Top 8 Most Difficult Devil Fruits to Master in One Piece

Summary

Some Devil Fruits in One Piece require time and expertise to master their unusual abilities effectively.
Characters like Kaku and Ivankov have showcased creative and practical uses of their Devil Fruits.
Monkey D. Luffy’s journey to master the Gomu Gomu no Mi reveals remarkable growth and an inventive mind.

It’s undeniable that the power system in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece stands out as one of the most imaginative and captivating in the shÅnen action genre: The Devil Fruits, a unique ability that bestows superhuman powers upon those who consume them. In essence, this means some characters have simply bitten into an odd-looking fruit and suddenly found themselves with astonishing superpowers, such as the ability to create fire or transform into a colossal dragon, for example.

Yet, not everyone in this narrative found themselves as fortunate, for many Devil Fruits carry unique powers that require considerable time, skill, training, and expertise to fully harness. In the world of One Piece, numerous users have unfortunately fallen prey to this pattern, yet they all managed to master their extraordinary abilities completely. Here are eight captivating instances that stand out.

8. Ushi Ushi No Mi, Model: Giraffe

Eaten By Kaku

Type: Zoan
Debut: Chapter 401 (Manga) Episode 286 (Anime)

Eating a Zoan Type Devil Fruit typically grants individuals the power to transform into dangerous creatures such as leopards, hawks, or even Allosauruses. However, when CP9’s Kaku consumed the Ushi Ushi no Mi, Model: Giraffe during the Enies Lobby Arc, he acquired giraffe-like abilities, which include being a herbivore with unique biology and an unassuming appearance. Despite this, in a short span of time, he combined his extensive knowledge of giraffes and powerful Rokushiki techniques to become a formidable Zoan fighter. However, even with these skills, he was still outmatched by Roronoa Zoro.

Two years later in the Egghead Arc, Kaku made his return. It was then unveiled that he was one of the select characters in One Piece who had awakened their Devil Fruit, showcasing his remarkable talent, diligence, and intelligence. Yet again, he deftly utilized his peculiar giraffe abilities along with his Rokushiki and Haki. However, Zoro effortlessly overcame him without any trouble.

7. Yomi Yomi No Mi

Eaten By Brook

Type: Paramecia
Debut: Chapter 442 (Manga) Episode 337 (Anime)

The Yomi Yomi no Mi proves challenging, if not impossible, to wield effectively due to its unique nature as the Resurrection Fruit. To activate its powers, its user must first experience death. Sadly, this was a lesson learned by Brook when he and his entire crew were treacherously slain by a rival pirate band. Only his soul managed to return to his decayed body.

Despite initial skepticism, Brook demonstrated an impressive array of extraordinary and useful abilities with his unique Devil Fruit, particularly after joining the Straw Hat Pirates. During the two-year time skip, he honed his skills, figured out how his Devil Fruit functioned, and ultimately learned to detach his ethereal soul from his body for covert information gathering. He also mastered summoning a massive specter capable of defeating Big Mom’s minions, as well as channeling cold air from the Underworld through his sword. It goes without saying that the Yomi Yomi no Mi would have been utterly wasted in the hands of someone less resourceful and imaginative than Brook.

6. Horu Horu No Mi

Eaten By Emporio Ivankov

Type: Paramecia
Debut: Chapter 537 (Manga) Episode 439 (Anime)

In a somewhat altered phrasing: Devil Fruits akin to Paramecia typically grant users modest yet remarkable superhuman capabilities, but there are certain exceptions within the narrative, and the Horu Horu no Mi appears to be one such exception, at least on the surface. This fruit was consumed by Emporio Ivankov, who can generate various hormones that he can administer either to himself or others via injection.

It’s fortunate that Ivankov appears to be highly skilled in manipulating hormones, given his proficiency in employing his Devil Fruit in diverse and practical manners, a feat that likely required extensive study and mastery. To begin with, this ability enables him to alter anyone’s gender, which is particularly beneficial for him, as he serves as the Okama King of the Kamabakka Kingdom. However, Ivankov has also demonstrated these unusual powers in combat, by manipulating hormones to expand his own body parts and even by administering adrenaline to others to alleviate their pain and boost their strength.

5. Hito Hito No Mi

Eaten By Tony Tony Chopper

Type: Zoan
Debut: Chapter 138 (Manga) Episode 83 (Anime)

The Hito Hito no Mi is notoriously known as one of the weakest Devil Fruits in One Piece, due to its ability to transform the user into an ordinary human. Interestingly, this fruit was consumed by a reindeer, who gained human intelligence from it and was named Tony Tony Chopper by Dr. Hiriluk. Despite being unique among animals, Chopper remained essentially a human-like creature without significant combat skills.

Over time, through extensive training, Chopper, with his exceptional intellect, developed numerous uses for his Devil Fruit abilities, ultimately inventing the Rumble Balls – a unique drug that amplifies and alters his Zoan powers, enabling him to utilize five astonishing and practical transformations. Interestingly, after undergoing further training and studying medicine during the two-year gap, Chopper gained access to four of these transformations without the need for a Rumble Ball. The versatility with which he employs such an ordinary Devil Fruit speaks volumes about his intelligence and proficiency; this lovable reindeer never ceases to impress.

4. Nikyu Nikyu No Mi

Eaten By Bartholomew Kuma

Type: Paramecia
Debut: Chapter 473 (Manga) Episode 368 (Anime)

Certain Devil Fruits can be quite unusual and unorthodox, as demonstrated by the renowned Nikyu Nikyu no Mi. During the God Valley Incident, Bartholomew Kuma consumed it, granting him access to its peculiar yet versatile abilities. On his palms, paw-like pads emerged, enabling him to repel anything he touches with them.

Though these rejecting pads might appear unusual initially, Kuma skillfully employs them for a variety of purposes. He uses them to deflect enemy attacks, generate forceful blasts, and even expel intangible afflictions such as pain and exhaustion from others’ bodies. However, the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi’s most astonishing feature is its capacity to transport its user or other individuals to any location worldwide with a mere touch. It was during his flashback in the Egghead Arc that we learned Kuma honed his Devil Fruit abilities through extensive training over many years.

3. Ope Ope No Mi

Eaten By Trafalgar D. Water Law

Type: Paramecia
Debut: Chapter 504 (Manga) Episode 398 (Anime)

Unlike many other Devil Fruits that are easy to grasp and utilize, the Ope Ope no Mi stands out as an exceptional case, demanding creativity and extensive medical expertise. Luckily for its wielder, Trafalgar Law, he possesses these unique qualities, enabling him to fully harness this legendary fruit’s power.

Utilizing the abilities of the Ope Ope no Mi, Law can conjure a versatile space known as a “Room”. Within this Room, he has the power to manipulate objects, rearrange body parts, exchange souls, produce electrical energy, and much more. Moreover, he can even perform surgeries and heal illnesses. Living up to his title of “Surgeon of Death”, Law eventually unlocked the full potential of his Devil Fruit, allowing him to create Rooms of various sizes and apply them to specific objects, such as his sword. In essence, Law’s ability to awaken his Devil Fruit showcases his exceptional skills as a doctor, pirate, and fighter.

2. Ito Ito No Mi

Eaten By Donquixote Doflamingo

Type: Paramecia
Debut: Chapter 234 (Manga) Episode 151 (Anime)

The Ito Ito no Mi, initially appearing feeble, transforms into a lethal instrument when skillfully utilized by an astute combatant. This formidable Devil Fruit found its way into the hands of one of the Seven Sea Lords, Donquixote Doflamingo. With it, he possesses the ability to craft and control strings that serve various purposes, such as restraining enemies, slicing through objects, or even controlling others like marionettes.

The Devil Fruit’s versatility is clearly evident from what we’ve seen so far, but Doflamingo consistently demonstrated even more extraordinary uses of it throughout the series. For instance, he was able to mend his injured organs by stitching them up, create duplicates of himself made out of string, construct an indestructible birdcage using strings large enough to encase an entire country, and ultimately, awaken a fruit that lets him manipulate the surroundings into massive strings for attacking his foes.

1. Gomu Gomu No Mi (Hito Hito No Mi, Model: Nika)

Eaten By Monkey D. Luffy

Type: Paramecia (Mythical Zoan)
Debut: Chapter 1 (Manga) Episode 1 (Anime)

In most instances of the series One Piece, viewers don’t get to see the process by which a character learns uncommon powers from a Devil Fruit. However, Monkey D. Luffy is an extraordinary exception, as the narrative unfolds through various flashback scenes showing how he gradually mastered the peculiar abilities of the Gomu Gomu no Mi. Initially, after consuming it accidentally, his body acquired rubber-like properties which, at first glance, seemed unimpressive and nearly useless since he couldn’t control his punches properly. But with diligent practice, Luffy transformed into a formidable combatant who developed numerous ingenious and potent techniques like Gomu Gomu no Pistol, Gomu Gomu no Rocket, and Gomu Gomu no Bazooka among others.

After recognizing that he required enhanced power to conquer the challenges of being a formidable pirate, Luffy cleverly employed his rubber powers to devise astonishing transformations such as Gear 2, Gear 3, and Gear 4. However, it was when he activated its potential within Wano Country and unveiled his Gear 5 form that truly solidified him among the most proficient Devil Fruit users: now he can mold his body at will, with his sole restriction being his own creativity. This is due to the fact that the Gomu Gomu no Mi is actually a Mythical Zoan called the Nika-Nika no Mi, and this disclosure was so gratifying because it felt like a well-deserved recognition for both Luffy and the audience: after years of witnessing him master a seemingly ordinary Devil Fruit in such extraordinary ways, he transformed into a Sun Deity who employs his extravagant powers to bring joy and aid to those suffering under the oppressive World Government.

2025-04-22 08:36