The Most Disappointing Devil Fruits That Fell Short of the Hype

Summary

Armament Haki weakened Logia Devil Fruits, diminishing once-established power levels.
Mane Mane no Mi is limited by transferrable combat skills and overshadowed by newer powers.
Fish-Men Devil Fruit users sacrifice their swimming ability, losing advantage in their natural habitat.

One Piece’s Devil Fruits remain an essential element. Eating these fruits bestows abilities on individuals but strips them of their ability to swim. Although Haki has taken over as the main measure of power, it’s correct that numerous Devil Fruits still signify a surge in strength.

While all Devil Fruits may appear the same, some of them are less powerful than they initially seemed due to storyline conventions. These fruits aren’t inherently poor or bad; it’s simply that their potential is less than anticipated.

1. Suna Suna no Mi

Weakened by Armament Haki and Excess Liquid Exposure

User(s): Crocodile (Formerly Mr. 0)
Classification: Logia

In essence, Armament Haki became a game-changer in the series by providing a means to physically oppose any Devil Fruit Logia ability, regardless of its intangibility. This development was probably essential as some characters were excessively strong with specialized yet limited vulnerabilities. However, this adjustment has made Logia users who already had weaknesses appear less potent than initially suggested before the introduction.

The most notable example is Crocodile, who once deemed himself “invincible” as long as he fights in a desert. Although he defeated Luffy twice due to him countering the pirate’s limited liquid resources, Luffy took him down when they clashed with a less extractable reservoir: his own blood, as he punched Crocodile with open wounds. Although Crocodile poisoned his bloodstream, Luffy managed to power through and finally end his reign of terror in Alabasta. Yet the existence of many failsafe Devil Fruit counters, such as the previously established seastone (largely used by the marines), and Armament Haki, which anyone can learn if they train enough, proves that the ability’s weaknesses are far less niche than once suspected. Yet when combined with the mere weakness of excess liquid (which is moderately inconsistent due to Crocodile’s liquid extraction powers), he is also a far less threatening foe than once established.

2. Mane Mane no Mi

No Transferrable Combat Skills and Better Powers Are Present

User(s): Bentham (Formerly Mr. 2 Bon Clay), Kurozumi Higurashi (Formerly)
Classification: Paramecia

The Devil Fruit grants its wielder the ability to take on the physical appearances of individuals they touch. Yet, it doesn’t replicate attributes like clothing, accessories, or equipment – only the body structure is duplicated. This skill is often employed by cunning actors for nefarious purposes, such as posing as a political figure to exploit their power. However, for Bentham, this ability had a downside; whenever he assumed another character’s form, they were unable to utilize his martial arts skills because they lacked the flexibility inherent in Bentham’s body.

As a fervent admirer of the Devil Fruits, let me express my excitement about the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Kybui no Kitsune! Unlike other fruits I’ve encountered, this one seems to shatter many of the traditional constraints. For instance, it grants an astonishingly precise ability to replicate individuals, even their outfits! However, since Catarina Devon, its current user from the Blackbeard Pirates, remains undefeated, we’re still in the dark about its potential weaknesses and boundaries.

At this moment, it certainly seems that the Inu Inu no Mi outshines the Mane Mane no Mi, potentially reducing the rarity of the power and making it appear less formidable compared to this newer Devil Fruit.

3. Mera Mera no Mi

Not So Hot Anymore

User(s): Sabo, Portgas D. Ace (Formerly)
Classification: Logia

The Mera Mera Fruit remains a formidable Devil Fruit due to its ability to manipulate fire, a destructive force that requires great responsibility. However, with the appearance of other fiery Devil Fruits, it seems less powerful compared to other similar abilities. The Magu Magu Fruit stands out as an example, as its user, Akainu, was able to unleash magma that overpowered the fire powers of the Mera Mera Fruit’s previous user, Ace, ultimately leading to his demise.

An illustrative case, although one that hasn’t directly clashed with any other heated devil fruits, is the Netsu Netsu no Mi consumed by Charlotte Oven from the Big Mom Pirates. This fruit grants the user control over heat and body temperature, enabling them to inflict harm even when touching seawater. However, it’s important to note that this ability may struggle against opponents with heat resistance, potentially making confrontations with the Mera Mera no Mi or Magu Magu no Mi more uncertain to predict.

4. Zou Zou no Mi

A Cowardly Devil Fruit Power

User(s): Funkfreed (Spandam’s Sword)
Classification: Zoan

Zoan Devil Fruits enable their consumers to transform into animal-like forms. However, it’s commonly noted that these fruits have a will of their own. This trait can surface during specific awakenings, when users may find themselves influenced or even dominated by the fruits they consumed. A recent development, known as inanimate object Zoans, demonstrates this further. Here, animals appear within non-living entities that consume these Zoans.

One example is Funkfreed, Spandam’s now living sword and his sole defense mechanism. Spandam is a timid and feeble character who ranks among the most despicable in the series and may very well be its weakest in terms of those involved in combat. However, this seemingly imposing sword can transform into a powerful elephant to engage enemies on its own. The issue lies in that this elephant is equally as timid, becoming physically restrained when it’s not too scared to face the danger itself. Although a stronger wielder could potentially suppress this innate cowardice and transform into something more formidable, Funkfreed makes the power of an elephant seem less impressive than it usually would be. Given that the apparent character of the Devil Fruit tied to the sword appears inflated by its own personality, it seems somewhat overrated.

5. Any Devil Fruit Eaten By A Fish-Man

Cancels Out Their Greatest Strength

User(s): Vander Decken IX, Jack, and Sasaki
Classification: Paramecia (Decken), and Ancient Zoan (Jack and Sasaki)

In the world of “One Piece,” there exist a unique species known as Fish-men, who share an ancestry with humans. Despite this connection, they are often ostracized due to their physical resemblance to fish, which grants them the ability to breathe underwater. On land, Fish-men exhibit greater strength than humans; however, their superiority becomes more pronounced in aquatic environments, where Fish-men gain power, while human abilities weaken.

Although swimming is much more crucial for fish-men compared to humans, Decken chose to relinquish this ability in exchange for the Devil Fruit known as Mato Mato no Mi. He refers to it as a curse, which grants him the power to tag people and objects by physically touching them. Once touched with the same hand, anything he subsequently touches will be magnetically attracted to the marked object. However, Decken needs a flutter kick coating just to move underwater.

It’s more puzzling that the Zou Zou no Mi, Model: Mammoth, consumed by Jack of the Beasts Pirates, and the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Triceratops, eaten by Sasaki of the same crew, have such unique abilities. These powers enable them to transform into a mammoth and triceratops respectively; however, they are unable to traverse their strongest terrains due to this transformation. This limitation seems to be a requirement for Kaido’s All-Zoan pirate crew. Interestingly, despite this restriction, Jack and Sasaki were defeated on land by opponents who hadn’t even consumed Devil Fruits initially, suggesting that the value of these specific fruits might not be as high as previously thought.

2025-02-20 13:35