One Piece: Here’s When Luffy Learned How to Use Each Haki

Monkey D. Luffy’s path to mastering Haki in ‘One Piece’ is a big deal for anyone following his wild adventure. As the Straw Hat captain, he’s had to level up his skills to take on tougher foes, and learning Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror’s Haki has been key to that growth. Each type came at a different point in his story, showing how he’s gone from a scrappy kid to a serious contender for Pirate King. I’ve always been hooked on watching him figure out these powers, and it’s cool to see how they tie into his dream of finding the One Piece treasure.

We’re diving into when Luffy picked up each Haki type because it’s not just about the fights—it’s about how he’s changing as a leader. His journey through the Grand Line is packed with moments that push him to get stronger, and Haki is a huge part of that. Whether it’s dodging attacks with Observation Haki or throwing harder punches with Armament Haki, every step feels earned. Let’s break it down and look at when these powers clicked for him, plus how he took things further with advanced Haki later on.

When Did Luffy Learn Observation Haki?

Luffy started getting a grip on Observation Haki during the two-year time skip after the Marineford chaos. He trained with Silvers Rayleigh on Rusukaina Island, a brutal place with wild weather and beasts tougher than him. Rayleigh showed him the ropes, blindolding him to sharpen his senses, and Luffy learned to feel people’s presence and dodge attacks he couldn’t even see.

By the time he got back with the crew in the Sabaody Archipelago, he could sense emotions and intentions pretty well. We saw it in action on Fish-Man Island when he dodged Hody Jones’ water shots like it was nothing. It wasn’t perfect yet, but he had the basics down, and it gave him an edge against tricky opponents.

His Observation Haki really took off during the Whole Cake Island arc. Fighting Charlotte Katakuri, who could see seconds into the future, forced Luffy to step up. After hours of getting pummeled, he finally tapped into that same future-sight ability, turning the tide and proving he could match the best with this power.

When Did Luffy Learn Armament Haki?

Luffy picked up Armament Haki during that same time skip with Rayleigh. On Rusukaina, he spent a year and a half training to coat his body with this invisible armor. It was all about boosting his strength and defense, and Rayleigh made sure he got the hang of it by sparring with those massive island beasts.

When he reunited with the Straw Hats, we saw it pay off right away. In the Sabaody Archipelago, he smashed a Pacifista with one punch—something his whole crew struggled with before. That black coating on his fist was Armament Haki in action, letting him hit harder and even hurt Devil Fruit users who’d normally shrug off attacks.

He kept refining it as he went. By Punk Hazard, he was hardening his Gear Second and Third moves, making them way more powerful. It wasn’t flashy at first, but it became a go-to move, especially when he needed to break through tough defenses or take on heavy hitters like Doflamingo.

When Did Luffy Learn Conqueror’s Haki?

Conqueror’s Haki is different—it’s something Luffy was born with, not trained into. He first used it without knowing back in episode 389, during the Duval fight. His raw willpower knocked out Motobaro, that big bison, and we didn’t even realize what it was until later. It’s rare, only showing up in one in a million people, and Luffy’s got it in spades.

We got a clearer look during the Marineford arc. Trying to save Ace, he let out a burst that dropped soldiers and even the executioners around him. He didn’t control it then—it just spilled out in the heat of the moment—but Rayleigh later confirmed it was Conqueror’s Haki, tying Luffy to legends like Shanks and Roger.

After the time skip, he started using it on purpose. On Fish-Man Island, he knocked out 50,000 of Hody’s crew with one glare, showing he’d gotten the hang of it under Rayleigh’s guidance. It’s not just for show either—he’s clashed wills with guys like Chinjao and Doflamingo, proving it’s a weapon all its own.

When Did Luffy Learn Advanced Haki?

Luffy’s advanced Haki kicked in later, building on what he’d already learned. For Observation Haki, the big jump was against Katakuri in Whole Cake Island. Seeing the future was a game-changer, and he pulled it off mid-battle, dodging moves he couldn’t before. It was rough at first, but by the end, he was matching Katakuri blow for blow with that foresight.

Armament Haki got its upgrade in Wano, thanks to Hyogoro in Udon Prison. Luffy learned Ryuo, a trick to flow Haki out of his body and wreck stuff from the inside. He practiced on trees and collars, then used it to hurt Kaido—something his regular punches couldn’t do. That internal destruction was a huge leap, making him a real threat to the Yonko.

Conqueror’s Haki went advanced during his rooftop fight with Kaido in Wano too. He figured out how to coat his attacks with it, boosting his power like crazy. Black lightning sparked when he hit, and he even knocked Kaido down without touching him. It’s a rare skill—only a handful like Shanks and Roger pull it off—and it’s what’s pushing Luffy closer to the top.