Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (2024)

One Piece

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (1)

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (2)

By Ajay Aravind & Kennedy King

Updated

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Manage Your List

Follow

Followed

Follow with Notifications

Follow

Unfollow

Link copied to clipboard

Sign in to your CBR account
Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (3)

Quick Links

  • Observation Haki Is The Most Common Type Of Haki In One Piece

  • Armament Haki Creates A Spiritual Armor Around The User

  • Conqueror's Haki Is Wielded By One In Several Million People

Haki is a mysterious power primarily wielded by the strongest combatants in One Piece. By allowing its users to manipulate their spiritual presence, they can accomplish superhuman tasks. Unlike Devil Fruits, Haki has no inherent drawbacks, making it a must-have for any pirates looking to sail the Grand Line. Unfortunately, the ability to use Haki is generally rare across One Piece.

There are three overarching types: Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki. Although Armament and Observation Haki are incredibly powerful in their own right, Conqueror's Haki is easily the rarest and most coveted of the trio. Each Haki type comes with specific subtypes, which, when combined, can turn any pirate or marine into a massive threat.

Updated on February 23, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Although Haki was first seen when Shanks rescued Luffy from a Sea King, the concept was only mentioned much later. Luffy and the Straw Hats began honing their Haki skills during the two-year timeskip, and the results were outstanding. At this point, even Usopp can use a basic level of Observation Haki. As such, we've updated this article with some more information about the various types of Haki in One Piece.

Observation Haki Is The Most Common Type Of Haki In One Piece

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (4)

Notable Users

Luffy, Usopp, Sanji, Zoro, Jinbei, and several others

Notable Features

Presence, Emotion, Intent, and Strength Sensing capabilities

Related

New One Piece Anime Opening Rivals Toei in Creative Storyboarding

A talented group of One Piece fans collaborate to create an incredible animated sequence that invokes the spirit of the beloved Toei anime series.

Observation Haki is the most common type of Haki in the One Piece universe, and it allows users to sense the presence of others in various forms. It can be considered as extrasensory perception, but the process isn't exactly mysterious. For some, sensing auras is easier, while others, like Monkey D. Luffy, are proficient in feeling the emotions of those around them.

The first confirmed use of Observation Haki occurs when Blackbeard gauges Luffy's strength on Jaya Island. It's appeared in almost every single arc since then, so it feels safe to say that the skill is a vital tool for New World pirates. That said, those who lose control of their emotions very easily during battle won't be able to make the most of Observation Haki.

Observation Haki Subtype 1: Future Sight Can Predict An Opponent's Moves

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (6)

Notable Users

Katakuri, Luffy, Shanks, and Kaido

Notable Features

Extremely useful against Logia Devil Fruit users

When an individual becomes incredibly skilled in the use of Observation Haki, they can potentially unlock its most powerful skill: Future Sight. This aptly named ability allows its user to glimpse into the near future, instantly making them a massive threat in almost any combat situation. Interestingly, this subtype of Observation Haki requires fighting to learn; ordinary training sessions won't work.

Future Sight was first seen in Charlotte Katakuri, whose eyes glow red when activating the technique. Not many characters in the story have awakened Future Sight, however — only Charlotte Katakuri, Monkey D. Luffy, Kaido, and Shanks are confirmed users. According to Silvers Rayleigh, Future Sight is only used by the strongest fighters in One Piece, so it will likely play a larger role as the series moves into its endgame.

Armament Haki Creates A Spiritual Armor Around The User

Notable Users

Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Jinbei, and several others

Notable Features

Includes numerous basic and advanced techniques

Like all forms of Haki, Armament Haki draws upon one's spiritual essence. Using this spiritual power, it thereby creates "armor" around its user. As a result, those skilled in its use are capable of superhuman offensive and defensive feats. In addition, Armament Haki-infused attacks can also cause damage to Logia-type Devil Fruit Users — an ability that renders some Logia-types completely useless.

The first person to demonstrate Armament Haki in One Piece just so happens to be one of its greatest users. During the Enies Lobby arc, Monkey D. Garp disciplines his grandson with a Haki-infused punch that bypasses Luffy's Devil Fruit powers. Garp is often heralded as the greatest Armament Haki user of his generation, although he has yet to fully display the limits of its power on-screen. In any case, there are various Armament Haki subtypes.

Armament Haki Subtype 1: Hardening Increases Both Power And Defense

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (7)

Notable Users

Luffy, Pica, Zoro, Oden, Rayleigh, and Whitebeard

Notable Features

The color of the hardening varies between users

Related

One Piece Reveals New Official Artwork for Gender-Swapped Trafalgar Law

One Piece has released new official artwork of female Trafalgar Law from the anime's recent Episode 1093 of the "Egghead" arc.

As the most common subtype of Armament Haki, Hardening is used in a large percentage of One Piece battles post-time-skip. By sending Armament Haki to various parts of their body, users can create a dark layer of Haki along their skin that exponentially increases their power and defensive abilities. Hardening is a skill used by most experienced fighters in the New World — especially those who possess above-average strength.

Given its usefulness against non-Devil Fruit users and Devil Fruit users alike, this form of Armament Haki is effectively a must-have for any combat-oriented sailors on the Grand Line. Luffy constantly relies on Hardening during battles after entering the New World, mainly because his opponents would be far too strong to defeat otherwise. In fact, even Hardening doesn't really work against transcendent combatants like Kaido.

Armament Haki Subtype 2: Imbuement Can Reinforce Specific Objects

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (9)

Notable Users

Zoro, Mihawk, Doflamingo, Roger, and Hancock

Notable Features

Weapons like Enma naturally extract Armament Haki

In a similar vein to the Hardening technique, Imbuement allows Armament Haki-users to reinforce specific objects with their spiritual energy. As seen with Roronoa Zoro, this can turn items like swords into lethal threats while simultaneously making them impervious to damage. Generally, items affected by Imbuement turn a dark black color to reflect their altered status.

Dracule Mihawk insists on Imbuing his weapon with Armament Haki, explaining why Yoru is also known as a "black blade." Swords and the only weapons that benefit from Imbuement. On the contrary, this technique has been applied to bullets and arrows, as well. After being imbued, these items can even retain their enhancements after being separated from their user — a feat evidenced by the Kuja tribe's Armament Haki-infused arrows.

Armament Haki Subtype 3: Emission Can Project Attacks Across Short Distances

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (10)

Notable Users

Luffy, Rayleigh, Akainu, Kizaru, Hyogoro, and Koby

Notable Features

Helped Luffy become stronger during the Wano arc

The abilities of Armament Haki vary massively based on the skill of its user. Only its most masterful wielders can utilize the Emission technique, which allows an individual to project their Armament Haki-based attacks across short distances. This requires incredible precision and timing, which means the user must remain in an almost-meditative state.

Distance is a vital element of combat, so for those that primarily rely on Armament Haki — usually a short-range combat approach — adding Haki Emission to their repertoire can completely change their skillset. It was only introduced during the Wano Country arc, but Luffy makes use of Emission while fighting Kaido. In any case, the technique will undoubtedly play a major role in One Piece's upcoming arcs.

Armament Haki Subtype 4: Internal Destruction Is Extremely Dangerous

Notable Users

Luffy and Rayleigh

Notable Features

One of the rarest Haki techniques

Related

In One Piece, Kaido is incredibly powerful. However, here are seven heroes who can and have defeated him, and three who could not.

The rarest subtype of Armament Haki, known as Internal Destruction, has only been demonstrated by two characters: Monkey D. Luffy and his mentor Silvers Rayleigh. This ability further refines the concept of Haki Emission by sending Armament Haki through the body of its target, destroying it from the inside out. It was first seen when Rayleigh destroyed Camie's slave collar in the Sabaody Archipelago arc.

Since Luffy and Rayleigh are the only characters to use Haki Emission, the full scope of its capabilities is still a bit vague. However, its devastating impact has been made painfully clear. It takes a while for Luffy to get the specifics of Internal Destruction, but gets quite far under Hyogoro's guidance. He even rips the explosive collars off his and Hyo's neck, demonstrating once again that he's not just some average pirate.

Armament Haki Subtype 5: Tribal Haki Is Named For Its Flame Patterns

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (12)

Notable Users

Katakuri, Big Mom, and Luffy

Notable Features

The flame pattern comes from potent Haki concentrations

On rare occasions, Armament Haki has been shown to develop tribal flame patterns — a feature that is prominently seen when Monkey D. Luffy goes into Gear 4. Although much about this Armament Haki subtype (colloquially named Tribal Haki by fans) remains unknown, it is speculated that it allows users to combine their Haki with their Devil Fruit powers. Another theory is that the flame pattern comes from potent Haki concentrations.

However, Monkey D. Luffy, Charlotte Katakuri, and Big Mom have all evidenced the flame patterns that are typical of Tribal Haki, which lends credence to the association between it and Devil Fruit powers. Nothing about the Armament Haki subtype has been hinted at in recent arcs, but hopefully, One Piece's final saga will shed some light on the matter.

Conqueror's Haki Is Wielded By One In Several Million People

Notable Users

Shanks, Luffy, Rayleigh, Roger, Oden, Ace, Sengoku, and Whitebeard

Notable Features

The Haki output depends entirely on the user's willpower

Wielded by one in several million people, Conqueror's Haki is an incredibly rare ability that allows its user to impose their will on others. Weaker targets are instantly rendered unconscious by its presence, while more powerful foes can resist its most basic effects. It was first introduced when Shanks used it to save little Luffy against a Sea King, but neither the technique nor its name was mentioned.

When trained extensively, Conqueror's Haki users can exert the ability over even larger distances, knocking out tens of thousands of enemies in a single moment. Luffy unconsciously activates his Conqueror's Haki during Marineford, but he later neutralizes fifty thousand Fish-Men without any effort. Conqueror's Haki is said to emerge in those with the qualities of a ruler, so only One Piece's most significant figures have wielded it.

Conqueror's Haki Subtype 1: Infusion Can Elevate Attack Potency

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (13)

Notable Users

Roger, Luffy, Whitebeard, Yamato, Kaido, Zoro, and Shanks

Notable Features

Works much like Armament Haki's Imbuement Technique

Related

One Piece's unflappable Sir Crocodile has one weakness, and Ivankov knows what it is. What do they have in common, and why is Oda keeping it a secret?

Although Conqueror's Haki is extremely rare, an even rarer form of the ability exists. By infusing a weapon or one's own body with Conqueror's Haki, wielders can dramatically elevate the potency of their attacks, raising their capabilities to the realm of legends like Gol D. Roger and Edward Newgate. In fact, both Roger and Whitebeard Infused their weapons with Conqueror's Haki during their legendary battle.

Conqueror's Haki Infusion appears several times during One Piece, but its exact mechanism isn't confirmed until the pivotal showdown between Monkey D. Luffy and Kaido in the Raid on Onigashima. Once Monkey D. Luffy learned how to perform the technique, he immediately put Kaido on the defensive. This demonstrates its massive impact on the villain known as the "strongest creature in the world."

Conqueror's Haki Subtype 2: Observation Killing Can Negate Future Sight

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (15)

Notable Users

Shanks

Notable Features

No character has used this technique on-screen yet

Little has been said about Observation Killing, the rarest form of Haki in all of One Piece. Thus far, Shanks is the only individual known to employ it, and even then, he hasn't used it on-screen in a single scene. The Conqueror's Haki-based ability allows its user to negate the effects of Observation Haki — a game-changing tool in fights against the upper echelon of Haki users.

In fact, having access to this technique automatically makes the user one of the strongest in the world. Shanks' mastery of Conqueror's Haki is arguably the greatest in pirate history, so Observation Killing may be unique to him. However, given his inevitable reunion with Monkey D. Luffy, there's a strong chance that One Piece's protagonist will eventually uncover more about the legendary technique.

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (16)
One Piece (1999)

TV-14

Follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew in order to find the greatest treasure ever left by the legendary Pirate, Gold Roger. The famous mystery treasure named "One Piece".

Release Date
October 20, 1999

Creator
Eiichirô Oda

Cast
Mayumi Tanaka , Akemi Okamura , Laurent Vernin , Tony Beck , Kazuya Nakai
Main Genre
Animation

Seasons
1

Studio
Toei Animation

Number of Episodes
1K+
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Hulu , Funimation , Adult Swim , Pluto TV , Netflix
  • Anime
  • One Piece

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Manage Your List

Follow

Followed

Follow with Notifications

Follow

Unfollow

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained (2024)

FAQs

Every Haki and Its Subtypes in One Piece, Explained? ›

Unfortunately, the ability to use Haki is generally rare across One Piece. There are three overarching types: Armament, Observation, and Conqueror's Haki. Although Armament and Observation Haki are incredibly powerful in their own right, Conqueror's Haki is easily the rarest and most coveted of the trio.

What are all the types of Haki and subtypes? ›

Haki is mainly divided into two types: Color of Arms Haki, also known as Armament Haki; and Color of Observation Haki, or simply Observation Haki. A rare third type of Haki, called Conqueror's Haki, also exists in very few characters in One Piece.

How do you explain Haki in One Piece? ›

Haki is a mysterious power that allows individuals to harness their own spiritual energy for various superhuman feats. As this energy manifests from willpower, it is theoretically open to all of the world's living creatures; the vast majority, however, are either ignorant or unable to achieve mastery.

How many haki are in One Piece? ›

There are three types of Haki: Conqueror's, Armament, and Observation, with Conqueror's being the rarest. Haki surpasses devil fruits in power and is believed to be the key to defeating the strongest characters in the series.

Does Luffy have all 3 types of advanced Haki? ›

The new Emperor of the Sea, Luffy, just like Kaido, is one of the few people capable of using advanced grade Haki of all three types.

What is ryou haki? ›

This advanced emission technique for Armament haki is called Ryuo by Hyogoro in Wano. This gives the user the ability to detach the haki from his body and utilize it to unleash an attack similar to a shockwave. The ability to attack enemies without touching them makes this move incredibly effective.

What kind of haki does Coby have? ›

Koby is an extremely skilled Busoshoku Haki user.

How many Haki can Zoro use? ›

Zoro is a very powerful fighter, and he possesses all three types of Haki. Zoro was able to use Conqueror's Haki unknowingly against Kaido. Biggest Feat: With his newfound power, Zoro managed to defeat the right-hand man of Kaido. However, his biggest feat is scarring Kaido.

What is the rarest Haki in One Piece? ›

So far, the rarest form of Haki that fans have seen in One Piece is a subtype of Conqueror's Haki, called Observation Killing. So far, Shanks is the only user of this Haki type. Essentially, it allows Shanks to prevent his enemies from seeing the future.

How many straw hats can use Haki? ›

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.

Does Nami have the Color of the Supreme King? ›

Jimbei confirmed it! Nami has Color of the Supreme King / Conqueror's Haki 🤣🤣🤣 Follow @luffytaro.

Does Big Mom have all 3 types of Haki? ›

Big Mom is one of the very few people in the world who can use all three forms of Haki. Law stated that he could not directly move Big Mom around inside his ROOM due to her Haki being too strong.

Is there a 4th Haki? ›

However, it looks like there is a fourth Haki, which is so rare that it can only be used by Dracule Mihawk and Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of The Revolutionary Forces.

What is the rarest type of Haki? ›

So far, the rarest form of Haki that fans have seen in One Piece is a subtype of Conqueror's Haki, called Observation Killing. So far, Shanks is the only user of this Haki type. Essentially, it allows Shanks to prevent his enemies from seeing the future.

Which haki is the strongest? ›

Strongest Pirate In The World

He does not have any kind of Devil Fruit power, which is why he dedicated his entire time to honing his Haki. Shanks possesses three types of Haki, and it is safe to assume that he can utilize them to the highest degree. His Conqueror's Haki is arguably the strongest in One Piece.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jonah Leffler

Last Updated:

Views: 5275

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (65 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jonah Leffler

Birthday: 1997-10-27

Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

Phone: +2611128251586

Job: Mining Supervisor

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.