One Piece May Have Peaked With Gear Five's Debut, But Luffy Was Always a Badass
Luffy's Gear Five transformation in One Piece is undeniably one of the most iconic elements ever introduced in the manga and anime industry. It literally marks a revolutionary moment in the series, signaling the dawn of a new era. What makes Gear Five even more special is Eiichiro Oda’s masterful approach, infusing the transformation with exaggerated, cartoonish elements that set it apart from the typically serious transformations seen in the shōnen series.
Despite its brilliance and Oda's effort to create something truly iconic, Luffy was already an established symbol of greatness and individuality. Throughout previous arcs, he consistently embodied a distinct trait that fans deeply admired. However, with the arrival of Gear Five, the series, while reaching new heights, inadvertently overshadowed this defining trait, diluting Luffy’s uniqueness.
Luffy's Devil Fruit Power Proved He Was A Badass Before Gear Five
The Devil Fruit Showed Luffy's Resourcefulness & Ingenuity
From the outset of One Piece, it’s clear that Luffy isn’t a serious person and he simply follows his heart. For his comrades and friends, he’s willing to take on anyone without fear, and through sheer willpower, he has brought down formidable enemies who initially seemed impossible to defeat. What truly makes Luffy a badass and a genius, however, is his mastery of his Devil Fruit power. Given that his fruit seemingly does nothing but stretch his body like rubber, it’s hard to imagine him as a serious and powerful fighter.
Yet, Luffy continues to use what appears to be a weak Devil Fruit with incredible efficiency, defeating enemies and overcoming obstacles. One of his earliest major challenges was against Crocodile, whose sand-based abilities initially overpowered him. With Crocodile completely dominating the fight, it was difficult to see how Luffy could prevail. However, his ingenuity shone through when he stored water in his rubbery body to counteract Crocodile’s sand, proving his resourcefulness in battle.
Another defining moment that highlights Luffy’s uniqueness is his match-up against God Eneru. This fight showcased yet another quirky aspect of his individuality. While Luffy’s Gear transformations, aside from Gear Five, underscore his strategic approach to combat, using the most efficient methods to fight and protect, they also emphasize his ability to overpower enemies through sheer will. With the sudden introduction of Gear Five, however, Luffy’s old iconic traits, especially his "Chosen One" narrative, end up being overshadowed.
Though Gear Five Is Peak, It Breaks Luffy's Not Being a Chosen One Trope
The Transformation Makes Luffy Overpowered
With Luffy being handed a quirky ability, One Piece never initially implied that he was the "Chosen One" in the series' narrative. However, after the time skip, the story begins to hint at this idea, and with Luffy's Gear Five transformation, it becomes evident that all the elements introduced post-time skip were designed to push him down that path.
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While there is nothing inherently wrong with Luffy following the "Chosen One" trope, especially since Gear Five is a uniquely unconventional transformation that breaks away from typical shōnen power-ups, the issue lies in how overpowered and broken it is. With Gear Five’s immeasurable strength and quirkiness, it becomes difficult to imagine One Piece once again portraying Luffy overcoming his enemies through sheer willpower, the very trait that made him a badass and endeared him to fans.
- Created by
- Eiichiro Oda
- First Film
- One Piece: The Movie
- First TV Show
- One Piece
- Cast
- Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Ôtani, Yuriko Yamaguchi
- Video Game(s)
- One Piece: Unlimited World Red, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, One Piece: World Seeker, One Piece Odyssey
- Character(s)
- Monkey D. Luffy, Roronora Zoro, Nami (One Piece), Nico Robin, Usopp (One Piece), Vinsmoke Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Franky (One Piece), Jimbei (One Piece)
