Answers to misconceptions about the Mark of Mastery and becoming a Keyblade Master

[Elfdemon_ 695]

Over the years, I've seen many people be confused as to why Sora and Riku had to do so much more for their Mark of Mastery than Aqua and Terra.

 

Aqua and Terra trained their whole life for their Mark of Mastery. Sora and Riku didn't. Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery was also their training. Their Mark of Mastery was so much more difficult than Aqua and Terra's because they had to make up for the years of training they missed.

 

The Mark of Mastery and becoming a Keyblade Master isn't about whether you can save the world or not. It's about being traditionally trained. For example, becoming a black belt in Karate has nothing to do with whether you can save the world or win a fight or not. It has to do with if you have mastered the traditional skills you have been taught. The title of "Keyblade Master" is nothing more than a formality.

[Master Eraqus 1,340]

To add to this, Sora and Riku's goal wasn't just to pass the Mark of Mastery in DDD, but to also obtain "a new kind of power", i.e. the power of waking via the Sleeping Keyholes.

Edited April 20, 2017 by Master Eraqus

[PrinceNoctis 1,011]

I always thought they'd made their Mark Of Mastery harder because they had to prepare to fight Xehanort, but your explanation does make a lot more sense. Thank you for the explanation.

[Dave 5,715]

And yet, Sora and Riku accomplished more with their lack of training than either Aqua or Terra did with a lifetime of supposed experience.

[Dustin Lübbers 933]

And yet, Sora and Riku accomplished more with their lack of training than either Aqua or Terra did with a lifetime of supposed experience.

This could not be more true. On the other hand we dont know what kind of powers the keyblands grands or which spells malificent used on riku to power him up.

 

Like the post says the mark of mastery is a formality its like your drivers license you have done it a hundred times but you need a peace of paper to proof it

[Felixx 6,646]

Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery was so much harder because of Xehanort. They are preparing themselves for a great war. That has nothing do with "making up for the years they missed." Like Dave said, they have achieved way more in those 2 years than Aqua and Terra in their whole life.

 

But you're right, the title is just a formality.

[Hero of Light XIV 2,381]

 

Over the years, I've seen many people be confused as to why Sora and Riku had to do so much more for their Mark of Mastery than Aqua and Terra.

 

Aqua and Terra trained their whole life for their Mark of Mastery. Sora and Riku didn't. Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery was also their training. Their Mark of Mastery was so much more difficult than Aqua and Terra's because they had to make up for the years of training they missed.

 

The Mark of Mastery and becoming a Keyblade Master isn't about whether you can save the world or not. It's about being traditionally trained. For example, becoming a black belt in Karate has nothing to do with whether you can save the world or win a fight or not. It has to do with if you have mastered the traditional skills you have been taught. The title of "Keyblade Master" is nothing more than a formality.

 

It's also a matter of personal taste and preference when it comes to the Master in charge of overseeing the test. They can choose however the hell they want to do it. Whether it's a relatively simple ceremonial sparring match, a trippy adventure into a world of dreams that just so happens to also aid in a future quest anyways (so yay brownie points), or something random like "what's you'r favorite animal?" "Um, Unicorn I guess...?" "CONGRATULATIONS! You're a Master now, here have a book!"...what I imagine Master of Masters' way of doing it was, you never know with that guy. X)"

 

So there's both situational details like what you mentioned as well as the personal style of the Master itself. Can't wait to see how old man Riku will torture the next generation of Keyblade wielders some day, lol. X)"

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

 

Over the years, I've seen many people be confused as to why Sora and Riku had to do so much more for their Mark of Mastery than Aqua and Terra.

 

Aqua and Terra trained their whole life for their Mark of Mastery. Sora and Riku didn't. Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery was also their training. Their Mark of Mastery was so much more difficult than Aqua and Terra's because they had to make up for the years of training they missed.

 

The Mark of Mastery and becoming a Keyblade Master isn't about whether you can save the world or not. It's about being traditionally trained. For example, becoming a black belt in Karate has nothing to do with whether you can save the world or win a fight or not. It has to do with if you have mastered the traditional skills you have been taught. The title of "Keyblade Master" is nothing more than a formality.

 

As a martial artist of over ten years, I can relate to this. Getting a black belt has nothing to do with doing grand things. You are tested on the skills you have been taught over the years. The exam is to see if you are ready for the next step. A Mark of Mastery exam is the same exact thing except with a Keyblade.

[MythrilMagician 6,963]

Over the years, I've seen many people be confused as to why Sora and Riku had to do so much more for their Mark of Mastery than Aqua and Terra.

 

Aqua and Terra trained their whole life for their Mark of Mastery. Sora and Riku didn't. Sora and Riku's Mark of Mastery was also their training. Their Mark of Mastery was so much more difficult than Aqua and Terra's because they had to make up for the years of training they missed.

 

The Mark of Mastery and becoming a Keyblade Master isn't about whether you can save the world or not. It's about being traditionally trained. For example, becoming a black belt in Karate has nothing to do with whether you can save the world or win a fight or not. It has to do with if you have mastered the traditional skills you have been taught. The title of "Keyblade Master" is nothing more than a formality.

Exactly

Saving the world doesn't mean you were put under examination conditions either

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Yeah, I can see what you mean! The whole process of becoming a Keyblade Master varies depending on the situation! Sora and Riku's Mark Of Mastery was an on the go situation, because of how tense the current situation is, and that Xehanort is closing in, so the training was much harder compared to Terra and Aqua, who weren't facing a threat like that at the time of their upbringing!

 

But honestly, it's like you've said! Keyblade Master is more of a formality than any other thing, ya know? Cuz with Sora and Riku's whoop ass skills, they'd have been Masters a long time ago.