It has been several years since Luffy’s Gear 5 awakening shook the global One Piece fandom during the Wano battle. Although initially controversial for its comedic fighting style, Gear 5 has gradually won over fans’ hearts. The recent appearance of the “second Nika”, Jewelry Bonney, has only intensified the hype around this form.
However, the true secret behind Gear 5’s creation was just revealed through the mini magazine Legend&Next included with chapter 1169. Unpublished rough sketches and concept art from Eiichiro Oda confirm a surprising fact: Gear 4 Snakeman is the foundation that led to Gear 5.
Gear 5 draws direct inspiration from Gear 4
Among early drafts from the Whole Cake Island arc, Oda sketched initial designs of Gear 4 Snakeman. Notably, alongside the familiar Snakeman form, there are details strikingly similar to Gear 5.
Looking closer at the sketches, iconic Gear 5 features appear early on: thick twisted eyebrows, flowing white hair, and the ethereal cloud-like scarf draped over the shoulders.
One draft in the lower left corner reveals a powerful muscular mode, accompanied by a note reading ‘muscles can be freely used,’ subtly confirming the body inflation ability Luffy later used to overpower Kaido.
The notes alongside the sketches ask directly: “Could Gear 4 Snakeman be the origin of Gear 5?” This suggests that when Oda created Snakeman to fight Katakuri, he was already imagining a more ultimate form that would become the Sun God Nika.
The link between Gear 5 and Snakeman is a stroke of genius
The idea that Snakeman is the precursor to Gear 5 is truly a masterstroke by Oda. Fans have long theorized that Gear 4 was a “partial awakening” state. The clearest evidence is the cloud scarf around Luffy’s shoulders in Gear 4, a trait commonly seen in awakened Zoan Devil Fruit users.
According to Kaido, a Devil Fruit awakens when “mind and body become one.” Physically, Luffy seemed ready to awaken for some time, but it wasn’t until Wano, when he was willing to sacrifice his life to free a nation, that his “mind” truly reached Nika’s threshold. It’s possible Oda considered having Luffy awaken during the Katakuri fight but saved that historic moment for a grander stage.
These sketches are solid proof that Gear 5 was never a last-minute addition. Oda quietly prepared for this reveal years in advance.
Whether Luffy has more power forms ahead remains unknown, but judging by Oda’s meticulous design process, fans can trust that whatever comes next will be carefully crafted.