As players dive through the sometimes confusing story of Kingdom Hearts, choice is not a major factor throughout the franchise. Yet, the very first moments of the original Kingdom Hearts opens with a very critical question which most players take for granted. Now that Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix is out on the Epic Games Store via the Kingdom Hearts 1.5+2.5 Remix collection, it’s time to help those struggling with the very first decision to start the franchise.
Before the decision of which object between the sword, shield, or staff will best serve a Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix playthrough, it’s important to establish the significance of the choice. The decision impacts two elements with one being strong enough to change an entire approach to combat. The first choice changes the order in which abilities are obtained. In Kingdom Hearts, each level is tied to a specific boost regardless of starting weapon. This means that at level 6, all choices will get a permanent increase in HP and unlock a new ability.
Which weapon players choose alters what ability is unlocked at those specific levels. The second decision focuses only on starting Sora’s stats. With all this said, it is now time to determine the best combo for returning Kingdom Hearts veterans and the many franchise newcomers.
The best weapon to choose at the start of Kingdom Hearts is the Dream Shield. It is by no means the flashiest pick between the sword and the rod, but it comes with an ability order that is useful and versatile. No matter what difficulty players are ready to run through, the Shield is always the wisest choice for some very specific bonuses. Even 19 years after Kingdom Hearts originally released, the Shield remains a highly recommended choice.
The biggest reason to choose the Shield as your primary weapon is that it provides the most important abilities early on. Going through the list of abilities, it’s fairly easy to see why many will recommend the Shield on a first playthrough. The two abilities that will be lifesavers in Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix are Leaf Bracer and Second Chance.
Leaf bracer is earned at level 27 and Second Chance is gained at level 36 under the Dream Shield order. Essentially, Leaf Bracer makes Sora’s Cure spells uninterruptable which ensures that self-healing will always land. Without it, players will have to keep stepping out of combat and hope a projectile doesn’t come during the heal. This is incredibly important during a Proud Mode playthrough as it will be useful in any combat encounter. Second Chance simply ensures that players escape what would be a fatal blow by leaving Sora with 1 HP. Tying the two together is a combo for success.
Now that Kingdom Hearts players have taken the power of the Guardian, players should choose to discard the Staff. With the Shield selected, three constants have already been set as Defense, MP, and Max Item slots will not change. That leaves the only stats to see alterations being Strength and AP depending on the second decision.
Throwing the Staff away will have Sora start with 5 points in Strength with only 1 AP. For discarding the Sword, players will start with 4 Strength and 3 AP. While removing the staff will generate the lowest AP to start with, it won’t be an issue as the game progresses. With AP Up being a fairly easy synthesis item as well as a common one found in chests, those struggling around mid-game can grind extra Ability Points.
So for players prepared to explore the Disney meets Final Fantasy mashup, they can now start the game with a nice bit of leeway. As is the case with any action game, experimentation is always worth it and Kingdom Hearts is no different. For some players, taking the other options can lead to a more thrilling experience with defense and dodging becoming more crucial than ever. So if the Shield route feels a bit too safe, players can always take a swing at a Dream Staff run.
Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Remix is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Games Store.
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