With the latest chapters, One Piece has entered a new arc, bringing fresh journeys, characters, and, as always, exciting power upgrades for the cast. The upgrades for the Straw Hats begin with their captain and protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy. Since Gear 5’s debut in the manga, fans have been actively debating what Luffy’s next power upgrade might be.

Given the “godly” nature of Gear 5, some fans believed it could be Luffy’s final power boost, at least until his climactic battle in the series’ final arc. However, Eiichiro Oda has subtly introduced a new upgrade for Luffy in the latest arc, as the protagonist can now access elements of Gear 4 without fully transforming into it. While it may not seem groundbreaking at first, it is actually a massive power upgrade for him, which underscores that after awakening his Devil Fruit, Luffy has gained additional beneficial side effects beyond just the Gear 5 transformation.

Luffy’s “Mini Gear Four” Shows How Far He Has Come Since Awakening His Devil Fruit

Using “Mini Gear Four”, Luffy Can Fight More Efficiently

Luffy is first seen partially transforming into Gear 4 in One Piece Chapter #1127. The nature of this attack sparked debate among fans, with many believing that Luffy and his crew might be hallucinating, especially since the chapter was riddled with noticeable errors, leading some to speculate that even Luffy’s attack was a mistake. However, Chapter #1129 clears up the confusion, showing Luffy deliberately using a Gear 4 attack while only transforming his hand, calling it “mini Gear 4”. In this instance, Luffy unleashes the “Kong Gun,” a signature move from his Gear 4: Bounce Man form, without fully entering the transformation.

Since Luffy awakened his Devil Fruit, his earlier transformations have taken a back seat, receiving limited attention. With enemies growing stronger in every arc as highlighted by the appearance of the Five Elders with their beastly forms, it’s understandable that Luffy’s previous transformations might struggle to remain relevant. However, these earlier forms still serve a vital purpose, allowing Luffy to deal moderate to significant damage against opponents who don’t warrant the energy cost of Gear 5. This latest power upgrade not only preserves Luffy’s stamina but also showcases a clever evolution in his abilities, making it both practical and ingenious.

Luffy’s Mastery of His Powers Takes Away Their Main Drawback

Energy Consumption Is no Longer an Issue For Gear 4

Luffy’s transformations, regardless of the form, always come with significant side effects. After using them, he becomes drained of energy, and in some cases, he’s left unable to move. This drawback proved to be a major obstacle during his battle with the former Warlord of the Sea, Donquixote Doflamingo, highlighting the inefficiency of these transformations against stronger enemies. However, with his latest power upgrade, Luffy can now channel the properties of Gear 4 into specific parts of his body as needed, as shown in the latest chapter.

This will allow Luffy to consume less energy and stamina to use major attacks, effectively using the preserved energy in his Gear 5 transformation. One Piece giving Luffy mastery of his previous transformation feels like a natural evolution for the character and makes him (and the series) less reliant on Gear 5. This demonstrates that Luffy’s latest power upgrade in One Piece is significant and highlights just how much he has grown since awakening his Devil Fruit.