Unveiling the Unstoppable Might: Is Kaido truly Mightier than Gear 5 Luffy?

Warning: Spoilers ahead for those who only watch the One Piece anime.

Despite Luffy's Gear 5 transformation putting Kaido on the defensive, a closer look at the overall fight in both the manga and anime suggests that Kaido may have actually been stronger. Throughout the Raid on Onigashima, Kaido, the Pirate Emperor, has consistently shown why he is known as the "The Strongest Creature" in the world of One Piece. Even though the anime is nearing its climax, Kaido's endurance and sheer power surpass Luffy in almost every way.

Luffy Would Not Survive The Damage That Kaido Has Taken

The recent episodes of the anime introduced an astonishing development in the series, as Luffy unveiled his incredible transformation into Gear 5. This powerful form granted him abilities reminiscent of a cartoon, allowing him to unleash devastating attacks. Despite Luffy's formidable assault, Kaido has managed to keep up and land significant blows on the determined Straw Hat Captain. However, in Episode #1072, the ultimate antagonist of Wano finally showed signs of weakness, even dropping to his knees. It is important to note that while Gear 5 has proven to be effective, Luffy has been able to make significant progress due to the extensive damage Kaido has sustained throughout the entire Raid of Onigashima.

Since the Raid of Onigashima commenced, Kaido has endured numerous large-scale assaults from Wano's renowned Nine Red Scabbard Samurai, as well as powerful strikes from Zoro, Law, Kid, and of course, Luffy. Despite being impaled, blasted, punched, slashed, smashed, and even sustaining internal damage, Kaido displayed no signs of slowing down. Furthermore, he had to confront his son Yamato, who possesses extraordinary abilities including a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit and the rare and potent Conqueror's Haki, the only force capable of harming Kaido's invulnerable body.

Yamato made every effort to impede their father's progress. During this time, Luffy managed to recover from his second defeat against Kaido and teamed up with Yamato to unleash a devastating combination attack that sent Kaido hurtling through the air. However, even this was insufficient to vanquish Kaido permanently, as he swiftly rose to resume his battle with Luffy. The extent of the injuries sustained by Kaido at this juncture would have proved fatal for anyone else, but the revelations surrounding the Captain of the Beast Pirates, as disclosed by Eiichiro Oda, shed light on the true source of Kaido's incredible strength - his non-human nature.

Kaido's Built Different Because He's Literally An Ogre

Kaido's backstory remains a mysterious aspect of the Wano arc. Limited information sheds light on the formidable nature of Luffy's opponent. Chapter #1025 hinted at Kaido and Yamato being descendants of "Ogres" (Oni). The world of One Piece encompasses various intelligent species, such as Fishmen, Mink, and the Tontatta of Dressirosa. Unfortunately, certain species have either gone extinct or become incredibly rare, like King's potent Lunarian Tribe. While it is uncertain whether the mention of Oni signifies a specific race for Kaido and Yamato, or a mere depiction of their savagery, it should be noted that both characters possess distinctively non-human horns protruding from their heads.

Throughout his 59 years of life, Kaido has endured numerous captures and death sentences. Interestingly, during his youth, he intentionally allowed himself to be arrested to gain access to jail food, effortlessly escaping every time. Multiple execution attempts have been made on Kaido, all unsuccessful. His body has proven to be so resilient that it renders every weapon used against him useless. Considering the numerous failures to harm or eliminate him, the powerful assaults that have injured Kaido during the Wano arc are truly remarkable. Prior to his final showdown with Luffy, the only attack to leave a lasting impact on Kaido was Kozuki Oden's formidable sword strike, resulting in the sole scar adorning his body.

Despite Kaido's Strength, He Is Not Unbeatable

The act of drowning a powerful devil fruit user in sea water seemed like a straightforward solution. However, even this was rendered ineffective against Kaido, thanks to his possession of the specialized Fish-Fish Devil Fruit Model: Azure Dragon. This rare fruit, gifted to him by former Rocks Pirate crewmate Big Mom, granted Kaido the ability to swim and survive submersion. Despite his extraordinary resilience, Luffy, on the other hand, is not exempt from succumbing to such a fate. It is worth noting that despite his invincibility, Kaido has experienced defeat on several occasions throughout his existence.

Kaido's immense power has been witnessed in Wano, where he effortlessly destroys mountains, moves with lightning speed, and unleashes attacks that can disperse clouds. Despite his reputation as the World's Strongest Creature, the narrator reveals that Kaido has suffered defeats, although these battles remain unseen in the anime or manga. As a member of the powerful Rock Pirates at a young age, it is conceivable that he was overpowered by legendary individuals like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even Big Mom. Nonetheless, Kaido has undoubtedly grown stronger since then.

Kaido was also defeated by Red Haired Shanks during the Marineford arc when Shanks intercepted him before he could attack Whitebeard during Ace's rescue mission. Shanks and his crew emerged from the battle unharmed, while Kaido's Beast Pirates suffered losses. The details of how Shanks managed to divert Kaido's forces remain unclear, but it certainly involved a clash between the two Captains. It is worth noting that Kaido was ultimately defeated by Luffy, who had activated his Devil Fruit and unlocked Gear Fifth. However, it is difficult to label this as a fair fight considering Kaido had been relentlessly fighting since the start of the Raid. Additionally, Kaido was also utilizing his powers to keep the entire Onigashima floating in the sky, with the intention of dropping it on the Flower Capital.

Luffy Did Not Beat Kaido On His Own

A fascinating aspect of this debate is the absence of any explicit declaration within One Piece stating that Kaido has awakened his Devil Fruit, even though it seems highly probable based on various factors. One intriguing hypothesis suggests that Kaido simply never had any interest in doing so. This notion gains support from his proclamation during the clash with Luffy, where he emphasizes that true dominance over the Seas can only be achieved through the utilization of Haki, implying that he does not hold Devil Fruit abilities in high esteem. However, this stance contradicts his extensive reliance on these very abilities. Should Kaido genuinely reject awakening his Devil Fruit out of haughtiness, it would further substantiate his superiority over Luffy.

Kaido's defeat cannot solely be credited to Luffy, as it was Gear Fifth's formidable last strike that managed to breach through Kaido's defenses and overpower his own strongest move. However, this forceful blow pushed Kaido down to Wano's depths, where he was submerged in a scorching sea of lava. Eventually, the lava erupted when it came into contact with seawater. Considering the extensive efforts required to vanquish the World's Strongest Creature in One Piece, and the fact that Luffy relied on considerable assistance, one could argue that Kaido was indeed superior, even to the immensely powerful Gear 5.