One Piece: Zoro’s First Black Blade In Elbaf, Explained

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As a longtime fan of One Piece, I can’t help but feel the anticipation building for Zoro’s next big step – the blackening of one (or more) of his blades! Having witnessed countless battles and power-ups throughout the series, it’s exciting to see our favorite swordsman finally reaching a point where he can tap into even greater potential.

This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.

Key Takeaways

  • Zoro aims to be the greatest Swordsman and needs power-up.
  • Zoro can blacken his swords for a major strength boost.
  • Sandai Kitetsu could be Zoro’s first blackened blade.

In the universe of One Piece, Zoro stands out as one of the most adept sword-wielders worldwide. His goal is to surpass Dracule Mihawk, currently recognized as the World’s Greatest Swordsman, a feat he has been working towards diligently. Currently, Zoro is part of a Yonko crew, which signifies that his abilities are held in high regard. Notably, within this crew, Zoro ranks second in strength only to Luffy, demonstrating his significant power and position among the series’ strong characters.

It’s clear that Zoro isn’t yet at his full potential; he still needs more power. While physical strength can be gained through rigorous training, it’s also worth noting that Zoro can enhance not only himself but also his swords. Interestingly, the idea of empowering one’s blades was first introduced during the Wano Country arc. Fans are aware that if Zoro manages to master the power of Blade Blackening, he could potentially become even stronger.

The Concept Of Blade Blackening In One Piece

  • Black Blades Are Very Rare in One Piece
  • Zoro Could Gain Access To Black Blades

In the realm of One Piece, Black Blades are unique and intriguing. For the first time, fans encountered a black blade when Dracule Mihawk made his entrance. During the Baratie arc, Zoro engaged in a fight with Mihawk, but Mihawk didn’t use his primary blade to deliver the final blow. Instead, he unveiled Yoru, which he claimed as the World’s Greatest sword. Yoru is completely black from hilt to tip, and at the time, spectators failed to notice this detail. However, given Eiichiro Oda’s knack for making details significant, it didn’t come as a shock when this became a crucial plot point, approximately around the Thriller Bark arc. During this arc, a zombified samurai legend named Ryuma was introduced in the narrative, and it was explicitly stated that Ryuma also wielded a black blade, similar to Mihawk.

As an honor, I will use this black blade to deliver the final blow. – Mihawk

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share that the sword I once wielded was none other than Shusui, one of the legendary 21 Great Grade Swords. This blade, renowned for its unyielding strength, owed much of its durability to its distinct black color. In the Thriller Bark arc, this very sword found its way into my hands and stayed with me until our journey led us to Wano Country. There, I made a tough decision, choosing to return Shusui to the people of the land in exchange for Enma.

In the One Piece series, Enma being an upgrade wasn’t the only power-up planned for Zoro; Oda has also introduced the concept of Black Blades. As mentioned by Kozuki Sukiyaki, black blades hold a unique status in the world of One Piece and any blade can be transformed into a black one. This isn’t referring to temporary blackening through Haki Imbuement, but rather permanent blackening. Repeated imbuement with Armament Haki, possibly even Conqueror’s Haki, could lead to this transformation. Once the sword turns black, it gains immense strength and also elevates in rank. This was confirmed during the Wano Country arc, implying that a blade becomes significantly stronger when it achieves Blackening.

Why Zoro Will Blacken His Swords Soon

Zoro’s Swords Need A Major Power Boost

The epic saga of One Piece is nearing its conclusion, implying that each member of the Straw Hat Pirates is approaching their pinnacle. Luffy has already achieved the rank of Yonko, though he’s not yet at the peak of his abilities, he’s nearly there. Similarly, the other Straw Hats should be close to reaching their peaks as well. This suggests that Zoro may soon attain a level where he can overcome Mihawk. Zoro has already mastered advanced Conqueror’s Haki, and only a little more growth is needed for him to match the power of Admirals and, eventually, the Yonko.

Any blade can become a Black Blade. – Mihawk

In the upcoming chapters of One Piece, there’s speculation that Zoro might acquire a black blade, which is a significant power-up. However, it’s important to note that Zoro currently possesses three swords, not just one. This suggests that these enhancements may come sequentially rather than all at once. It’s possible that Zoro could turn one of his existing blades black in the Elbaf arc, marking a significant leap forward for him. Such a development would undoubtedly provide fans with intriguing insights into how this transformation takes place and what impact it has on the sword itself.

Spectators are just as curious to understand how the process of darkening enhances a swordsman, and if it could potentially boost both the sword’s overall power and efficiency. As of now, many queries related to this topic remain unanswered. These questions will be addressed once Zoro eventually darkens his first blade.

Which Sword Will Zoro Blacken First?

Zoro Could Blacken Sandai Kitetsu First

At the moment, Zoro is using three extremely potent swords. His most prized weapon is Wado Ichimonji, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords. Enma is of a similar rank and serves as his strongest sword. Lastly, there’s Sandai Kitetsu, the least powerful among all the blades he carries. Given their immense power, it seems reasonable to assume that Zoro will darken the blade of the weakest one first, saving the stronger enhancements for later. If the Sandai Kitetsu is indeed the first to be darkened, then Zoro would possess an incredibly powerful weapon.

Currently, fans are unsure about how significant an improvement a blade undergoes when it’s blackened. However, it’s possible that the Sandai Kitetsu may elevate to one of the 21 Great Grade Swords. If this occurs, all three of Zoro’s swords would be of equal grade, signifying an increase in his strength. Moreover, the blackening process might enable Zoro to manage Haki more effectively, reducing waste, which could enhance his ability to use the King of Hell style more efficiently and potentially make him even stronger than he is now.

Beyond this, darkening a sword implies that Zoro’s overall cutting power would significantly increase, allowing him to inflict even more lethal strikes. It’s hoped that the difficulties Elbaf presents will drive Zoro to his limits and cause one of his powerful swords to become darkened.

As a dedicated fan, I’m always excited to share that we can officially read One Piece for free on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps, courtesy of Viz Media. And here’s some fantastic news for fellow enthusiasts like me – the next chapter, One Piece 1131, is scheduled for release on November 11, 2024!

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2024-11-02 03:34