Deck Commands.

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6NC0ejfjoE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DtDEJ4-wcE

Trivia

 * Vanitas's Sentiment shares many similarities with the Absent Silhouettes in Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.
 * Vanitas's Sentiment first appears before Terra, Ventus, or Aqua from a sphere of dark energy that later morphs into a physical body, much as Vanitas did upon his creation.
 * Vanitas's Sentiment is also the first secret boss to speak during battle. Both Xemnas and the Lingering Sentiment were mute during their boss fights in their respective games, and while they did speak, they only did so through enigmatic sounds.