One Piece: Zoro’s 103 Mercies

Throughout One Piece, Zoro has continuously pushed the limits of his swordsmanship, refining his techniques and incorporating powerful new abilities so that he can protect his crew. But it’s only in few arcs that fans see Zoro truly push himself beyond anything they could’ve imagined, and the last time he did this was in Wano—right before he surrendered himself to Enma and took on the title of “King of Hell”.

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That fight was the birth of his King of Hell Three Sword Style: 103 Mercies – Dragon Damnation technique, and it quickly became a fan-favorite move. This technique, a variant of his Flying Dragon Blaze, is a fusion of his Armament and Supreme King Haki, amplified by the power of Enma. But what fans may not know is that it’s also a reference to Ryuma and his prequel that Oda wrote long before One Piece.

King of Hell Three Sword Style Explained

What Is the King of Hell Three Sword Style?

Zoro’s King of Hell Three Sword Style is an advanced variation of his signature Santoryu (Three-Sword Style). After embracing Enma’s full potential, Zoro infuses all three of his swords with not only Armament Haki but also Supreme King Haki. This combination exponentially increases the power and range of his attacks. However, maintaining this state drains a significant amount of Haki, making it a technique that Zoro cannot sustain for prolonged periods without serious consequences.

What Makes Enma So Special?

Enma, one of the 21 Great Grade swords, is a legendary blade known for its ability to draw out excessive amounts of the wielder’s Haki. The sword originally belonged to Kozuki Oden, and his daughter gave it to Zoro as a show of gratitude after he returned Shusui (Ryuma’s sword) to Wano.

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Mastering Enma allowed Zoro to effectively supercharge his attacks with Supreme King Haki, enhancing their cutting power to an extreme degree. In Dragon Damnation, this synergy between Zoro and Enma plays a crucial role in amplifying the attack’s destructive force.

Zoro’s 103 Mercies – Dragon Damnation: The Technique

Mechanics of the Attack

Dragon Damnation is a long-range technique that combines Supreme King Haki and Armament Haki into a devastating slash. Zoro charges at his opponent, leaps into the air, and aligns his two hand-held swords with his mouth-held blade before delivering a descending slash. The sheer force of the Haki-infused strike extends beyond the reach of his swords, sending an enormous flying slash toward his opponent.

Zoro Versus King

Zoro first used 103 Mercies – Dragon Damnation during his battle against King on Onigashima. As King unleashed Omori Karyudon, an attack that generated a massive dragon-shaped fire blast hotter than magma, Zoro countered with Dragon Damnation, slicing through the fiery attack, King’s sword, and even his body, despite his Lunarian durability.

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Strengths of Dragon Damnation

• Unparalleled Cutting Power: Infused with both Supreme King and Armament Haki, Dragon Damnation can bypass even the toughest defenses.
• Long-Range Effectiveness: Unlike many of Zoro’s close-combat techniques, this move extends far beyond his physical reach, making it effective against powerful ranged opponents.
• Overcomes Elemental Obstacles: Thanks to Zoro’s mastery of Kin’emon’s Foxfire Style, Dragon Damnation can cut through fire, including attacks hotter than magma.

Weaknesses and Limitations

• High Haki Consumption: Zoro can only maintain King of Hell Three Sword Style for a limited time before exhaustion sets in.
• Execution Requirements: The attack requires a precise setup, meaning it may not always be viable in fast-paced combat situations.
• Lack of Versatility: Unlike some of Zoro’s defensive techniques, Dragon Damnation is purely an offensive move, making it ineffective for countering certain strategies.

The Connection to Ryuma and Flying Dragon Blaze

A Stronger Version of Flying Dragon Blaze

Dragon Damnation is a direct evolution of Flying Dragon Blaze, the technique Zoro used against the legendary Ryuma in Thriller Bark. In that battle, Flying Dragon Blaze was powerful enough to set Ryuma ablaze, proving its strength even in its base form. This was the attack that made Ryuma recognize Zoro’s strength and deem him worthy of wielding Shusui. With the addition of Supreme King Haki and Enma’s influence, Dragon Damnation elevates this attack to an entirely new level.

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Possible References to Ryuma

The name 103 Mercies may be a subtle nod to Ryuma and Oda’s earlier work, Monsters, in which the legendary samurai slays a dragon. The thematic elements of dragons, samurai, and judgment in Zoro’s attack name suggest a possible reference to this story. However, it remains unclear whether Zoro himself is aware of Ryuma’s full legacy.

As his journey continues, it remains to be seen how much further Zoro can push his King of Hell Three Sword Style—but if Dragon Damnation is any indication, Zoro’s potential is limitless.

One Piece

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Network

Fuji TV

Directors

Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou

• 

  Mayumi Tanaka

  Monkey D. Luffy (voice)

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  Kazuya Nakai

  Roronoa Zoro (voice)