Key Takeaways
- One Piece characters can exhibit magical abilities without Devil Fruits or Haki.
- Divination, emotional manipulation, and music-induced sleep are examples of magic in One Piece.
- Some sword techniques and elemental control in One Piece resemble traditional magic.
One Piece, at its core, is a whimsical fantasy adventure. Full of supernatural Devil Fruit powers, mystical Haki, and impossible islands, the world of the Grand Line is far from anything that could exist in reality. Despite this, the rules of the One Piece universe stay fairly consistent, with Haki and Devil Fruits being the two primary ways that a character can access mystical powers.
However, some characters in the series possess impossible abilities without the use of Devil Fruits or Haki. These characters seem to be performing some level of magic that has never been directly referenced in the story of One Piece. These supernatural abilities have left many readers with the burning question; if characters can perform feats like this without the use of Devil Fruits or Haki, is magic real in One Piece?
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One Piece is Full of Strange Powers
Devil Fruits, Haki, Technology and More
Magic, in the case of this article, refers to anything a character in the One Piece world can accomplish superhuman feats without the use of a One Piece Devil Fruit, Haki, or technology. For example, if a character were to have the ability to shoot out a fireball without the assistance of the Flame-Flame Fruit, cyborg modifications, or some other explained trick, this attack could be considered magic.
It is the fate of your clothes… I’m sorry that he scared you. Today is an unlucky day for killing. – Basil Hawkins
However, at the same time, the strange geography and powerful animals of the islands of One Piece don’t count as magic either. Although these do produce some fantastical effects, like impossible weather, they are explained as being natural to the One Piece world. For now, this will only cover important characters who have produced some sort of magical effect.
One Piece is Full of Traditional Magic
Powers Outside of Devil Fruits
Firstly, taking a look at divination magic, or the ability to predict the future in some capacity, this idea of magic alone is enough to prove that magic itself exists in the One Piece universe. Firstly, during the Sabaody Archipelago Arc, the audience is introduced to Basil Hawkins. This Supernova frequently uses Tarot Cards for divination, seemingly with guaranteed accuracy without the use of his Devil Fruit. If this wasn’t enough, Madam Shyarly on Fishman Island can predict future events with her crystal ball.
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Other characters, such as Ms. Golden Week and the Straw Hat Musician himself, Brook, have honed their artistic prowess to supernatural abilities, seemingly performing magic with their craft. Ms. Golden Week, for example, can completely manipulate her target’s emotions with various colors. On the other hand, Brook has been shown to be able to put enemies to sleep with his musical abilities, similar to a Bard from Dungeons & Dragons.
If this wasn’t enough, the character Jango has been performing magic since before the Straw Hat Pirates entered One Piece’s Grand Line. At Syrup Village, this strange character was able to use hypnotism to such a degree that it must have been magic. In fact, his powers came from a supernatural mushroom that was growing on his chin. However, this could be explained away as some strange quirk of the One Piece world.
Some Other Powers Are Basically Magic
Sword Laser Beams Are Magic
Based on these examples alone, it’s tough not to consider traditional magic as an actual part of the One Piece world. On top of just these few examples, certain techniques can control elements of nature, like One Piece’s Fishman Karate’s manipulation of water. Although this could be considered a power gained from hard work, the ability to control water is a bit far-fetched without some sort of magic ability. Additionally, many of the sword techniques used by characters like Zoro and Mihawk, shoot literal laser beams, even without the use of something like Haki. Although these are weaker examples of magic in One Piece, they’re still strange supernatural abilities in the world.
I never wanted to see a future as terrifying as Fishman Island brought to ruin by Straw Hat Luffy. – Madam Shyarly
Overall, just by looking at Madam Shyarly and the One Piece Supernova, Basil Hawkins, it’s easy to see that some level of traditional magic exists in the One Piece world. While this seems strange on its own, with so many unique Devil Fruits, in reality, it would be difficult to create a fruit for every ability that makes its debut in the series. In the end, these strange mystical powers help elevate otherwise unnoteworthy characters to a category of their own; magic-users.
