Drive Form

Drive Forms are special abilities that appeared in Kingdom Hearts II. They were used to make Sora transform into a more powerful form using the aid of Sora's partners. They are first learned at the beginning of the game at Yen Sid's Tower.

Description

Drive Forms are special abilities triggered from the Command Menu. They allow Sora to transform into stronger forms by using a partner or two. Drive Forms let Sora use different attacks, dual Keyblade wielding, gliding or use abilities he can't normally use. Like Sora, Drive Forms can level up too, this allows Sora to use certain abilities the Drive Forms can use.

Some consider Riku's Dark Form in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and the latter's remake as a kind of Drive Form, since it serves to make him stronger and granting him access to special abilities for a brief period of time before he reverts to normal form, and is possibly the basis for the development of the Drive Form for Kingdom Hearts II.

Drive Gauge

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The Drive Gauge

The Drive Gauge, located above the Magic Points Gauge, limits the Drive Forms from being used infinitely, like waiting for magic to recharge. The Drive Gauge is measured by different levels that can be gained by beating bosses or performing certain events. In the original version of Kingdom Hearts II, seven was the maximum level that the Drive Gauge could fill. In Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+, however, the Gauge is maxed out to nine. There are several ways to fill the Drive Gauge. The most common way is by attacking enemies, scenario objects, and bosses (with the latter filling up the gauge faster than the rest). It can also be filled by grabbing Drive Orbs (which come in two sizes) that certain enemies and objects drop, or by being attacked when a certain ability is equipped. When a Drive Form is triggered, the Drive Gauge starts draining away depending on the level of the Form that the player uses. After the Drive Gauge becomes completely empty and uses up all of its levels, Sora will change back into his normal self. Using specific skills and combos during the Forms will also proceed to make the Drive Gauge deplete faster than it normally would.

Forms

There is a total of six Drive Forms in total. Five can be triggered from the Command Menu, but the last one is random. The Drive Forms are:

Valor Form: Valor Form allows Sora to wield two Keyblades at the same time. It specializes in physical combat, but can't cast spells. It is obtained at Yen Sid's Tower, when Sora changed his clothes. Its special ability is High Jump. Sora wears Red Clothes with a red fleur-de-lis symbol. It uses Goofy's power and is based on him.

Wisdom Form: Wisdom Form makes Sora move in a skating fashion, and uses a single Keyblade to shoot(but not to hit with it). It is a Magic-based form, in contrast to Valor Form. It is obtained after Timeless River is beaten. Its special ability is Quick Run, which works in a similar way to Dodge Roll. Sora wears blue clothes with flame symbols on it, it uses Donald's power and is based on him, of course. It is considered the weakest among players, though.

Master Form: Master Form is combination of both Valor and Wisdom forms. It uses two Keyblades, one controlled through telekinesis and the other with the hand. It specializes in both Magic and Physical Combat. It is obtained in Hollow Bastion by speaking to King Mickey before the War of 1000 Heartless and during the events of Space Paranoids. Its special abilities is Aerial Dodge, a midair jump that blocks attacks (and reflects projectiles). Sora wears yellow clothes with cross motif. It is based on King Mickey and uses both partners.

Limit Form: Limit Form is a form based on Sora's old clothes, it is exclusive to Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+, though. It uses abilities from Kingdom Hearts that didn't appear in Kingdom Hearts II. It is obtained when Sora obtains Oathkeeper in Twilight Town. Its special ability is Dodge Roll, a small leap forward that defends Sora from all attacks (and reflects projectiles). The color scheme of Sora's clothes in this form change to that of his original clothes from Kingdom Hearts to reflect this. When triggered, both partners stay by Sora's side, making it especially useful during tough battles.

Final Form: Final Form is, as its name implies, the ultimate form. Sora wields two Keyblades, both through telekinesis. It specializes in physical combat, but its spells are almost equally strong. It is obtained randomly after Sora fights Roxas in The World That Never Was. Its special ability is Glide, which allows the user to fly briefly. Sora wears silver clothes with the symbol of a crown. It is based on Roxas' fighting style (Final Mix +) and uses both characters.

Anti Form: Anti Form is the only form when Sora is with out his Keyblade. It specializes in fast attacks, but lacks the ability to cast spells, shield, and even recover HP. It is obtain randomly when enough damage has been taken during another Drive Form, various other factors affect it as well. It has no special ability and it is the only one that can not be triggered through the Command Menu. In this form, Sora becomes completely black with yellow eyes and moves like a Shadow Heartless. It uses both partners and wastes all of the Drive Gauge.

Trivia

• If Sora is in a Drive Form before a cutscene, he will appear in the cutscene in that Drive Form, except for Anti Form, although he acts like his basic form.
• In earlier (beta) trailers of Kingdom Hearts II, Roxas was seen with both an MP and Drive Gauge during his battle with the Twilight Thorn, although in the end, he never had either.
• In the room where Sora receives his new cloths, hints to the future Drive Forms he will receive can be found by examining the mirrors - each of the five mirrors around the room describes the abilities one of Sora's original four Drive Forms, as well as his Anti Form.