David Buchwald

I can't figure out how to use discord Sorry, newbie. I have the app on my phone but can't figure out how to join any type of conversation regarding KHUx.

Where is the best place to post if seeking advice for my specific keyblade / medal set-up to beat Savage Vanguard? I have pretty good medals (I think) but not sure the best order to place them / when to use SN attacks, and some specific questions regarding Skills. Don't want to post in the wrong place, anybody know where to get some good quick advice on this? Thanks so much!

Thanks for the info, @WakelessDream

Thanks for responding, hawk222! You have confirmed my suspicions, and yes it seems clear at this point they are in a data world, complete with data recreations of the Disney Worlds previously created by the Book of Prophecies before the Keyblade War. I think at one point, when "Unchained Realm" first became a thing, this was not made as clear, which is why older threads on the subject theorize that Player and Dandelions have been transported to Sleeping Ream, which we now know is incorrect. I think a lot of us are assuming the Real World is torn apart after the war, and that Scala Ad Caelum will be built in the area where Daybreak Town once stood, but only time will tell what Nomura is planning. We know from the other games in the series that the Keyblade Graveyard remains mostly untouched even in the present day, complete with all those keyblades still sticking in the ground. But from what I understand, the Keyblade Graveyard is the area where the War actually happened and people fought, which is in a separate area from Daybreak Town itself. Thanks again for you response and putting my mind at ease with what I thought was correct!

This is a separate subject all together. Maybe it belongs in a different thread, but since we are talking about KHUx ... in terms of the story ... does anybody know why some people say the player's story takes place in the sleeping realm? To me it makes more sense this is all happening in a data world (like the journal in coded, or a better example would be the twilight town created for Roxas). Especially now in the story the characters keep referring to it as data world, including daybreak town and all the Disney worlds. It's been a while since I've researched, so maybe this has gone away, but for a time I remember reading this all took place in the sleeping realm and the player was "asleep." To me it makes more sense that the player isn't sleeping at all but just living in this data world. And the player sometimes sleeps within this data world, and that's when the dreams of what really happened come back, and the visions of the keyblade war, etc. The Chirithys are there to help control these dreams so the player doesn't remember. Am I on the right track? Thanks for any help in clearing this up. Also, if I could please ask that in any responses please avoid any spoilers for the current story past what's currently available to us in global version. I go out of my way to avoid spoilers from the Japanese version because I actually enjoy being surprised with the story. I am all caught up though in the global version as of the update that I think came out on April 30th. Thanks all!

Yea, for now it's still tedious but basically just on auto-pilot and going as fast as I can. Got into the habit of just clicking optimize for medals and essentially rushing through it. Right now it's all one hit kills anyway. I'm sure the actual challenging quests won't come until much later. But I think you get all the keyblades before then anyway.

Thanks for the input! Yea, I haven't spent a dime on this game, and I don't plan to. I really hate the powercreep. I really wish they would just stop coming out with new medals, because it's getting to the point where it's just absurd. For now I'm just sticking with the quests I can handle. If it wasn't for story mode I probably wouldn't even play at all lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tu-K02aqXU&list=WL&index=40&t=0s Honestly this quick two minute video explained to me so much why I was only doing "1" damage. The game doesn't explain how the buffs /debuffs work well enough in my opinion, and the whole concept of raising your attack higher than your opponent's defense in order to do any real damage. After this video it all clicked for me. I also watched this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsjl94IE2Z4 That one helped me understand overwrite medals, which I think is extremely useful. Other than that, started paying more attention to the little icons and became much more aware of what was happening during battles. For example, I have several newer medals with Supernova attacks that add to all your medals' overall attack for 1 turn. I found that if I first buffed attack and defense, I could then stack several of those supernovas to gain a crazy amount of extra attack power and do incredible damage. Still couldn't beat Aced, but I was finally able to at least do damage, and that was a huge step for me. Another example would be the last current boss we can play for story mode. Before I educated myself, it took me several continues to beat. After educating myself, was able to beat it in one turn! I am finding the proud mode keyblades will be worth it. I currently only have the Sleeping Lion one, but can already see that my Sleeping Lion that has barely been upgraded is just as powerful as my Lady Luck which has been upgraded to a high level. So I'm sure these keyblades will prove to be excellent once able to upgrade them to a higher level.

Yes, I think you're right! Suffer through it for the keyblades. Looking into this further, I think the keyblades will be worth it for the more challenging events. On the bright side, should be a breeze getting through these early proud mode quests. Not a challenge at all when using newer medals!

Circling back to this almost a year later .... seems we might finally get some answers? KH: Dark Road anyone? LOL. Kudos to Mkucherina for being right on the money as far as what the next game will be. I really hope my big question will be answered! As far as DDD Destiny Islands Xehanort vs Chess Playing Xehanort, and the whole yellow eyes thing... I am hopeful this game will give those answers. Fingers crossed.

Yes, only time will tell the true meaning behind this worldlines nonsense. I would love to see any of those side games honestly. The future seems bright with KH. And wide open! Excited to see where it goes.

Thanks for this response! Happy to see I was more or less correct with Terranort and Dark Riku. And as for Master Xehanort, yea the explanation doesn't make sense but he's one of the few characters I don't really care. I don't really need an explanation of how the all powerful villain of the entire series comes back, as much as I like explanations for how all the other characters come and go. He came back because Sora needed to fight the main villain in the final installment of his saga I agree with you, and hope Demyx isn't MoM. I think that might be too much, but still I could see it happening. I am hopeful we will get more on him and Luxord when we finally get story updates for KHUx (remember when Nomura said a year ago the story was going to begin to move forward at an alarmingly fast pace now? Sigh). As for the whole jumping worldlines thing you mention from the secret reports. Yea. I really really hope this isn't alternate realities, similar to how the multiverse works in DC comics (multiple earths). I don't think KH Series can handle that amidst all the other nonsense I never thought of the world in KHUx as an alternate reality or world. I always viewed the characters as if they are in the same world where the keyblade war happened. The 5 new union leaders used Data to mask the truth from the Dandelions. That's how I always kinda viewed it. For example, in Coded (dammit I can't believe I'm resorting to referencing Coded), they were still in the same world, they just entered into a data world within that world. So basically the same way I view KHUx. I think they are still in the same world as the original X game (browser game) but the Dandelions are all living out their days in this data world within that world to hide them from the truth. Seems the scenes with the new 5 union leaders still take place in the original room in the clock tower that the foretellers used. .... all this to say I still don't know what the hell Luxu means in the secret reports "The virus has begun a strange undertaking: a reckless plot to allow the Five to escape into another worldline. Surely such a thing can't be possible? We're talking about the same trick that allowed the Dandelions to transfer to other worldlines after the Keyblade War." Could he simply be talking about time travel? Not the time travel we know from DDD and KH3, but a different kind that allows them to travel with their bodies intact and forward in time, without the need of the rule we got before of having to have a version of yourself when you travel? Maybe in story updates we will see these guys learn to time travel like that into the future, but then something goes wrong and they lose their memories when they do it? Or maybe he is talking about worldlines in the sense of the Disney worlds Dandelions visit in KHUx, but the problem with that explanation is that the Disney Worlds were happening even before the keyblade war. Or maybe he's talking about other worlds in general? Maybe he means after the keyblade war, as in this is when the world split into all the different worlds we see in the rest of the KH series? and maybe he means they found a way to travel those worlds like with gummis or portals or whatever? Ugh, my head hurts. Dammit Nomura. Worldlines! Ugh.

Hey fellow KH Fans, **SPOILERS FOR KH3 BELOW** Was thinking about the new organization and how everyone got there. It seems to me many of these members were reconstructed, while time travel was reserved for the members who needed time travel to exist again. This got me thinking about everyone's current state post KH3, and I decided to make a list with all my thoughts. Here is what I think, and I'd like approval from the experts on this forum that this is correct? Otherwise could you please let me know what on this list is incorrect: NEW ORGANIZATION 13: ** Xigbar, Saix, Larxene, Luxord, Marluxia (along with reserve members Demyx and Vexen) ** How they got there: These 7 individuals were reconstructed as humans at some point when both their nobodies and heartless were defeated. As reconstructed humans, they were invited to join the new organization. Part of the deal was becoming nobodies again. We also know each and every one of them was given a piece of Xehanort in their hearts because of their yellow eyes. No time travel was involved with these 7. No replica bodies were needed for these 7. Current state (post KH3): Saix, Larxene, Luxord, Marluxia were defeated by Sora at the end of KH3, and presumably reconstructed (in fact, Sora even tells them they will be reconstructed as humans and a few of them remark at what they will next do as humans.) We only see one member, Saix, post defeat. He is reconstructed into human form and can be seen with his friends in Twilight Town. I have to assume he was reconstructed in Radiant Garden, since this is where he first became a nobody, and somehow found his way to Twilight Town (probably with Gummi Ship technology). I can't say where Larxene, Luxord, Marluxia ended up... as far as I know it is not currently known where these 3 were when they became nobodies. Vexen decided to turn to the light side at some point during KH3. However, during the KH3 ending we see he is no longer a nobody and has been reconstructed as a human, due to his change in eye color and appearance. I'm not sure how this happened. Has this been explained? I'm guessing it's simple and they just used all that Radiant Garden tech, or he just had Sora slash him a few good ones with the ol' keyblade. Demyx - No clue what his fate is, or if he is still a nobody. I don't think we know this yet as a community, though I know there are many theories out there **cough**MoM**cough**. If he is still a nobody, I wonder if he still has yellow eyes.... which brings me to.... Xigbar - The most complicated of the bunch (At least for me). Seemingly still a nobody, and for some reason still has yellow eyes. Does this mean he still has a piece of Xehanort in him? After all, even though we now know this is Luxu in disguise, and one of his many forms, we do know for a fact the original form of Braig did not have yellow eyes. Unless this has nothing to do with Xehanort, and the yellow eyes is just part of his "nobody" look? Again, thankful for any clarification on this one. It was hard for me to tell from the battle with Sora if he was actually defeated or not, since he kinda just fell from the roof. But then his weapons vaporized... so....yeaaa.... (please help). I thought the weapons vanishing meant he was defeated, but it doesn't seem as though he's been reconstructed... ** Ansem, Xemnas, Young Xehanort, Vanitas ** Time Travel (sigh). These 4 were plucked out of their respective times in the KH saga when they were at their peak. They traveled to the KH3 time period as hearts, so they were given replica bodies to house their hearts. Except for Young Xehanort possibly, as from my research I understand he has the power to time travel without turning into a heart for whatever reason. As far as where they are now... they returned to their time periods after being defeated by Sora in KH3. Side Note / Question: I don't remember the whole thing about them needing replica bodies being mentioned in Dream Drop Distance, the first time Xehanort tried gathering his 13 vessels. Were these fine details just left out because they weren't worked out yet, or am I just forgetting? Or maybe they purposely left out the replica thing to be explained in KH3 because it was the method that would eventually bring back some old friends (more on that below). ** Terra-Xehanort ** I'm not entirely sure on this one. I think he could have used the time travel method as described for the 4 above. OR, possibly more likely, he is the reconstructed form which came back into existence after Sora defeated both Ansem and Xemnas. Presumably, he would had to have woken up before the other members in Radiant Garden since he wasn't in the original cutscene we saw of some of the members beginning to wake up. I'm not sure which of these is the correct answer, but would love to know! Once defeated in KH3, Terra is finally freed from his bonds! ** Dark Riku ** I'll admit it, I'm a little confused on this one. This is what I originally thought: I thought this was the version of Riku at his worst, during the first Kingdom Hearts, when he is fully possessed and Sora needs to fight him. I thought he came to KH3 using the time travel method, and his heart was put into the original Riku Replica body (from Chain of Memories). However, I read somewhere that perhaps no time travel was involved and this was simply a full fledged replica, with no real heart other than a replica heart. I like my theory better though. Once defeated in KH3, the replica body is available again for use... however, even though this is the original Riku Replica body from CoM, it is not that original replica heart from that game. That heart, has actually been hiding out in vanilla Riku this whole time.... anyway, after the defeat, we think that original CoM heart will take his body back, but he chooses not to. Instead, he decides to save the replica body, so Namine can use it. Seems a little silly to me, I'm sure Vexen/Even could make Namine a perfectly suitable one, and then they could both exist, but whatever. Anyway, I'd love confirmation that I'm correct on this one as it's a little weird. ** Xion ** I believe this is another example of time travel from back when Xion was in the original organization (probably her very early days when she just did whatever the organization told her to do). But for some reason she doesn't really remember Axel and Roxas, and I was under the impression she met them early on during those days? Anybody have an answer? Anyway, assuming she is a time traveling heart, and in a replica body that was made specifically for her. She isn't really defeated during KH3, but rather her heart is awoken, her heart which has been sleeping/stowed away in Sora ever since Days (the game). At this point her heart leaves Sora and replaces the time traveling heart, or kicks it out, or whatever. I guess it doesn't really matter, but this is how we get Xion back! ** Master Xehanort ** I don't really know how he got there, and honestly it doesn't really bother me. Perhaps he was reconstructed when both Ansem and Xemnas were defeated... but that doesn't explain why he took this form. I like to believe that he was brought back because it was time to fulfill the prophecy. It is a bit of Kingdom Hearts magic, but basically the world knew it was time for the 13 darknesses to collide with the 7 lights, so he was summoned back in this form to fulfill the prophecy. You can't say we haven't dealt with this kind of explanation in the past for KH... and I actually buy it. After all, this is why he was fine turning himself into a heartless and nobody, because he knew he would be summoned back when the time was right.... or I'm just a fool and he was reconstructed. You tell me! BONUS SECTION - NON-ORGANIZATION MEMBERS: Roxas - Sora's nobody whose heart lives within Sora. He finally awakened in KH3, and his heart was put into a brand new vessel, which was a replica that Vexen/Even constructed specifically for him. Namine - As described above, she took the original Riku Replica body (Again this makes no sense. You're telling me he had time to make a perfect replica of Roxas but not Namine?? Wouldn't it take the same amount of time it took him to change the appearance of the Riku Replica to look like Namine??) Anyway, her heart was living inside Kairi, but was released somehow.... not sure but I think maybe when Xehanort killed her in cold blood. Ventus - His heart has been in Sora's for the longest time, 10 years before the original Kingdom Hearts in fact. His original body was locked away in The Land of Departure, which was cloaked to become Castle Oblivion. With some help from Aqua and Venitus, Ventus's heart awoke from Sora and entered into his original body. Thanks so much for all your help and input in getting this list 100% complete and correct. Much appreciated!

Thanks guys for the input. I agree the "guidance from the future" seems to be the coming from the parts that are etched in his heart, and I do vaguely remember this point mentioned from DDD. However, I think it further verifies that Destiny Islands / visit from Ansem Seeker of Darkness came before Scala ad Caelum. Only Nomura has the true answer. I'm aware it could be as simple as him just wanting to change the character models, and there's no real story explanation. Even though we are being told this is the end of the Xehanort saga, I also believe he will appear in future titles. I agree with Mkucherina in this regard. And am hopeful at some point we will get an explanation for the timeline of "Chess Playing Xehanort" vs "Destiny Islands Young Xehanort," since it seems I am not the only one bothered by this discrepancy. ... I don't think Xehanort will be the main villain anymore, as we have seen his rise and fall so to speak. I think that role will be passed to Master of Masters / Luxu. However, I think he will be making cameos. Especially since MoM is heavily tied to No Name, and seeing how it gets passed down is a big part of his story. We know Luxu gives it to one of the 5 new union leaders, but from there who knows. Somehow the master/teacher of Eraqus and Xehanort gets it, and we still don't know who this is. Then I'm guessing it gets passed to Xehanort at some point after they both become masters and take their leave... so I'm sure parts of this will be brought to light and hopefully an explanation in future installments. Could very well even be DLC or one of these "middle" games before the next big installment. I will say this about Nomura, given all the slack he gets for being overly complicated and convoluted, I do think he strives to give everything a reason, and a proper explanation. Hence the glossaries, character files, videos/descriptions of past games, etc., etc. we get in the later installments. I do believe he has a reason for most things, and tries to justify the things that seem wrong/out of place (most of the time). P.S. I thought of another question, also dealing with these yellow eyes.

Hello KH Experts! I'm confused with Xehanort's early days and hoping to get some answers. This has a lot to do with the fact that he looks younger in the chess scenes than the Young Xehanort we know from his Destiny Islands days, before his time traveling adventures, and before ever going off to train as a keyblade master (or so we thought). I've done some research and see a lot of folks have this same question, and unfortunately haven't really found a straight answer. However, I haven't seen anyone talk about the connection to Secret Report 2 from KH3, and I'd like to touch upon that. As stated in that report, written by Xehanort: So according to this, Xehanort was only at Scala ad Caelum for a few years before preparing for his Mark of Mastery exam. I buy this. I mean Sora only wielded a keyblade for a few years as well before attempting the exam. But the Report leaves me confused. Why does he state he left Destiny Islands with "guidance from the future"? I was under the impression he forgot all about his time traveling upon returning to his time? Does anyone have an answer for this? Still, this report does not answer the question of why the chess playing Xehanort looks younger than that version, and why the eye color is different. He always had yellow eyes in the scenes we have seen of him at Destiny Islands. This report only seems to confirm that yes indeed he was on Destiny Islands BEFORE Scala ad Caelum, and before becoming a keyblade wielder and attempting to become a master. I'd love to hear the thoughts of the experts here. Not expecting to get a clear answer, but hoping to get a better understanding, especially when taking Secret Report 2 as cannon (I've seen others theorize that chess playing came before Destiny Islands, but I think this report makes it clear that's not the case). Others have theorized we would get a clear answer in an interview or perhaps in a future game. But it's been made clear that this game is the end of the Xehanort saga, so I do believe they will stay away from focusing on Xehanort in any future titles. Thanks for the help!