With Kingdom Hearts 4 officially on the way, fans of the Square Enix action RPG series have been busy speculating about what the beginning of a new saga for the series could look like. Now that Sora has been transported into the realistic world of Quadratum, the fantastical nature of the Disney crossover franchise is the most subject to change it has ever been. The series’ drastic shift might make sense for those that fully completed the long-awaited third entry, but one core element of the games has remained proudly intact during the transition into Kingdom Hearts 4.
A nearly photorealistic Shibuya populated with pedestrians may have been the most shocking part of Kingdom Hearts 4’s reveal trailer, but Sora’s summoning of his iconic Kingdom Key ensured that the tone stayed true to the series. The flagship weapon of the franchise, Keyblades have served countless lore purposes since their inception in the original game. Kingdom Hearts 3 is considered a solid release despite its controversies, but it did manage to leave out several significant weapon options from past games. Kingdom Hearts 4 may seem to be starting fresh, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to bring back some of the series’ most beloved Keyblades.
Pumpkinhead
A favorite of many players due to its power, reach, and cool design, the Pumpkinhead obtained from Halloweentown is one of the series' best Disney-themed weapons. While A Nightmare Before Christmas might be far beyond its heyday as a relevant franchise, any reference to this dark Keyblade is sure to please fans to no end. Considering the mixed reception to Disney properties like Tangled and Frozen having their own areas in Kingdom Hearts 3, returning to the more experimental style of running around with characters like Jack Skellington could be extremely well-received.
Ends of the Earth
Originally wielded by the Lingering Will super boss form of Terra, this Keyblade's further appearance in Birth by Sleep only solidified its legendary status. Massive and powerful, allowing Sora or any Kingdom Hearts protagonist to wield this again is sure to feel visceral. Capable of transforming into various shapes including a glider and bow, the fully realized return of this Keyblade in Kingdom Hearts 4 would be thrilling for Birth by Sleep fans.
End of Pain
The ultimate Keyblade available in Dream Drop Distance, End of Pain is one of the franchise's edgiest weapon designs. Seemingly based on a demonic wing motif, this Keyblade exudes an ominous and grandiose aura befitting of the challenge required to obtain it. While the series' iconic Ultima Weapon has a consistent presence, breaking the formula for something as cool as the End of Pain would be well worth it.
Metal Chocobo
A reward for defeating Cloud in Kingdom Hearts' Olympus Colliseum, the Metal Chocobo is a clear homage to the Final Fantasy protagonist's iconic Buster Sword. With the era of Final Fantasy 7 Remake upon the industry, it has never been a better time to utilize this classic design. There is actually a decent chance of this weapon returning now that Final Fantasy characters have been rumored to have a greater presence in Kingdom Hearts 4, but it's not the only Keyblade of its kind.
One-Winged Angel/Fenrir
Obtained by defeating Sephiroth, the super boss of the original Kingdom Hearts. The One-Winged Angel boasts a powerful critical hit ability, but it ultimately falls short due to its magic penalty. Despite its mixed effectiveness when it was around, the undeniably cool appearance of this Keyblade still makes it a fan favorite to this day. Another reward for beating Sephiroth, Fenrir, is one of Kingdom Hearts 2's most amazing designs across the board. Taking influence from the Final Fantasy 7 crossover characters it's associated with, Fenrir extremely unique look is more than worth bringing back despite any ineffectiveness its original incarnation may have suffered from.
Kingdom Hearts 4 is currently in development.