The Ultimate Evolution: Unleashing the Full Power of Gear 5th in One Piece

Highlights

Luffy's Devil Fruit, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, grants him incredible power, but extended usage could result in Nika taking over his body.

Using Gear 5 excessively accelerates Luffy's energy depletion, resulting in a visibly aged and sagging face. Relying heavily on this form may ultimately shorten Luffy's lifespan. Moreover, his other Gears, namely Gear 2, Gear 3, and Gear 4, already come with inherent limitations, and employing Gear 5 could further deplete his stamina and diminish the longevity of his other transformations.

Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of One Piece, holds the position of captain within the Straw Hat Pirates and is recognized as one of the Yonko. His formidable strength can be attributed to the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit that he accidentally consumed, mistaking it for a regular fruit. With this Devil Fruit, Luffy gains access to the power of the Sun God, Nika. In the Wano Country arc, Luffy awakened his Devil Fruit and named it Gear 5. Utilizing this ability allows Luffy to reach his maximum potential, granting him immense power and establishing him as one of the most formidable characters in the One Piece series. However, it is essential to note that Gear 5 does come with its downsides, and if his opponents were to exploit these weaknesses, Luffy could find himself at a significant disadvantage.

5 Eventually Losing His Will

Eiichiro Oda previously disclosed that Zoan-type Devil Fruits differ considerably from the other fruit classes, as they possess their own volition. This observation was later corroborated by the Gorosei during the Wano Country arc. The independent will of these Devil Fruits can eventually overpower the user's own willpower. The prison wardens of Impel Down experienced the same predicament, where repeated usage of their powers resulted in a loss of sanity and a complete transformation into animals. As a consequence, they were unable to revert back to their human forms, rendering them more bestial in nature. Notably, this phenomenon also applies to Luffy's Devil Fruit abilities. If he continues to employ Gear 5, his body will eventually succumb to Nika, permanently relinquishing control to her. In such a scenario, Luffy would lose his sanity, while Nika gains dominion over his consciousness. Although not as drastic as the complete animal transformation experienced by the jailors, this outcome still poses as a significant drawback. It will be intriguing to witness how Luffy grapples with this flaw and navigates through the ensuing challenges.

4 Shortening Life Span

Luffy debuted Gear 5 during his battle against Kaido. Following his defeat by the Yonko, Nika took advantage of the opening and possessed his body. The change in Luffy's heartbeat marked Nika's/Joyboy's comeback. Zunesha likened this sound to the Drums of Liberation. While facing off against Kaido, Luffy struggled with maintaining control over his transformation.

Notably, Luffy's face showed visible signs of aging and sagging, indicating that Gear 5 depletes his energy rapidly. Relying too heavily on Gear 5 could result in a shortened lifespan due to the repeated energy loss. Considering that Luffy already sacrificed a portion of his life for Ivankov's operation, he cannot afford to further diminish his remaining years. The only solution is to use Gear 5 sparingly.

3 Affects The Duration Of Other Gears

Luffy possesses a variety of combat techniques known as Gears, with the most recent addition being Gear 5. He initially introduced Gear 2, which enhanced both his speed and strength, though it posed a lethal risk to him. Following this, Luffy developed Gear 3, which allowed him to enlarge his body size. With this Gear, Luffy gained the power to effortlessly crush large objects like Navy warships.

During a training period known as the time skip, Luffy learned to utilize Gear 4 under the tutelage of Rayleigh. This particular Gear consists of three variations: Bounce Man, Tankman, and Snakeman. Bounce Man significantly heightens Luffy's offensive capabilities, while Tankman provides him with enhanced defensive abilities. Meanwhile, Snakeman focuses on increasing Luffy's speed. Each of Luffy's Gears amplifies his strength in distinct ways, albeit with limitations on their duration. Currently, Luffy has not fully mastered Gear 5, and it appears unlikely that he can maintain it for prolonged periods. As a result, his overall stamina may continue to decline, subsequently shortening the duration of his other Gears.

2 Extended Stamina Recovery

The Gorosei have dubbed the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika as the most preposterous ability. While it grants Luffy significant freedom, he appears to be unaware of the full advantages and disadvantages of Gear 5. Luffy's recovery time in this form is extensive, as evidenced by his battle with Lucci.

Following the clash with Lucci, the Straw Hat had to patiently restore his energy. Fortunately, he could take the time to rest on that occasion, but he won't always have that luxury. In the vast world of One Piece, there are still numerous formidable opponents awaiting Luffy, and employing Gear 5 in these encounters would greatly handicap him, especially if he fails to conclude the fight within a specific time frame.

1 Still Prone To Sharp Objects

Luffy's Devil Fruit grants him a flexible, rubbery body, enhancing his physical abilities. He demonstrates immense creativity in utilizing his Devil Fruit powers, manifesting in numerous transformations. While each form has its advantages, they all share a common drawback.

Luffy's vulnerability to sharp objects persists despite his Devil Fruit's abilities. This susceptibility was evident during the Whole Cake Island arc when Cracker nearly severed Luffy's arm even while he employed Haki for protection. Even when Luffy utilized Gear 5 in Wano, Kaido noted that the young pirate remained susceptible to slashing attacks. Although it is true that most characters are vulnerable to blades and similar weapons, Luffy's weakness stands out as it manages to bypass his Devil Fruit's defensive capabilities. Though he can rely on Haki for defense, it is not infallible.