Highlights
Luffy has grown significantly in power throughout his journey, becoming one of the Four Emperors of the Sea and feared by many in the New World.
Luffy's present power level showcases his advanced mastery of Haki as well as his ability to utilize Gear 4 and Gear 5. However, there is still room for improvement, specifically in terms of stamina and control over his Devil Fruit powers.
Throughout the Final Saga, Luffy will diligently enhance his Haki and strengthen his command over his Devil Fruit abilities. With tremendous potential, he has the ability to surpass even the Yonko and emerge as the most formidable pirate in the entire world.
Luffy, the protagonist of One Piece, is widely recognized as one of the most notorious pirates currently traversing the world's seas. Despite a challenging start to his pirate journey, Luffy has triumphed over numerous obstacles to reach his current status.
Following the events in Wano, Luffy's ascent to becoming one of the Four Emperors of the Sea highlights the remarkable distance he has traveled. Presently, he stands as one of the most formidable pirates on the seas, instilling fear in those who navigate the New World. Nonetheless, Luffy has not yet reached his pinnacle. There is still much left for him to learn and grasp in the ongoing story of One Piece, promising fans an even more formidable iteration of him in the future.
Luffy's Current Power Level
Luffy's rapid skill development in the New World was attributed to his relentless two-year training with Rayleigh, the Pirate King's right-hand man. With Rayleigh's guidance, Luffy acquired the basics of Haki within the first 18 months, as that was the extent of Rayleigh's teachings. However, true mastery of Haki can only be achieved through combat, which Luffy discovered upon entering the New World. Facing formidable adversaries pushed him to his limits and urged him to further enhance his abilities.
By harnessing the full potential of his Devil Fruit powers and honing his Haki control over time, Luffy has elevated all three types of Haki to an advanced level. Additionally, his command over his Devil Fruit abilities has reached an immense level. During the timeskip, Luffy also acquired Gear 4, which enabled him to overpower opponents as formidable as Yonko First Mates. Yet, toppling the Yonko themselves required a significant improvement in his Haki skills. This progression was evident during his training in Wano, where Hyogoro helped him refine his Armament and Conqueror's Haki. With these advancements, Luffy mastered the Color of Arms, allowing him to inflict internal damage without physical contact.
This proved to be a significant breakthrough for him. However, the most significant advancement he achieved in terms of Haki in Wano was undoubtedly his mastery of Conqueror's Haki Infusion. Luffy only acquired this skill after closely studying Kaido himself. Over time, he mastered the ability to harness this extraordinary power, propelling him to a higher level. Nevertheless, even with these newfound abilities, Luffy still fell short of reaching the same level as the Yonko. That required awakening his Devil Fruit. In his battle against Kaido, Luffy perished, triggering the awakening of his Devil Fruit and granting him access to Gear 5.
The power of this gear was astonishing, enough to overpower even the Four Emperors. Luffy engaged Kaido on equal footing and, eventually, accumulated enough strength to utterly defeat him in combat, casting him into an underground volcano and terminating his dominion over Wano. By defeating one of the Four Emperors, Luffy proved that he had ascended to the next level and officially joined the ranks of the elite in the world of One Piece.
Luffy In The Final Saga
In the Final Saga, Luffy's growth has been evident. Thus far, the Straw Hat Pirates have only explored a single island in the Final Saga, known as Egghead Island. During their time on Egghead Island, Luffy was able to utilize Gear 5 on two separate occasions. The first instance occurred during his clash with Lucci, a fight that proved to be relatively effortless for him. Luffy easily overwhelmed his opponent, showcasing why he holds the title of one of the Four Emperors of the Sea. However, this battle also highlighted the significant toll Gear 5 takes on Luffy's body.
Luffy also engaged in an extensive battle against the Seraphims, exhausting himself greatly in the process. The following morning, he faced off against Kizaru, once again tapping into the powers of Gear 5. This time, the fight was much more evenly matched, but Luffy emerged victorious moments before the depletion of his Gear 5 abilities, leaving him drained. It is evident that Luffy currently surpasses the level of an Admiral and is a formidable Yonko. However, he has yet to reach his full potential. To accomplish this, Luffy must first focus on improving his mastery of his awakened powers. He must become more adept at utilizing these abilities without causing excessive strain on his body. With time, it is highly likely that Luffy will overcome this weakness and ascend to the next level as a pirate.
Will Luffy Grow Stronger?
The question of whether Luffy will become stronger in the Final Saga of One Piece is straightforward. Luffy will definitely become stronger as he has not yet reached his full potential. Although Gear 5 is currently his strongest form, it does not mean he cannot continue to grow stronger. There are various aspects of Gear 5 that Luffy can explore and improve upon. One area he needs to focus on is his stamina, as it depletes quickly while using Gear 5.
Once he masters this aspect, he will naturally become stronger. However, that is not the only improvement he can make. Luffy can further enhance his Haki, as he already possesses advanced control over all three types. However, there are others like Shanks who have mastered Haki to a greater extent. Shanks can see further into the future and his Conqueror's Haki is powerful enough to defeat a 3 billion berri pirate in one strike. Luffy aims to surpass Shanks, his idol, and to do so, he will need to elevate his Haki abilities and master his Devil Fruit control in the Final Saga.
Moreover, Luffy's current powers are sufficient to take on and defeat a Yonko. However, in the ongoing story, stronger adversaries have emerged. The introduction of the Five Elders indicates that their abilities surpass those of the Yonko. Additionally, Imu stands above the Five Elders, making it clear that for Luffy to overcome such formidable opponents, he must become even stronger.
Ultimately, it is likely that Luffy will surpass every pirate and attain a level above that of the Yonko. Although he does not aspire to be the strongest specifically, his desire to be the freest individual on the seas necessitates that he becomes the strongest, as it grants him maximum control over his own life.
One Piece can be accessed for free by fans through Viz Media on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps. Regrettably, there will be no new chapter of One Piece next week, as the release of One Piece 1096 is scheduled for October 29, 2023.