Now that Saint Nerona Imu, the final villain of One Piece, has appeared in the land of the Giants, Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates are poised to become much more powerful. While they’re already considered one of the strongest groups in the world as a Yonko crew, they need to reach an even higher level. They’ve begun this journey in the Elbaph arc, and it’s specifically addressing Luffy’s biggest weakness: the exhaustion he experiences after using his most powerful form, Nika (also known as Gear 5).
Breaking Down Luffy’s Biggest Gear 5 Flaw
As a huge One Piece fan, I’m completely blown away by Luffy’s Gear 5! It’s powered by the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, and honestly, it’s one of the most incredible – and dangerous – transformations I’ve ever seen. They’ve even officially called it the most ridiculous power ever! Kaido, a seriously tough opponent, was completely thrown by how unpredictable Luffy became. Basically, Gear 5 lets Luffy turn his imagination into reality, and the limits are only set by what he can think of. It’s not just about raw power either; he’s pushing his Haki – both Armament and Conqueror’s – to the absolute maximum. It’s a game-changer that lets him go toe-to-toe with even the strongest pirates, the Emperors themselves!
As a huge One Piece fan, I’m completely blown away by Gear 5 – it’s ridiculously powerful! But honestly, it’s a double-edged sword. The biggest issue is how much it drains Luffy. Every time he uses it, even for just a few minutes, he ages rapidly and looks completely exhausted, like he’s about to collapse. It’s clear this form is seriously hurting his body and shortening his lifespan. I really hope the Elbaph arc finally deals with this drawback and finds a way to make Gear 5 sustainable for Luffy!
How Nerona Imu’s Arrival Affects Luffy’s Powers
Nerona Imu’s appearance in Elbaph seems to finally solve a major problem with Luffy’s Gear 5: its limited duration. Usually, Luffy only accesses his full power – like Gear 5 – when absolutely necessary, pushing past his limits to win. We’ve seen this before, like during his fight with Kaido, where he continued using Gear 5 even while on the brink of death. He’s repeatedly risked his life to maintain the ability, even after temporarily losing access, simply tapping back into it to keep fighting. This new battle with Nerona Imu appears to be intense enough for Luffy to sustain Gear 5 for a longer period than ever before.
In One Piece Chapter 1180, we’ll likely see Luffy surpass his current limits, becoming more comfortable with the Nika transformation. This will probably extend how long he can maintain the form, ultimately making him an incredibly powerful pirate.
Why Eiichiro Oda Is Phasing Out Luffy’s Time Limit For The Endgame
The story of One Piece is still a long way from its conclusion. Even with the introduction of Nerona Imu, who appears to be the series’ ultimate villain during the Elbaph arc, there’s much more to come. The major conflict of Elbaph hasn’t started yet, giving Luffy and his crew time to improve their strength. However, after what happens on Elbaph, Luffy can’t rely on Gear 5 for only a short period—it simply won’t be enough to defeat powerful opponents like the other Emperors, or someone as strong as Nerona Imu.
For Luffy to effectively fight powerful enemies like the Elders and Imu, particularly those who can heal quickly, he needs to overcome the limitations of Gear 5. Just as Oda gradually removed the drawbacks of earlier Gear forms – like the immobilization from Gear Second, the shrinking from Gear Third, and the time limits and immobilization of Gear Fourth – he’ll likely do the same with Gear 5’s rapid aging effect. It’s time for Luffy to be free of that weakness.
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Luffy’s Overall Power Level After The Warland Adventure
Luffy is now one of the most powerful pirates, known as a Four Emperor, but when compared to the others, he’s likely the weakest – excluding Buggy. He’s clearly not as strong as Shanks, a point the author has emphasized repeatedly. And Blackbeard is even more powerful, with two incredibly strong Devil Fruits and a very potent form of Haki, putting him well above Luffy.
Right now, Luffy might struggle to beat Kaido in a straight fight because his Gear 5 form doesn’t last very long. But once Oda removes the time limit on Gear 5, Luffy will truly become an Emperor-level pirate, on par with powerful figures like Shanks and Blackbeard. That’s when he’ll be the clear favorite to win the One Piece and establish himself as the strongest pirate of this generation.
One Piece is available to read on Manga Plus on April 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST.
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2026-04-15 00:40