Warning: Spoilers for chapter #1129 of One PieceWith the last chapters, One piece has entered a new arc, bringing fresh journeys, characters and, as always, exciting power upgrades for the cast. The upgrades for the Straw Hats begin with their captain and protagonist, Monkey the Luffy. Ever since Gear 5’s debut in the manga, fans have been actively debating what Luffy’s next power upgrade might be.
Given the “freak” nature of Gear 5, some fans believed it could be Luffy’s final power boost, at least until his climactic battle in the final arc of the series. However, Eiichiro Oda subtly introduced a new upgrade for Luffy in the last arc, viz The protagonist can now access elements of Gear 4 without fully transforming into it. While it may not seem groundbreaking at first, it’s actually a massive power upgrade for him, which underscores that after awakening his Devil Fruit, Luffy gained additional beneficial side effects beyond just the Gear 5 transformation.
Luffy’s “Mini Gear Four” shows how far he has come since awakening his Devil Fruit
With “Mini Gear Four”, Luffy can fight more effectively
Luffy is first seen partially transforming into Gear 4 in One piece Chapter #1127. The nature of the attack sparked debate among fans, with many believing that Luffy and his crew may be hallucinating, especially since the chapter was riddled with perceived errors, leading some to speculate that even Luffy’s attack was a mistake. However, Chapter #1129 clears up the confusion, showing Luffy deliberately uses a Gear 4 attack while only transforming his handCall it “Mini Gear 4”. In this instance, Luffy unleashes the “Kong Gun,” a signature move from his Gear 4: Bounce Man form, without fully entering the transformation.
Ever since Luffy awakened his Devil Fruit, his earlier transformations took a backseat, receiving limited attention. With enemies growing stronger in each arc as highlighted by the appearance of the five elders with their animal forms, it is understandable that Luffy’s previous transformation may struggle to remain relevant. However, the earlier forms still serve a vital purpose, allowing Luffy to deal moderate to significant damage Against opponents that don’t justify Gear 5’s energy cost. The latest power upgrade not only preserves Luffy’s stamina but also shows a smart evolution in his abilities, making it both practical and ingenious.
Luffy’s mastery of his powers takes away their main obstacle
Energy consumption is no longer an issue for Gear 4
Luffy’s transformation, regardless of the form, always come with significant side effects. After using them, he is drained of energy, and in some cases, he is unable to move. This obstacle was a major obstacle during his battle with the former Warlord of the Sea, Donquixote Doflamingo, highlighting the ineffectiveness of the transformation against stronger enemies. However, with his latest power upgrade, Luffy can now channel Gear 4’s properties into specific parts of his body as needed, as shown in the last chapter.
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This will allow Luffy to consume less energy and stamina to use major attacks, effectively using the conserved energy in his Gear 5 transformation. One piece Giving Luffy mastery of his previous transformation feels like a natural evolution for the character and makes him (and the series) less reliant on Gear 5. This demonstrates that Luffy’s recent power upgrade in One piece is significant and highlights just how much he has grown since awakening his devil fruit.