Unraveling the Mysteries of One Piece's Legendary Black Blades

Swords have a significant role in One Piece, particularly concerning the plot involving Roronoa Zoro, the swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates and a crucial character in the story.

Throughout the series, Oda has introduced numerous formidable swords, but none compare to the magnificence of the black blades in the world of One Piece. These black blades are extremely uncommon, with only two known to fans so far. They possess an aura of mystery, and although Oda continues to delve into their secrets, much still remains unknown.

What Are Named Blades?

Prior to delving into Black Blades, it is essential for fans to be acquainted with the concept of named blades. Known as Meito, these weapons hold significant power in the world of One Piece. Ranging from swords to axes to naginata, named blades come in various forms. Within the One Piece universe, each named blade is designated to a specific class. Numerous named swords have been witnessed by fans, each belonging to a distinct class. When Zoro embarked on his journey in One Piece, his sole named blade was Wado Ichimonji.

The sword was bestowed upon him by Kyoshiro, having previously belonged to Kuina. His other two blades at the time were unclassified, which resulted in their destruction during the battle against Mihawk. Realizing the necessity for superior blades, Zoro ultimately acquired formidable named blades in Loguetown. Yubashiri, one of the renowned Ryo Wazamono Grade swords, and Sandai Kitetsu, one of the esteemed Wazamono Grade Swords, became firmly grasped by Zoro.

The world of One Piece classifies blades into different categories, starting with the Wazamono, which is considered the lowest in quality. Following Wazamono is Ryo Wazamono, with a total of 50 known swords in existence. Next are the O Wazamono Grade swords, numbering 21, some of which have already been introduced to fans, such as Enma and Wado Ichimonji, both wielded by Zoro.

Lastly, there are the Saijo O Wazamono swords, which are the highest grade with only 12 known swords. Fans have had the opportunity to see four of these exceptional blades, including Ace, owned by Gol D. Roger, Murakumogiri, previously owned by Whitebeard, Yoru, possessed by Mihawk, and Shodai Kitetsu, belonging to V. Nusjuro.

What Are Black Blades?

In the world of One Piece, there are a few swords that hold extreme significance and are known as black blades or Kokuto due to their pitch black color. The first black blade, Yoru, was witnessed by fans in the Baratie arc when Mihawk unleashed its power against Zoro. It is regarded as one of the strongest blades globally. Black blades are renowned for their exceptional durability, believed to be unbreakable even if subjected to immense force. They possess great hardness, enhancing the impact of their attacks.

Black blades do not occur naturally in the One Piece world but must be crafted by the sword user themselves. It is not possible for a swordsmith to create a black blade upon the request of a swordsman. The swordsman must personally forge it using their own skill. It is theorized that any sword in the world of One Piece has the potential to become a black blade if the swordsman possesses enough skill. While temporarily imbuing a sword with Haki can give it a black appearance, permanently blackening the blade and transforming it into a black blade is a distinct process altogether.

So far, Oda has kept the secrets of crafting a Black Blade hidden from us. However, the prevailing belief is that infusing the sword continuously with Armament Haki is the crucial element in transforming it into a blackened blade. It is likely that the intensity and finesse of the imbued Haki will determine the extent to which the blade darkens.

The Power Of Black Blades

As previously mentioned, it is believed that Black Blades are exceptionally resilient, capable of withstanding even the weight of a dinosaur without bending. However, there is much more to these blades than just their extraordinary durability. They possess the ability to enhance the overall quality and rank of a sword. This implies that each named sword in the world of One Piece has the potential to be improved and elevate its status. Fans discovered this during the Wano arc, when the renowned swordsmith Kozaburo revealed to Zoro that Enma had the potential to become a Black Blade over time. If Enma were to achieve this status, it would be classified as one of the esteemed Supreme Grade Swords, thereby increasing their total count from 12 to 13. Similarly, Zoro also has the potential to transform Wado Ichimonji into a Black Blade, thus bringing the total number of Supreme Grade Swords to 14. Considering that every sword can be blackened, it is undoubtedly plausible to anticipate Zoro achieving this remarkable feat in the future.

Unsurprisingly, there are numerous enigmas encircling the Black Blades within the One Piece universe to this day. Given their forging through the utilization of Haki, it remains uncertain whether Black Blades possess a distinct impact on Devil Fruit abilities. Based on Mihawk's confrontation with Buggy in Marineford, it seems unlikely that this is the case, thus prompting the query of whether Black Blades possess any unique qualities aside from enhanced resilience. Only Oda holds the key to these inquiries, and it is up to him to reveal the answers to fans as the story unfolds further. As of now, enthusiasts will need to exercise patience and await the future elucidation of this pivotal storyline.

How Black Blades Will Be Important In The Future

In the One Piece universe, only two black blades have been observed by fans thus far. The inaugural appearance of a Black Blade occurred in the Baratie arc, wielded by none other than Mihawk. It was during his decisive battle with Zoro that he astounded viewers with this remarkable weapon. At that time, little was known about the enigmatic Black Blades, leading fans to assume that Mihawk's blade was merely among numerous others that were purely black-coated for aesthetic purposes.

However, a different meaning was later assigned to Black Blades. Fans were introduced to another Black Blade called Shusui in the Thriller Bark arc, which was wielded by the legendary Shimotsuki Ryuma who had become a zombie. This blade displayed incredible resilience and had powerful attack capabilities. After a battle with Zoro, Ryuma gifted the sword to him, making it Zoro's first Black Blade in One Piece. In the Wano arc, Zoro returned Shusui to the country in exchange for Emma. Kozaburo believes that Enma, especially due to its ability to absorb large amounts of Haki, can become blackened over time.

In the future, Oda will likely provide more information about these Black Blades. However, currently, they remain mysterious, with their true power and creation process yet to be fully revealed in the Final Saga, leaving fans eagerly anticipating further explanations.