Devil Fruits, like the Sand-Sand Fruit and the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, can counter Gear 5 and might even render it useless.
It took more than a year after the respective manga chapter, but One Piece fans were finally able to see Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation in anime form. Unlike Luffy’s other forms, Gear 5 is a direct result of Devil Fruit awakening, which means that he can now fight without limitations. Gear 5 is considered to be the most ridiculous power in the world — it is a tad broken because it allows Luffy to turn anything into rubber.
That being said, there are a few Devil Fruits that are capable of beating Gear 5. Most of these Devil Fruits are Paramecia, which makes sense since Paramecia users can have all sorts of superhuman abilities. Luffy can land hits on Logia users because he can use advanced Haki, but there are also certain Logia powers that can make Gear 5 meaningless.
Updated on March 26, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Although Luffy can theoretically defeat anyone with Gear 5, there are a few Devil Fruits against which he would be particularly weak. Despite awakening his newly renamed Hito Hito no Mi: Model Nika, Luffy hasn’t learned to completely master his latest technique. As such, we’ve updated this article with some more relevant information.
10. The Sand-Sand Fruit Transforms The User’s Body Into Sand
User: Crocodile
Type: Logia
Debut: Episode 77 “Farewell to the Giants’ Island! On to Arabasta”
Crocodile is a former Warlord who ate the Sand-Sand Fruit — a Logia that allows him to create and transform into sand. Like other Logia users, most physical attacks would phase through his body. However, the presence of liquid or moisture causes sand to harden, which is why Luffy used water and blood to counter Crocodile before he could use Haki.
The scariest aspect of Crocodile’s Devil Fruit is the fact that he can absorb all the moisture out of an object by grabbing it. He has used this ability on Luffy before, and the Straw Hat captain would have died in a mummified state if he had not received water. Even if Luffy is using Gear 5, Crocodile should still be able to render the transformation useless if he can mummify Luffy’s body in an environment that’s already completely devoid of moisture.
9. The Hobby-Hobby Fruit Can Transform Anything Into A Living Toy
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Episode 630 “Adventure! The Country of Love and Passion, Dressrosa”
Sugar is a member of the Donquixote Pirates, and she was an integral part of Doflamingo’s operation. She ate the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, a Paramecia which gave her the ability to turn anyone she touched into a living toy. Those transformed into toys disappear from the memories of those who once loved them, making it an extremely cruel technique. This Devil Fruit also stopped the aging process, which is why she always looks like a 10-year-old.
Luffy can theoretically be transformed into a toy while using Gear 5. More importantly, if Sugar is somehow able to form a contract with him in this state, he will be forced to obey all of her orders. The only way Luffy would be able to return to normal is if and when Sugar is knocked unconscious, as this deactivates the effect of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit.
8. The Op-Op Fruit Can Manipulate The Fabric Of Space
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Episode 398 “Admiral Kizaru Moves! The Sabaody Archipelago in Chaos”
Luffy and Trafalgar D. Water Law were allies for quite some time, but if they were to fight for real, there is a good chance that Law would be able to stop Gear 5. Law has the power of the Op-Op Fruit, which gives him the ability to manipulate the fabric of space within a designated spherical area. Like Luffy, Law has also Awakened his Devil Fruit, making him considerably more powerful than before. This is proven when Big Mom loses the battle against an Awakened Law and Kid.
Even if Luffy uses Gear 5, Law can use his power to split Luffy’s body into dozens of pieces with multiple sword slashes. Best of all, those slashes can split someone without even making physical contact. If this happens, Luffy would not be able to move anymore, ultimately depriving him of most of the attacks in his arsenal.
7. The Spike-Spike Fruit Grows Spikes From The User’s Body
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Episode 117 “Nami’s Whirlwind Warning! Clima-Tact Explosion”
As Kaido mentioned during their fight, cutting attacks can still injure Luffy’s Gear 5 body. Zala was the second strongest female officer agent of the Baroque Works criminal syndicate and one of the strongest villains during the pre-timeskip. She ate a Paramecia known as the Spike-Spike Fruit. As its name would suggest, this Devil Fruit allows her to grow spikes from any part of her body.
These spikes are strong and incredibly pointy, and Zala primarily uses them to stab her opponents. The spikes are also a great defensive tool because they can intercept punches and kicks. That said, the fact that Nami managed to defeat Zala proves that Gear 5 Luffy wouldn’t have any trouble against her. However, if the Spike-Spike Fruit belonged to someone stronger, they could pierce straight through Luffy’s body.
6. The Snip-Snip Fruit Can Transform The User’s Body Into Scissors
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Episode 442 “Ace’s Convoy Starts – The Offense and Defense of the Lowest Level, Level 6!”
Inazuma is a deputy commander in the Revolutionary Army, and he serves as Emporio Ivankov’s right-hand man. He ate the Snip-Snip Fruit, a Paramecia Devil Fruit that gives him the ability to transform parts of his body into scissors. He can use this power to cut through anything as if it were made of paper. Although this technique sounds mediocre, Inazuma can actually slice through solid metal, massive boulders, and the ground itself.
The Snip-Snip Fruit also allows him to freely manipulate anything he cuts, adding yet another level to this already fearsome power. Inazuma can use his scissors to cut through Luffy’s rubber body, especially if he imbues his attacks with Haki. The only way Gear 5 Luffy can technically stop this is if he grabs the scissors before they can cut him.
5. The Age-Age Fruit Can Freely Manipulate The Aging Process
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User: Jewelry Bonney
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Episode 393 “The Target is Camie!! The Looming Clutches Of A Professional Kidnapper”
Jewelry Bonney is the only female member of the Worst Generation, making her one of the most formidable pirates to sail into the New World. She ate the Age-Age Fruit, allowing her to freely manipulate the aging process. She can cause herself to rapidly age or de-age herself, but she can do it to others as well. Although Bonney doesn’t have a proper grasp on this power at first, she soon learns to manipulate it with a high level of efficiency.
While on Egghead Island, she used this power to make Luffy 70 years old. As a consequence, Luffy became too weak to move around. Gear 5 takes a huge toll on Luffy’s body, so he may not be able to withstand the strain if he is too old. The same issue would arise if Bonney turned him into a toddler. That said, the effects of the Age-Age Fruit are temporary, so Luffy might have a chance if he can buy some time.
4. The Book-Book Fruit Can Trap Living Beings Inside Any Book
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Episode 810 “The End of the Adventure – Sanji’s Resolute Proposal”
Charlotte Mont-d’Or is the 30th child of Charlotte Linlin and serves as Totto Land’s Minister of Cheese. He ate the Book-Book Fruit, a unique Paramecia that gave him the ability to manipulate books. This may not sound like an impressive power, but he used it to successfully trap both Luffy and Nami. In fact, the Straw Hats failed to escape despite Luffy nearly tearing his arms off in the process — Jinbei only rescues them after burning the book itself.
Mont-d’Or can theoretically trap Luffy in another book while he is using Gear 5, and he would not be able to escape. Even if Luffy managed to turn the book into rubber, Mont-d’Or would still be able to control it. The Book-Book Fruit is another case that requires Luffy to bring at least one ally into battle, as taking a risk against such a dangerous ability would be extremely foolhardy.
3. The Paw-Paw Fruit Repels Anything That Comes Near The User’s Hand
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Type: Paramecia
Debut: Episode 368 “Soundless Invasion!! The Mysterious Visitor: Kuma the Tyrant”
Bartholomew Kuma is a Revolutionary who agreed to become a Warlord and Pacifista, but his true nature is unquestionably heroic. He ate a Paramecia known as the Paw-Paw Fruit, which spawned paw pads on the palms of his hands. Despite its adorable outcome, this Devil Fruit is one of the strongest in One Piece.
As such, these paw pads give him the power to repel anything they come into contact with. Kuma himself describes the Paw-Paw Fruit as having “the ability to send all things flying.” This is a very strong defensive ability that even Gear 5 cannot counter. If any of Luffy’s attacks get close, the paw pads will repel them all away. Luffy would not even be able to turn Kuma’s body into rubber because his hands would never be able to reach him.
2. The Dice-Dice Fruit Can Turn The User’s Body Parts Into Blades
Type: Paramecia
Debut: Episode 103 “At Spiders Cafe – The Enemy Ringleaders Meet at 8 o’clock”
Daz Bonez was Baroque Works’ highest-ranked male officer agent, and he could theoretically slice Gear 5 Luffy to pieces. He ate the Dice-Dice Fruit, a Paramecia Devil Fruit that gives him the ability to turn any part of his body into a sharp steel blade. This fruit is especially deadly in Daz’s hands because he is a gifted martial artist. In addition, the resulting steel is extremely durable, as shown when Daz fought Zoro during the Arabasta Arc.
Daz can cut through stone as if it were butter, and since his body is basically made of steel, he is almost immune to damage. And since cutting attacks can harm Luffy’s Gear 5 body, this Devil Fruit is the perfect melee counter. In fact, Daz has numerous long-range attacks on par with Zoro’s flying sword slashes, making him an even greater threat.
1. The Dark-Dark Fruit Can Create And Manipulate Darkness
Type: Logia
Debut: Episode 325 “The Most Evil Ability! Blackbeard’s Darkness Attacks Ace”
The Dark-Dark Fruit is a Logia that was eaten by Marshall D. Teach, and it allows him to create and manipulate darkness. Unlike other Logia users, Teach’s body is not intangible; in fact, physical attacks deal more damage to him. This means that Gear 5 Luffy can land powerful hits, but doing so could prove deadly.
Thanks to the Dark-Dark Fruit, Teach can nullify other Devil Fruit powers by making physical contact with the user. Even if Luffy used Gear 5 against him, Teach can cancel the transformation at any time. In addition, the Dark-Dark Fruit’s ability to control gravity and create black hole-like vortices is only going to make the fight harder for Luffy. However, it seems that Luffy and Blackbeard are going to fight at some point, so fans will eventually learn if the Dark-Dark Fruit is actually stronger than Gear 5.
