When Luffy unlocked Gear 5 in One Piece episode 1071, fans freaked out. After following his adventure for 20+ years, this ultimate power-up was a huge deal. So many people tried watching at once, that sites like Crunchyroll crashed hard.
At first, the hype was real. Gear 5’s reality-bending and Luffy’s wacky new look cemented it as his strongest form yet. Luffy kept whipping out Gear 5 again and again to battle different enemies.
The more it appeared, the less special it felt. The shock and awe faded as fans got used to the merged Boundman and Snakeman forms. After the umpteenth giant, deforming punch, it lost its coolness.
The arbitrary power levels and rules also left some fans dissatisfied or confused. Though still Luffy’s Awakening, using Gear 5 non-stop with repeated fighting moves has drained away much of the hype.
Unless the manga gets creative with new techniques, Gear 5 risks becoming just another predictable power-up. For now, overuse has stripped away that striking first-time excitement for fans.
Luffy’s Gear 5 Loses Excitement Due to Overuse
In One Piece Luffy’s powers have always stood out as imaginative and physics-defying. His Devil Fruit’s ability to stretch like rubber suited his recklessly courageous spirit.
However, in the midst of clashing with Kaido, Luffy transcended past expectations – using Gear 5.
This new technique represents a dramatic awakening, tapping into previously unseen depths of his Fruit’s potential. Building upon his existing arsenal, Gear 5 morphs Luffy’s body in unconventional ways, as if the rules of reality no longer apply.
His fighting style becomes even more unorthodox – unpredictably shifting directions mid-attack with extreme flexibility.
In this form, Luffy exudes indefatigable vitality reminiscent of the legendary Sun God Nika. He bounces back from devastating blows, infusing his techniques with a cartoonish sense of whimsy.
How Many Times Luffy Used Gear 5 In The Story?
The unfolding saga of One Piece charts Luffy’s epic quest to become Pirate King. Within the winding tale, his clash with Kaido marks a pivotal turning point for unlocking new heights of strength.
Pushed to the brink by the formidable Yonko, Luffy transcends his limits – manifesting the long-foretold Gear 5.
This awe-inspiring transformation first emerges in chapter 1044, catalyzed by Luffy embracing his fruit’s latent potential as Sun God Nika. With wild new abilities that shatter the norms of reality, Luffy gains the power to stand toe-to-toe against monsters like Kaido.
Techniques like Gomu Gomu no Bajrang Gun turn the tide of battle, culminating in victory.
Gear 5’s next appearance comes during a cinematic showdown – the film Red. Alongside his idol Shanks, Luffy briefly channels Nika’s power for a tag-team assault.
While obscured, this long-awaited animation of Gear 5 sent fans into a frenzy.
The form surfaces again in an unexpected context – Luffy crossing paths with rival Lucci. Seeking payback for a friend, chapter 1069 sees Luffy re-activate Gear 5 to flex his growth – dominating Lucci without needing to get serious.
Their battle even shares more lore about Devil Fruit awakenings.
By chapter 1070, Lucci stands helpless before Luffy’s mastery of Gear 5 and its reality-warping techniques. So in total, Luffy has called upon this ultimate technique 3 times so far in the story.
With each appearance, new heights and facets of his strength come more clearly into focus – edging him closer to grasping that crown.
How Fans Reacted To Gear 5’s Hype
When Luffy went Gear 5 against Kaido, One Piece fans felt seriously divided. After years of build-up, some were let down by how silly its design looked.
Luffy Monkey D. Gear 5 pic.twitter.com/4Z7IE56Uiy
— One piece (@onepiec5636278) August 30, 2023
Instead of the badass or edgy form expected for beating Kaido, Gear 5 has a super cartoon style. Luffy gets all stretchy and exaggerated-looking, kind of like an old rubber hose cartoon.
Fans wanting something darker or more serious for Wano’s climax felt the whimsical appearance didn’t fit. Some complained Oda betrayed their hopes of a hype transformation. They saw Gear 5 as more of a joke than an impactful upgrade.
rob lucci fans will look at this panel and then look you dead in the face and tell you luffy didn’t KO rob lucci here, even tho he says himself he’s about to pass out 💀 pic.twitter.com/v875YRG7fW
— Kaido Top 1 (@kaido876) September 8, 2023
But other fans flipped out over the creativity. They said the goofy twist matched Luffy’s own carefree battle style perfectly. His getting stronger while still being happy and joking around resonated more than just rage boosts or bigger muscles.
So while some saw Gear 5 as underwhelming or random, others loved that it went unconventional. No matter peoples’ first reactions though, shocking the fanbase is exactly what it did!
