Before the transformation, the Dressrosa arc had reached its climax. The villainous had trapped the entire island within his "Birdcage" technique, a shrinking dome of razor-sharp strings. Despite Luffy’s mastery of Gear 2nd and 3rd, he was unable to penetrate Doflamingo’s overwhelming defenses and Haki. To protect his friends and the citizens of Dressrosa, Luffy revealed a technique he had spent two years perfecting during his training on the island of Rusukaina. How Gear 4th Works
That episode—Episode 726, “Gear Fourth! The Bouncy Man”—marked the first time the world saw Luffy’s ultimate transformation. And Dressrosa would never be the same. luffy 4th gear first time episode
“You brat,” he whispered, activating his awakened strings. “You’ll regret showing me that power.” Before the transformation, the Dressrosa arc had reached
His skin turned a deep, glossy crimson, and strange, swirling patterns emerged across his body like tribal flames. His rubber body had become something else entirely—a hybrid of elasticity and raw, compressed power. To protect his friends and the citizens of
three massive power systems simultaneously: Reddit Muscle Inflation (Kintaro): Luffy bites into his forearm and blows air directly into his muscular structure, increasing his size and tension. Haki Infusion: He coats his limbs and torso in a thick layer of Armament Haki. Unlike standard Haki, this allows him to maintain his rubbery elasticity even when "hardened," making him both a shield and a spring. Compression Power: Because his muscles are pressurized with air and held together by Haki, Luffy can retract his limbs into himself like a piston. This "compression" builds up extreme potential energy, which he releases for devastating attacks like the
Once Gear 4th was active, the power dynamic shifted instantly. Luffy’s new form allowed him to:
