Monkey D. Luffy is the protagonist of Eiichiro Oda's manga "ONE PIECE," which has also been adapted into an anime.
His straightforward personality, strong convictions, and growing alongside his companions make him a popular character, often resulting in compilations of his most memorable lines.
In this article, we'll cover basic information about Luffy, such as his age and voice actor, as well as his personality, weaknesses, and the secret to his strength.
About Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of ONE PIECE
Monkey D. Luffy is a pirate characterized by his short black hair, a scar under his left eye, and a straw hat.
Luffy is nicknamed "Straw Hat Luffy" because he is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, adventuring with the goal of conquering the Grand Line and becoming the Pirate King.
Monkey D. Luffy's Profile
Height: 172cm → 174cm
Age: 17 → 19
Birthday: May 5th
Birthplace: East Blue
Voice Actor: Mayumi Tanaka
Luffy is a powerful character with a straightforward personality, a love of freedom, and a strong sense of conviction.
He possesses the power of the "Gomu Gomu no Mi," a Devil Fruit, which allows him to stretch his arms and other parts of his body like rubber, allowing him to fight with techniques unique to rubber humans.
Luffy's bounty is 1.5 billion berries
A bounty is a monetary reward awarded when capturing or handing over a pirate or other target to the government. It is considered a numerical value that represents the individual's strength and level of danger.
The amount of a bounty doesn't just reflect a person's strength.
It also indicates the "danger" they pose to the government.
Source: "ONE PIECE" Volume 34
Luffy's bounty continues to grow throughout the story.
Battle against Arlong: 30 million berries
Luffy's first bounty was 30 million berries when he defeated Arlong in Volume 11.
The average bounty in East Blue is 3 million berries, so 30 million berries is quite a high amount.
Battle against Crocodile: 100 million berries
After defeating Crocodile of Baroque Works on the Grand Line, Luffy's bounty is raised to 100 million berries.
Crocodile's original bounty was 81 million berries, so this increase is likely commensurate with the person who defeated him.
Battle with CP9: 300 Million Berries
Luffy's bounty rose to 300 million berries after defeating CP9 in the Enies Lobby arc in Volume 45.
It's also worth noting that not only Luffy, but the entire Straw Hat Pirates also had bounties.
Two Years Later: 400 Million Berries
The Straw Hat Pirates split up and reunited two years later. After participating in the Battle of Marineford in Volume 61, Luffy's bounty rose to 400 million berries.
However, the exact timing of his bounty increase remains unclear.
Battle with Doflamingo: 500 Million Berries
The Straw Hat Pirates' first bounty after resuming operations two years later was 500 million berries.
This becomes clear after the battle with Doflamingo in Volume 80.
Battle with Big Mom: 1.5 Billion Berries
After fighting Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, in Volume 90, Luffy's bounty skyrockets to 1.5 billion berries.
Considering he's defeated several formidable opponents with bounties in the 1 billion range, this amount is probably quite reasonable.
One of the "Worst Generation" Pirates with Bounties Over 100 Million
The "Worst Generation" refers to 12 pirates, including Blackbeard and 11 young pirates with bounties over 100 million berries, of which Luffy is one.
Pirates of the Worst Generation are often involved in world-shaking incidents, and some even predict that the next Pirate King will be born from within the Worst Generation.
This title reflects Luffy's abilities as a rookie pirate.
If you'd like to learn more about the Worst Generation pirates, please read the following articles.
[One Piece] A Complete Guide to the Pirates and Captains of the Worst Generation!!
His Trademark: His Straw Hat
As his nickname "Straw Hat Luffy" suggests, his straw hat is Luffy's trademark.
As we'll discuss later, this straw hat was passed down to him by the pirate "Red-Haired Shanks," who inspired him to aim for the title of Pirate King.
Since this is at the heart of the story, we won't go into detail here, but there's actually a deeper connection to this straw hat, so be sure to discover it for yourself.
Monkey D. Luffy's Personality
Luffy is an incredibly popular character, and his personality is one of the reasons for his popularity.
Luffy is cheerful and carefree, rarely gets depressed, and has an optimistic outlook on things.
He cares for his friends and tries to protect them at all costs, making him a reliable leader.
A big shot, after all! Very carefree
Luffy's greatest trait is his carefree nature.
His simple, childlike way of thinking and free-spirited lifestyle are often the object of admiration among readers.
Though he may not be aware of it, he has a strong sense of justice, and there are many examples, such as Alabasta and Skyjima, where "if he had done what he wanted, he would have saved his country."
A Big Meat Eater
Many people remember scenes in both the manga and anime where Luffy devours meat.
Luffy is a big eater, especially meat.
He even said on Fishman Island, "I like heroes, but I don't want to be one because I have to share my meat with others."
His willingness to eat is also a sign of good health and vitality.
He relies heavily on his crew for everything outside of combat
Luffy serves as the "captain" of his pirate crew and acts as a leader.
However, in reality, he possesses almost no abilities outside of combat.
I can't use swordsmanship, you bastard!!!
I don't even know how to navigate!!! !
I can't even cook!!
I can't even lie!!
I'm sure I wouldn't be able to survive without help!!!
Source: "ONE PIECE" Volume 10
This line, in a positive way, shows Luffy's brazen attitude toward relying on his comrades, and is known as a famous quote that shows that "you don't have to be a perfect person."
A Captain Who Cares About His Crew
Luffy values his crew, so he will stand up to anyone who harms them, even if they are a strong enemy.
For example, in Volume 23, when Crocodile ravaged his friend Vivi's country, Crocodile said, "We should just abandon troublemakers," to which Luffy responded, "I don't want them to die, so they're our 'comrades' after all!!!"
Also, in Volume 33, Luffy is forced to take part in a terrifying game that will likely result in the loss of his allies, and he fights bravely, saying, "I won't play this, even if it means dying for my allies!!!"
Luffy's strong will to protect his allies at all costs is one of his greatest charms.
To learn more about Luffy's personality, please read the following article.
[One Piece] Top 10 Monkey D. Luffy Quotes
What is Monkey D. Luffy's Surprising Weakness?
Luffy has many strengths, but he also has a weakness in a surprising place.
Having eaten the Gomu-Gomu no Mi, Luffy can fight using techniques unique to a rubber man, but as a trade-off for his Devil Fruit powers, he cannot swim and drowns when he enters water.
His simple personality also makes him susceptible to hypnosis and deception, which are also his weaknesses.
Devil Fruit Effect: Can't Swim
Devil Fruits are fruits said to be the "incarnation of the sea devil," and there are many varieties besides the Gomu-Gomu no Mi.
Eating a Devil Fruit grants special abilities, but the downside is that it renders the person unable to swim.
As a Devil Fruit user, if Luffy falls into the ocean or enters water, he will lose his strength and drown.
Lying and Hypnosis Are Not His forte
Luffy has a simple way of thinking, so he is not good at intellectual battles, such as lying to get out of a situation.
In volume 17, when Sanji finds out that Zoro has been stealing food from the ship, he says, "I don't know anything," but it's obvious that he's lying.
He is also weak to suggestion and hypnosis, and when subjected to Miss Goldenweek's suggestion technique, Zoro says the following:
Suggestion?! That's bad...!!
Suggestion, hypnosis, and other such powers have a much stronger effect on that simple-minded fool than they should.
Source: "ONE PIECE" Volume 14
Monkey D. Luffy's Shocking Family Structure
The only known members of Luffy's family are his father, Dragon, and grandfather, Garp.
His non-blood relatives include his stepbrothers, Ace and Sabo.
The identity of his mother is unknown, but his adoptive mother was the bandit Dadan.
His Father is the Revolutionary Monkey D. Dragon
Luffy's father is Monkey D. Dragon, the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Army, known as the world's worst criminal.
Luffy originally did not know who his father was, and only found out who he was during the Enies Lobby arc.
To date, Luffy has never met Dragon face-to-face.
His Grandfather is Navy Commander Monkey D. Garp
Luffy's grandfather was Navy Commander Monkey D. Garp, a figure so great that he was called a Navy hero.
It is believed that Garp raised Luffy as a child, but they reunited in Water Seven and later became enemies.
His Birth Mother is a Mystery
The identity of Luffy's birth mother remains a mystery.
Volume 1 depicts Luffy at the age of 6, but at that point he was no longer living with his father or mother.
While the story never reveals who Luffy's mother is, there are several characters who are suspected to be his mother.
His foster mother is the bandit Dadan
Luffy's foster mother is the bandit leader Dadan, who looked after him along with Ace, who will be discussed later.
Dadan had committed several crimes that Luffy's grandfather, Garp, had forgiven him, so he couldn't refuse and accepted the role of foster mother.
Although she has a rough personality, she is a kind-hearted character who will even put her body on the line to protect Luffy and Ace.
People who influenced Monkey D. Luffy
Here, we'll introduce characters other than the Straw Hat Pirates who had a major influence on Luffy's quest to become the Pirate King.
These four people are "Red-Haired Shanks," "Silvers Rayleigh," "Portgas D. Ace" (Fire Fist Ace), and "Sabo," all of whom are important characters in the One Piece story.
The Inspiration for Becoming a Pirate: "Red-Haired Shanks"
As a boy, Luffy met Red-Haired Shanks in Foosha Village in East Blue.
It was at this time that Luffy accidentally ate the Gomu-Gomu no Mi and became a rubber man.
Shanks witnessed local bandits injuring Luffy and defeated them, but Luffy was kidnapped by the bandit leader and thrown into the sea.
Unable to swim due to his Devil Fruit, Luffy was attacked by a powerful sea monster and was rescued by Shanks.
Shanks lost his left arm in the attack, but entrusted his straw hat to Luffy, telling him to return it after becoming a great pirate, before setting off from Foosha Village.
His Master is the Pirate King's Right-Hand Man, Silvers Rayleigh
Silvers Rayleigh was a pirate who was the right-hand man of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
He later retired to Sabaody Archipelago, but he was also Luffy's master, training him for two years.
He also helped Luffy convey the message to the Straw Hat Pirates that they would reunite in two years, making him a fairly friendly character.
Brother-in-Law: Portgas D. Ace
Ace is the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' 2nd Division and is nicknamed "Fire Fist Ace" due to his ability with the Mera Mera no Mi.
He is Luffy's and Sabo's (who will be discussed later) stepbrother, having spent their childhood together under the bandit Dadan. Luffy's grandfather, Garp, considers him like a grandson.
To Luffy, Ace is not only his stepbrother, but also his savior.
For some reason, Ace disappears from the story after a certain point, which marks the beginning of a two-year training period for Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates.
If you'd like to learn more about Ace's charm, please read the article below.
[One Piece] The Pirate King's Son! A Thorough Introduction to the Charms of Portgas D. Ace
Sabo, Luffy's other stepbrother and the Revolutionary Army's No. 2
Sabo is Luffy's other stepbrother, originally from the Goa Kingdom in the East Blue.
He is a revolutionary who serves as Chief of Staff in Luffy's father, Dragon's Revolutionary Army, and is known by those around him as "the Revolutionary Army's No. 2."
He spent his childhood in a garbage dump on the outskirts of the city, but later moved to Mount Corvo to serve under the bandit Dadan.
He is a calm character, as seen when mediating fights between Ace and Luffy, but he also has a free-spirited side, just like them.
He is kind to Luffy, and can sometimes seem a little overprotective.
Five Secrets to Monkey D. Luffy's Strength
Luffy possesses high combat abilities and is known for his diverse techniques, which he employs using the powers of his Devil Fruit, the "Gomu Gomu no Mi."
As the story progresses, he begins to use "Haoshoku Haki" and adopt a fighting style known as "Gear."
This article explains the Gomu Gomu no Mi, Haoshoku Haki, and three types of Gear.
Gomu Gomu no Mi Devil Fruit Users
The Gomu Gomu no Mi is a superhuman-type Devil Fruit. Luffy ate one originally owned by Shanks.
The power of the Gomu-Gomu no Mi allows the user to stretch and contract their body like rubber.
Luffy uses his Gomu-Gomu no Mi powers to fight with a wide variety of techniques, but this fighting style would not be possible without considering various techniques and training his body, demonstrating his strength and training.
Blows, pressure, joint locks, bullets, and cannonballs are ineffective against Gomu-Gomu no Mi users, and as they are insulating, lightning attacks are also ineffective.
Falls from great heights only temporarily deform the user's body, and they do not take damage.
However, slashing and stabbing attacks are ineffective, making them weak spots, and they can also be damaged by impacts from special abilities or tools.
User of the "Haoshoku Haki," a symbol of a fierce warrior.
Haki is a human's latent "willpower" and can be used as a combat skill.
Broadly speaking, there are three types of Haki: Busoshoku Haki, Kenbunshoku Haki, and Conqueror's Haki. Everyone has the potential, but it takes long-term training to master it.
Luffy can use Conqueror's Haki, a rare type of Haki that is said to be possessed by only one in several million people, and those who possess it are said to have the qualities of a king.
Conqueror's Haki can intimidate and knock out enemies, but it is impossible to train through training; it requires personal growth.
Many other charismatic characters who are big-name pirates, such as the Four Emperors and the Worst Generation, are also able to use Conqueror's Haki.
For example, in the first episode of the story, in which Luffy meets Red-Haired Shanks, Shanks uses Haki to repel the "Lord of the Coastal Seas" that attacks Luffy.
Unlock incredible speed and physical prowess with "Gear 2"
"Gear" is a fighting method that utilizes the power of the Gomu Gomu no Mi. While it dramatically increases combat ability, it can only be used for short periods of time due to the significant strain and risks placed on the body.
"Gear 2" (Gear Second) uses both legs like a pump to accelerate blood flow, dramatically boosting physical ability.
This technique allows the user to use faster and more powerful Gomu Gomu no Mi techniques, such as the Gomu Gomu Jet Gun (Jet Pistol), Gomu Gomu no Jet Gun Barrage (Jet Gatling), and Gomu Gomu no Jet Bazooka.
"Gear 3" boasts overwhelming power.
"Gear 3" (Gear Third) is a fighting method that utilizes "bone balloons," blowing air into bones to inflate them and enlarge parts of the body.
By enlarging his limbs, he gains the power of a giant, capable of destroying steel doors and warships with a single blow.
He can use giant-sized and enhanced versions of his normal moves, such as the Gum-Gum Titan's Gun (Gigant Pistol), Gum-Gum Titan's Whip (Gigant Whip), and Gum-Gum Titan's Bazooka (Gigant Bazooka).
As a side effect of activating this move, his body would shrink to about half its original size for roughly the same amount of time as using the Bone Balloon, reducing his combat ability. However, this side effect disappears in the New World arc.
"Gear 4" is the strongest technique using armament hardening.
"Gear 4" (Gear Force) is a fighting method developed over two years of training.
In addition to blowing air into his arms, which are hardened with Armament Haki, to inflate them like "muscle balloons," he also hardens his skin, granting him resistance to slashing attacks.
While Gear 4's combat ability skyrockets, its use of Haki is so intense that it can only be used for a very short time.
When the time runs out, the air escapes, returning him to his original form and preventing him from using Haki for approximately 10 minutes.
Monkey D. Luffy's Appeal
Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of One Piece, is a straightforward, cheerful, and energetic character.
He cares deeply for his friends and will fight any powerful enemy for them, always saving them in the end, which has made him a popular character.
Many people relate to Luffy's lines, and there are even collections of his most famous quotes.
His family and influences include many world-famous figures, suggesting that he will continue to shake up the world in the story going forward.
In battle, he displays his powerful abilities, such as the Gomu Gomu no Mi, Conqueror's Haki, and Gear, unleashing one powerful technique after another.
I'm looking forward to seeing what he does in the future.
