As the right-hand man to the future King of the Pirates, Roronoa Zoro is not only the first mate of the Straw Hat pirates, but one of the strongest pirates currently sailing the Grand Line. One Piece has proven that a powerful first mate is necessary to survive and rise in the long-running franchise’s world. This makes it no surprise that Zoro’s powers have been enhanced many times over the course of One Piece, but the Wano arc has made this all the more obvious.
The Wano arc not only showcased Zoro’s ability to wield well-established powers that he unlocked during the arc, but introduced new powers into his set that could affect the Straw Hat crew’s momentous journey to find the One Piece. With Wano officially over, these powers could be introduced into a new One Piece game in the not too distant future.
Zoro Continues to Grow as a Swordsman in One Piece
While Zoro has been included in several video games outside the One Piece franchise, like Jump Force and even Roblox’s Square Piece, this article focuses on his power set within mainline One Piece games. These include:
- One Piece: Grand Battle! Series
- One Piece: Unlimited Series
- One Piece: Pirate Warriors Series
- One Piece: World Seeker
- One Piece Odyssey
- And many, many more
Spoilers for
One Piece
‘s Wano arc and beyond.
Zoro and the Conqueror’s Haki
Conqueror’s Haki, otherwise known as Supreme King Haki, has been showcased by several users, like Luffy, Shanks, and Yamato, over the course of One Piece. In its simplest form, Conqueror’s Haki allows users to assert their will over an opponent’s. Users of this form of Haki are born with it, with one in a million people possessing the power. Many Conqueror’s Haki users unknowingly possess the power which cannot be strengthened through direct use. Rather, users can increase their force of will by becoming physically stronger. Age is also not a factor in Conqueror’s Haki manifestation.
Zoro is first shown in the manga unlocking his Conqueror’s Haki during a battle with Kaidou in which he strikes the emperor with a new move in his three sword style called the Ashura Bakkei: Moja no Tawamure. Kaidou himself notes that Zoro possesses Conqueror’s Haki. Zoro continues to use it in fights including against King. Though Haki may prove to be a difficult ability to adapt into a video game as a usable skill, fan-made Roblox games have proved that it is possible. Developers that go on to include Conqueror’s Haki should be sure to make Zoro a playable character that can utilize the ability.
Enma Joins Wado and Kietsu
Arguably the most iconic aspect of Zoro’s character design and powerset is his three sword style. This feature has been expanded several times over the course of the franchise, including the introduction of Zoro’s nine sword style. However, Zoro’s time in Wano Country led to yet another expansion of the three sword style and a new powerful sword to join the Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kietsu.
One of the 21 Great Grade Meita, Zoro was given the iconic sword Enma, originally wielded by the legendary samurai Kozuki Oden, by his daughter Hiyori. The blade has been described as able to cut through to the bottom of hell, fitting for the pirate who dubs himself king of the realm. Oden gave Kaidou the massive X-shaped scar across his body.
In addition to Conqueror’s Haki, Zoro wields Armament Haki, which is known as “Ryuo” in Wano. Enma releases its wielder’s Armament Haki in excessive amounts, making the blade cut more than necessary. This trait gave Enma the reputation of being a sword impossible to wield and master. In fact, when Zoro first tested the sword, he accidentally cut off a cliffside rather than the tree he was aiming for. While Zoro has not fully mastered Enma, over the course of the arc he began to show more finesse with the blade, even wounding Kaidou while he was in dragon form.
Adding Enma as a high-level piece of equipment in a One Piece game could prove to be a powerful power-up against enemies. Though it would make more sense for Zoro to be the sole wielder of Enma in a One Piece game, allowing the sword to be used by other characters could prove to be interesting when pairing it with other Straw Hats like Brook, the other swordsman in the crew, or Sanji, who has been shown fighting with sword previously.
Zoro’s Three Sword Style Reflects His Title as “King of Hell”
Having Enma as one of the three swords Zoro uses has enhanced his iconic three sword style. This change happened because of Enma’s influence on his Armament Haki. By allowing Enma to draw out as much Haki from him as it could, Zoro infused all of his blades with both his Armament Haki and his Conqueror’s Haki. This new enhanced state was dubbed King of Hell Three Sword Style.
Though Zoro can only maintain the King of Hell Three Sword Style for limited amounts of time, the technique packs a mighty punch. If Zoro stays in the King of Hell style for too long, he could die due to the mass overconsumption of Haki. Zoro has also managed to incorporate one of his other techniques, Foxfire style, into this new style as well as he is shown cutting through magma-like flames.
While using the King of Hell style, Zoro’s three swords light up with the black lightning of Conqueror’s Haki and emanate a smokey green aura. Visually enhancing Zoro’s vast strikes and movements, this version of the three sword style warns of danger to anyone that dares challenge the King of Hell. Though the technique may be different, it once again plays off aspects of Zoro’s signature three sword style by incorporating names that are reminiscent of some of his original moves. For example, Rengoku Oni Giri is a play on Zoro’s typical Oni Giri stance. While standing in the original position of the Oni Giri technique, Zoro uses both kinds of Haki to transform the originally close-range slashing technique into a long-range flying slash technique without charging towards his opponent like the original technique requires.
Incorporating the new King of Hell style into upcoming One Piece video game installments could be done by riffing on previously showcased aspects of the original three sword style. The One Piece video game franchise has many series, including One Piece: Grand Battle!, One Piece: Unlimited, and One Piece: Pirate Warriors. It would be unsurprising for a new installment of these series to show Zoro using the King of Hell technique. However, these games would have to incorporate the previously mentioned power ups that have yet to be included in video games, including Enma and Zoro’s Conqueror’s Haki.
Zoro may not have received the most iconic power-up in the Wano arc, but his newfound power set has pushed him much closer to achieving the title of World’s Greatest Swordsman. However, Zoro has much more training to do if he wants to be the greatest swordsman in One Piece. Perhaps he will gain a new sword or two in the arcs ahead.