History Characters / KingdomHeartsMasterXehanort

[[Characters/KingdomHeartsDestinyIslandsTrio Destiny Islands Trio]] ([[Characters/KingdomHeartsSora Sora]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsRiku Riku]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsKairi Kairi]]) | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsDisneyCastleTrio Disney Castle Trio]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsRoxasAxelAndXion Clock Tower Trio]] ([[Characters/KingdomHeartsRoxas Roxas]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsAxel Axel]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsXion Xion]]) | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsTerraAquaAndVentus Wayfinder Trio]] ([[Characters/KingdomHeartsTerra Terra]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsAqua Aqua]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsVentus Ventus]]) | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsPartyMembersAndSummons Party Members and Summons]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsXehanortsIncarnations Xehanort's Incarnations]] ('''Master Xehanort''') | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsOrganizationXIII Organization XIII]] ([[Characters/KingdomHeartsXigbar Xigbar]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsSaix Saïx]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsVanitas Vanitas]]) | Disney Villains ([[Characters/KingdomHeartsDisneyVillainsMaleficentsCouncilAndAllies Maleficent's Council and Allies]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsOtherDisneyVillains Other Disney Villains]]) | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsIndependentVillains Independent Villains]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsEnemyCreatures Enemy Creatures]] ([[Characters/KingdomHeartsHeartless Heartless]]) | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsAnsemAndApprentices Ansem and his Apprentices]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsXCharacters Kingdom Hearts χ[chi] Characters]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsSupportingOriginals Supporting Original Characters]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsSupportingSquareEnix Supporting Square Enix Characters]] | [[Characters/KingdomHeartsSupportingDisney Supporting Disney Characters]] -] ]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:[[labelnote:Click here to see the Boy in Black]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/boy_in_black.png[[/labelnote]]]]

* TheEmpath: [[spoiler:Both the Player and Baldr confirm it with him within ''Dark Road'', with the former saying to him that he can sense the hearts of others and link to them, while the latter during his possession by Darkness sees a LOT of himself in Xehanort. His experiences of losing his friends is what turns from this into a serious case of LackOfEmpathy.]]

* TheChosenOne: Played with. [[spoiler: Growing up Xehanort was told by his caretaker that he was the "Child of Destiny" someone able to empathize with other hearts and able to connect theirs with others, and change the outcome of the light expiring. It's heavily implied, however, that his caretaker was mistaken and the real Child of Destiny is Sora, so this would make Xehanort TheChosenWannabe]].

* DeathEqualsRedemption: [[spoiler: In what is considered to be one of the most controversial scenes of ''III'', Xehanort, while he is slowly dying from the blow given to him in the final battle (plus all the darkness of his other selves getting obliterated elsewhere, revealed in ''Re𝄌Mind''), finally gives up the χ-blade and abandons his wicked ways. When it becomes clear that he will not succeed, but rather he will pass on into the afterlife with Eraqus, Xehanort accepts his fate and gives Sora the χ-blade]].

* DoorstopBaby: The finale of ''Union Cross'' reveals [[spoiler:he was actually born in Scala Ad Caelum. A hooded figure (notable for distinctly ''not'' being Ansem, Seeker of Darkness) approached his mother when he was a baby, and for whatever reason, she gave him to the figure, who brought him to Destiny Islands. Effectively making him this]]. It's revealed in the ending to ''Dark Road'' [[spoiler: that he is aware of this, as the hooded figure also raised him and told him this]].

* EvilIsBigger: While this is more obvious with his younger self when he interacts with Sora in ''III'', it's clear that even with his hunched back he's still a fairly tall man in his old age, [[spoiler: and when his GhostMemory fights Kairi in ''Melody of Memory'' he absolutely ''towers'' over her]].

* HorrifyingTheHorror: The power at his disposal was, for a long time, enough to scare Vanitas, a HumanoidAbomination [[spoiler: and one of the 13 ''[[GreaterScopeVillain Darknesses]]'']], into submission. When Master Xehanort tells him to watch his mouth in ''Dark Road'', Vanitas outright ''stutters'' as he hastily shuts up.
** Master Xehanort's on the wrong end of this in his final battle with Sora. He rips all the light out of Sora's body in an inversion of what he did to Ventus...only for that to trap Sora in [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Rage Form]]. Sora beats the daylights out of him before reclaiming his light.

** That speech he gives to Eraqus that is repeated a few other times in his MythArc about Darkness being a source and basic fundament for creation and the existence of life... That part is ''true''. Or at least strongly implied. For example with [[spoiler: the Master of Masters creating the [[{{Mons}} Dream Eaters]] from Darkness.]]

* FreudianExcuse: While we've yet to fully understand the details and how it really affected him, [[spoiler: it's heavily implied in ''Dark Road'' that four years after he began training as a Keyblade wielder in his youth, all of his fellow keyblade wielder trainees and close allies lost their lives except for himself and Eraqus (and secretly Bragi/Luxu). This could potentially go a long way in explaining much of his behavior like why he was so convinced that he alone could create a better world and at any cost, his LackOfEmpathy towards the suffering of others, as well as his declaration to Terra that feelings of hopelessness, despair, and rage can become power.]]

* TheChosenOne: Played with. [[spoiler: Growing up Xehanort was told by his caretaker that he was the "Child of Destiny" someone able to empathize with other hearts and able to connect theirs with others, and change the outcome of the light expiring. It's heavily implied, however, that his caretaker was mistaken and the real Child of Destiny is Sora, so this would make Xehanort TheUnchosenOne]].

-->'''Xehanort:''' This is not... what was written...!

* AllYourPowersCombined: Xehanort's Heartless specializes in being TheCorrupter, normally lacking a body and acting primarily by influencing others to darkness, while his Nobody is a powerful direct physical and aerial threat who specializes in being TheChessmaster. Xehanort himself demonstrates both the skill at influencing and corrupting others of his Heartless and the intellect of his Nobody, while the No Heart battle shows that at his prime he was a truly terrifying wielder of the Keyblade on the battlefield. Even in his old age he's a KungFuWizard.

* CastingAShadow: During his DesperationAttack, he will sent Shadowy Doppergangers of himself using the No Name keyblade to attack Sora and co from all directions. As well, despite most of his attacks with the X-blade being [[LightIsNotGood Light-based]], they're actually Dark-based attacks according to the Ultimania.

* TheSociopath: Began as WellIntentionedExtremist, but suffered MotiveDecay till he became only interested in acquiring knowledge and power by whatever means, including restarting the Keyblade War. It is clear that while he himself [[LackOfEmpathy feels zero attachment to others]], he completely recognizes that others ''do'' feel empathy and deep friendship, as he exploits these feelings to further his plans. He shows no remorse over killing Eraqus and is even ready to strike him down again when his spirit appears before him at the end of KHIII, asking that he relinquish the X-Blade. Semi-averted when once Eraqus touches him and makes him remember the bond they shared as boys; Xehanort's friendship with Eraqus proves just genuine enough for him to accept that it was time to finally give up on his goals and place hope on the next generation. Doing this, he looks past his massive ego and sincerely admits that Sora has defeated him, awarding him the χ-blade in doing so.

-->'''Master Xehanort:''' You've become quite the Keyblade wielder! For a retired master, Yen Sid prepared you remarkably well.

-->'''Master Xehanort:''' Very well done.

** He also disdainfully considers Sora this, while in the same breath states him as a "dull, ordinary boy" yet also calling him a sort of Keyblade wielder unlike any he'd ever seen before, something Riku can attest to. [[spoiler:This is why he gives Sora the X-Blade at the end of the game.]]

** His fight with Terra was this at first. If he wins, no one can stop him from using the X-Blade to open Kingdom Hearts. If Terra wins, then he can simply take over Terra's body and abandon his own dying one.

** That speech he gives to Eraqus that is repeated a few other times in his MythArc about a source and basic fundament for creation and the existence of life... That part is ''true''. Or at least strongly implied. For example with [[spoiler: the Master of Masters creating the [[{{Mons}} Dream Eaters]] from Darkness.]]

** He also disdainfully considers Sora this, while in the same breath states him as a "dull, ordinary boy" yet also calling him a sort of Keyblade wielder unlike any he'd ever seen before, something Riku can attest to.

* DeathEqualsRedemption: [[spoiler: In what is considered to be one of the most controversial scenes of ''III'', Xehanort, while he is slowly dying from the blow givene to him in the final battle (plus all the darkness of his other selves getting obliterated elsewhere, revealed in Re:mind), finally gives up the X-Blade and abandons his wicked ways. When it becomes clear that he will not succeed, but rather he will pass on into the afterlife with Eraqus, Xehanort accepts his fate and gives Sora the X-Blade]].

* TheSociopath: Began as WellIntentionedExtremist, but suffered MotiveDecay till he became only interested in acquiring knowledge and power by whatever means, including restarting the Keyblade War. It is clear that while he himself [[LackOfEmpathy feels zero attachment to others]], he completely recognizes that others ''do'' feel empathy and deep friendship, as he exploits these feelings to further his plans. He shows no remorse over killing Eraqus and is even ready to strike him down again when his spirit appears before him at the end of KHIII, asking that he relinquish the X-Blade. Semi-averted when once Eraqus touches him and makes him remember the bond they shared as boys, Xehanort's friendship with Eraqus proves just genuine enough for him to accept that it was time to finally give up on his goals and place hope on the next generation. Doing this, he looks past his massive ego and sincerely admits that Sora has defeated him, awarding him the χ-blade in doing so.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler: In what is considered to be one of the most controversial scenes of ''III'', Xehanort finally gives up the X-Blade and his wicked ways. When it becomes clear that he will not succeed, but rather he will be sent to the afterlife with Eraqus, Xehanort accepts his fate and gives Sora the X-Blade]].

* TheSociopath: Began as WellIntentionedExtremist, but suffered MotiveDecay till he became only interested in acquiring knowledge and power by whatever means, including restarting the Keyblade War. It is clear that while he himself [[LackOfEmpathy feels zero attachment to others]], he completely recognizes that others ''do'' feel empathy and deep friendship, as he exploits these feelings to further his plans. Ultimately averted by the end of ''III''. While he showed no remorse over killing Eraqus and is even ready to strike him down again should he get in his way, once Eraqus touches him and makes him remember the bond they shared as boys, Xehanort's friendship with Eraqus proves genuine enough for him to accept that it was time to give up his goals and place hope on the next generation. Doing this, he looks past his massive ego and sincerely admits that Sora has defeated him, awarding him the χ-blade in doing so.

** He's also right that Terra would actually be a ''better'' Keyblade Master than Aqua; Terra is like Riku - a mix of light and dark that he's able to use and control to stop it from hurting people. Aqua is too much like Eraqus, thinking in absolutes of light and dark. As ''3D'' shows, Riku's balance of light and darkness made him a very skilled Keyblade wielder, while Sora's lack of darkness made it easy for him to be corrupted by the darkness when he wasn't prepared. Yen Sid himself even supports this, citing Riku as a good candidate. ''Everything'' Xehanort says is true, he is just going about it ''entirely in the wrong way.''

* MirrorBoss: Has many of the same commands as you such as [[ColonyDrop Meteor]], [[PlayingWithFire Raging Storm, Mega Flare]], Collision Magnet, Restore Barrier, Sonic Blade, Vanitas's X-shaped SwordBeam, Marluxia's Doom and Whirlwind to the Void, {{Laser Blade}}s like Xemnas, can clone himself like Xemnas, and in ''Dream Drop Distance'' he even wields a Keyblade. ''Dream Drop Distance'' also justifies how he can do this since he's a younger Xehanort that has visited multiple time periods to gather alter-egos of his older self. Notice most of those attacks can be used by people that Xehanort has or HAD corrupted, so presumably, this version of Xehanort is privy to AllYourPowersCombined.

* AllYourPowersCombined: Its attack patterns take cues from every other Xehanort incarnation.

* ScreamingWarrior: In contrast with the calmer battle grunts of Xehanort, half their battle grunts in their fused form are enraged screams.

* SpectralWeaponCopy: Eleven of the twelve wield a copy of a Seeker's weapon[[note]]Xion's Replica Kingdom Key, Young Xehanort's Keyblade, Vanitas's Void Gear, Dark Riku's Soul Eater, Terra-Xehanort's No Name, Saïx's Lunatic, Marluxia's Graceful Dahlia, Larxene's Foudre, Luxord's Fair Game, Xigbar's Sharpshooter, and Xemnas's Interdiction[[/note]]. Ansem, Seeker of Darkness's replica instead uses dark magic. In the ''Re:Mind'' DLC, they each wield a copy of the No Name while fighting the Guardians of Light.

** At the end of ''III'', despite the previous instance of him exploiting Eraqus's forgiveness, Xehanort is EasilyForgiven again by Eraqus after he is defeated for real, and he gets to peacefully GoIntoTheLight with him.

* ArcVillain: For Toy Box in ''III''. He creates a copy of the world and separates some of Andy's most beloved toys from their owner, wanting to study the bonds between humans and inanimate objects given life as research for the Seekers' final vessel.

* {{Leitmotif}}: His character theme is "Xehanort -The Early Years-". He also has two battle themes exclusive to him, "Dark Impetus" in ''Birth by Sleep'' and "[[GratuitousItalian L'Impeto Oscuro]]" in ''3D''. Both qualify for [[invoked]]SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic, regardless.

* {{Nerf}}: The ''Final Mix'' version of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' (and by extension the ''2.5 HD'' port) allows players to escape from his Collision Magnet attack by dashing away in midair, and as it's his most infamous and deadly attack, it's a welcome relief.

* {{Retcon}}: Originally was portrayed as Xehanort before he began his apprenticeship as a Keyblade wielder and only able to wield the Keyblade when his future most self possessed him, ''III'' instead treats him as the version of himself after his apprenticeship had finished, able to freely wield the Keyblade and a younger in-training Xehanort is shown via flashback.
* ShoutOut: Young Xehanort is essentially the ''KH'' version of [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure DIO Brando.]] His primary ability is to control time and ice, In the Japanese version of ''3D'', he yells out "Toki yo, tomare!" during his Desperation move. In addition to this, one of his signature moves is to freeze time around his opponent and surround them with shards of ice, similarly to DIO's Circle of Knives attack. His ability to rewind time also brings to mind Yoshikage Kira's Stand Killer Queen Bites the Dust.

* FinalBoss: Of ''Kingdom Hearts III''. His BonusBoss version is also one of two potential final bosses of the Limitcut Episode.

A younger version of Master Xehanort that first appears in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' as a BonusBoss that appears in the Land of Departure. Despite the encounter being optional, [[invoked]]WordOfGod is that it's canon that he battled one of the heroes there.

* BlackCloak: His only attire, as a throw-back to Xemnas's BonusBoss appearance.

* BonusBoss: In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep''.

* ChekhovsGunman: First appears as a BonusBoss in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep''; his next appearance in ''Dream Drop Distance'' sees him as TheHeavy.

* DualWielding: In his BonusBoss in ''BBS'', his primary weapon is two Ethereal Blades that he wields in a ReverseGrip. However, from ''3D'' onwards, he abandons them when he gains his Keyblade, the blades only used by his phantom clones during the second phase of his boss fight in ''3D''.

* EstablishingCharacterMusic: He first appears as a fully-cloaked BonusBoss whose theme combines nearly all of Xehanort's {{Leitmotif}}s with no other context to identify him. He reappears in ''3D'' with the same theme, working for Xehanort. Turns out he's a younger Xehanort who's time travelling to unite his many incarnations, hence the reuse of all their themes.

* EvilIsDeathlyCold: Despite displaying a wider variety of elemental magic as a BonusBoss in ''Birth By Sleep'', from ''3D'' onwards, he only makes usage of Blizzard-based spells alongside his signature time-altering abilities. Probably because while Blizzard can't stop time in general, it can [[{{Pun}} stop his opponents' time]] by freezing them.

* MythologyGag: He's a thematic retraux of the Unknown BonusBoss from ''Kingdom Hearts Final Mix'', wielding similar weapons and appearing in a similar fashion, and like it foreshadowing the BigBad of the next game.

** Most of his attacks as a BonusBoss in ''Birth By Sleep'' are so highly-damaging that not even being level 99 will save you on anything above Beginner. If anything hits you and you don't have Second Chance/Once More equipped, you're toast.

A data simulation of Xehanort, either wearing or [[AnimatedArmor as]] a suit of armor wielding Xehanort's Keyblade - heavily implied to be the Keyblade Armor that Xehanort used in his youth. Its armor first appears (sans Keyblade) being worn by Xemnas in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' and later appears as its own entity in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth by Sleep Final Mix]]'' as a BonusBoss. It can be fought in the Mirage Arena once the player has completed every other Arena Mode challenge to achieve an arena rank of 30.

* BonusBoss: It's the ultimate challenge in ''Birth by Sleep Final Mix'', making even the other bonus bosses look like warm-ups for it.

* {{Leitmotif}}: Its boss theme, ''Forze dell'Oscurità'', is a combination of both ''Forze del Male'' and ''Darkness of the Unknown'', boss themes for Ansem and Xemnas respectively. Fittingly, this theme is remixed in ''Re:Mind'' for that game's own BonusBoss data simulation of Master Xehanort.