Shotlock (シュートロック Shūto Rokku?, lit. "Shoot Lock") is a combat mechanic for Terra, Aqua, Ventus, and Sora that debuted in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. It is initiated by holding and together.
The user enters first person mode and locks onto enemies, and by pressing , the user then initiates a powerful attack that hits all targeted enemies. By locking onto the maximum amount of enemies, additional attacks can be added by following on-screen prompts.
The amount of time the user has to lock onto targets depends on the Focus Gauge, which empties when the attack is initiated and can be refilled by attacking enemies and using Ethers. The Focus Gauge can be also be refilled if the player has the Damage Syphon ability, in which the player's gauge will refill when they take damage, or either of the Focus Block or Focus Barrier commmands, in which the gauge will refill when blocking attacks.
Most of the Shotlocks in the game can be learned by all three Keyblade wielders, but they also get several that are unique to themselves.
There are three basic types of Shotlocks that can be categorized based on the type of button input. One involves pressing the button repeatedly while the user fires many blasts of magic. Another involves the user dashing around surrounded by an elemental aura and ending with the player putting in the right combination to generate large pillars of magic. The last form involves timing and pressing the button as a ring lines up with another, this usually has the user firing blasts of different magic in rounds similar to Ragnarok.
In Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, a Shotlock is initiated by holding down . The user enters a targeting mode and locks onto enemies, and the Shotlock begins by pressing ( in the Japanese version). Triggering a Shotlock slows down time for the duration of the Focus gauge's depletion, allowing the player to maximize the number of lock-ons while minimizing damage and interference.
In Kingdom Hearts III, the mechanics are similar to 0.2. However, Shotlocks are now tied to Keyblades. Each Keyblade has a certain number of Shotlocks; often, these are differentiated by whether Sora used an incomplete or max lock when firing.
Shotlocks[]
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[]
Name | Max Locks | Max LV | Damage Type | Description | Obtained |
Meteor Shower (メテオシャワー Meteo Shawā?) |
30 | 4 | Neutral | Launch small, star-like projectiles at targets. Has an especially high lock-on count. Extra attacks: Press the button rapidly to fire bursts of three additional meteors. |
Terra,[1] Ventus,[1] Aqua[1] |
Flame Salvo (フレイムバースト Fureimu Bāsuto?, lit. "Flame Burst") |
15 | 4 | Fire | Launch fireballs at targets. Extra attacks: Press the rapidly to fire bursts of three additional fireballs. |
Terra,[2] Ventus, Aqua[3] |
Chaos Snake (カオススネーク Kaosu Sunēku?) |
20 | 4 | Neutral | Launch projectiles that zigzag at targets and confuse enemies they hit. Extra attacks: Press the button rapidly to fire bursts of three additional projectiles. |
Terra,[4] Ventus,[4] Aqua[4] |
Dark Volley (ブラックボレー Burakku Borē?, lit. "Black Volley") |
18 | 5 | Dark | Launch dark projectiles at targets. Has a high lock-on count. Extra attacks: Press the button rapidly to fire bursts of three additional projectiles. |
Terra[5] |
Bubble Blaster (バブルブラスト Baburu Burasuto?, lit. "Bubble Blast") |
15 | 5 | Neutral | Launch bubbles at targets. Extra attacks: Press the button rapidly to fire bursts of two additional bubbles. |
Aqua |
Ragnarok (ラグナロク Ragunaroku?) |
16 | 4 | Neutral | Launch a single salvo of light projectiles. Extra attacks: Perform a well-timed button press to fire additional projectiles (based on your timing rating). |
Terra,[6] Ventus,[6] Aqua[6] |
Thunderstorm (サンダーストーム Sandā Sutōmu?) |
5 | 4 | Thunder | Launch a single salvo of electric blasts. Even one blast by itself packs a significant punch. Extra attacks: Perform a well-timed button press to fire additional blasts (based on your timing rating). |
Terra,[7] Ventus,[8] Aqua[9] |
Bio Barrage (バイオバラージュ Baio Barāju?) |
8 | 4 | Neutral | Launch a salvo of projectiles that poison (50% chance) targets. Extra attacks: Perform a well-timed button press to fire additional blobs (based on your timing rating). |
Terra,[3] Ventus, Aqua[3] |
Pulse Bomb (パルスボム Parusu Bomu?) |
20 | 5 | Neutral | Launch energy blasts from the tip of your Keyblade and bombard targets with a series of small explosions. Has a high lock-on count. Extra attacks: Perform a well-timed button press to cause additional explosions (based on your timing rating). |
Ventus[10] |
Prism Rain (レインボウシャワー Reinbou Shawā?, lit. "Rainbow Shower") |
16 | 5 | Neutral | Launch a salvo of rainbow-colored orbs. Extra attacks: Perform a well-timed button press to fire additional projectiles (based on your timing rating). |
Aqua[10] |
Photon Charge (フォトンチャージ Foton Chāji?) |
15 | 4 | Neutral | Rush targets repeatedly and attack with the power of light. Extra attacks: Press random buttons when prompted to cause explosions centered around the foes you hit. |
Terra,[3] Ventus, Aqua[3] |
Absolute Zero (アブソリュートゼロ Abusoryūto Zero?) |
12 | 4 | Blizzard | Cloak yourself in ice and rush targets repeatedly. Extra attacks: Press random buttons when prompted to cause pillars of ice to erupt beneath the foes you hit. |
Terra,[11] Ventus,[12] Aqua[12] |
Lightning Ray (ライトニングレイ Raitoningu Rei?) |
18 | 4 | Neutral | Rush targets repeatedly with lightning speed. Extra attacks: Press the button when prompted to repeat the rush attack. |
Terra,[13] Ventus,[13] Aqua[13] |
Sonic Shadow (ソニックシャドウ Sonikku Shadou?) |
10 | 5 | Neutral | Become one with the shadows and rush targets repeatedly, blinding the enemies you hit. Extra attacks: Press random buttons when prompted to cause explosions centered around the foes you hit. |
Terra |
Ultima Cannon (アルテマキャノン Arutema Kyanon?) |
16 | 6 | Neutral | Terra's ultimate Shotlock. Transform your Keyblade into an enormous weapon that causes massive explosions with every blast. Extra attacks: Perform a well-timed button press to cause the bullets to explode after impact. |
Terra[14] |
Multivortex (マルチボーテックス Maruchibōtekkusu?) |
30 | 6 | Neutral | Ventus's ultimate Shotlock. Rapidly swing the Keyblade and harness the wind to launch shockwaves at targets with every stroke. Extra attacks: Rotate the analog pad to elongate the whirlwind. |
Ventus[14] |
Lightbloom (シャイニーブルーム Shainī Burūmu?, lit. "Shiny Bloom") |
20 | 6 | Neutral | Aqua's ultimate Shotlock. Perform a series of graceful spins as you fire blasts of light in all directions. Extra attacks: Rotate the analog pad to unleash a second barrage of projectiles. |
Aqua[14] |
Vanitas and Vanitas Remnant[]
Name | Attribute | Description |
Dark Cannon (ダークキャノン Dāku Kyanon?) |
Dark | During the last stage of the final battle between Ventus and Vanitas, Vanitas uses a Shotlock called "Dark Cannon", in which Vanitas fires a beam of blue energy, augmented by a rotating triangle of blue crystals. Through his D-Link with Vanitas, Ventus gains a gold-colored version of the same Shotlock, named "Dark Link," which he uses to combat Vanitas's Dark Cannon & the blue version of his Dark Spiral. The secret boss, Vanitas's Remnant, can also use Dark Cannon, but the attack is not countered by either Terra, Ventus, or Aqua. |
Kingdom Hearts III[]
Ability | Max Locks | Description | Obtained |
King of Hearts (キングオブハート Kingu obu Hāto?, lit. "King of Heart") |
23 | Fire a burst of magical projectiles from the end of your Keyblade. | Kingdom Key, Midnight Blue, Phantom Green, Dawn Till Dusk |
Ragnarok (ラグナロク Ragunaroku?) |
24 | Fire streams of brilliant light that fly at targets. | Kingdom Key, Midnight Blue, Phantom Green, Dawn Till Dusk |
Drain Shock (ドレインショック Dorein Shokku?) |
— | Absorb HP from targets. | Hero's Origin |
Atomic Deluge (アトミックヘビーレイン Atomikku Hebī Rein?, lit. "Atomic Heavy Rain") |
— | Use a shield to scatter lightning in all directions. | Hero's Origin |
Meteor Shower (メテオシャワー Meteo Shawā?) |
— | Spin your Keyblade and send shooting stars careening toward targets. | Shooting Star |
Diving Barrage (ダイブバラージュ Daibu Barāju?, lit. "Dive Barrage") |
— | Rain magical arrows down on targets from directly overhead. | Shooting Star |
Cluster Cannonade (クラスターランチャー Kurasutā Ranchā?, lit. "Cluster Launcher") |
— | Launch a giant rocket that splits into many smaller projectiles. | Shooting Star |
Ghost Horde (ゴーストデュエル Gōsuto Dyueru?, lit. "Ghost Duel") |
— | Create avatars that charge at targets repeatedly. | Favorite Deputy |
Drill Dive (ドリルダイブ Doriru Daibu?) |
— | Warp around and fly at targets repeatedly. | Favorite Deputy |
Shimmering Drops (ゴールデンドロップ Gōruden Doroppu?, lit. "Golden Drop") |
— | Absorb HP from targets. | Ever After |
Spectral Rays (プリズムレイ Purizumu Rei?, lit. "Prism Ray") |
— | Attack by surrounding yourself with reflectors and bouncing magical light off them. | Ever After |
Snakebite (スネークバイト Sunēkubaito?) |
— | Fire a burst of snake-like projectiles from the end of your Keyblade. | Happy Gear |
Warp Trick (デジョントリック Dejon Torikku?, lit. "Dezone Trick") |
— | Create a network of portals and attacks from all directions. | Happy Gear |
Hunny Burst (ハニーバースト Hanī Bāsuto?) |
— | Fire a burst of honey projectiles from the end of your Keyblade. | Hunny Spout |
Hunny Drizzle (ハニーダウンプール Hanī Daunpūru?, lit. "Honey Downpour") |
— | Rain honey down on targets from directly overhead. | Hunny Spout |
Sweet Surprise (ホーミングランチャー Hōmingu Ranchā?, lit. "Homing Launcher") |
— | Launch a giant glob of honey that splits into many smaller projectiles. | Hunny Spout |
Diamond Dust (ダイヤモンドダスト Daiyamondo Dasuto?) |
— | Launch a series of spinning ice blades toward targets. | Crystal Snow |
Frozen Crescents (フローズンクレセント Furōzen Kuresento?, lit. "Frozen Crescent") |
— | Slash at targets repeatedly with blades of ice. | Crystal Snow |
Blade Storm (ソードストーム Sōdo Sutōmu?, lit. "Sword Storm") |
— | Launch a series of spinning wind blades toward targets. | Wheel of Fate |
Flag Rampage (フラッグランページ Furaggu Ranpēji?) |
— | Slash at targets repeatedly with blades of wind. | Wheel of Fate |
Cubic Stream (キュービックトレイン Kyūbikku Torein?, lit. "Cubic Train") |
— | Spin your Keyblade and send block-like projectiles careening toward targets. | Nano Gear |
Zone Connector (ゾーンコネクター Zōn Konekutā?) |
— | Create a network of portals and attack from all directions. | Nano Gear |
Blades of the Round (エッジオブラウンド Ejji obu Raundo?, lit. "Edge of Round") |
— | Launch a series of spinning blades of light toward targets. | Starlight |
Union Ragnarok (ユニオンラグナロク Yunion Ragunaroku?) |
— | Fire streams of brilliant light that fly at targets. | Starlight |
Phantom Rush (ファントムラッシュ Fantomu Rasshu?) |
— | Create avatars that charge at targets repeatedly. | Classic Tone |
Noise Flux (ノイジージャンプ Noijī Janpu?, lit. "Noisy Jump") |
— | Warp around and fly at targets repeatedly. | Classic Tone |
Steam Spiral (スパイラルスチーム Supairaru Suchīmu?, lit. "Spiral Steam") |
— | Spin your Keyblade and send fireworks careening toward targets. | Grand Chef |
Fruit Crusher (フルーツクラッシュ Furūtsu Kurasshu?, lit. "Fruits Crush") |
— | Use a shield to scatter fruit in all directions. | Grand Chef |
Heart of a Princess ({{{2}}}?) | 1 | TBA | Destiny's Embrace |
Infinity Circle (インフィニティサークル Infiniti Sākuru?) |
1 | Gather magical forces and unleash them, devastating the surrounding area. | Ultima Weapon |
Video[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rare bonus on the Royal Board. / Command Melding
- ↑ Chest at the Vault.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Mirage Arena Medal Shop.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Clear the final match of Fruitball.
- ↑ Defeat Braig.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Rare bonus on the Keyblade Board.
- ↑ Chest at the The Chateau.
- ↑ Chest at the Mousehole.
- ↑ Chest at the Foyer.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Chest at the Ship Hub.
- ↑ Chest at the Disney Town.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Chest at the Gates.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Rare bonus on the Spaceship Board. / Command Melding
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Complete the Keepers of the Arena battle.