One Piece: Devil Fruits That Were Almost Eaten By Another Character

What really makes One Piece’s Devil Fruits different from power systems in other action anime is that they’re real, physical things the characters actually have to *eat* to get their abilities. Because of this, there have been quite a few times where a Devil Fruit nearly ended up being eaten by someone else entirely – it’s a strange but surprisingly interesting thought!

Interestingly, this situation has occurred several times over the long run of the series, but the following instances are the most well-known. A lot of fans often speculate about how the story of One Piece would change if these famous Devil Fruits had been consumed by different characters.

Gomu Gomu No Mi / Hito Hito No Mi Model: Nika

Was Almost Eaten By Shanks (Or Ace)

Eaten by: Monkey D. Luffy
Type: Mythical Zoan (Previously classified as a Paramecia)
Debut: Chapter 1 (Manga) Episode 1 (Anime)

After many chapters or episodes, it’s easy to overlook the fact that even the protagonist of One Piece, Monkey D. Luffy, unintentionally consumed his famous Devil Fruit. When he was a child, he was with the Red Hair Pirates at a bar in Foosha Village and came across a small chest. He found the Gomu Gomu no Mi inside and, believing it was a treat, he ate it.

Later on, viewers learned this Devil Fruit was originally named Hito Hito No Mi Model: Nika. It was incredibly significant, and the World Government tried to conceal it, leading many to believe Shanks and his crew intentionally took it from a CP9 ship. The mystery remains what Shanks intended to do with the fruit. Some speculate he planned to eat it himself – he hasn’t demonstrated any Devil Fruit abilities yet – but a widely held fan theory suggests he went to Foosha Village to deliver it to Gol D. Roger’s son, Portgas D. Ace.

Mera Mera No Mi

Was Almost Eaten By Masked Deuce And The Corrida Colosseum Combatants

Eaten by: Portgas D. Ace/Sabo
Type: Logia
Debut: Chapter 158 (Manga) Episode 94 (Anime)

The story of the Mera Mera no Mi is among the most surprising and confusing in the whole series. Initially, it was eaten by Luffy’s adopted brother, Portgas D. Ace, but a One Piece novel A revealed that he actually split it with Masked Deuce after discovering it together. Ace was the only one who developed fire abilities because he ate his share just a few seconds before his friend; if Masked Deuce had been a little quicker, he would have been the one with those powers.

Following Ace’s death during the Battle of Marineford, the Mera Mera no Mi reappeared and was discovered by Donquixote Doflamingo. He used it as the grand prize in a tournament held at the Corrida Colosseum. Ace’s other adoptive brother, Sabo, secretly entered the tournament and ultimately consumed the Devil Fruit to honor Ace’s memory. However, practically any other participant-such as Hack, Don Chinjao, or Cavendish-would have taken it if they had gotten to it first. In fact, even Franky could have gained the power of the Mera Mera no Mi, as Luffy offered it to him at the beginning of the Dressrosa Arc, but Franky declined, not wanting to lose his ability to swim.

Ushi Ushi No Mi, Model: Giraffe

Was Almost Eaten By Kalifa

Eaten by: Kaku
Type: Zoan
Debut: Chapter 379 (Manga) Episode 266 (Anime)

Following the completion of their five-year undercover operation in Water 7, Spandam gave Devil Fruits to two members of CP9 who didn’t have any abilities yet: Kaku and Kalifa. Spandam didn’t know the names of the fruits or what powers they held, so he simply chose them randomly.

Kaku eventually consumed the Ushi Ushi no Mi, Model: Giraffe, a Devil Fruit of the Zoan type. This fruit allowed him to transform into a giraffe whenever he wanted. While this ability seems strange, Kaku managed to master it, using it in a battle against Roronoa Zoro and even unlocking its full potential after the time-skip. Honestly, Kalifa should be glad she didn’t pick this Devil Fruit, as a giraffe’s unusual look wouldn’t suit her refined personality. Luckily, fans don’t need to picture it, because Oda actually drew what Kalifa would look like as a giraffe in the SBS section of Volume 49, and it’s quite funny.

Awa Awa No Mi

Was Almost Eaten By Kaku

Eaten by: Kalifa
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Chapter 379 (Manga) Episode 266 (Anime)

While Kaku was eating the Ushi Ushi no Mi, Model: Giraffe, Kalifa consumed the Awa Awa no Mi, a Paramecia-Type Devil Fruit. This fruit gives her the power to create and manipulate soap bubbles, which she can use to clean things – and people – in both a literal and metaphorical sense. It was fortunate she developed this ability, as it suited her personality and fighting style well, and it also made her future fight with Nami much more enjoyable.

If Kalifa and Kaku had swapped Devil Fruits, the Awa Awa no Mi would have ended up with the long-nosed assassin. He’s a surprisingly adaptable fighter, so he might have been able to use its bubble-based abilities effectively, but he’s much better suited to his strong giraffe form. Sadly, Oda never showed us what Kaku would look like with the Awa Awa no Mi, leaving it to fans to imagine.

Yami Yami No Mi

Was Almost Eaten By Thatch

Eaten by: Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard)
Type: Logia
Debut: Chapter 440 (Manga) Episode 325 (Anime)

Blackbeard spent his whole life focused on a single ambition: to locate and consume the famed Yami Yami no Mi, a powerful Logia-Type Devil Fruit. This fruit grants its eater the ability to control darkness, allowing them to absorb almost anything and even cancel out the powers of other Devil Fruits. Though he appreciated his time serving with the Whitebeard Pirates, he immediately began pursuing his lifelong goal when a member of his crew discovered the legendary fruit.

There was a time when the ship’s chef and a commander, Thatch, discovered the Yami Yami no Mi. While it’s never been officially stated whether he knew how powerful it was, the Whitebeard Pirates had a standing rule: anyone who found a Devil Fruit was allowed to eat it. This is why Blackbeard killed Thatch, took the fruit, and fled. However, it’s interesting to consider how different things would be if Thatch had eaten the Yami Yami no Mi himself. It likely would have prevented Blackbeard from becoming the frightening villain he is today.

Nikyu Nikyu No Mi

Was Almost Eaten By Kaido

Eaten by: Bartholomew Kuma
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Chapter 473 (Manga) Episode 368 (Anime)

I’m absolutely fascinated by the God Valley Tournament! It was infamous for its incredible prizes – tons of legendary Devil Fruits meant for the Celestial Dragons, awarded to those who… well, hunted down innocent people and slaves. But things went crazy when a bunch of powerful pirates showed up, and amidst all the chaos, two young slaves, Bartholomew Kuma and Emporio Ivankov, saw their chance to escape. They managed to snag two amazing Devil Fruits: the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi and the Uo Uo No Mi, Model: Seiryu, respectively. It’s such a pivotal moment in their histories!

Both of them were unexpectedly attacked by Charlotte Linlin (Big Mom), who wanted to get one of the Devil Fruits for her crewmate, Kaido. However, Kuma quickly ate the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi before it could be taken. This turned out to be a fortunate event that altered history, as he used his new ability to repel things to help many people during the well-known God Valley Incident. The young member of the Rocks Pirates, on the other hand, would have probably used those powers for evil.

Uo Uo No Mi, Model: Seiryu

Was Almost Eaten By Emporio Ivankov

Eaten by: Kaido
Type: Mythical Zoan
Debut: Chapter 921 (Manga) Episode 921 (Anime)

If Big Mom had targeted Kuma instead of Ivankov on that day, the young Okama would have consumed the famed Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu instead of Kaido. This is a powerful Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit granting the user the ability to transform into a gigantic blue dragon, capable of flight, fire breath, and generating whirlwinds-characteristics that perfectly complement Kaido’s brutal and aggressive fighting approach.

Although Ivankov didn’t gain any Devil Fruit abilities during the God Valley Incident, he later acquired the Horu Horu no Mi, which perfectly matches his character and way of life. It would have been amusing – and honestly, pretty awesome – to see such a flamboyant character like Ivankov transform into a huge dragon. Luckily for fans, Oda actually sketched what he would have looked like in that imagined situation.

2025-10-02 16:36