Summary
Since Luffy can twist and contort his body in any way he can imagine thanks to his Devil Fruit, it means he can get extra creative when assuminga new formthat enhances his strength and durability in a fight. It’s always a huge moment in the anime and manga community when Luffy unleashes a brand-new form. But while it’s easy to initially focus on their strength and new abilities, their designs also go a long way in making these transformations memorable and unique.
Author Eiichiro Oda has cooked up some incredible designs for Luffy’s many forms throughout theOne Piecestory. They all differ in terms of overall detail and quality, with some being much bigger stand-outs than others. With Gear 5 now being a permanent addition to Luffy’s arsenal of power ups, it only seems fitting to reflect on each of these forms from a strictly visual point of view, to see where Luffy looks his best.
7Nightmare Luffy
A Cartoonishly Monstrous Look That Only Shows Up For One Fight
Nightmare Luffy is a form that only showed up once during the protagonist’s intense battle with Gecko Moria — a formidable, albeit lazy, member ofthe Shichibukai. In order to bulk up enough to take on Moria’s submissive giant known as Orz Jr., Luffy absorbs hundreds of shadows. His entire body grows to cartoonish proportions and his skin turns blue to reference the classic monster Frankenstein.
It does feel as though Oda could have packed in even more horror references into this design, but it’s still a unique look for Luffy. It’s genuinely menacing due to its size, along with the mean scowl that never leaves Luffy’s face. The addition of the sword on Luffy’s back is a nice touch, along with the strap stretching across his chest, making him look like a true undead adventurer.
6Gear 3
A Basic, But Memorable Form Where Luffy Displays His Creativity
When Luffy begins blowing into his finger, that’s an immediate sign that the opponent should start preparing an escape plan, as this is the signal that he’s about to unleash the devastating Gear 3. Gear 3 is incredibly strong, and can deal serious damage tothe likes of Rob Lucci. But from a visual perspective, Oda decided to keep this form nice and simple.
Blowing Luffy’s hand up to such a staggering size is a fun way to show the potential of his rubber body. It also demonstrates his creativity in being able to conjure up such an experimental form that can get the job done without being too flashy or over the top.
5Gear 4 Tank Form
This Hilarious But Formidable Tank Form Bolsters Luffy’s Defenses
Luffy experimented with his Gear 4 mode so much that he was eventually able to separate it into several sub-forms, one of which being hisdefensive Tank form. When activating this technique, Luffy expands until he becomes a giant round ball of rubber. The addition of the red flames of Haki reaching up his body makes him look more like a fiery ball of rage, making for an odd but interesting design.
Many fans also appreciate this form as one of the few that shows off Luffy’s goofier side, letting him act a little more lighthearted while still emphasizing his underlying power. Luffy may not throw this form out much these days, but it still blew people away when it first showed up against Cracker.
4Gear 2
Luffy’s First Real Power Up Brought Small But Effective Visual Additions
While Gear 2 doesn’t change Luffy’s appearance all too much, the small additions that are added, like Luffy’s boiling red skin and the steam emanating from his body, perfectly representthis pirate’s immense strength, even at this early point in the story. When assuming this form, Luffy always has a deadly serious look on his face, adding to the intimidation factor. This is one of the many reasons it has become such an iconic transformation.
The steam rising from Luffy’s body in Gear 2 is a subtle but simple way to emphasize Luffy’s bubbling power rising to the surface, invoking fear in the eyes of anyone unlucky enough to stand against him.
3Gear 4 Boundman
Packed Full Of Cool Details
When Luffy was pushed to his limit against the terrifying Shichibukai known as Doflamingo, he revealed his long awaited Gear 4; specifically, his Boundman form. This form took every fan by surprise with not only its strength, but also its design. With his bulked up arms covered in black and red Haki, and his chest widening with a red fiery pattern at his collar, Luffy looks epic in this form.
This wasn’t the only time Luffy used Boundman in the story, which makes sense considering how much it bolsters his overall speed, allowing him to run circles around even the toughest of opponents. From a design perspective, it’s one of Luffy’s best, and arguably the most recognizable of all his transformations.
2Gear 4 Snakeman
Combines Strength With Speed, Resulting In An Epic Design
If Luffy is looking to add a little more speed and accuracy to his attacks, he can assume Snakeman. This form sees him slim down while still retaining the tremendous strength offered by Bounce Man. As a result, his arms are still covered in deep red Haki, but one noticeable change is Luffy’s hair, which begins floating in the air, showing how light and nimble he has become.
Gear 4 Snakeman feels like the most god-like Luffy ever looked before reaching Gear 5. The reveal is considered one of the most iconic moments of thepost-timeskipsection of the story. It’s an incredible design that does a good job at making Luffy look intimidating, so much so that even Katakuri was taken aback.
1Gear 5
Changes Just Enough About Luffy’s Appearance While Retaining Core Features
The hotly anticipated Gear 5 didn’t disappoint when it first arrived during Luffy’s final encounter with the dangerous Kaido. Viewers got to see a streamlined yet creative design which feeds into Luffy’s goofy and fun-loving personality. With Luffy’s hair turning clear white and taking the shape of puffy clouds, along with the white circular shape surrounding his body, it presents the protagonist as some kind of otherwordly deity whooozes omnipotence.
While Luffy’s appearance goes through quite an overhaul, he still retains some of his key features to remind fans that it’s him still at the core of the transformation — especially the cheesy smile, which is even wider than normal. There’s no doubt that, despite being introduced so far in the story, Gear 5 will always be remembered as one of the most visually interesting and creative designs in the series.
