Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Final Mix — 5 Best Tips for Leveling Up

I know what you’re thinking: how can I disembark from Destiny Islands with a wooden sword and still be able to eradicate the vast majority of Heartless that pave the way towards Hollow Bastion and beyond? Well, as much as I admire your wishful thinking — you can’t. And believe me when I say, just because it’s sporting a ribbon and a slew of joyous moments, it doesn’t mean that Kingdom Hearts, in general, is quite nearly as merry — especially when it comes to its mechanics and overall combat. The fact is, if you don’t level Sora, Donald, and Goofy enough by the time you roll around to the latter portions of the story, then you’ll come to find that even the simplest of things can be all the more frustrating.

As a rule of thumb, you should be aiming to have all three characters at Level 50 at the bare minimum by the time you roll on to The End of the World. But, if you can help it, you should aim to onboard as many Abilities as possible before entering the final section of the story. Furthermore, if you’re able to boost your overall HP and MP by gaining a few additional levels beforehand, then you shouldn’t have much of an issue with Ansem. As for the secret bosses that occupy the hidden portions of the nexus—Phantom, Ice Titan, Kurt Zisa, and Sephiroth, for example—you’ll need to edge a little closer towards anywhere between Level 70 and 80 — again, at the bare minimum.

When it comes to combat, you should never flee from a battle; in fact, the game is designed to keep you on the right track for each new world — that is, provided that you beat all of the Heartless that you frequently encounter, anyway.

Quickest Way to Level Up in Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Final Mix

Best Accessories & Abilities for Leveling Up

It’s all well and good being able to obliterate copious quantities of Heartless with the tools in your arsenal, but if you’re falling short in the Ability and Accessory department, then you’ll come to find that, even the greatest rewards will still be out of reach. To rectify this situation, you’ll want to focus on equipping a myriad of Accessories and Abilities—anything that’s Tech Boost-based, for example; enabling these will allow you to earn extra XP for simply blocking or evading attacks.

Thankfully, a lot of the Accessories that you’ll come into contact with during your journey will publicly display whether or not they’re capable of boosting XP. Ideally, you’ll want to start unlocking the higher tiers in the Synthesis Shop, as these will open up the portals to items such as the EXP Bracelet (+30% XP) and the EXP Earring (+20% XP). Aside from these two items, you can also obtain the EXP Ring by sealing the keyhole at 100 Acre Wood.

For a little extra bang for your buck, you’ll also want to secure the EXP Necklace at your earliest opportunity. This can be acquired by heading through the secret portal at Hollow Bastion after unlocking The End of the World. For the record, this is a high-level boss fight, so aim to be at least Level 60 before attempting it.

Method 1

Arguably one of the best (and fastest) ways to level up in the early sections of Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Final Mix—shortly after sealing the first three or four keyholes, perhaps—is to defeat Heartless in Traverse Town; specifically, the 2nd District, which comprises the Hotel, Alley, and Gizmo Shop. When combined, these three areas amount to an enormous volume of enemies, which means, if you can swipe through the circuit with the tools that you have in your possession, then you shouldn’t have too much of an issue with gaining a few extra levels with each two or three rounds of touring the block and back.

It is worth pointing out here that the Gizmo Shop is known for hosting an abundance of Heartless, and is therefore the best possible spot for grinding during the latter sections of the story.

Method 2

If you don’t mind slugging through the same three or four motions fifty times over, then you’ll no doubt be capable of spamming the Hades Cup in Olympus Coliseum. Naturally, you will gain a tremendous amount of XP for simply shoveling through the near-fifty rounds several times over and defeating several of the milestone bosses along the way. Unfortunately, this can be an incredibly time-consuming process, but if you’ve been able to acquire the aforementioned EXP Accessories, then you shouldn’t have too much of an issue with whittling down the rounds and consuming the full amount of XP that the bosses have to offer.

If you’re feeling confident in your skills, then you should also consider taking on the Ice Titan—a rather mischievous foe that can not only reward you with some quality loot—the Diamond Dust Keyblade, being the most notable one—but also a hefty amount of XP, too. To unlock the aptly titled Gold Match in the Olympus Coliseum, you will first need to complete the Phil Cup, Pegasus Cup, Hercules Cup, and Hades Cup.

Method 3

If you’re growing a little tired of looping the same Cups over in the Olympus Coliseum, then consider planting roots in Hollow Bastion after you’ve already sealed the keyhole, as this will allow you to confront the full extent of the world’s Heartless infestation in all its glory. As it turns out, the final world is home to some of the toughest enemies in the game (excluding The End of the World, that is), which means that you’ll effectively earn thrice as much XP for defeating them. What’s more, as you’ll have Beast in your roster—a tank-like companion who has the brute strength of a dozen characters—it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have too much trouble with brushing a lot of mobs beneath the rug in a timely fashion.

So, what’s your take? Do you agree with our best tips for leveling up in Kingdom Hearts 1.5 Final Mix? Let us know your thoughts over on our social channel here.