Vanitas

Learn how to counter Vanitas's swift Keyblade attacks and powerful Desperation Move in Kingdom Hearts III's Limitcut episode. Master blocking to succeed!

Alright, so you've made it to Vanitas in the Limitcut episode of Kingdom Hearts III! He's super fast and hits hard, but don't sweat it. If you handled him okay in the story battles, you've already got a bit of a head start. The biggest thing to remember here is that most of his attacks can be blocked if your timing is just right. Seriously, timing is everything!

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Key tactic: Nearly all attacks can be blocked with precise timing.
• Punishable attacks: Standard Keyblade strikes, Ranged Slashes, and Flame Explosion.
• Dangerous attacks: Desperation Move (Ice Missiles, charge), Clone waves.

Phases:

1. Standard Combos: Vanitas will teleport and perform quick Keyblade strikes. His easiest attack is a teleport followed by a downward slash, which is a great opening for a counter. He also uses Flame Explosion, where fireballs rain down. You can block this, and after the third explosion, use Air Step to get in some hits.
2. Ranged Attacks: From a distance, he'll use Ranged Slash, a series of three slashes. Block these! If you don't, you'll get frozen, leaving you wide open for a nasty follow-up. He usually does two barrages, and the final slash of the second barrage is a bit delayed. Block that last one, and you can Air Step in for a combo. He also shoots regular Fireballs that home in on you; just block them as they get close.
3. Desperation Move: This is where he gets really dangerous. He'll ride a wave of Keyblades and shoot large Ice Missiles. These *cannot* be deflected and will freeze you solid if they hit, setting you up for a huge hit from his charge attack. He also summons waves of Clones from the center of the arena. These are also hard to deflect but can be dodged by rolling at the last second.

Strategy:

• The main challenge with Vanitas is figuring out when it's safe to attack. He's constantly moving and attacking, so mastering your blocking and countering is key to dealing damage.
• Don't rush in! Wait for him to finish a combo or a big attack, then strike.
• If you're struggling, consider coming back later. Vanitas is one of the tougher early fights in the Limitcut episode, so getting more practice with blocking from other battles might help.
• Reward: You'll get an AP Boost, increasing your AP by 1.