Haki is one of the most mysterious power systems in One Piece, and I still don’t get how it’s supposed to work. While legendary figures like Silvers Rayleigh and Red-Haired Shanks have perfect control over it, some characters who should have Haki don’t have it at all, or others have a weak form of it.
Other aspects of One Piece can remain a mystery, like Devil Fruits. Those are quite supernatural, and an origin story isn’t necessary. Conqueror’s Haki, on the other hand, is said to be unlocked by those with strong will, and yet some of the characters who have proven this don’t have it.
Most strong characters have at least Armament or Observation Haki, or both. Only a select few have Conqueror’s Haki. However, those who match the strength and will of these select few don’t possess it, breaking the obvious rules Oda himself set.
Ever since I saw Dracule Mihawk, I expected him to have Conqueror’s Haki, but even in 2025, no such luck. Some fans even question how Crocodile didn’t unlock it. What’s more puzzling is the way Haki, in general, works, especially Observation. Oda has some explaining to do.
Haki is arguably the weakest writing Oda has presented in One Piece
Eiichiro Oda isn’t the perfect writer by any means. Some of the arcs in One Piece are entirely too long, barely anyone has died in the present timeline, and the sheer size of his cast is hard to keep up with. Haki also proves that the mangaka doesn’t stick to his own rules.
Quite a few characters deserve Conqueror’s Haki in One Piece. I, for one, truly believe Mihawk has it, but Oda has refused to show his full potential. It’s almost criminal that someone like Robin doesn’t even possess one form of it, and yet Koby, who is much younger, can use two.
Other characters that fans are confused about not having Conqueror’s Haki yet are Sanji and Sabo. The latter successfully escaped from Imu, who commits genocide as a hobby, and the former ran away from his abusive family to live his dreams. If that isn’t a strong will, then I don’t know what is.
Monkey D. Dragon is so absent, I have no idea what this man is capable of. Reddit fans, however, have questioned why Crocodile doesn’t have Conqueror’s Haki.
iight its been long enough…lets talk about one of Oda’s biggest writing sin
byu/frankmk inPiratefolk
Reading this made me realize how loose the rules about Haki are. The comments further prove this point.
Comment
byu/frankmk from discussion
inPiratefolk
Crocodile realistically should’ve had his moment. Moreover, how did the Five Elders or Imu realize Sabo was around? Personally, Observation Haki is the most confusing and inconsistent, and it seems fans agree with this.
Why haven’t some characters awakened Haki?
Most awakenings for Haki have happened under stress and immense pressure. Ace had his when Luffy was nearly killed, and vice versa. Most Observation Haki awakenings, too, happened like this. So then, why not explain Robin’s Demonio Fleur with Conqueror’s Haki or any form?
Advanced Observation Haki also makes little sense. If it can allow you to see the future, how come Luffy can’t predict some moves of his enemies? Oda made it this way in One Piece; it should be consistent.
If you had to ask me who doesn’t deserve Haki, it’s Eustass Kid. Give his abilities to Robin, and I might forgive Oda. Otherwise, the mangaka has a lot of justifying and retconning to do in the Final Saga.
One Piece is available on Crunchyroll.
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