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The following article contains spoilers for One Piece.
Luffy has awakened Gear 5 inOne Piece, which is possibly the final transformation he may be able to awaken with his Devil Fruit. However, the introduction of this technique sparked heated debate among theOne Piecefandom. Additionally, while Gear 5 is overall stronger, Luffy still relies a lot on Gear 4 during battles.
Gear 4 also sparked some debate among fans when it was first introduced, but now many fans actually prefer it over Gear 5. In any case, how could Gear 4 be better than Gear 5?
What Are Luffy’s Gears in One Piece?
gear luff
Luffy has consumed the Gomu Gomu no Mi, a Devil Fruit that grants rubber properties to the user’s body (in fact, the real name of the Fruit is Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika). While there are many weaknesses in using the fruit (and it also requires knowing how to use it or at least getting used to it), it also grants many advantages and abilities to its users, especially since its effects are always activated, allowing them to perform many unique techniques.
The Gears are special techniques that allow the user to enhance their powers by taking advantage of the Fruit. For instance, Gear 2, the first Gear to be introduced in the series (as Gear 1 would be the normal powers given by the Fruit), was first featured in Chapter 387, during the Ennies Lobby Arc. Since then, three more Gears have been introduced (Gear 3, Gear 4, and Gear 5). Performing a new Gear requires a lot of training and breaking one’s own limits.
What’s the Difference Between Gear 4 and Gear 5?
With Gear 2, Luffy was able to be faster and become stronger. Gear 3 greatly enhances his powers by inflating a part of his body with air, turning it bigger and even stronger. But Gear 4 and Gear 5 are quite different from the previous ones, since they involve major changes in Luffy’s body (and, therefore, are considered transformations).
Gear 4 combines Gomu Gomu no Mi with Luffy’s Haki, vastly enhancing his power, defense, and speed. He developed this technique while training on Rusukaina and first used it in battle against Donquixote Doflamingo in chapter 784 (Dressrosa Arc). Similar to Gear 3, he inflates his body, but not any specific part; instead, he inflates his muscles and distributes the air through his body, generally with an emphasis on the upper part. However, he is briefly at a disadvantage while inflating his body.
Gear 5 is the awakened formof his Devil Fruit. According to Kaidou, awakening only happens when the user’s mind and body are on par with the Fruit’s powers. In this form, Luffy’s hair and eyebrows turn white with his clothes. Overall, his appearance becomes more “cartoonish.” This form increases his powers even more, and he can move freely. His heart also beats in a musical rhythm, almost as if it is following the beat of a drum. Its effects extend to those around him as he radiates joy, soothing, and freedom, having fun even with the toughest enemies. He first unleashes this form in the battle against Kaidou in the Wano arc, in Chapter 1044.
Is Gear 4 Actually Better than Gear 5?
In terms of power,Gear 5 grants Luffy even more powerthan Gear 4. However, Gear 4 is still a fan-favorite transformation, and Luffy still uses it often. Gear 5 consumes a lot of energy, soLuffy might prefer to use Gear 4 to save energy and stamina, even though the aftereffects of Gear 4 can sometimes be worse than Gear 5. Apparently, Luffy can use Gear 4 for a longer time than Gear 5.
I can do everything I wanted to do!! I think I can fight a bit longer… My heartbeat sounds so funny!! This is the pinnacle of what I can do!! This is… Gear 5!!!
— Luffy
This is similar to Goku preferring to transform into Super Saiyan 2 instead of Super Saiyan 3 because SSJ3 drains his powers quickly inDragon Ball. So, in many cases, especially if he is not sure how long it could take to beat his enemy, Luffy might prefer to use Gear 4 over Gear 5.
Why Do Some Fans Hate Gear 5?
Even though there was huge hype surrounding Gear 5’s transformation,many fans were disappointed by it, dubbing it “too cartoonish.” On the other hand, some fans loved the new design precisely because it was very different from expectations and also because Oda aimed to explain how the other Gears worked with this final transformation.
However, many fans felt that the revelation that Gomu Gomu no Mi is actually Hito Hito no Mi (which many consider a retcon) came out of nowhere, with few explanations that make sense looking back at the story. Additionally, some also feel thatOda hasn’t explained how awakening is achieved, while the other power-ups made more sense (for Gear 4, for example, Luffy had the two-year time skip to train). There are still heated debates about whether there was solid foreshadowing for Gear 5 or not.
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One Piece
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One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
