One Piece: The Secret Behind Shanks and Roger’s Incredible Power Without Devil Fruits

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Summary

  • Haki and devil fruits are prominent powers in One Piece, with haki being a purer form of strength.
  • Devil fruits have weaknesses like inability to swim in the sea, while haki can counter their powers.
  • Shanks and his crew rely solely on haki, showing strength doesn’t always require devil fruits in One Piece.

In the world of “One Piece”, power manifests in various ways, yet two powers that tower above others are Haki and Devil Fruits. The Devil Fruit, one of the series’ most intriguing and enigmatic aspects, bestows extraordinary abilities upon its consumers. However, it doesn’t inherently make a user the strongest.

In the world of One Piece, there’s another kind of power called Haki, considered the most fundamental form of strength. Unlike Devil Fruits that bestow supernatural abilities but leave users vulnerable to the sea’s whims, anyone with enough determination can unlock Haki by pushing beyond their own limits. Consequently, many of the series’ strongest characters refrain from consuming Devil Fruits. Instead, they rely solely on Haki to subdue their adversaries.

Haki Vs Devil Fruits

The Weaknesses Of Devil Fruits

Initially, devil fruits appeared to be the pinnacle of power in the One Piece saga. Luffy’s Gum-Gum Fruit transformed him into a man with elastic abilities, and logia users such as Akainu and Kizaru seemed virtually indestructible. Yet, as the narrative unfolded, it emerged that haki was equally formidable, if not more so, compared to the power of devil fruits.

Haki That Can Counter Devil Fruits

Hardening Technique Haki: This form of haki enables its users to strengthen and harden their physical bodies as well as their weapons. When used, they become resistant to attacks from Logia-type users to such an extent that even the strongest Devil Fruit wielders sustain significant harm when confronted.

Enhanced Perception Ability (Enhanced Sight Skill): This ability gives its wielders superior perception skills, enabling them to anticipate attacks and even catch a glimpse of what might happen in the future under extreme circumstances. It’s particularly valuable for those without Devil Fruit powers when facing opponents who possess them.

Conqueror’s Haki (Haoshoku Haki): This is a unique form of haki, mastered by very few extraordinary individuals. It grants them the ability to overpower others’ wills. Notable users such as Shanks and Luffy can imbue their attacks with conqueror’s haki, amplifying their destructive force.

In the universe of One Piece, there are some individuals who specialize in Haki, even without possessing a Devil Fruit, and they can still match up to those who do. Many of the series’ most formidable characters, like Garp and Mihawk, follow a belief that inner strength and skill matter more than external power bestowed by a Devil Fruit.

Garp, renowned as the Marines’ Hero, is so powerful that he can engage in combat on equal footing with Pirate King Gol D. Roger. His raw physical might and Armament Haki make him capable of demolishing battleships using only his bare hands. Remarkably, Garp reached such immense power without relying on a Devil Fruit.

Similarly, Mihawk, the world’s strongest swordsman, is so skilled that he can cleave through entire mountains with his sword. These characters serve as proof that experience and innate talent are just as formidable as any power granted by a Devil Fruit.

Additionally, it should be noted that while devil fruits bestow extraordinary abilities upon their consumers, they come with substantial limitations as well. The sea poses a threat to devil fruit users because it strips them of their swimming capacity. Given that the universe of One Piece is predominantly oceanic, this presents a major challenge. Time and again in the series, characters such as Sanji or Zoro have rescued Luffy and Chopper from the sea when they’ve fallen in. Despite the fact that haki can nullify devil fruit powers, overdependence on these abilities can also render users vulnerable in circumstances where they can’t apply them efficiently.

The One Piece Treasure

Shanks Powerful Crew Of Non-Devil Fruit Users

Among the Yonko crews, Shanks and his pirates stand out uniquely, for they do not possess the power of devil fruits like other notable crews such as the Whitebeard, Big Mom, or Blackbeard pirates. Instead, Shanks’ crew, including himself, primarily rely on mastery of Haki and physical prowess. Shanks is an exceptional user of Conqueror’s Haki, capable of incapacitating enemies from great distances with his advanced techniques. Even Benn Beckman, his trusted second-in-command, is respected so much that he earns fear from powerful figures like Kizaru, demonstrating the potential of raw strength and intelligence to rival devil fruit abilities. It’s not unlikely that the absence of Haki users in Shanks’ crew might not be a mere coincidence. Given his history sailing with Gol D. Roger, it seems plausible that Shanks learned about the true power of Haki and its superiority over devil fruits in certain aspects.

Furthermore, it’s been speculated for quite some time that the One Piece treasure could be concealed at great ocean depths, a place only accessible to those who can roam freely across the seas. Given this possibility, Shanks’ reluctance to consume Devil Fruits becomes understandable. Consuming such fruits renders one incapable of swimming, which would make it difficult for users to reach an underwater treasure. However, since Shanks and his entire crew possess the freedom to traverse the sea, they are particularly well-suited for exploring beneath the waves.

Perhaps Shanks relying on Haki implies that those who reach the ultimate destination in “One Piece” may not be those limited by the weaknesses of Devil Fruits. As “One Piece” approaches its conclusion, Shanks’ role will likely become more apparent, whether he genuinely understands the truth about the One Piece or if he’s merely fulfilling Roger’s wishes.

In summary, the absence of a Devil Fruit doesn’t equate to a character’s weakness; instead, it indicates that they don’t require one to be powerful. Characters like Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, who didn’t possess a Devil Fruit, were still the strongest in their time. Similarly, Whitebeard, despite having the Gura Gura no Mi Fruit, was renowned for his exceptional Haki mastery. Even Luffy, with his powerful Devil Fruit, had to learn Haki to stand against Kaido. Thus, while Devil Fruits are a significant power source in One Piece, they aren’t the only route to greatness. Characters like these demonstrate that Haki is equally powerful as any Devil Fruit ability.

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2025-02-07 04:24