One Piece: Why Armament Haki Is Still Important In The Final Saga

The following article contains spoilers for One Piece.

For several years, the anime and manga series One Piece has been building towards its epic conclusion, and fans are incredibly excited about what’s happening now. As new episodes arrive in April, One Piece is more popular than ever. Although the anime will probably continue releasing episodes seasonally, the manga is still ongoing and full of surprising reveals.

As the series delved deeper into the power of Haki, fans began to wonder just how important it would become. The Wano Arc revealed more about Haki, making it clear that it will play a crucial role in the story’s final chapters. While many fans are focused on Conqueror’s Haki, Armament Haki remains significant and could be a clever way to strengthen opponents without introducing overly complicated power levels.

What Is Haki In One Piece?

Haki is an inner energy source powered by a person’s willpower. Though everyone could potentially use it, it takes significant training to unlock. When used effectively, Haki boosts both a person’s senses and physical abilities. There are three main types of Haki:

Armament Haki;
Observation Haki;
Supreme King Haki (the rarest one).

Although some characters, like Luffy, can become skilled in both Armament and Observation Haki, most people only fully develop one. Many important characters in One Piece, including Shanks, Zoro, Sanji, and Koby, have used Haki. It’s usually awakened through rigorous training, but some individuals unlock it during combat or are even born with it already active. A key benefit of Haki is its ability to counteract the powers of Devil Fruits, allowing users to injure their opponents. However, using Haki is physically demanding and can lead to exhaustion if overused.

Types of Haki in the Series

Initially, the world learned about two kinds of Haki: Armament Haki and Observation Haki. Armament Haki allows users to create an invisible armor, and Observation Haki sharpens their senses.

Observation Haki first appeared in the story when Blackbeard demonstrated its power during the Jaya Arc, though it wasn’t actually called ‘Haki’ until later, in the Amazon Lily Arc. Another type, Armament Haki, creates an invisible armor that can also make weapons stronger. Sentomaru showed this ability during a fight with Luffy in the Sabaody Archipelago Arc. The series then delved deeper into these powers, particularly during the major events of the Summit War in Marineford.

Balance the critic averages

Easy (6)Medium (8)Hard (10)

Critical Mass

Pick games to balance the averages.

Time: 00:00

Diff: —

Scales

Multiplier ×1.00

Left

Avg —

Right

Avg —

Results

—

More Games

Choose a game

The most uncommon type of Haki, called Supreme King Haki (or Conqueror’s Haki), was officially named during the Amazon Lily arc, though it was first hinted at back in Chapter 1 with Shanks. Initially, it just seemed like a great source of power. This special ability lets a person overwhelm and control their enemies with sheer force of will.

This ability takes incredibly dedicated practice to achieve. It’s naturally unlocked by very few people – those with an innate, exceptional talent – which is why it’s so uncommon. Those who develop this ability are often seen as special or destined for greatness. It’s also suggested that family history might contribute, meaning some individuals may be predisposed to unlocking it.

One Piece Moving Towards Final Saga

Throughout the story, Haki became increasingly important, eventually becoming a central element. This was emphasized during the Wano Country Arc when Kaidou declared that Haki is what truly determines a conqueror of the seas, leading to extensive fan discussion and confirming its crucial role in the manga’s climax. Kaidou suggested that mastering Haki is even more significant than possessing the power of a Devil Fruit, implying that a fully awakened Haki user surpasses even the strongest Fruit abilities.

Ultimately, true strength comes from Haki, not just Devil Fruit abilities. No matter how powerful a Devil Fruit user is, they can’t truly dominate these seas without Haki.

— Kaidou in One Piece Chapter

The show appears to be a good fit for him. We see this with Edward Newgate – despite possessing the immensely powerful Gura Gura no Mi, capable of destroying the world, he never managed to beat Gol D. Roger. Roger achieved victory, conquering the Grand Line solely through his Haki, and consistently defeated those who did have Devil Fruit powers before his disappearance.

Armament Haki Should Be Explored

The manga suggests that Haki is crucial for overcoming even the most powerful Devil Fruit users, so it’s expected to become a major focus. Fans anticipate significant advancements in Haki techniques throughout the series, particularly for the Straw Hat Crew, who may unlock new abilities related to it.

Haki has become increasingly flexible within the story, which has led some fans to feel it’s being used as a convenient explanation for characters gaining extreme power. While Haki has essentially developed into its own power system, there’s concern this might make the challenges in the series feel less meaningful.

Even so, the story increasingly emphasizes the importance of Haki. This opens up possibilities for further developing Armament Haki, which allows users to create an invisible armor around themselves and strengthen weapons. With some adjustments, the weapon enhancement aspect of Armament Haki could be expanded, offering a way to raise the stakes and power levels without relying on constantly introducing overwhelmingly strong abilities. This could be a straightforward solution to maintain excitement and a sense of realism, even for fans who are critical of power escalations.

One Piece is available to read on MANGA Plus.

2026-02-22 04:06