One Piece: Is Luffy's Gear 5 More Iconic Than Goku's Super Saiyan? (2024)

2023 has been an excellent year for One Piece fans. They have had the pleasure of watching the best-animated arc in the anime, along with an absolutely enthralling first arc of the Final Saga. On top of that, they got to enjoy the first season of One Piece live-action. Despite the doubts that many people had regarding the live-action, it was a massive hit. It managed to become the most-watched show on Netflix in over 80 countries, breaking the record previously held by Wednesday.

While there is no denying the success of the live-action, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the anime is currently the best out of the three. Every single fight in the Wano Country arc has been animated in an outstanding manner. Due to this reason, it is almost impossible to choose a favorite. However, the majority of fans believe that Luffy's final battle with Kaido is the best. The young pirate clashed against the Yonko several times and improved after defeat. At one point, Luffy readied his final attack to knock down Kaido, but it proved to be an open invitation for the Yonko to land a critical strike. This was mainly due to the interference of Guernica, a CP0 agent whose aim was to get rid of Luffy. Kaido was not pleased with his interference, so he punished the assassin for it. However, the lethal blow that should have killed Luffy turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it allowed him to awaken Gear 5th.

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The Transformation

From the very beginning of the story, everyone was under the impression that Luffy's Devil Fruit belonged to the Paramecia class. But, in the Wano Country Arc, it was revealed that it was actually a Mythical Zoan-type devil fruit that boosted his physical abilities. The real name of the Devil Fruit was also revealed. After years, it was confirmed that the Gomu Gomu no Mi is in fact the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

According to legend, Nika was the Sun God and he was also considered the "Warrior of Liberation." He would bring smiles to the faces of the people who were troubled. This transformation was introduced at the right time, as the people of Wano were also suffering and had forgotten what it meant to be happy ever since Kaido came to their country.

When Luffy was knocked out by Kaido, many characters assumed that the worst had happened. This was signified by the Drums of Liberation. Zunesha stated that the sound reminded him of the Joyboy, and it claimed that the legendary figure had indeed returned. When Luffy awakened, he did so in great fashion. He looked completely different. His hair and clothes became white, and his powers were amplified to a great degree.

As Luffy was unconscious, it allowed the Devil Fruit's will to take over. Oda has confirmed that Zoan-type Devil Fruits have a will of their own which is why it is dangerous to use their awakening. For Luffy, it meant a new power and more freedom over his abilities. Needless to say, it was the most iconic anime transformation of the year, and naturally, it drew comparisons to the other famous forms. One of them was Goku's Super Saiyan transformation.

The Greatest?

Almost every anime fan knows about Goku, the martial artist who loves to fight. He is a member of the Saiyan race, which is known for its fighting spirit. Over the years, Goku has mastered different abilities, making him one of the strongest anime characters of all time. However, none of his other forms have had quite the same level of impact as the Super Saiyan transformation.

Goku unlocked it while fighting Frieza. The hero had his back against the wall, and all hope looked lost. Goku has just witnessed Frieza kill his best friend, Krillin. He was fueled by rage, which brought forth this incredible form known as Super Saiyan. This particular transformation represented Goku's anger and desperation to get rid of Frieza. For years, Goku's Super Saiyan transformation has been the standard. But has Luffy's Gear 5th transformation supplanted it?

While the Super Saiyan transformation is unique in its own way, Luffy and his Gear 5th are marginally better. Over time, Goku has received so many new transformations that the impact of the Super Saiyan has diminished. Luffy, on the other hand, has not received nearly as many forms as Goku. One Piece fans know that it is going to be extremely difficult for Luffy to take his Devil Fruit any further.

Luffy is already at Yonko level, which means there are not many characters who can challenge him. If he were to receive another transformation, it would be overkill. It is important to remember that Goku was the pioneer of such transformations, and he served as the inspiration for many characters that came after him. While Luffy's Gear 5th may not be as iconic as Super Saiyan yet, in a few years, it will supplant it to become the most remarkable anime transformation.

One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

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