Going Over Luffy’s Gears in One Piece

Episode 1,071 of One Piece saw Luffy awaken the Gomu Gomu no Mi and achieve Gear 5. Throughout One Piece, Luffy has achieved various stages of ultimate power, known as Gears, which aid him in particularly grueling fights. Considering we’ve passed the 1,000 episode mark, it’s surreal to think that he achieved Gear 2 all the way back in Episode 272.

Since then, during the toughest of battles, Luffy reached new ones steadily. Several forms later, he’s had a taste of god-like power from Gear 5. We’re expecting him to reach Gear 6 in the future, if it even exists, as he continues to master the properties of his Devil Fruit. But for now, let’s look back at all of Luffy’s Gears to date.

Image via Toei Animation

Luffy Gear 2

If we consider the base form to be “Gear 1” for the sake of consistency, Gear 2 is an upgraded version of his set abilities. It requires Luffy to speed up the blood flow in all or some body parts, which provides them with more oxygen and nutrients, allowing him to move with greater speed and agility. After prolonged use of it, Luffy is physically exhausted and often famished. Although Luffy’s fight against Blueno commences in Episode 270, it isn’t until two episodes later that he unlocks Gear 2. We see it in action in Episode 273, “All for the Sake of Protecting My Friends! Gear 2 in Motion!”

Image via Toei Animation

Luffy Gear 3

Another transformation technique, Gear 3 harnesses the power of the Gomu Gomu no Mi to allow him to inflate his body parts, thus enhancing their strength. It was hinted at during the climax of Luffy and Blueno’s fight, then used to break down a steel door in Enies Lobby (off-screen), and finally set in motion during his fight against Rob Lucci in Episode 288, “Fukurou’s Miscalculation! My Cola is the Water of Life!” In order to initiate it, Luffy makes a small opening in his thumb joint and blows into his bones, inflating his arm to the size of a giant’s. Luffy typically traps the air inside his torso, ready to be redistributed to whichever limb needs extra strength.

Image via Toei Animation

Luffy Gear 4

Gear 4 is achieved by combining the Gomu Gomu no Mi and Busoshoku Haki, a technique which commands spiritual energy to create an armor of sorts around oneself. Generally speaking, it enhances Luffy’s speed, durability, and defense beyond his usual capabilities. This form was developed by Luffy during his training on Rusukaina and was fully unleashed during his battle against Donquixote Doflamingo. This Gear works similarly to Gear 3 in that Luffy inflates his limbs, but more specifically his arms, after coating them in Busoshoku Haki. This concentrates all of the air into Luffy’s upper torso, while the Busoshoku Haki hardens his muscles to deliver a powerful punch and/or kick.

Image via Toei Animation

Luffy Gear 5

Achieved in episode 1,071, Luffy’s Gear 5 is his strongest form to date. It is the awakened form of the Gomu Gomu no Mi that strengthens Luffy’s rubber body beyond comprehension, allowing him to use whatever fighting technique he so pleases. Using Gear 5 does come with an increased risk of the innate nature of the Sun God Nika consuming Luffy’s mind and destroying his sense of self — almost like a bad power trip. Although we don’t see Gear 5 in the anime until Episode 1,071, it made its animated debut as a brief cameo during the climax of One Piece Film: Red, coincidentally one year prior to its official anime appearance.

We have yet to see Luffy unlock Gear 6, if that’s even possible, but there’s still plenty of time left for him to discover the most powerful version of himself.

One Piece is streaming on Crunchyroll, and the manga is available via Viz Media.