Yamato stood as one of the Wano Arc’s strongest characters. Just how strong is Kaido’s heir?
The following contains spoilers for the “Wano Arc” in the One Piece maga and anime adaptation.Manga readers can only look back at the Wano Arc at this point, but the anime is still heating up with the decisive fight between Kaido and Luffy just started. One Piece is famous for its great variety of characters and the never-ending imagination when it comes to introduce new Devil Fruits with all kind of powers.
In the Wano Arc fans had a chance to see this into action with a good number of exciting powers, especially from the Zoan type. Within that selected group, perhaps the one that caught the eye the most was the Yamato’s, powerful enough to clash against his father and Yonko, Kaido.
Yamato’s Story
Sometimes in the One Piece world, the things that drive the characters are more important than their natural powers or abilities. Born as “the strongest man alive” daughter is certainly a guarantee of an otherworldly physical prowess. Nonetheless, it also means Yamato had to endure the abusive behavior of Kaido for his entire life. Kaido’s intentions from the very beginning were to make Yamato his heir. But imprisoning Yamato and executing the people that fed him wasn’t exactly a great idea.
Yamato witnessed Oden’s heroic acts during his execution and developed a profound admiration for him. For that very reason, after his death Yamato decided to become Oden, impersonating him in a number of ways and becoming a man. His constant tantrums and attacks in the name of Oden were the reason behind his incarceration. Yamato found Oden’s journal and wanted to make his wishes come true, but his situation wasn’t idyllic. Even after the time as prisoner finished, he remained a hostage with explosive handcuffs which would go off in any attempt to leave the island.
Years later, he encountered Potgas D. Ace when he was still the captain of the Spade Pirates. He was in Onigashima for a while, and at first, fought with Yamato. Not long after they became friends, talked about Luffy and the current era of pirates, and left a Vivre Card, so they could meet again. He would have joined the Spade Pirates then if it wasn’t for the handcuffs. Yamato’s past and personality made him a vastly powerful ally during the Straw Hat invasion of Onigashima.
The Inu Inu no Mi
Similarly to Luffy, Yamato ate the Inu Inu no Mi by accident trying to mitigate hunger. It wasn’t in Kaidou’s plans for him to eat one of the rarest and strongest zoan type fruits. This fruit allows the user to transform into a hybrid or full form ancient wolf deity. Specifically, as mentioned by Kaido it’s the “Guardian Deity of Wano”. As the country of Wano is inspired by Japan, this deity is also based on the Japanese gray wolf, an extinct species, and its ancient deity Ōguchi-no-Makami.
The power granted from this fruit goes beyond claws and fangs. As any other mythical zoan Devil Fruit, the Inu Inu no Mi comes with an elemental attack. It allows the user to generate ice which can be expelled as a blast from their mouth, or make them appear from their body in any shape unimaginable. The ice can be used without the need to transform into the full or hybrid wolf form.
Sheer Strength
Another feature of a mythical zoan type is the increased strength and general boost of physical abilities. In Yamato’s case, that wouldn’t make much difference. At this point in time, there have been plenty of opportunities to see him in action, both in the manga and the anime. He fought Ace, a logia user in equal ground to point Ace had to give up and recognize his immense power, after none of them was able to completely knock out the other.
During the Onigashima war, he stopped multiple attacks from Luffy like it was nothing and more importantly, delighted the fans with and amazing display against none other than an Emperor of the Sea and the peak of physical prowess, Kaido. Precisely thanks to Kaido being his father, Yamato has the strength to wield a kanabo club (named Takeru), the family’s favorite weapon. Same as Kaido, he also has a tremendous durability although not at the same level of his father. To compensate he is shown to have lightning speed, even as fast as Kaido in his hybrid form, if not faster.
Skilled Haki User
Nonetheless, with the power-levels entailed in the story, things as simple as being strong and fast aren’t enough. That’s why Yamato also controls the three types of Haki. As shown in flashbacks of his childhood, Yamato developed the Conqueror’s Haki very early on. In the present time, he can infuse Conqueror’s Haki in his attacks at the same level Kaido or Luffy are able to do it.
The Armament Haki doesn’t fall behind. Capable of fighting and hurting a Logia type in Ace, and strong enough to hurt Kaido with his attacks. Infusing it in his Takeru just like the Conqueror’s Haki it produces a fearful Raimei Hakke, one of the most powerful attacks in all of One Piece. Furthermore, his Observation Haki allowed him to sense Luffy’s and Momonosuke’s presence multiple times, as well as Shanks’ Conqueror’s Haki from afar. What an insane addition would he be if he eventually decides to join the Straw Hat crew.
