Haki will always be a special ability needed to survive the Grand Line. This article delves into the intricacies of haki.

One Piece is known for its extraordinary worldbuilding, political structures and power systems. Most of One Piece’s story takes place on the great sea of Oda’s fictional world. The epic tale focuses on the Straw Hats who venture on many islands and adventure on the sea– the first half of the grand line, Paradise, and the second half, the New World, wreaking havoc on their way.

In the new world, Eiichiro Oda explores the intricate power system of Haki. The first time Oda demonstrated haki in East Blue was when Red Hair Shanks rescued Luffy from the sea monster. Consequently, Oda revealed the forms of Haki and their relevance as the series progresses.

What is Haki?

Haki is the unique special ability embedded within characters in One Piece. It depicts a character’s strong will that can be strengthened through rigorous training. On the Straw Hat’s first visit to Sabaody, they encountered a power beyond them; one which can most likely be broken through with haki. There is a huge power disparity between the straw hats and their adversaries—Kizaru, Sentomaru, and Pacifistas— at Sabaody. It becomes apparent that they can’t survive in the new world without a power upgrade. Hence, the two years times keep.

In the world of One Piece, this powerful ability has levels, and the potency is determined by how well the characters have sharpened their mind. It is another intriguing prowess in One Piece, unlike the devil fruit. Also, non-devil fruit users could enhance and use the power of Haki with enough training.

Observation Haki

This could be the simplest form of our key in one Piece. However, its potency and advancement depend on how well users enhance their abilities. So far in One Piece, Kantakuri of Whole Cake Island has the strongest observation haki. His sensory abilities have been enhanced, allowing him to predict the future before it occurs. He foresaw an assassination attempt on Big Mom and stopped it.

Characters such as Sanji, Luffy, and Zoro could also read enemies’ attacks, but not in such a way that they could predict an event before it happened.There is a probability Usopp has the observation haki, a theory that has yet to be accentuated by Oda. In the Dressarosa arc, Usopp launched a long-range attack that could only be utilised by an observation haki.

Armament Haki

This is one of the many problems of the Straw Hats before the 2 years time skip. The logia types are untouchable without the use of the armaments haki. It is a special effect that hardens the body and has the potential to cause significant damage to both logia and armament users. The ability develops armour for the user; an instance is Vergo’s full body armour. Coupled with the effectiveness and defensive mechanism, it allows its enhancers to imbue weapons with haki like Zoro does with his katana. An example is Luffy’s first fight against Crocodile, a battle he won not because of his gomu gomu attack punches but Crocodile’s weakness.

The highest level of armament haki advancement damages an opponent’s body without touching it. Furthermore, armament haki advancement necessitates a skilled user who has undergone rigorous training and is familiar with life on the Grand Line. It is the highest level of haki Luffy’s attempts to master in Udon prison under Hyogoro’s tutelage. As a result, this level of armament haki allows haki to flow from the user to the opponent without any form of contact. A skilled user could infiltrate Kaido’s tough dragon skin and Big Moms with the high-level armament haki.

Conqueror’s Haki

This is the ultimate form of haki, also known as the colour of the supreme king. This haki makes the weak lose their strength and willpower to fight while the weaker ones are knocked out. The conqueror’s haki cannot be learned or exerted through any form of training whatsoever. It is an innate and rare type of power bestowed upon a select few characters in One Piece. It has the power to subdue people and break their will to fight. Luffy first activated the conqueror’s haki in his fight against Iron Mask Duval in episode 389. Still, the extent of the power was yet to be fully displayed until the Marineford arc.

Also, the conqueror’s haki has an advanced level of mastery. Its in-depth knowledge will enable users to transcend beyond their physical abilities by making the haki a part of them. In Oden’s backstory, Gol D. Roger versus Whitebeard displayed the advanced level of the conqueror’s haki.

Why Is Haki So Important?

In the Grand Line, the straw hat crew won almost all their fights despite numerous setbacks. Since they defeated a sea warlord no other newbie could ever face, these small victories fueled their desire to explore the New World with their ‘virgin brain.’ However, the appearance of formidable foes in Sabaody Archipelago demonstrated that they couldn’t compete with the bigger fish. The straw hats had been riding their luck, even upsetting the Navy at Enies Lobby, but it all ended at Sebaody. The crew trained for two years apart to prepare for the challenges of the New World.

Paradise is a much softer area of the Grand Line, but the New World is more dangerous than the straw hats have grown accustomed to. The New World is ruled by legendary pirates known as the emperors of the sea. Haki is undoubtedly one of the most critical abilities that anyone hoping to survive in the New World must possess. Even in the first half of the Grand Line, it is recommended, but it is a necessity in the dangerous waters of the New World. The revered emperor, Red Hair Shanks, is a perfect example of a formidable man with monstrous command of the haki but no devil fruits. Devil fruits in this part are pure ancillary; the main force is the skilful mastery of haki.

Src: gamerant.com