In the world of One Piece, there are countless ways to become a powerful fighter. Scientific advancements, Devil Fruit abilities, and unique techniques like the World Government's Six Powers are all viable options in combat. However, those who want to one day conquer the entirety of the Grand Line must first master one thing: Haki. Haki is essentially spiritual power that exists within every character in One Piece, but very few are able to consciously control and wield it.
Three overarching forms of Haki — Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's — exist in One Piece, each of which is divided into further subclasses. Unsurprisingly, there are five Haki users in the Straw Hat Pirates, most of whom are skilled in the application of this power. Their combined abilities have already played a major role in their rise to prominence post-timeskip. Moving forward, the crew will almost certainly continue to develop their Haki-related abilities as they employ its various forms.
Updated on April 23rd, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This list of Straw Hat Haki users has been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards and includes new information. With One Piece's power scaling being what it is in the Final Saga, it's a good time to review how well the Straw Hats can use the incredible Haki combat sytem to keep pace with foes like the Four Emperors and the World Government's top brass.
Usopp Can Now Perceive The Aura Of His Target With Haki
Traditionally, Usopp has proven himself to be the weakest member of the Straw Hat Pirates, generally being matched against the weakest members of enemy forces. Further, he's arguably the most cowardly character in the story, even if he occasionally rises to the occasion. This is why fans have wondered: does Usopp have Haki? Alongside Jimbei, Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy, Usopp is one of only a few Straw Hat Pirates who has indeed unlocked the ability to use Haki, mores specifically Observation Haki.
Armed with Observation Haki, Usopp is able to hit targets far more effectively than before as the self-proclaimed Sniper King, making it the best Haki type by far for Usopp to use. During the Straw Hat Pirates' battle against the Donquixote Pirates, for example, Usopp intended to snipe Sugar, one of the crew's executives. However, Usopp stood rather far from his target, and a variety of buildings, objects, and people were in his path. By awakening his Observation Haki, Usopp succeeded in perceiving the aura of his target, allowing him to hit his target and assist in the takedown of the dastardly Doflamingo. That may lead fans to wonder if Van Augur, the super-sniper of the Blackbeard Pirates crew, uses Observation Haki in a similar way, though Augur is not yet confirmed as a Haki user.
Sanji Makes Do With Two Haki Types For Now
The Straw Hat Pirates are all powerful fighters, but when it comes to combat, Luffy, Zoro, Jimbei, and Sanji stand head and shoulders above their companions. Accordingly, it only makes sense that the latter of this quartet would possess an impressive level of Armament and Observation Haki. Although his genetic modifications as a member of the Vinsmoke Family are dangerous on their own, they are made significantly stronger thanks to Sanji's Haki skills. Ultimately, these abilities are what enable the world-class chef to defeat a monstrous threat like Queen of the Beast Pirates without any assistance.
One Piece's two-year time skip was not kind to Sanji, as he spent almost 24 consecutive months avoiding the inhabitants of Kamabakka Kingdom, rather than training with someone like Silvers Rayleigh to learn the ways of Haki from a master. To his credit, though, Sanji learned to use Observation Haki to avoid his tireless pursuers, and later, he was seen using Armament Haki to fight a Pacifista. Those two Haki types are sufficient for Sanji, who is rarely in a position where he needs to use Conquerer's Haki the way Luffy sometimes does.
Jimbei Knew Two Forms Of Haki Before Joining The Straw Hats
As the latest addition to the Straw Hat Pirates, Jimbei the fish-man is one of the most experienced fighters aboard the Thousand Sunny, Luffy's current ship. Before then, Jmbei was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a position that allowed him to practice his use of both Armament and Observation Haki regularly. During his fight with Who's Who of the Beast Pirates, Jimbei's skill as a Haki user became apparent, as he was ultimately able to defeat the Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruit user by infusing his Fish-Man Karate skills with his Armament Haki.
It's likely that Jimbei learned to use Haki either during or soon before his tenure as Warlord, but fans don't know the exact details. But what fans do know is that two years before the events of One Piece, Jimbei used Armament Haki to fight against Portgas D. Ace, allowing him to bypass the Logia-type Devil Fruit user's natural defenses. Jimbei has not yet been seeing Conquerer's Haki, however, and there's no sign he's about to learn it, either. But as a supporting fighter who gladly lets Luffy take the lead, Jimbei might not even need Conquerer's Haki.
Roronoa Zoro Might Have Been The First Straw Hat To Use Haki
Roronoa Zoro is the resident swordsman of the Straw Hat Pirates. Like his captain, he also possesses the power to use all three types of Haki, which definitely makes up for Zoro's lack of a good Devil Fruit. Given his goal of becoming the world's strongest swordsman, Zoro will need to master Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki if he hopes to eventually defeat Dracule Mihawk.
Throughout One Piece's two-year time skip, Roronoa Zoro was trained by Dracule Mihawk on Kurainaga Island. The legendary swordsman's instruction primarily focused on Armament Haki. However, by the end of their time together, Zoro was consciously able to use both Observation and Armament Haki. That said, it's possible that he awakened these abilities much earlier. The Wano Country Arc revealed that Zoro's Ashura technique, which was first used during the Enies Lobby Arc, stems from his latent Conqueror's Haki. This, as well as his defeat of Daz Bonez in Alabasta Kingdom, is potentially the first time that any of the Straw Hat Pirates have used Haki — an impressive feat for such a distinguished crew.
Monkey D. Luffy Has Mastered The Applications Of All Three Haki Types
As one of the strongest pirates in the world of One Piece, Monkey D. Luffy is, unsurprisingly, a user of all three types of Haki. By the end of the Wano Country Arc, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates demonstrates incredible proficiency in Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki, placing him firmly on the level of his fellow Emperors of the Sea. With his Observation Haki, Luffy can see the future itself; with his Armament Haki, Luffy can emit his power over short distances; and with his Conqueror's Haki, Luffy can even coat his attacks with the power of a true King. As the future king of pirates, it's thematic for Luffy to be so proficient with Conquerer's Haki, as he demonstrated during the final battle for Fish-Man Island.
Although Monkey D. Luffy primarily learned how to use Haki under the tutelage of Silvers Rayleigh, he actually awakened it several arcs before the series' timeskip. Over the course of the next two years, the Straw Hat Captain went on to master the advanced applications of each Haki type, making him one of only two One Piece characters (the other being Kaido) to demonstrate such prowess. Interestingly, Luffy learned to use Observation Haki while fighting his true equal, Charlotte Katakuri. Both of them were melee warriors with huge appetites and stretchy, soft Devil Fruit users who also wielded Haki. Katakuri's main advantage was his one-sided use of Observation Haki, but Luffy learned it on the fly and thus eked out a narrow victory over Katakuri.
