8 characters Luffy surpassed in the final saga, ranked

Luffy has reached unprecedented heights in One Piece's Final Saga, who recently became an emperor of the sea. He recently awakened the power of the Hito Hito no Mi, model: Nika, and with it gained access to Gear 5, which he believes is his peak. As a Yonko, Luffy is incredibly strong, capable of fighting even the elite of One Piece the world and defeat them in battle.

Of course, Luffy has had to come a long way to reach this level and he has already surpassed quite a few powerful individuals along the way. These are powerful individuals who were once levels above him, but now find themselves below him in terms of power, influence, and almost everything else in One Piece world.

8

Cousin

• Affiliation: Blackbeard Pirates

• Bounty: At least 3 billion

• Devil Fruit: Hie Hie no Mi

• Haki: Color of Armament, Color of Observation

Former Admiral of the Marines, Kuzan is currently the tenth ship captain of the Blackbeard Pirates. He was once an enemy of Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates and clashed with the crew of the Long Ring Long Land.

Hopefully, he totally destroyed the crew on the island that day, and in his fight against Luffy, he was the one who came out victorious. Kuzan also engaged in battle against Luffy in the Paramount War, and then he was stronger. Right now though, he isn't strong enough to defeat Luffy or even match him in battle. He doesn't have Conqueror's Haki, and that's a big disadvantage.

7

Borsalino

• Affiliation: Marines

• Price: SEK 3

• Devil Fruit: Pika Pika no Mi

• Haki: Color of Armament, Color of Observation

Barcelino was the man partially responsible for the destruction of the Straw Hat Pirates on the island of Sabaody Archipelago. Back then, he was much stronger than every single member of the group combined. Right now, though, he's not strong enough to beat Luffy in battle.

While he can certainly compete with him to some extent in a drawn out battle, he does not have the strength required to defeat Luffy. Luffy has surpassed him ever since he awakened the power of Gear 5 and the Conqueror's Haki Infusion, and it is clear for the fans to see.

6

Dracule Mihawk

• Affiliation: Cross Guild

• Bounty: 3.59 billion

• Devil Fruit: None

• Haki: Color of Armament, Color of Observation

The world's strongest swordsman, Mihawk, is quite a powerful individual that not many can face in battle and defeat. At one point in the series, Mihawk was overwhelmingly stronger than Luffy, and he fought him in the Paramount War and tried his best to kill him.

Back then he was much stronger than Luffy. Now, however, things have turned around. Luffy is stronger than Mihawk at this point, and he has already surpassed him in all aspects of combat and authority.

5

Sakazuki

Image via Toei Animation.

• Affiliation: Marines

• Price: 5 billion

• Devil Fruit: Magu Magu no Mi

• Haki: Color of Armament, Color of Observation

Fleet Admiral Sakazuki is truly one of the most powerful individuals in the One Piece world. He possesses the power of Magu Magu no Mi, which is a Logia-type Devil Fruit that allows him to transform into magma, as well as produce and manipulate it at will. He also has great control over Haki, as demonstrated by his display in the Paramount War.

Sakazuki is indeed very strong, and fans have seen his incredible strength on many occasions. However, he has already been surpassed by Luffy, thanks to Gear 5, and overwhelmingly strong Haki. Sakazuki can certainly hold his own against Luffy in battle; however, it is clear that Luffy would beat him now.

4

Rayleigh

• Affiliation: Roger Pirates

• Bounty: Unknown

• Devil Fruit: None

• Haki: Color of Armament, Color of Observation, Color of the Supreme King

The Dark King, Rayleigh is a monstrously powerful individual, even at his advanced age. He was the right-hand man of the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and an incredible user of all three types of Haki.

Rayleigh is quite powerful, and until recently he was still stronger than Luffy. But since the climax of the Wano Country arc, Rayleigh is no match for Luffy anymore. Luffy has already surpassed him in battle long ago, and the difference between them will only grow.

3

Big mom

• Affiliation: Big Mom Pirates

• Price: 4.388 billion berries

• Devil Fruit: Soru Soru no Mi

• Haki: Color of Armament, Color of Observation, Color of the Supreme King

The former Yonko of the Sea, Big Mom is one of the most powerful individuals in the One Piece world. Being an Emperor herself, Big Mom was leagues above Luffy during the Whole Cake Island arc, and even in the vast majority of the Wano arc.

However, when Luffy awakened his Devil Fruit and unlocked the power of Gear 5, along with gaining the ability to infuse Conqueror's Haki, he not only matched Big Mom, but also managed to surpass her in battle. Luffy ended up tearing both Big Mom and Kaido from their thrones in Wano and becoming an emperor himself.

2

Kaido

• Affiliation: Beast Pirates

• Price: 4.614 billion berries

• Devil Fruit: Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Seiryuu

• Haki: Color of Armament, Color of Observation, Color of the Supreme King

Luffy fought Kaido in the Wano Country arc, and although he lost to him three times, he won in the end. His victory only came after he almost died and awakened the power of Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

Luffy managed to combine this amazing power of freewheeling combat with his amazing Haki that he had mastered to an advanced level. These things were far too much for Kaido to counter, and in the end he lost the battle. Luffy surpassed Kaido towards the end of the Wano arc, and the difference in their strength has only increased since then.

1

Kozuki Oden

• Affiliation: Roger Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, Wano

• Bounty: Unknown

• Devil Fruit: None

• Haki: Color of Armament, Color of Observation, Color of the Supreme King

The legendary samurai of Wano, Kozuki Oden, was one of the few individuals Kaido believed possessed legendary strength. In fact, he was the only one before Luffy who could have killed Kaido and that just shows the incredible power he had.

Odin had great control over all three types of Haki, and this alone made him a powerful individual. Luffy surpassed Odin towards the end of the Wano Country arc, when he finally defeated Kaido, thanks to the awakening of Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

One Piece is available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.