It’s been 25 years since Eiichiro Oda introduced the “One Piece” manga. Within the shonen genre, One Piece is a groundbreaking series, offering fans incredible adventures, gripping mysteries, and an expansive world that captivates audiences. The characters hold a special place among the many elements that endear One Piece to its fans.
From the first episode, Monkey D. Luffy, the anime’s protagonist, has charmed us with his unique personality and extraordinary abilities. Throughout the storyline, Luffy has honed a wide range of talents, but his Gears techniques stand out as the most powerful and beloved.
Suppose you’re curious to delve deeper into Luffy’s Gears and understand the devil’s fruit-backed powers behind them. In that case, this guide is your key to unlocking the secrets of these remarkable abilities.
Contents
Luffy’s Devil Fruit Explained
Luffy’s Devil Fruit in One Piece is a crucial element that defines his incredible abilities. As the main character in both the anime and manga, Monkey D. Luffy carries the Will of D and harbors three ambitious dreams: to uncover the mysteries of One Piece, to ascend to the esteemed title of Pirate King, and an undercover dream shared exclusively with his brothers and the formidable crew known as the “Strawhat Pirates,” of which he is the captain.
Currently recognized as one of the four emperors of the New World, Luffy boasts an astounding bounty of 3,000,000,000 Berries, ranking among the highest in the One Piece universe.
Now, to unravel the various gear techniques that make Luffy such a formidable force, it’s essential to delve into the source of his powers. At seven, Luffy unwittingly consumed the Gomu Gomu no Mi fruit, commonly known as the Gum-Gum Devil fruit, offered to him by the legendary red-haired pirate Akagami Shanks.
This paramecia-type devil fruit bestowed upon Luffy the rubber-like properties of his body. With his newfound powers, Luffy can manipulate his elastic form into different configurations called “Gears.” He has successfully unlocked five gear forms, with the fifth Gear being his achievement. This latest Gear became accessible to Luffy after he awakened his devil fruit abilities.
Read: Who is Imu in One Piece? Explained
Moreover, Luffy has mastered all three forms of Haki in the One Piece world, complementing his devil fruit prowess. His remarkable imagination has allowed him to maximize the potential of his devil fruit powers, seamlessly incorporating them with his haki abilities.
Luffy’s Devil Fruit Revelations in Manga
In a groundbreaking revelation within the pages of One Piece manga chapter 1069, Dr. Vegapunk has confirmed a significant alteration to our understanding of Luffy’s Devil Fruit. Surprisingly, according to the oldest books and devil fruit encyclopedias, it has been clarified that there is no such fruit as the “Gomu Gomu no Mi” (Gum-Gum fruit). The fruit we’ve known as Gomu Gomu no Mi was, in fact, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika all along. Both the World Government and Oda misled us regarding the true nature of Luffy’s Devil Fruit.
The Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika is unveiled as a Mythical Zoan-type devil fruit, enabling Luffy to transform into the sun god Nika and substantially enhance his powers. This transformative revelation occurred during Luffy’s climactic battle with Kaidou, marking his evolution into the formidable “Warrior of Liberation.” Consequently, Luffy’s devil fruit now stands among the most potent in the One Piece universe.
Luffy’s Gears in One Piece
Luffy in One Piece got creative with his special powers by eating a devil fruit. He devised different moves called “Gears” to defeat more formidable opponents. His powers got more vital in the One Piece show as he kept using them. He even got good at using these moves (up to Gear Four) and found ways to make them not tire him out too much afterward. Let’s check out a list of Luffy’s Gear moves and see what each one does and where they might have some drawbacks. Ready to dive in?
Luffy Gear 1 (Base Version)
Technically, Luffy doesn’t officially call his first set of moves “Gear 1.” There’s no special mention of Gear 1 in the anime and manga. Instead, we can think of Luffy’s regular, stretchy form – the one he had in the early episodes – as his “Gear 1.”
In this form, Luffy uses attacks like “Gomu Gomu no Pistol,” where he pulls back his stretchy arms and launches forward to hit his opponent. All of Luffy’s moves in this basic form involve him stretching his hands or legs to attack.
Because Luffy is made of rubber, he naturally has a good defence. Regular bullets can’t hurt him (though haki-coated ones can), and even lightning won’t do much. In Gear 1, Luffy has more than 90 different attacks. He can also add haki to his punches and kicks, making them even more potent in this base form.
Advantages
- The stretchy body lets him get creative with his attacks, limited only by his imagination.
- Being made of rubber gives him a natural defense, especially against lightning.
Disadvantages
- It takes a bit of time for him to stretch his body parts, leaving Luffy vulnerable before he can attack. Characters like Buggy and Kuro cleverly used this weakness in earlier episodes.
Luffy Gear 2
The debut of Gear 2 in the Ennies Lobby arc (Episode 272) marked a pivotal moment in One Piece and remains a fan favorite. This form, being Luffy’s first official GearGear, holds a special place in the hearts of fans.
Introduced during his intense battle against Blueno, Gear 2 showcased Luffy’s ingenuity. In this form, he accelerated his blood circulation, boosting the speed and strength of his attacks. The visual impact was striking—Luffy’s skin turned reddish-pink, and steam emanated, giving Gear 2 a fierce and formidable appearance. This transformation proved decisive in Luffy’s triumph over Blueno.
Initially, Luffy channeled the increased blood flow primarily through his legs, but post-time-skip, he mastered diverse applications, even activating it selectively in specific body parts. Like his base form, Luffy prefaces his attacks in Gear 2 with a signature “Gomu Gomu no Jet …”
For instance, the “Gomu Gomu no Jet Pistol” demonstrated the fusion of Gear 2 with armament haki, creating “Red Hawk.” This technique, paying homage to his brother “Fire-fist Ace,” delivered a blazingly fast and forceful punch, generating friction that ignited the air around it. Luffy employed this formidable attack against Kaidou during the Onigashima raid.
Advantages:
- Swift enhancement in speed and power over a short duration.
- Ability to infuse jet attacks with haki for increased potency.
Disadvantages:
- The sudden metabolic surge increases hunger and can paralyze him if overused.
- Thought initially to reduce his lifespan, Luffy managed to mitigate these side effects after the time skip.
Luffy Gear 3
Amid the Ennies Lobby arc, One Piece fans were treated to a double dose of new Gears techniques from Luffy. The first mention of Gear 3 came in Episode 288, with its full-blown display following in Episode 305.
Luffy unveils Gear 3 in a showdown against former CP9 member Rob Lucci. The mechanics are unique—he sticks his thumb in his mouth, bites to create a small opening, and then forcefully blows air, inflating his arms to colossal proportions. Like Gear 2, he can selectively apply this technique to specific body parts.
This form empowers Luffy with a larger-than-life-size, intensifying his attacks significantly. However, there’s a trade-off: using Gear 3 sacrifices Luffy’s mobility. Attacks in this form typically start with “Gomu Gomu no Gigant…” and involve coating his limbs with haki, resulting in formidable moves like Gomu Gomu no Gigant Rifle. Luffy unleashes various attacks inspired by artillery and animals, each possessing potent and unique qualities.
Coating body parts with Armament Haki enhances his offensive capabilities and bolsters his defensive prowess. This defensive strength was evident in his clash with Fujitora, where he used it to shield against powerful attacks. An interesting side effect of this form is that it initially caused Luffy to shrink into a little kid after usage, as seen in the Ennies Lobby arc. However, post-time-skip, Luffy has gained better control over Gear 3, eliminating the shrinking effect.
Advantages:
- Luffy can unleash more powerful attacks due to increased mass and size.
- It provides a defensive capability when used strategically.
- Coating with Haki amplifies his overall powers.
Disadvantages:
- Early usage caused Luffy to shrink into a vulnerable kid.
- Mobility is significantly hindered while using this form.
Luffy Gear 4
Memorable arcs in One Piece often revolve around the incredible Gears transformations of Luffy, and the Dressrosa arc (Episode 726) is no exception. This arc introduced fans to Luffy’s formidable Gear 4 technique for the first time.
Luffy unleashed Gear 4 in a fierce battle against Donquixote Doflamingo, a result of his intensive two-year training on Rusukaina under the guidance of Silvers Rayleigh. Considered a significant upgrade from the third GearGear, Luffy inflates his entire body by blowing into his arms, enhancing his muscles dramatically.
Following the inflation, Luffy applies armament haki to these body parts, causing them to take on a reddish-black hue as they harden. Gear 4 releases steam as a visual indicator, like his second gear technique. This substantial enhancement elevates Luffy’s offensive and defensive capabilities, introducing various forms within Gear 4. Luffy can strategically choose from three sub-forms based on the demands of the situation. Let’s explore these three Gear 4 forms in detail:
- Bondman: Unveiling Luffy’s Powerful Fourth Gear Technique
Let’s delve into Luffy’s awesome fourth GearGear – Boundman or Bounceman. In this form, Luffy’s all about bouncing off stuff, hence the name. He gets more extensive, with armament haki covering his torso, arms, and legs, giving him serious power.
Even more remarkable is that he can pull his arms and legs inside and unleash super-fast attacks with crazy power. Plus, his haki-coated body acts like a shield, making most attacks bounce right off.
- Tankman: Luffy’s Tactical Defense Move
Check out Tankman, the second part of Luffy’s fourth GearGear. In a showdown with Charlotte Cracker, one of Big Mom Pirates’ big shots, he whipped this out.
Luffy chows down on tons of biscuits from Nami and poof; he becomes an inflated tank. Why? For serious defence! Tankman took a beating from Charlotte and still knocked him out with the Gomu Gomu no Cannonball move.
- Snakeman: Luffy’s Speedy and Sly Form
Now, feast on Snakeman, the third part of Luffy’s fourth GearGear. This time, Luffy’s looking sleeker, with haki just on his forearms, legs, and torso.
In Snakeman mode, Luffy dials up the speed, landing crazy fast hits. But, and there’s always a but, he’s sacrificing some defense compared to the other two forms. Still, he can change attack directions on the fly, like Python here, giving him the upper hand against Katakuri’s fancy observation haki.
Advantages:
- He keeps Luffy stable, balancing attack and defense like a pro.
- He turns Luffy into a tank, soaking up damage like a boss.
- It speeds up attacks, and Luffy can throw them from any angle.
Disadvantages:
- Haki big shots like Kaidou can bust through Luffy’s defense.
- He was not the best at defense, and Katakuri gave Luffy a run for his berries.
- Luffy needs a 10-minute breather after using GearGear fourth. His poor body takes a beating.
Luffy’s Gear 5
Luffy pulled out his Gear 5 during the Wano Country arc’s climax, showcased in manga chapter 1044 and episode 1071. The setting? A fierce showdown with Kaidou on the rooftop of Onigashima. Luffy’s devil fruit got an awakening, and he transformed into the sun god Nika, taking his powers to a whole new level.
But it’s not just a power boost – Luffy’s appearance got a significant upgrade, too. White clothes, hair, and eyebrows – even his eyes shine red at their peak. What’s mind-bending is that he can now bend reality with his Gear 5 powers, embracing a toon force vibe. Imagine complete freedom to reshape his body, use all haki at will, and alter his surroundings according to his whims.
Advantages: Unlocking Unprecedented Power
- Gear 5 gives Luffy the most significant upgrade yet in his abilities.
- It’s the pinnacle of Luffy’s powers, with virtually limitless possibilities.
- Luffy can seamlessly switch between gears with newfound agility.
- Infusing armament and conqueror’s haki simultaneously, showcasing his mastery.
- Luffy can unleash devastating attacks limited only by his imagination.
- His rubbery body now offers enhanced defense capabilities.
- Luffy gains the ability to change the environment around him.
Disadvantages: Power at a Price
- Gear 5 consumes a hefty chunk of Luffy’s energy, leaving him wholly drained due to inexperience.
Luffy’s Gear Journey in One Piece
That wraps up the lowdown on all things Luffy – from his various Gears to the mind-blowing Gear 5. Our guide breaks down each GearGear and spills the beans on the latest Gear 5 technique and his devil fruit awakening. And hey, which Luffy gear is your absolute favorite? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
