Unveiling the Game-changing Power-up for Sanji in One Piece

Highlights

Sanji's tragic past and upbringing as a prince of the Germa Kingdom shaped his character and abilities, ultimately leading him to join the Straw Hat crew.

Sanji's latent Germa powers have gradually awakened, enhancing his combat abilities and enabling him to engulf himself in flames and acquire an exoskeleton. Oda has hinted that Sanji's powers will further progress, potentially intensifying his flame abilities beyond their current potency and surpassing his siblings' Germa capabilities. Additionally, fans can anticipate more revelations concerning his affiliation with the Lunarian race.

Sanji, the cook of the Straw Hats, holds a significant position as one of the East Blue Five in the popular series One Piece. With his vital role throughout the story, Sanji continues to make an impact in the Final Saga. Despite his primary role as a cook, Sanji proves himself to be a formidable fighter, ranking as the third strongest member of the Straw Hat Crew, just a step below Zoro.

With a bounty of 1.032 billion berries on his head, Sanji's reputation as one of the world's elite fighters is well-deserved. However, his potential for growth and further strength is apparent, as Oda has hinted at exciting future developments for Sanji.

Sanji's Birth

Sanji's backstory was fully unveiled to fans during the Whole Cake Island arc, which heavily focused on his family and delved into his origins. When the Vinsmoke Family arrived to retrieve Sanji for an arranged marriage, it was clear that Oda would be exploring his character in depth. And that is precisely what occurred in the Whole Cake Island arc, providing fans with a comprehensive understanding of his upbringing. Sanji's birth as one of quadruplets to Sora and Judge, the leader of the Germa Kingdom, was finally revealed. As a Prince of the Germa Kingdom, Sanji was burdened with immense expectations.

Judge had actually attempted to genetically modify his children to transform them into war machines. Yet, Sora countered this plan by taking medicine to ensure her children would be born with humanity and kindness. Unfortunately, this medicine had detrimental effects on Sora's health, leading to her eventual demise. However, her sacrifice was not in vain, as Sanji was born without any genetic alterations and possessed normal human emotions. In contrast, his brothers remained emotionless, as Judge intended. Naturally, Sanji's failure to meet Judge's expectations resulted in his expulsion and his supposed death being announced. With the help of his sister, Sanji managed to escape to the East Blue, where he eventually found employment on a cruise ship. From that point on, his journey and backstory are effectively depicted in the Baratie arc.

How Sanji Manifested His Latent Powers

Sanji's tragic past had a profound impact on his character and ultimately led him to Zeff, who became a father figure to him. Together, they founded Baratie, a restaurant operated by Zeff, a former pirate. During his time at Baratie, Sanji trained under Zeff and honed his Black Leg Style. When Luffy encountered Sanji, he was already a formidable fighter, making him an ideal addition to the crew. However, Luffy primarily recruited him for his kindness and exceptional culinary skills. Over time, Sanji's strength grew exponentially, but unusual phenomena began occurring within his body. This started with his spontaneous combustion during the use of Diable Jambe in the Enies Lobby arc. While fans initially attributed this to his passion, it was later revealed by Oda that there was more to it. In Wano, after donning the Raid Suit for the third time, Sanji experienced further strange reactions, including stiffness. It was eventually disclosed that Sanji's dormant Germa powers were awakening, resulting in the development of a powerful exoskeleton and increased muscle mass. He transformed into a fearsome warrior capable of overpowering even formidable opponents such as Queen, a pirate with a bounty of 1.32 billion berries. Additionally, Sanji's newfound abilities unleashed Ifrit Jambe, allowing him to conjure blue flames and electricity simultaneously. A distinct indication of these powers is his eyebrows swinging in the opposite direction when utilizing them.

Oda Teasing Sanji's Future Powers

Sanji has become incredibly powerful after the events in Wano, capable of holding his own against any Yonko Commander with ease. Fans have been discussing the source of his newfound power, specifically questioning why his eyebrows returned to their normal state after his fight with Queen. In SBS Volume 105 of One Piece, a fan asked Oda about this, and his response was intriguing. Oda revealed that during the fight against Queen, Sanji's eyebrows changed direction. In Whole Cake Island, it was revealed that Sanji's siblings possessed strong skin and a tough exoskeleton due to Lineage Factor Manipulation. However, Sanji was born without these powers, thanks to Sora's intervention to preserve his emotions. Interestingly, when Sanji's brother and sister's eyebrows form a 66, Sanji's eyebrows spin in the opposite direction. Oda explained that this change in his eyebrows symbolized the awakening of his new powers, which was triggered by the genetically linked Raid Suit. Furthermore, Oda mentioned that Sanji already had exceptional resistance to heat from the beginning and hinted at future developments related to Sanji's powers. It is clear that fans should closely monitor Sanji's progress in the future.

What Could Sanji's Future Powers Be?

Sanji's body had started gaining new powers even during his time at Baratie, as evidenced by his ability to withstand Pearl's fire armor. Despite others avoiding Pearl, Sanji fearlessly faced him head-on, stating that a cook should never be afraid of flames. Although this detail was initially overlooked by fans, it now becomes clear that Sanji's resistance to heat was present from the very beginning of the story and gradually grew over time, ultimately unlocking his latent abilities.

Furthermore, it is highly likely that Sanji's powers will continue to evolve in the future. His flame powers can further develop, surpassing even the abilities of his brothers in Germa. This is because Sanji possesses both scientific powers and emotions, which play a crucial role in fueling his flames compared to his emotionless brothers. Fans can anticipate Sanji's continuous growth as a scientific genius, potentially surpassing the powerful Seraphims. As he progresses, he will likely acquire a stronger physique and an even higher resistance to flames. Intriguingly, Sanji shares significant connections to the Lunarian race, leading fans to wonder if Oda will delve deeper into the meaning behind his birth and the reasons for his resemblance to Lunarians in the future.

One Piece is available to read via Viz Media.