Something crossed my mind. n KH1, Sora is told that as long as he holds the KEyblade the Heartless will come for them. To this day we haven't had a villain wield a keylade for long enough to see how this impacts them though.  But that's liable to change in KH3, isn't it? At least one form of Xehanort will have a keyblade, right? Are they gonna attack him? Or will they sweep that plot point under the rug?

 

The Heartless attack anyone who has a Keyblade in their hand. That also means Xehanort. BUT I guess he would mop the floor with them.

Xehanort will probably have control over the Heartless.

Xehanort will probably have control over the Heartless.

but does it work like that? the implication I got was that Heartless explicitly worked against anybody with a keyblade. Otherwise why wouldn't Sora, or at least Riku, be able to control the heartless? If the only rule is being the strongest, they shouldn't have any trouble

but does it work like that? the implication I got was that Heartless explicitly worked against anybody with a keyblade. Otherwise why wouldn't Sora, or at least Riku, be able to control the heartless? If the only rule is being the strongest, they shouldn't have any trouble

I think in BBS Xehanort was using Heartless to train Ventus before he extracted Vanitas from him.

I think in BBS Xehanort was using Heartless to train Ventus before he extracted Vanitas from him.

bit of a weird situation, but even then, Xehanort has a safe distance and didn't have his keyblade out while Ven did

I've always sort of kept a head canon that the Heartless really aren't too wild about Xehanort. They're okay with following Ansem, because the game plan was to plunge the world into Darkness (as well as possibly opening up the Heart of All Worlds, which must be a tasty snack for the Heartless), but Xehanort Sr. plans on bringing back the penultimate Keyblade, which is the one thing that can truly eradicate them, as well as "bringing balance" to the world, which probably isn't super enticing for the Heartless either. 

bit of a weird situation, but even then, Xehanort has a safe distance and didn't have his keyblade out while Ven did

Yeah, that's true. It might be because he uses the power of darkness but I can't really say for sure.

A lot of things said in KH1 don't make any sense anymore anyway.

but does it work like that? the implication I got was that Heartless explicitly worked against anybody with a keyblade. Otherwise why wouldn't Sora, or at least Riku, be able to control the heartless? If the only rule is being the strongest, they shouldn't have any trouble

 

Wasn't Riku able to control Heartless in KH1 though? Maleficent explicitly said so, though I think all he ever did with it was make a dark Sora clone.

 

It does also depend on what you mean by "strongest". Since it was Saix that said it that way, "strongest" might mean "the one with most control over darkness" rather than any sort of "strength of heart". Sora and co. aren't evil (anymore, for some of them) so they can't now, and of course he never could. It would also stand to reason that Xehanort would never really be under threat from them, given he's all about darkness.

Edited June 22, 201510 yr by HeyMouseSayCheese

Wasn't Riku able to control Heartless in KH1 though? Maleficent explicitly said so, though I think all he ever did with it was make a dark Sora clone.

 

It does also depend on what you mean by "strongest". Since it was Saix that said it that way, "strongest" might mean "the one with most control over darkness" rather than any sort of "strength of heart". Sora and co. aren't evil (anymore, for some of them) so they can't now, and of course he never could. It would also stand to reason that Xehanort would never really be under threat from them, given he's all about darkness.

Riku could control Heartless after KH1. Afterwards he loses the ability and all that's really changed is now he has a keyblade (it's not like he rejects the darkness)

Xehanort wouldn't be a threat, but would a HEartless be able to percieve that? It's stated they have no higher functions, so wouldn't they just see keyblade + massive power and react to that?

Riku could control Heartless after KH1. Afterwards he loses the ability and all that's really changed is now he has a keyblade (it's not like he rejects the darkness)

Xehanort wouldn't be a threat, but would a HEartless be able to percieve that? It's stated they have no higher functions, so wouldn't they just see keyblade + massive power and react to that?

 

No no, I'm not saying Xehanort isn't a threat to them, I'm saying if you take the term "strongest" to mean something like "most dark" then Xehanort is by far the "strongest" in the series, so he'd likely have near total control over the Heartless. They probably ain't gonna attack any version of him, with or without Keyblades.

 

And really, if they do literally mean "strongest" as in "most powerful", then I have no trouble believing that MX has been pulling the strings from beyond the grave the whole series because he's written to be practically omnipotent. Even if Sora or Riku or whoever were strong enough to control Heartless, MX is way stronger, so he overrides that, just like with Saix and maleficent.

This is a very interesting point that you raise!  Yes, the Heartless attack anyone who wields a Keyblade, but we haven't seen how this works with villains who can wield the Keyblade.  Like you said, we haven't seen them wield their Keyblades long enough to see if the Heartless would go after them.  But, seeing as how Xehanort is an all-powerful mother-lover, I'm pretty sure he doesn't consider the Heartless as a threat to him, since he could probably destroy them without the slightest bit of effort!

Siax once said that the heartless obey whoever's the strongest whether or not this rule is also implied for keyblade wielders who have turned to the darkness like Xehanort is unknown as of right now so rightfully right now no one other then Nomura could probably answer this question 

I'm sensing a plothole 

I'm sensing a plothole 

it's not a plot hole, just a plot point that hasn't been explored

it's not a plot hole, just a plot point that hasn't been explored

Meaning a plot hole: it's been made. then pretty much swept under the rug when it clashed with the story

Meaning a plot hole: it's been made. then pretty much swept under the rug when it clashed with the story

...except it has never clashed with the story

...except it has never clashed with the story

It has. 

Heartless attack those with Keyblades, yet a ot of characters have been shown with them with no issue. Xehanort TRAINED Ventus with one without being attacked, but the Unversed weren't created yet then. 

I guess when people are shown with Keyblades in Yen Sid's tower, the tower protects them, but how does Kairi use one without being attacked? How was Roxas able to use his in different places in DAYS without being swarmed?

KH 1 sets up the idea the Keyblade is like a beacon, that it draws the Heartless in, but that idea's kinda been lost as the series goes on. 

It has. 

Heartless attack those with Keyblades, yet a ot of characters have been shown with them with no issue. Xehanort TRAINED Ventus with one without being attacked, but the Unversed weren't created yet then. 

I guess when people are shown with Keyblades in Yen Sid's tower, the tower protects them, but how does Kairi use one without being attacked? How was Roxas able to use his in different places in DAYS without being swarmed?

KH 1 sets up the idea the Keyblade is like a beacon, that it draws the Heartless in, but that idea's kinda been lost as the series goes on. 

Xehanort was with a much weaker keyblade user at the time, and heartless were much more rare. With Kairi, she WAS attacked, did you miss that?

Roxas was ALSO attacked

You don't ALWAYS get attacked, sometimes Heartless aren't in a world, or the area you're in. This was a tihng even in KH1

Xehanort was with a much weaker keyblade user at the time, and heartless were much more rare. With Kairi, she WAS attacked, did you miss that?

Roxas was ALSO attacked

You don't ALWAYS get attacked, sometimes Heartless aren't in a world, or the area you're in. This was a tihng even in KH1

Fine. 

Agree to disagree on it.