How will Luffy get stronger?

[Zeltrax]

I've been wondering and pondering over it for a long time.
From the latest chapter we can confirm that he knows that he's weak and he will want to get stronger.
Many have said that he will try to learn Haki or King Haki.
But that said, is it really enough? Although we have no idea what King haki can really do, but Hancock, one of the rare humans who can use it doesn't seem to be very strong, during the war at least.
Besides, knowing Oda, is he really going to pull a training arc and give luffy something predictable?
what about zoro and sanji?
I'm sure luffy needs haki, but I'm thinking of other alternatives.
Anyone thinking the same?

 

[BetaRuler]

He could eat some runner beans...

Devil vegetables =D? *gets booted from forums* XD


I think Haki is becoming the only option we can predict... Unless anyone with a decent idea of rubber properties in science can theorise another attack (similar to the gears) that Luffy might pull... Similarly, we could also list different uses for Rubber in our world that we could theorise new moves for Luffy (even if their stupid they might make good practical uses when you think about it)

 

[Hamy]

Well giving Luffy haki isn't so much predictable as it is inevitable given how much emphasis has been placed on it by those who've experienced his raw haki. More importantly haki one way or another allows for better defense and offense, as well as a way to hit the logia (all of which are things he'll need to fight the stronger enemies).

A new fighting style or moves incorporating haki would be something he could add to his repertoire. As for Zoro and Sanji... not sure D: (since I think avoiding giving them a Devil Fruit would be the best route since that is what makes them so great) but from the separation we do know they do have some sort of power up. Zoro learning how to hit ghosts, which could apply to Logia users, and Sanji may have learned Okama style fighting (speaking of Okama isn't the Okama island close by the Amazon lily island so think Sanji will be meeting up with Luffy soon?).

 

[Fox666]

He could eat some runner beans...

Devil vegetables =D? *gets booted from forums* XD


I think Haki is becoming the only option we can predict... Unless anyone with a decent idea of rubber properties in science can theorise another attack (similar to the gears) that Luffy might pull... Similarly, we could also list different uses for Rubber in our world that we could theorise new moves for Luffy (even if their stupid they might make good practical uses when you think about it)

Good question... Gears are heat based, I can imagine Luffy launching fireballs... or making his skin harder...

 

[Razh]

I don't think Haki is the answer to all of his problems.

First, he needs more physical strength, to the point where he can use Soru outside of Gear 2, for example.
His battle style could also use some tweaking. He's a brawler, to put it simple, fights with his own style, accommodated to his devil fruit. What he really could use is some refined skill which he could incorporate into his arsenal. First thing that comes to my mind is fishman karate. I'm really starting to like the idea of Jinbei being a mentor of sorts. Being an experienced fighter, really strong, fast and mobile and durable, Luffy could pick up some new skills real easy.

 

[frontaLobotomy]

Luffy's strength will continue to increase as the story progresses. His haki will continue to manifest it self outside of his control for the most part, but won't be a significant factor until he has to fight people who he is currently unable to beat ie; Smoker, Admirals, Teach, Sentomaru. He needs to train his DF powers more in the meantime. Kizaru remarked that Luffy was too slow in activating Gear 2, that is something he needs to either work on, or develop his strength so that he doesn't need Gear 2 to move using Soru, and hit his opponents with the power of his jet techniques. As Razh said, Jinbei might be his sparring partner for a bit, and that would be something I'd be happy to see. Given Jinbei fought Ace to a stalemate, it would give us a reasonable measure of what strength Ace had before he died, and how much stronger Luffy needs to get just to match it.

 

[msg]

What luffy needs is his Haki, a new gear, mastery of rokushikis including rokuougan and jimbei's fishman karate....and also some luvin' from boa hancock's ^.You know every strong man theres a woman out there behind him kinda of thing.All that could make Luffy near invicible.That'll be something...
Out of topic - do you think Luffy will loose his virginity at the age of 18?

*edit* Luffy also need his nakama and friends for support and encouragement.

 

[ScratchmenApoo]

I believe Oda has saved up the best incredible rubber-attacks for this moment.
Considering his imagination, we're in for something spectacular.

For example, I don't think we've yet seen a rubber ball bouncing off walls at incredible speed, like a giant bullet of some sort, hitting hundreds of enemies or just one multiple times. This would be a great attack for indoors. It would be very similar to Bellamy's movement (before he got owned by Luffy). I'm confident that Oda will surprise us with at least one genius move.

Also, I think Fishman Karate can only be used by fishmen, hence the name. If ordinary humans could use it, it wouldn't have much point being that special.

Now, onto Rokushiki...
If you combine Shigan with Gatling Gun, what do you get ?
The closest thing to a real machine gun in the One Piece world.
There's only one problem with that - Luffy's fingers are also rubber, so no matter what speed, they probably cannot penetrate humans.
Besides, I don't see any Rokushiki user coming into contact with Luffy in the near future. Maybe Coby, but that's highly unlikely.

And Haki, everything has already been said. Luffy will probably ask for help (either from Hancock or Jimbei) to improve his Haki. He must have understood that he possesses this kind of power by now. If not, then he obviously doesn't want to get stronger...

 

[DARK]

Luffy has the Haki, but he cannot use it willingly.
As of right now, it's difficult to say how Luffy will become stronger.
Maybe Jinbei or Hancock will end up training him?

 

[bopnoh10]

I think that Jimbei spars with him and Hancock joins the crew and works with him to master his Haki. However, I do think that Oda throws in a few surprises with maybe a 4th gear... heating of rubber to harden it or the formation of polymers?

 

[Razh]

Also, I think Fishman Karate can only be used by fishmen, hence the name. If ordinary humans could use it, it wouldn't have much point being that special.

Well, I think that's where you're wrong. Jinbei is not a Jedi or something, with some special powers. His punches and kicks are the same as any mans when he fights on land. There's no reason why Luffy couldn't pick up on the principle and learn some special moves.

As for manipulating sea water, like Jinbei did, I'd have to agree. No man could ever do that, simply because of physiology. Humans have no fins and swim skins between their fingers.

 

[ScratchmenApoo]

Well, I think that's where you're wrong. Jinbei is not a Jedi or something, with some special powers. His punches and kicks are the same as any mans when he fights on land. There's no reason why Luffy couldn't pick up on the principle and learn some special moves.

As for manipulating sea water, like Jinbei did, I'd have to agree. No man could ever do that, simply because of physiology. Humans have no fins and swim skins between their fingers.

Exactly as you say, his punches and kicks are the same as any mans, they only have more phsyical power and there's nothing more for Luffy to learn IMO.

However, I believe that Fishman physiology allows Fishman Karate users to come up with incredible techniques like that space-time warping punch Jimbei used against Impel Down guards during breakout. Something like that requires not only Merman physiology, but good knowledge, maybe unteachable to someone as scrawny as Luffy.

 

[Dark God Zeus]

Some Paramecia affect their environment and surroudnings (Like doa doa no mi) and some have the user affect the user directly (Luffy). Then some effect both, like Moria. Maybe Luffy will learn to rubberize his environment

1. Rubberizing the ground in front of him to utilize as a shield.
2. Making a rubberized arena to jump around in
3. Make a landing pad to reduce damage.

 

[undertoe]

^In what situation would ground be "in front of him"? The others are things he can already do with just a rubber body.

 

[Uriel]

Well, as was said Haki will come and He's on the right place to do it.

And maybe Luffy will make his own version of Fishman Karate. I know that It's meant for Fishman only and allowed by their physic properties, but Luffy has an advantage due to his Gomu Gomu no Mi. If He can start using his punches more controlled and whip-alike he will be able to cover not only a higher area but also to make use of the force generated by stretching and "going back to normal" of the rubber. More if He learns to do it continually (one hit that works as negative force of the next one, if you get what I mean)

 

[Razh]

More if He learns to do it continually (one hit that works as negative force of the next one, if you get what I mean)

Gomu gomuuu noooo YOYO!!!

 

[BetaRuler]

See... I think Fishman karate is rightly made to be a type of Karate that gives advantage to people UNDERWATER, fishman karate users seem to be at their best underwater, so it wouldn't do Luffy a lot of good to learn such moves above land... Darnit Luffy needs LAND LUBBER KARATE!

Do any of you think Luffy could do with a weapon? Or maybe an accessory? Something that augments his fruit powers? OR ask Basil to restructure him... I'm trying to inspire theories here XD... Are there any other elements that can effect Rubber (Like the heat vulcanization effect he does in gears 2 or whatever it is the science people call it)?

 

[darkfiend]

I think Luffy has enough strength in his punches, he just needs to strengthen his body so that he can stand soru etc
Realy I think he needs to refine his technique and cut out the weaknesses in his style, a way to do this would be to string his attacks together to a greater degree or cut out the negatives with gear 2 and 3. I could also say that gear 3 needs to be used at different degrees, for example rather than pumping his hand up to giant proportions he could just pump it half way and this way he could keep a lot of his speed.

Obviously haki is going to be important for him, but i dont think he will get training, it will come naturally

 

[Uriel]

Gomu gomuuu noooo YOYO!!!

Exactly my point! A human Yo-Yo. Incredible destructive. <3

 

[Deo_df]

I thought that the progression of gears would be like a car, so he was always goin to get gear 4th and gear 5th, 6th would depend on if oda drives a sports car?

4th will be along the lines of nightmare luffy where his whole body is inflated so he is the size of a giant and can fight like normal but this time as a giant. Gear 5th will be gear 4th combined with gear 2nd to have a super fast giant, but it will have a draw back as if you compress air it's supper powerful but the air will deflate and luffy will gradually shrink.

I don't think haki will be taught, I think he will just become stronger and it will leak out like garp. Probably to the point where it manifests so that you can actually see it. But because he is stronger luffy will just think that those guys he couldn't hurt before like smoker can only be hurt with really powerful hits.