One Piece: Is Kaido Really Dead?

Eiichiro Oda Might Have Hinted at His Return With a Subtle Detail That Most Fans Missed

Kaido’s desire for a grand end hints at potential survival despite defeat.

SUMMARY

Luffy’s victory over Kaido shocked fans, raising questions about Kaido’s survival.
Eiichiro Oda left Kaido’s condition ambiguous, fueling speculation among fans.
The uncertainty behind the Devil Fruit Awakening adds complexity to Kaido’s potential powers, and survival post his fight with Luffy.

The creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, is a master storyteller. The creator has amazed fans for over 25 years now with his exceptional storytelling abilities.

Oda has often been called a genius for his ability to plant easter eggs and foreshadow future events via minor details of the story. One of his greatest powers is creating suspense by creating mysteries and then masterfully connecting them through a single revelation.

A prime example of this is Kaido, one of the Emperors in the One Piece world. Kaido was introduced as an almost indestructible opponent for Luffy.
Luffy in One PieceLuffy in One Piece


It took Luffy several attempts and powerups before he was finally able to defeat the “King of the Beasts”. Even then, the victory was hard-won. Kaido’s unconscious body drops into a pool of magma, only to get caught up in a violent volcanic eruption.

Did Kaido Survive Luffy’s Ultimate Attack In One Piece

One Piece fans were in shock after Luffy’s hard-fought victory over Kaido. In this battle, Luffy revealed his powerful Bajrang Gun attack, apparently defeating Kaido.

However, Eiichiro Oda provides no clear details about Kaido’s condition following this defeat. This lack of closure is particularly remarkable considering the durability and strength of Kaido.
Luffy vs KaidoLuffy vs Kaido


It raises the possibility that Kaido may have, in fact, survived. After all, Kaido had expressed a desire to meet a grand and spectacular end, just like legendary figures like Oden or Gol D. Roger.

Devil Fruit is one of the biggest sources of power in the One Piece world, along with the abilities of Haki. In truly exceptional cases, a Devil Fruit user may unlock an even more potent stage of their powers, known as “Awakening.”

It seems that Kaido may not have displayed the typical physical signs associated with an Awakened Devil Fruit when he was defeated. This has led some to wonder if Kaido had Awakened his own Devil Fruit, but chose not to reveal this secret.
Five Elders in One PieceFive Elders in One Piece
At the same time, some fans are also speculating that he may have awakened it just before his apparent death. If that is the case, it is possible that Kaido could still be alive and may return later in the final saga of the story.

Could Gear 5 Luffy Defeat ‘Awakened’ Kaido

When Luffy fought and defeated Kaido at the end of the Wano arc, it’s possible that Kaido’s Devil Fruit powers weren’t fully awakened yet. If Kaido had been able to use the full potential of his Devil Fruit, the fight might have ended differently.
Kaido in One PieceKaido in One Piece
As we know, Luffy struggled to defeat Kaido even without his Devil Fruit awakened. This suggests that if Kaido had been able to use his awakened abilities, he probably would have survived Luffy’s final attack and won the fight.

This idea that Kaido’s Devil Fruit was unawakened is supported by the fact that he got the fruit from Big Mom during the battle of God Valley. It seems like Kaido may have just eaten the Devil Fruit right at that moment to save his own life and escape the situation, instead of taking the time to fully master its abilities.