Gear 4 is one of the strongest forms taken by Monkey D. Luffy so far in the One Piece series. This article explores when Luffy first uses Gear 4 and its subsequent appearances in the story.
First Appearance of Gear 4
Luffy first showed Gear 4 in a rather crucial battle against one of the antagonists of the Dressrosa Arc. In particular, he used it on Donquixote Doflamingo, otherwise referred to as the Heavenly Demon. This momentous event occurred in Episode 726 of the anime, titled "Gear 4! The Phenomenal Boundman!" .
Manga Debut
First off, to manga readers, Gear 4 was introduced first in Chapter 784. As has been aforementioned, the chapter is adapted into the exact above anime episode in proof of a consistent plot between the two medias.
Story Significance
Luffy's Gear 4 is quite the power-up introduction to mark his growth and increase in power to tackle ever increasingly powerful enemies. In Doflamingo's case, one of the Warlords of the Sea, Gear 4 happens to be that game-changing technique that lets Luffy overwhelm such a formidable opponent.
Variations of Gear 4
Gear 4 is actually not a single form but includes several variations which Luffy has developed and uses in different situations:
Boundman: The first and most obvious form of Gear 4, the strongest setting with a very powerful, bouncy attack.
Tankman: A defensive version that appeared later in the series.
Snakeman: A speed-based version which Luffy showed in later fights.
Other uses of Gear 4
Compared to its initial appearance against Doflamingo, Luffy later uses Gear 4 in other significant battles. He notably appears using it twice again during the Whole Cake Island Arc against Charlotte Katakuri. Luffy used the Boundman form against Katakuri, first in Chapter 884, then he introduced the Snakeman variation.
Impact on Luffy's Way of Fighting
Gear 4 significantly enhances Luffy's physical strength and speed. In this form, he is strong enough to fight the strongest characters in the One Piece world by having evoluated his rubber powers to their fullness. It fuses his rubber powers and Haki together into a mighty form of combat.
Development and Training
While the exact process of how Luffy developed Gear 4 is not shown, it is implied that he created this technique during his two-year training period with Rayleigh. He states that he needs to be "bouncier and stronger" to develop this form.
Limitations and Drawbacks
However, there are major drawbacks to Gear 4. It puts a giant amount of stress on Luffy's body and has a time limit. During the period after using Gear 4, Luffy generally is in a state where he can't use Haki, which leaves him vulnerable.