Among the pirates sailing on One Piece universe seas, there are a few who stand out as true prodigies, with legendary skills and an unbreakable spirit that sets them apart from the rest. Regarding his greatest feats, a question pops out: can we consider Monkey D. Is Luffy worth being called a prodigy?
This time, we are aiming to find out if Luffy is a prodigy, just like the other fabled figures of the high seas.
As you already know, my journey with this amazing series began in 2008, and ever since then, I’ve been hooked. The thrill of adventure never fades as I indulge in the mesmerizing universe of One Piece.
I hope this article will introduce more and more people to the wonder of One Piece.
So, stay tuned, and let’s go!
Is Luffy worth being called a prodigy?
Many great pirates, including the likes of the Emperors, covet the status of Pirate King. Being born a prodigy can change the course of your entire pirate adventure.
For the sake of accuracy, let us first clarify what is meant by the term « prodigy ».
In the One Piece universe, a prodigy can be considered as someone who has an innate talent that leads them to perform amazing feats.
Such a talent can be related to navigation, marksmanship, cleverness, etc. So, Nami and Usopp are prodigies in their field.
However, as an asset to easily reach the top, the most valuable ones are either fighting skills or overpowering abilities.
Gifted with the former category, the future Pirate King and Captain of the famous Straw Hats, Monkey D. Luffy, is undoubtedly a prodigy.
That might sound amazing since we know how many times Luffy has demonstrated his « art » of getting his Nakamas into crazy or embarrassing situations through his childish behavior.
But gauging him on that basis is a monumental mistake.
How great is Luffy’s potential?
Over the course of the series, Luffy’s potential as a prodigy has been shown in several ways.
First of all, Luffy was given a sharp sense of intuition in fights.
Looking back on his fight with Crocodile, when he was about to die, Luffy figured out that Crocodile was vulnerable to water.
So he brought a barrel to the second act of their fight, giving us the opportunity to see the wacky « Aqua Luffy » mode.
It’s also thanks to his keen intuition that he discovers the secret of Katakuri’s special intangibility.
During this exhilarating battle in the Mirror-World, Luffy noticed that Katakuri was using his advanced observation Haki to anticipate attacks and morph perfectly to avoid them.
A detail that allowed him to change the outcome of the battle in a sublime way, along with the Snakeman form.
His quick thinking and ability to improvise in difficult situations are also the hallmarks of a prodigy.
The Gears are tangible proof of pure genius.
Honestly, his Devil Fruit skills are pretty good, but they look pretty casual compared to the likes of Doffy, for example.
Here is a fact: Luffy has managed to get the most out of his « basic » fruit.
He invented some Gear techniques based on his rubber properties and later, on his mastery of Haki forms.
Not only does this allow him to drastically increase his brute strength, but it also buffs his overall performance.
At Enies Lobby, Blueno, who tasted Gear Second for the first time, didn’t see anything coming. He was easily overwhelmed by Straw Hat’s blitzing speed.
The other Gears were also perfectly designed to overcome his weakness and gain the upper hand over his opponents.
Besides, I don’t know what to call someone who learned the advanced color of Observation Haki in the middle of a fight, if not a prodigy.
Even on the verge of death in Udon’s prison, he successfully used the Ryou, also known as Advanced Armament Haki.
Furthermore, the tenacity and unwavering spirit that drives Luffy is the cornerstone of his fighting style.
He is made of rubber, including his mindset. It’s fascinating how he always bounces back whenever he gets knocked down.
It all adds to his determination, the fuel for the Conqueror’s Haki.
Every monumental fighter in the One Piece universe, especially the Yonko, has the same flame burning brightly for their dream.
Is Luffy the biggest prodigy ever?
It’s quite delicate to compare our endearing Straw Hat to the other prodigies of One Piece plotline. Sure thing, he is one of the greatest among those fated fighters.
Breezing through Luffy’s greatest feats helps us to remind that managed to:
- declare with Big Mom and got away safely after several confrontations;
- fight against two emperors at the same time; along with some other members of the Worst Generation;
- hurt Kaido the “Strongest Creature”; in an exhilarating fight.
Later on, as the manga readers can attest, Monkey D. Luffy finally awakened his Devil Fruit and defeated the Emperor Kaido.
By the way, this Devil Fruit is currently one of the spiciest mysteries of the series.
Ice on the cake, our beloved captain Luffy became the youngest member among the Four Emperors.
Only prodigies reach the top at younger ages.
Nevertheless, Luffy is not the greatest prodigy ever.
There are actually a lot of overpowered and valuable fighters sailing through the seas. Involving the prominent figures of the ancient generations like Kozuki Oden, Whitebeard increases the number of prodigies.
However, one thing can be stated surely: Charlotte Linlin is undoubtedly the “most gifted prodigy ever”. An insanely buff monster.
It’s hard to argue that since we know that she had the potential of a Fleet Admiral at her younger age, precisely around 5 years old.
As if it wasn’t enough, she had that potential before eating her Devil Fruit.
Yes, she plays with the limits of miracles.
There’s no denying that Luffy is a force to be reckoned with and a true prodigy in every sense of the word.
While he may not be the biggest prodigy ever, his accomplishments speak volumes about his potential and build a story inspiring fans around the world.
