Hold your straw hats, One Piece fans, because we’re diving into the depths of Monkey D. Luffy’s evolving powers. The kid who gulped down the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit is no longer just about elastic punches. With the recent revelation of his Gear Fifth and the myth-shattering Hito Hito no Mi, the question begs: When did we first see Luffy gear up? Let’s set sail and find out.
First Stop: Gear Second
Luffy cranked up to Gear Second for the first time in Episode 272, “Luffy is in Sight! Gather at the Courthouse Plaza.”
This 2006 episode gave us a Luffy on steroids—except it’s not doping; it’s high-octane, rubberized adrenaline. Luffy uses the elasticity of his organs and blood vessels to supercharge his body. It’s like the Flash, but made of rubber, and possibly hungrier.
Shifting into Gear Third
Fast forward to Episode 288, and you’ll catch Luffy inflating his arm like a carnival balloon. But this isn’t a circus act; it’s Gear Third, and Luffy’s just swapped out agility for raw power.
This technique turned Luffy into a one-man wrecking crew, swinging sledgehammer fists with the force of a freight train.
Luffy's full of meat and ready to take on Kaido! pic.twitter.com/2R1510k3yF
— One Piece (@OnePieceAnime) December 24, 2022
Riding High with Gear Fourth
It took another 438 episodes, but Luffy finally revealed Gear Fourth in the seminal Episode 726, “Gear 4! The Phenomenal Boundman!”
This time, Luffy fused the power of Haki with his Gomu Gomu abilities, creating an inflated, rubberized behemoth. Yet, as mighty as Gear Fourth is, it’s also a double-edged sword, draining Luffy’s stamina to dangerous lows.
The Grand Entrance: Gear Fifth
Just when you thought Luffy was down and out, along came Gear Fifth in the nail-biting Episode 1071, “Luffy’s Peak – Attained! Gear 5.”
After more than two decades, Luffy finally mastered the true potential of his Devil Fruit, which is not the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but the divine Hito Hito no Mi. The result? A near-invulnerable Luffy who made Kaido’s dragon form look like a children’s toy. Imagine the Hulk using Spider-Man as a jump rope; that’s how absurdly powerful Luffy has become.
Epilogue: The Road to the Pirate King
Luffy has come a long way since gulping down that fabled Devil Fruit. From being a rubber man with dreams of becoming the Pirate King to literally embodying invincibility, Luffy’s journey is as epic as they come. With Gear Fifth in his arsenal, who can even argue that Luffy’s not on the fast track to becoming the Pirate King? All we can do now is tune in, because the One Piece treasure isn’t going to find itself.
