Haki is stated by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece's creator, to be something that would define a character's strength and abilities in the world of One Piece. Out of all the possible types of Haki, Conqueror's Haki is the rarest and highest form. This article looks at Monkey D. Luffy's history with Conqueror's Haki, how he awakens it, and how it fits into his battles.
Haki Explained
Haki refers to an undetermined power in the One Piece world, one that makes it possible for one to express his spirit energy to gain superhuman abilities. It is derived from the spirit and can be used to observe others, execute various extrasensory perceptions, and exert one's will on others. There are three major types of Haki: Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's. All of them have different properties and applications in combat and regular life.
Conqueror's Haki: The Rarest Form
Conqueror's Haki is the rarest form of Haki, possessed only by one in several million people. This often corresponds to people who have qualities to be a king or a leader. As such, the form of Haki allows users to exert their will on others; it might even knock people with weak willpower unconscious. The ability to use Conqueror's Haki is often regarded as that which lets one see potential for standing at the very top of the world.
Luffy's Conqueror's Haki Awakening
The first unconscious use of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki was during the Marineford arc, where he unknowingly saved Ace from execution. However, the actual awakening and conscious use was much later. There wasn't a single moment for the actual awakening of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki; rather, it was more along the lines of gradual control and understanding of this power. With all of these powers, it gives a reflection of the growth Luffy has been undergoing as a character and towards his dream of being the Pirate King.
Characteristics of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki
The Conqueror's Haki of Luffy is characterized by its extraordinary might and its impact on a large number of people. While activated, it becomes invisible, formless energy that can overwhelm opponents and physically change the environment around them. Probably one of the most impressive things about Luffy's Conqueror's Haki is the aspect whereby it infuses his targets with a sense of absolute intimidation, a trait that may disadvantage their abilities. As Luffy continues to learn control over this power, he will one day be able to target only certain people and not affect allies or friends. An extreme instance of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki is the effect it has on the environment around him, such as splitting the sky.
Advanced Applications of Conqueror's Haki
With enhanced control over Conqueror's Haki, Luffy manages to come up with higher applications. The most noted development in this regard is being able to infuse his physical attacks with Conqueror's Haki, greatly increasing their power and letting him damage enemies that were previously immune to his attacks. Another advanced application can be shown in the clash of Conquerors, which involves spectacular visual effects usually represented as the splitting of the sky wherein two users of Conqueror's Haki collide. This has been shown in some of Luffy's fights with other powerful Conqueror's Haki users.
Conqueror Haki of Luffy in Major Battles
The awakening and development of Luffy's Conqueror's Haki are major factors in many of his major fights. During the fight against Doflamingo, it was Luffy's use of Conqueror's Haki that enabled him to go beyond the powers of Doflamingo's String-String Fruit. On Whole Cake Island, his Conqueror's Haki clashed with Big Mom's, an indication of the growth in his power. Probably the biggest showcase for Luffy's Conqueror's Haki would be in his fight against Kaido. This highly advanced application of the power allowed Luffy to exchange blows on equal terms with Kaido, who has the reputation for being the strongest living creature in the One Piece world.
Comparison to Other Conqueror's Haki Users
While Luffy's Conqueror's Haki is very powerful, he isn't the only person in One Piece who can do this. Other noted users are Shanks, one of the Four Emperors and a mastery user of Conqueror's Haki; Silvers Rayleigh, who mentored Luffy in the understanding and development of his Haki abilities; and Charlotte Linlin, more famously known as Big Mom, an Emperor boasting incredible Conqueror's Haki. There has been debate by fans on exactly where Luffy would stand among Conqueror's Haki users, often standing among the strongest in the series.
Significance to Luffy's Character Development
Awakening and mastering Conqueror's Haki is a very monumental moment for Luffy's character. That kind of power does not only enhance his fighting potential but also serves as a token to Luffy's growth as a leader and his being a prospective Pirate King. On the other hand, because of how few people really have this ability, and Luffy having mastered it, definitely makes him one of the strongest pirates in the world of One Piece. The more Luffy tries to raise his Conqueror's Haki, the more obvious it becomes that this power is key to his way to the ultimate goal.
Luffy's Conqueror's Haki is evidence of his extraordinary will and his ordained fate to be one of the main characters of the One Piece universe. From its accidental awakening at the beginning to high-level uses during large-scale fights, this ability has been an essential ingredient in Luffy's character development and progress toward his final goal. Fans continue to further development on Luffy's skills in this rare and powerful ability as the series unfolds, finding it to play a critical part in Luffy's future confrontations and effort to be the Pirate King.