Ranking the Top 25 Observation Haki Users in One Piece, as of 2023
Discover the top 25 Observation Haki users in the world of One Piece, ranked as of 2023 From fierce pirates to legendary warriors, these individuals have honed their Haki skills to perfection Uncover the powerhouses who possess the extraordinary ability to foresee their opponents' moves and gain an upper hand in any battle
While only a select few individuals have access to Conqueror's Haki, every character in One Piece has the potential to develop Armament and Observation Haki. Also known as Kenbushoku, the Color of Observation provides users with sensitive and precognitive abilities. To utilize this sixth sense, users must intentionally focus.
Users of Observation Haki can, depending on their skill, detect and locate the presence, strength, and emotions of other living beings, even if they are concealed from view. They can also roughly gauge someone's overall strength by sensing their "voice", or aura.
While all Observation Haki users can predict others' movements and intentions, only a select few are skilled enough to master "Future Sight", an advanced ability that enables them to see a specific sequence of future events. However, if a user predicts an attack but is unable to evade or counter it, they will still be hit. Please note that this article contains major spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1103.
The best Kenbushoku Haki users, ranked as of One Piece chapter 1103
25) Kinemon
Kinemon (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
After being cut into pieces by Trafalgar Law’s Ope-Ope Fruit ability, Kinemon demonstrated his exceptional skill with Observation Haki. Despite his dismembered state, he was able to use his Kenbushoku Haki to sense his surroundings and effectively coordinate his body parts to move and engage in combat.
24) Trafalgar D. Water Law
Law (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Law, a proficient Kenbushoku user, displayed his ability to sense and react to his surroundings while in Zou, alongside the notably alert Roronoa Zoro. Additionally, during the Onigashima Raid, he once again utilized Observation Haki to perceive both Luffy’s defeat by Kaido and the onset of his Gear 5 transformation.
23) Rob Lucci
Lucci, as seen in the image from Toei Animation's One Piece, displayed remarkable prowess during the Egghead battle. He anticipated Saint Saturn's imminent arrival even before the Gorosei member could set foot on the island, showcasing his extraordinary Observation Haki ability.
22) Marco
Marco (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
21) Marshall D. Teach “Blackbeard”
During the Onigashima Raid, Marco detected the activation of Luffy’s Devil Fruit Awakening, resulting in the latter unleashing his Gear 5 form. It is possible that Marco's Kenbushoku also significantly contributed to the brief confrontation he had with Kizaru in Marineford.
Blackbeard (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Blackbeard demonstrated a notable skill in Observation Haki, accurately gauging the growth in Luffy’s potential since their initial encounter. While not frequently showcased, it is understood that he is quite proficient in the use of Kenbushoku.
20) Otohime
Otohime (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Otohime had limited fighting abilities, but she was incredibly adept at using Observation Haki. She could predict the trajectory of bullets and effortlessly avoid them when she concentrated. However, her most remarkable feat with Kenbushoku was sensing the emotions of every person in Fish-Man Island with great precision.
19) Enel
Enel (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Enel was able to enhance his Mantra, also known as his Observation Haki, using the powers of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. This fusion allowed him to sense every living being on Skypiea, enabling him to know their actions, conversations, and even their thoughts.
Despite his considerable skill with the Color of Observation, Enel still struggled to dodge unpredictable attacks or those executed at speeds his body couldn't keep up with. Additionally, his tendency to lose his temper hindered his ability to use his Kenbushoku to its full potential.
18) Usopp
Usopp (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Usopp discovered his Observation Haki while with the Straw Hat crew on Dressrosa. With an apparent genetic talent from his father, Usopp displayed a natural aptitude for this ability, detecting Sugar's aura from a distance and even perceiving the colors of auras, akin to Admiral Fujitora. While Usopp's newfound Kenbushoku skill complements his fighting style well, his progress has been limited, except for his actions in One Piece Film: Red, after successfully sniping Sugar.
17) Sanji
Sanji (Image via Shueisha/Colored by Amanomoon)
Sanji's natural Haki ability is the Color of Observation, which has its strengths and weaknesses in combat. While he managed to evade a projectile jellybean from Katakuri, he has also struggled to dodge attacks in seemingly simple situations. Despite this, Sanji has displayed impressive perception skills, as seen when he located Kinemon's torso in Punk Hazard and sensed Luffy's awakening in Onigashima.
16) Koby
Koby (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Koby possesses a natural affinity for Observation Haki. From the moment he first discovered this ability, he demonstrated an exceptional ability to sense emotions. Following a time jump, he flawlessly detected and intercepted a submarine torpedo, a feat that other Kenbushoku users had failed to accomplish.
Recent chapters of One Piece have brought attention to Koby's potential, gaining recognition from Monkey D. Garp as the Navy's future legend. It is highly likely that Koby's Observation Haki is even more impressive, given that it is his specialty and his Armament Haki skills are already exceptional.
15) Roronoa Zoro
Zoro (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Zoro first demonstrated his Observation Haki, known as "Breath Of All Things," during the Arabasta arc after training with Dracule Mihawk. His Kenbushoku-amped reflexes became exceptional, allowing him to anticipate and react to attacks.
During the Wano arc, Zoro was able to foresee and intercept a Gifter's attack before even Luffy, a Future Sight user, noticed it. Even in battle with King, Zoro was able to keep up with the Lunarian's quick movements and deliver a well-timed counterattack.
14) Charlotte Linlin “Big Mom”
Zoro has achieved an impressive level of Observation Haki, allowing him to defend against CP0 Kaku's attack even when asleep. So far, only Whitebeard and Big Mom have demonstrated this extraordinary ability apart from Zoro.
Big Mom (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Recognizing her extraordinary endurance and sheer strength, Big Mom seldom depends on Observation Haki. Nonetheless, when completely concentrated, she can display surprising skill with it. For example, she cautioned Kaido to evade Zoro's Flying Dragon Blaze as she detected the attack's incredible power.
13) Borsalino “Kizaru”
Borsalino (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
12) Kuzan “Aokiji”
During the Paramount War, Kizaru skillfully evaded a direct assault from Whitebeard’s naginata and a strike from the latter’s subordinate Rakuyo by effortlessly shifting his body using Logia powers. Kizaru’s movements bore a resemblance to Katakuri’s shapeshifting techniques, suggesting that he might also be a user of Future Sight.
Kuzan (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Similar to his former colleagues, Aokiji also demonstrated the ability to manipulate his body to evade incoming attacks. When Whitebeard attempted to strike him with a Haki-imbued weapon, Aokiji escaped the potentially fatal attack by creating an opening in his Logia body. It is highly likely that he utilized Future Sight, much like Katakuri.
11) Sakazuki “Akainu”
Sakazuki (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Akainu is likely a user of Future Sight as he remained undamaged when attacked by Marco and Vista, who used Armament Haki. It is probable that he predicted the attack and used his Logia powers to alter his body, similar to how Katakuri combines Future Sight with the Mochi-Mochi Fruit.
10) Yasopp
Yasopp (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
9) Charlotte Katakuri
It wouldn't be unexpected if Yasopp's remarkable sniper abilities are a result of his adept use of Observation Haki. In One Piece Film: Red, he showcased exceptional skill with Kenbushoku, to the extent that his talents were explicitly likened to those of Katakuri.
Katakuri, as depicted in the image via Toei Animation's One Piece, possesses extraordinary dexterity in using the Color of Observation, enabling him to foresee events slightly in advance. By integrating his Future Sight ability with the unique features of the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, Katakuri demonstrates exceptional agility in evading most attacks and outmaneuvering his adversaries, establishing a significant edge in combat.
8) Monkey D. Garp
During the events on Whole Cake Island, Katakuri demonstrated his dominance over Luffy, effortlessly countering even Luffy's Gear 4 form. In order to level the playing field, Luffy had to tap into his own version of the Future Sight.
Garp (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Upon Koby's initial awakening of the Color of Observation, he was advised to seek out Garp for training, indicating that the "Marine Hero" is a proficient user of this particular Haki. Garp's mastery of Kenbushoku is evident in his ability to detect Shiryu even after the latter had used the Clear-Clear Fruit to render himself invisible.
7) Edward Newgate “Whitebeard”
Despite his own proficiency in Observation Haki, Koby was unable to detect Shiryu's presence and actions. In contrast, Garp was able to flawlessly track the invisible swordsman, even intercepting his attack.
Whitebeard, depicted in the image from Toei Animation's One Piece, was renowned for his exceptional Kenbushoku skills. His advanced Color of Observation allowed him to effortlessly anticipate and retaliate against formidable opponents like Ace. What made this feat even more remarkable was that Ace was fully intent on delivering a fatal blow, while Whitebeard was peacefully asleep.
Regrettably,
6) Silvers Rayleigh
due to a combination of old age and declining health, Whitebeard’s skills worsened greatly. As such, he failed to foresee Squard’s betrayal and ended up injured as a result of it. According to Marco, had Whitebeard been healthy, he would have predicted Squard’s treacherous attack.
Rayleigh (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Rayleigh's mastery of Observation Haki is impeccable, allowing him to detect any living being on an entire island with perfect precision. While it has yet to be confirmed whether he is able to utilize the advanced form of Kenbushoku, his extraordinary capabilities strongly suggest that he is capable of doing so.
The "Dark King" held his ground against Kizaru, even managing to wound the Admiral while remaining unharmed himself. It is clear that possessing exceptional Observation Haki is crucial to keeping pace with Kizaru, who moves at the speed of light.
Rayleigh's ability to fend off the incredibly fast Admiral indicates his formidable skill with the Color of Observation. What's more, he achieved this feat as a 76-year-old man past his prime, suggesting that his abilities would have been even more impressive in his youth.
5) Issho "Fujitora"
Issho (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Despite his blindness, Fujitora's fighting abilities are exceptional, allowing him to rise to the rank of Marine Admiral. This extraordinary achievement is attributed to his remarkable mastery of Observation Haki, which compensates for his lack of sight. His heightened sensory abilities enable him to anticipate and perceive swift and unexpected attacks, as well as detect living beings within a vast radius. Fujitora has the ability to sense people's auras and emotions, visualizing them in his mind's eye. While it remains unconfirmed whether he possesses Future Sight, it would not be surprising if he did.
4) Kaido
Kaido (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Kaido's mastery of all three types of Haki, including the Color of Observation at an advanced level, is truly impressive. His ability to foresee the Future Sight allowed him to evade Luffy's swift and erratic attacks in the Gear 4 Snakeman form with ease.
In addition to his proficiency in Kenbushoku Haki, Kaido also demonstrated remarkable sensory abilities. Despite the destructive aftermath of his and Big Mom's joint assault, he was able to detect the auras of the five Supernovas, realizing that they had somehow managed to survive the devastation.
3) Monkey D. Luffy
Luffy (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
After training with Silvers Rayleigh, Luffy gained a strong grasp of the Kenbushoku ability. In his battle with Charlotte Katakuri, he even honed his skills further, learning to use the rare Future Sight. Luffy displayed impressive mastery of this new ability by visualizing many of Katakuri’s moves, even surpassing Katakuri’s own abilities. He continued to use his Advanced Observation Haki multiple times, continually improving his mastery.
2) Shanks
Shanks (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Shanks, an incredibly skilled user of Kenbushoku, was able to sense and precisely pinpoint Ryokugyu’s position from miles away. His mastery of Observation Haki's advanced application allowed him to use Future Sight to see at least ten seconds ahead, a feat unparalleled by any other character. This gives Shanks a massive edge in battle, as he can also use the Color of Conqueror to prevent others from using their Observation Haki.
1) Dracule Mihawk
Mihawk (Image via Toei Animation, One Piece)
Eiichiro Oda originally intended for Mihawk to be known as "Clairvoyant" from the start. This title suggests his unparalleled ability to see into the future. The series has already hinted at Mihawk's incredible Observation Haki mastery, as he was able to pinpoint and strike Luffy with precision despite the chaos of a high-speed crowd. We can look forward to seeing the full extent of the World's Strongest Swordsman's power.
Be sure to keep up with all One Piece anime, manga, film, and live-action news as 2023 progresses.
Editor's P/S
As a passionate One Piece fan, I am thrilled to see the ranking of the top 25 Observation Haki users in the series. It's fascinating to learn about the characters who have mastered this incredible ability and how they utilize it in battle. The article highlights some of the most iconic moments in the series where Observation Haki played a crucial role, such as Kinemon's impressive coordination despite being dismembered and Law's timely perception of Luffy's defeat and transformation.
The inclusion of characters like Lucci, Marco, Blackbeard, Otohime, and Enel further showcases the diverse range of individuals who possess Observation Haki. Each character brings their unique style and strengths to the table, making it an exciting aspect to explore in the One Piece universe. Overall, this article provides an engaging and informative look into the world of Observation Haki and its impact on the series.
