As a long-time fan of One Piece, I must say that this latest development with Luffy’s Gear 4 is nothing short of astounding! Having watched Luffy grow from a brash, impulsive kid to the fearsome Pirate King contender, it’s fascinating to see how he continues to evolve his abilities.
This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.
Key Takeaways
- Luffy’s mastery over Gear 4 allows him to use it in specific body parts, improving stamina and Haki.
- Luffy’s ability to freely switch between Gear 4 forms and techniques makes him more versatile in battles.
- The introduction of Gear 5 does not make Gear 4 obsolete; Luffy still utilizes it in strategic ways against opponents.
In the post-time skip of “One Piece,” Luffy has experienced significant growth, not just in physical strength but also in character development. Oda, the creator of this story, always planned for Luffy to reach a completely new level of power during the New World challenges. The two-year time skip significantly boosted his strength, and with Rayleigh’s assistance, he developed an extraordinary new ability called Gear 4. This powerful move was first utilized against Doflamingo when his regular Gears failed to make an impact on the “Heavenly Demon.” Luffy had to resort to using his hidden ace, which turned out to be Gear 4.
Since that time, Luffy has progressed to Mastering Gear 4 in various thrilling manners, yet what’s more, he cultivated an entirely novel power, referred to as Gear 5, which made its appearance during the Wano Country Arc. However, this doesn’t imply that Gear 4 is no longer relevant now. It remains a highly valuable skill, and Luffy has just demonstrated new methods of employing this power, thereby reinforcing his command over it even further.
Luffy’s Previous Struggles With Gear 4 In One Piece
- Luffy Couldn’t Maintain Gear 4 For Long
- Luffy Lost Haki After Gear 4
Without a doubt, Luffy’s Gear 4 is one of his most formidable powers. The force this astonishing transformation imbues upon Luffy is truly remarkable. To put it simply, one punch from Gear 4 could knock over the numerous beasts on Ruskaina, a place where Luffy trained for two years. In his battle against Doflamingo, just a single Kong Gun was potent enough to propel him across the entire country, leaving him unaware of the exact sequence of events. Even powerful adversaries like Katakuri struggled to withstand Gear 4’s might, despite their advanced Haki. To add, Gear 4 proved so strong that even Kaido was forced back by its attacks, although they hardly made a dent in him due to his robust exterior.
I can’t use Haki for 10 minutes! – Luffy
The main thing to understand is that when it comes to sheer power, Gear 4 is astonishing and remains one of Luffy’s most valuable resources. However, such immense strength came with a significant cost. Gear 4 required Luffy to push his Devil Fruit ability and Haki to their utmost limits, which is why it had a time limit. This means that Luffy couldn’t sustain Gear 4 for extended periods, and when he exhausted its power, he became vulnerable, particularly unable to use Haki for about 10 minutes. During these times, Luffy needed to keep moving quickly or rely on others for protection because he was at his weakest. Initially, Gear 4 had a major disadvantage, but over time, this drawback lessened significantly. For instance, during his battle against Kaido, Luffy was able to maintain Gear 4 for much longer.
After mastering the use of Conqueror’s Haki in his Gear 4 attacks, Luffy found himself on equal footing with Kaido during their fight. He had the freedom to alternate between forms like Bounceman and Snakeman, and also invent innovative techniques that left even the Yonko astonished. However, it was a concern for Luffy when, eventually, Gear 4 would deplete its energy, as he was unable to use Haki for approximately 10 minutes following this.
In Wano, Luffy significantly prolonged the duration of his Gear Four ability and gained the flexibility to transition between its various forms effortlessly without breaking the transformation. This was a significant advancement, but now, Luffy has pushed the boundaries even further and attained the pinnacle mastery form of Gear Four, as showcased in One Piece chapter 1129.
How Luffy Has Mastered Gear 4 In Elbaf
Luffy Can Use Gear 4 Without Fully Transforming
In chapter 1129 of One Piece, I witnessed Luffy perfecting his Gear 4 technique entirely. Instead of reserving this ability for combat against adversaries, as we’ve seen before, Luffy demonstrated its mastery by attempting to smash a wall using it! This is achieved by filling his muscles with air, causing his body to inflate, and covering himself with the maximum possible amount of Haki. Once ready, he delivers devastating blows that leave his enemies reeling.
Instead of turning his whole body into Gear 4, as he usually does, Luffy is currently employing this power exclusively in one of his arms. This transformation, unlike before, doesn’t make his entire body bouncy and tall like Doflamingo; instead, it’s just his arm that gains the giant, elastic quality.
Step aside! It’s time for a ‘little’ Gear 4. – Luffy
In chapter 1129 of One Piece, spectators were taken aback when Luffy endeavored to smash a wall. What made this particularly surprising was that Luffy utilized only one arm for transformation into Gear 4 and applied Haki to it, while the rest of his body remained unchanged. This implies that Luffy has achieved remarkable control over the Gomu Gomu no Mi at this point.
As a devoted fan, I must say it may appear sudden to us, but this new development seems reminiscent of previous transformations Luffy’s Gears have undergone. For example, recall the vulnerability of Gear 3, where Luffy transformed into a chibi version of himself. Initially, this was a part of his Devil Fruit abilities, but over time, the creator, Oda, gradually phased it out. This change was intended to symbolize that Luffy was growing more proficient in managing his supernatural powers.
In essence, the version of Gear that resembled Gear 4 most in terms of reducing lifespan and causing exhaustion was actually Gear 2. Initially, when Luffy used Gear Second, he did so at a fatal cost to himself, as attested by the Strawhat Pirates during the Thriller Bark Arc. This use of Gear Second was deemed extremely risky for Luffy. However, after the timeskip, fans noticed significant changes in how Luffy employed Gear Second, particularly in the manga. Instead of using it across his entire body, he started activating it only in specific parts like arms and feet. For example, when Luffy needed to fire a Jet Pistol, he would activate Gear Second in those limbs and use them for springing and delivering powerful blows to enemies. This new method allowed Luffy to turn Gear Second on and off more frequently while only using it in select body parts, thus avoiding complete exhaustion.
Currently, Luffy’s actions with Gear 4 mirror those from using Gear Second. He strategically employs the power of Gear 4 in specific body parts when necessary. This approach helps him conserve energy and Haki, all while retaining incredible strength that comes with Gear 4.
The Usage Of New Gear 4 Will Be More Frequent
Luffy Will Now Use Powerful Gear 4 Attacks More Frequently
As a die-hard One Piece fan, I’ve got to say, I’ve finally nailed the art of Gear 4 completely! You can bet your last Doubloon that you’ll be seeing this form more often, especially when going up against tough adversaries. When the heat’s on, I’ll dive headfirst into battle, strategically employing Gear 4 techniques in just a handful of body parts. And let me tell ya, I’m not holding back – I’ll be covering myself with both Armament and Conqueror’s Haki to give my moves that extra kick!
One Piece is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by the fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and the Manga Plus app. The release date for the next chapter of One Piece, One Piece 1129, is set to be October 13, 2024.
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2024-10-12 00:07