This article is about a recurring plot element in the Kamen Rider Series. |
In the Kamen Rider Series, there is a recurring theme of form changes for each Kamen Rider, with the Final Form (最終フォーム, Saishū Fōmu) considered their most strongest and thematically important. They are also alternatively known as Strongest Form (最強フォーム, Saikyō Fōmu) or Final Power-up (最終パワーアップ, Saishū Pawā-appu).[1] While traditionally reserved for Primary Riders, some Supporting Riders have also attained Final Forms.
The concept of Final Forms traces back to the Showa Era Rider, Kamen Rider Stronger, with his Charge Up form. This trend has persisted through the Heisei and Reiwa Eras. In recent years, several Riders have accessed forms surpassing their Final Form, often shown in movies.
The majority of Final Forms are recognized by published media and merchandising (ie; Rider Cards, Legend Rider Fullbottles, Ridewatches, Legend Rider Raise Buckles). However, the following list encompasses the latest power-ups of Kamen Riders featured in the main TV series. In cases where a Rider has not undergone a power-up in the series, forms shown in movies and other specials may be included.
Showa
Kamen Rider Stronger
Heisei
Kamen Rider Kuuga
Kamen Rider Agito
- Kamen Rider Agito
- Shining Form[4][5][2][6][7]
- Mirage Agito (S.I.C. Hero Saga exclusive)
- Another Agito
- Burning Form (S.I.C. Hero Saga exclusive)
Kamen Rider Ryuki
- Kamen Rider Raia
- Kamen Rider Raia Survive (concept art and figure exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Ouja
- Kamen Rider Ouja Survive (Survive Shippu) (S.I.C Hero Saga exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Ouja Survive (Survive Mugen) (Kamen Rider Outsiders exclusive)
Kamen Rider Faiz
- Kamen Rider Kaixa
- Kamen Rider Next Kaixa (movie exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Next Kaixa Axel Form (web series-exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Next Kaixa (movie exclusive)
- Faiz Gear (Gungnir)
- Faiz Gear (Gungnir) Blaster Form
Kamen Rider Blade
- Kamen Rider Leangle
- King Form (stage exclusive)
Kamen Rider Hibiki
Kamen Rider Kabuto
- Kamen Rider Gatack
- Hyper Form (Hyper Battle DVD exclusive)[3][2]
Kamen Rider Den-O
Kamen Rider Kiva
- Kamen Rider Arc
- Legend Arc[2]
Kamen Rider Decade
Kamen Rider W
- Kamen Rider Accel
- Kamen Rider AccelTrial
- Kamen Rider Eternal
- Strengthening Armament Mode
Kamen Rider OOO
- Kamen Rider Birth
- Birth·Day
- Kamen Rider Core
- Reinforced (game exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Judah
- Black Form
Kamen Rider Fourze
- Kamen Rider Meteor
- Kamen Rider Meteor Storm[2]
Kamen Rider Wizard
- Kamen Rider Beast
- Kamen Rider Beast Hyper[2]
Kamen Rider Gaim
- Kamen Rider Baron
- Lord Baron
- Kamen Rider Ryugen
- Kamen Rider Ryugen Yomi
- Yomotsuheguri Arms
- Kamen Rider Ryugen Yomi
- Kamen Rider Kurokage
- Kamen Rider Kurokage Shin
- Matsubokkuri Energy Arms (movie exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Kurokage Shin
- Kamen Rider Gridon
- Lychee Arms (special exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Bravo
- Kingdurian Arms (special exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Knuckle
- Jimber Marron Arms (V Cinema exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Bujin Gaim
- Rengeza Bujin Gaim
- Kamen Rider Fifteen
- Gaim Arms
Kamen Rider Drive
- Kamen Rider Mach
- Kamen Rider Chaser Mach
Kamen Rider Ghost
- Kamen Rider Specter
- Kamen Rider Deep Specter
- Gekikou Mode
- Nobunaga Damashii
- Tutankhamun Damashii
- Edison Damashii
- Kamen Rider Deep Specter
- Kamen Rider Necrom
- Yujou Burst Damashii (V-Cinema exclusive)
Kamen Rider Ex-Aid
- Kamen Rider Lazer
- Kamen Rider Lazer Turbo
- Bike Gamer Level 0
- Proto Sports Bike Gamer Level 0
- Proto Combat Bike Gamer Level 0
- Bike Gamer Level 0
- Kamen Rider Lazer Turbo
Kamen Rider Build
- Kamen Rider Cross-Z
- Kamen Rider Cross-Z Magma
- Kamen Rider Grease
- Kamen Rider Grease Blizzard
- Kamen Rider Rogue
- Kamen Rider Prime Rogue (Hyper Battle DVD and V-Cinema exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Evol
- Black Hole Form (Phase 4: Perfection)
- Kamen Rider Metal Build
- Phantom Build
Kamen Rider Zi-O
- Kamen Rider Geiz
- Kamen Rider GeizRevive Goretsu
- Kamen Rider GeizRevive Shippu
- Kamen Rider Woz
- Kamen Rider WozGingaFinaly
- Kamen Rider WozGingaWakuseiForm
- Kamen Rider WozGingaTaiyoForm
- Kamen Rider WozGingaFinaly
- Another Kuuga
- Another Ultimate Kuuga
- Another Zi-O
- Another Zi-O II
- Another 1
- Another New 1
Reiwa
Kamen Rider Zero-One
- Kamen Rider Vulcan
- Kamen Rider RampageVulcan
- Kamen Rider Valkyrie
- Justice Serval (movie exclusive)
- Kamen Rider Jin
- Burning Falcon
- Kamen Rider Horobi
- Ark Scorpion
- Kamen Rider Thouser
- Kamen Rider Thousand Ark (TTFC special exclusive)
Kamen Rider Saber
- Kamen Rider Blades
- Tategami Hyoujuusenki[2]
- Kamen Rider Calibur
- Jaou Dragon[2]
- Kamen Rider Saikou
- X Sword Man
- X Sword Man Powerful
- X Sword Man Wonderful
- X Sword Man
Kamen Rider Revice
- Kamen Rider Evil
- Kamen Rider Evil Marvelous (V-Cinema exclusive)
Kamen Rider Geats
- Kamen Rider Geats
- Boost Form MarkIII (incomplete final form)
- Kamen Rider GeatsIX[6][15][7]
- Kamen Rider PunkJack
- Fever Monster Form
Kamen Rider Gotchard
- Kamen Rider Gotchard
- Kamen Rider Rainbow Gotchard
- Kamen Rider Majade
- Kamen Rider Twilight Majade
- Kamen Rider Valvarad
- Kamen Rider Valvarad Kurogane
- Kamen Rider Legend
- Legendary Legend[19]
- Kamen Rider Dread
- Type Final
- Kamen Rider Gotchard Daybreak
- Shining Daybreak
Others
Kamen Rider Amazons
- Kamen Rider Amazon Omega
- Kamen Rider Amazon New Omega
Adaptation
Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight
- Kamen Rider Onyx
- Over Survive (novel exclusive)
Notes
- Despite also being called "strongest forms", some Final Forms can be statistically weaker than Super Forms by slight margins. (ie; Den-O Liner Form, Zeronos Zero Form, Double CycloneJokerExtreme, AccelTrial, Wizard Infinity Style, Gaim Kiwami Arms, Drive Type Tridoron, and Build Genius Form) However, these Final Forms would possess special abilities or arsenals that serve to offset the weakened offensive output.
- Kamen Rider Ibuki is the only Secondary Rider without a Final Form.
- There are often moments towards the end of a series where Riders can transform directly into their Final Forms without using the corresponding form-accessing device or even their belt.
- Like Super Forms, any Final Forms contain restrictions, side-effects and/or dangers when used. These problems are stated below in order:
- Kamen Rider Stronger Charge Up: Due to the effects of a Super Electronic Dynamo implanted within him, Shigeru requires to discharge a high amount of electricity in this form or he will explode.
- Kamen Rider Kuuga Ultimate Form: Due to the form's mass destructive nature, the wearer of the Arcle must have a pure heart or they will lose control when accessing it.
- Kamen Rider Agito Shining Form: To access this form, the chosen holder of Agito's power must balance their inner darkness with light by exposing themself under the sun or else they will succumb Burning Form's uncontrollable rage from the start. This issue was solved when Shouichi (in this case) heroically vowed himself to protect humanity even if it means sacrifice, resulting him to access Shining Form instantly.
- Kamen Rider Blade King Form: Due to the form being originally designed to fuse Kenzaki with the DNA of the Caucasus Undead via the Evolution Caucasus Rouse Card, his unusually high fusion compatibility resulted in him fusing with DNA of all 13 Spades Suit Undead. Extended activity in this form continually raises his fusion rate, putting Kenzaki at risk of mutating into a mindless Undead. This issue was turned from danger to resolution when Kenzaki ultimately gives in to the mutation to become the new Joker Undead while keeping his sanity stable.
- Kamen Rider Kiva Emperor Form: The usage of Emperor Form is dependent on Wataru's willpower. If he succumbs to his inner weaknesses, it will result this form inaccessible. This issue was later solved when Wataru accepts himself with a stronger determination.
- Kamen Rider OOO Putotyra Combo: This Combo carries the risk of turning Eiji into a mindless Greeed when not fully controlling the purple Core Medals, resulting a heavy toll of strain to his human body.
- Kamen Rider Fourze Cosmic States: This form is tied to Gentaro's faith with the Kamen Rider Club. If any of individual had their ties to him were cut, this form becomes lost. According to Tachibana (whose true identity is Virgo Zodiarts), the "alternative way" to access this form again is through ruthlessness, this is proven false because of Gentaro's friendly attitude and cheery behavior were sourced to this form despite his ways of achieving his true friends, thus this issue was ultimately solved in a positive manner.
- Kamen Rider Gaim Kiwami Arms: While in this Arms, the Kiwami Lockseed had a side effect slowly discarding Kouta's humanity for a short period of time, risking him through a mutation process into an Inves. This issue was solved once Kouta ate the Forbidden Fruit to become the current Man of the Beggining, which fully masters his own Inves powers beyond that of an Over Lord.
- Kamen Rider Ex-Aid Muteki Gamer: This form requires Emu needing Parado's Bugster Virus, which empowers his Genius Gamer M persona. However, Parado needs to be alive or he will lose this form and his transformation as Ex-Aid entirely.
- Kamen Rider Para-DX Perfect Knock Out Gamer Level 99: This form requires Parado to fuse his Bugster DNA with Emu's human DNA in order to equip the Gamer Driver. Like Ex-Aid Muteki Gamer, Emu needs to be alive or he will lose this form and his transformation as Para-DX entirely.
- Kamen Rider Build Genius Form: Due to the form's trinket made from the Pandora Panel, Sento will lose this form when the Genius Fullbottle's energy is fully absorbed in the process of uniting the black and white Pandora Panels into the Pandora Box. For unknown reasons, this issue was solved expectedly when Sento created the second Genius Fullbottle in the new world.
- Kamen Rider GrandZi-O: The GrandZi-O Ridewatch is sourced to the 19 Heisei Rider Ridewatches. Should any of the Ridewatches become unusable, it will immediately cancel out GrandZi-O's transformation and the Ridewatch will disappear. This issue was solved by Junichiro through his highly exceptional skill in horology for Sougo to fight once more.
- Kamen Rider Ohma Zi-O: Since this form possesses the power to manipulate spacetime, realities, and every Rider throughout each installment of the series, Sougo's new-found ability to undo the damage any villain inflicted upon both his and the other Riders' timelines has an irrevesible price to his transformation into Zi-O, causing it and Sougo's memories as a Rider will fade away. This issue was later solved when Daiki uses the Future Note to regain Sougo his powers as Zi-O in the fixed timeline.
- Kamen Rider GeatsIX: GeatsIX's transformation requires the additional Gira Gira from others as even his has its limitations (objects of higher complexity, such as destroyed Rider Core IDs, are also beyond his influence) and Ace has even commented on becoming incredibly hungry after repeated use, indicating the need for adequate sustenance to use them. This issue was solved when Ace sacrificed his mortal body to Tsumuri (under Black Tsumuri's possession) in order to become a complete, nigh-omnipotent god to absolutely master GeatsIX, transcending himself beyond certain realities, spacetime, matter, and every Kamen Rider with certain powers.
- Kamen Rider Rainbow Gotchard: According to Nijigon, Rainbow Gotchard's transformation needs to gather 100 Chemies for Houtaro to ally with or the Chemies will not be able to maintain the form of Gotchabrothers. This issue was later solved after Houtaro (as Gotchard Ultima Steamhopper) finally defeats Glion (as Eld), which releases the Philosopher's Stone out of him until he transmutes it into 1% fragments for the 100 Chemies after Nijigon, effectively granting them the full control of Gotchabrothers.
References
- ↑ We call them "最終パワーアップ - Saishu Power-up". "Power-up" is a so-called Janglish/Engrish word meaning "improve". - Shinichiro Shirakura's tweet
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 Listed in Kamen Rider Zukan [1]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 [2] Part of CSM Rider Card Set Extra.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 ”Final KamenRide” Rider Card and K-Touch option
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 Ridewatch equipped into Ziku-Driver’s screen as FIN. and appearance in Kamen Rider Zi-O: Over Quartzer
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 Legend Rider Raise Buckle equipped to Zillion Driver [3]
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 Legend Kamen Riser announcement [4]
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 ”Final KamenRide” Rider Card and K-Touch21 option
- ↑ 仮面ライダー 平成 vol.12 仮面ライダーオーズ/OOO (平成ライダーシリーズMOOK)、2014年11月25日 ISBN 978-4063535624
https://twitter.com/Adam_sharashka/status/1013331869654368256 - ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Legend Rider Fullbottle inserted into Evol-Driver [5]
- ↑ [6]
- ↑ [7]
- ↑ https://www.kamen-rider-official.com/collections/22/39
- ↑ "Final KamenRide" Zein Card
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Revolve Change Figure line
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Identified through Ride Chemy Card release
- ↑ Identified as a "Final Form" in Kamen Rider Official.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/KamenRiderStore/status/1690521174227529728
- ↑ https://www.kamen-rider-official.com/gotchard/35/