Shotlock

The two forms of the Shotlock reticule; the left one still has time, whereas the one on the right does not.

Shotlock (シュートロック, Shūto Rokku^?, lit. "Shoot Lock") is a technique in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, and Kingdom Hearts III.

Mechanics[edit]

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

In Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, a Shotlock is initiated by holding down and simultaneously (or just in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX). The user enters a targeting mode and locks onto enemies, and by pressing ( in the Japanese version), 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 rate at which the locking on occurs varies with each Shotlock and increases with level. Most of the Shotlocks in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep can be learned by all three Keyblade wielders, although there are some that are unique for each character.

Shotlocks can be divided into four types of attacks:

• Projectile-type Shotlocks, like Meteor Shower, allow the user to launch a barrage of projectiles one after the other that home in on targets. Class A additional inputs can be used to add extra projectiles.
• Salvo-type Shotlocks, like Ragnarok, allow the user to charge energy into the tip of the Keyblade, before sending a burst of projectiles at targets. Class C additional inputs can be used to fire multiple salvos.
• Rush-type Shotlocks, like Photon Charge, allow the user to rush around the field, striking enemies in passing. Class B additional inputs are used to perform powerful diving strikes, except for Lightning Ray, which uses Class A additional inputs to add extra rushes.
• Unique-type Shotlocks have a different attack for each Shotlock. These Shotlocks include each character's ultimate Shotlock, and Dark Link, used during Ventus's fight with Vanitas. Terra's Ultima Cannon uses Class C inputs, while Ventus's Multivortex and Aqua's Lightbloom use Class D inputs for extra attacks. When using Dark Link, Class A inputs are required to hit Vanitas.

Each Shotlock can be enhanced by performing a certain action to add extra attacks. There are four methods of adding extra attacks, which determine the Shotlock's class:

• Class A (ボタン連打, Botan Renda^?, lit. "Button Barrage") Shotlocks involve pressing ( in the Japanese version) rapidly.
• Class B (ランダム, Randamu^?, lit. "Random") Shotlocks involve pressing random buttons when prompted.
• Class C (タイミング, Taimingu^?, lit. "Timing") Shotlocks involve performing well-timed button presses.
• Class D (パツド回転, Paddo Kaiten^?, lit. "Pad Rotation") Shotlocks involve rotating .

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-[edit]

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. Prism Rain is the only Shotlock available.

Kingdom Hearts III[edit]

In Kingdom Hearts III, the mechanics are similar to Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-. Shotlocks are now tied to Keyblades, and each Keyblade has a certain amount of Shotlocks. Most Keyblades have two Shotlocks, one activated with an incomplete lock and another with a max lock. However, Ultima Weapon and Destiny's Embrace each have just one Shotlock activated with one lock, Shooting Star and Hunny Spout's max-level Shotlocks depend on whether a max lock was used on a single target or a group of enemies, and Master's Defender and Braveheart's Shotlocks only prompt additional attacks when used at max lock similar to previous games. Visually, all of Sora's max-level Shotlocks implement the corresponding Keyblade's Formchange, with his clothes transforming into the corresponding Form for the duration of the Shotlock. As in Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-, time is slowed while locking onto enemies; however, timers, such as the ones seen in minigames, as well as the Doom counter used by Marluxia's Replica Data, will still run at normal speed. The Airstep Flowmotion technique is also executed from the Shotlock menu by pressing .

List of Shotlocks[edit]

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

Kingdom Hearts III[edit]

Other appearances[edit]

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep[edit]

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 dark 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 can use to combat Vanitas's Dark Cannon. The secret boss, Vanitas Remnant, can also use Dark Cannon, but the attack cannot be countered.

The Vanitas Remnant also utilizes a unique Shotlock during the battle against it. Vanitas Remnant takes an identical position as when using Dark Cannon, and surrounds itself in a black ball before shooting out copies of itself which make one slash before freezing in place.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance[edit]

The Armored Ventus Nightmare utilizes a Shotlock against Riku during the final battle. When Riku absorbs his Dream Eaters to counter, the rest of the battle involves the two of them rushing against each other until one of them is knocked out.

Notes and references[edit]