As One Piece‘s timeline continues to evolve, fans have learned more about Haki and the different types of power it offers those who wield it. From sensing other’s spiritual energy to being able to totally overpower and overwhelm those around them, Haki gives One Piece‘s cast remarkable means to take down their opponents in battle. Some of One Piece‘s most significant events have occurred thanks to Haki, with one of the most notable being when Shanks used it to save young Luffy’s life at the start of the series. While all forms of Haki are a testament to a character’s strength and determination, there is one form of Haki that is rarer than all the rest, and those who are able to control it are seen as the ultimate wielders of power.

Observation Haki is Like a Sixth Sense

The Power Comes with Precognitive Abilities

Observation Haki grants its user an extrasensory “sixth sense” ability, which allows them to sense others around them, including their presence, strength and emotions. This form of Haki also comes with limited precognitive abilities for those who have been able to master it. Characters like Katakuri can see slightly into the future, and this gives them an edge in battle when it comes to countering attacks or knowing when to dodge an enemy’s incoming blast. With this in mind, Observation Haki is largely defensive in its nature, and it relies heavily on its user being able to maintain mental focus and clarity.

The wicked pirate Blackbeard was the first character in One Piece shown to be using Observation Haki during the Jaya Arc, when he noticed Luffy’s strength didn’t quite match up with his impressive 30 million Berry Bounty. The first time these powers were confirmed to be Haki, however, came later in the series during Luffy’s battle on Amazon Lily with the Gorgon Sisters. Silvers Rayleigh explained the concept of Haki to Luffy, confirming how it worked and that Observation Haki was indeed the same as the “Mantra” powers seen in Skypiea.

Some notable Observation Haki users include Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Shanks and Blackbeard. Even some of One Piece‘s antagonistic Marines have been able to harness Observation Haki’s power, with Koby, Monkey D. Garp and Smoker being shown to use it over the course of the series.

Blackbeard proved that Observation Haki could also be used to measure the level of Haki in others, when he mentioned during the raid on Impel Down that Luffy’s Haki had grown since their first meeting in Jaya. Observation Haki can also be used to sense a person’s emotions (although this can be countered and manipulated by characters who are easily able to control their feelings). It also allows the user to pick up on an enemy’s intent, allowing them to predict their actions, usually a few seconds ahead of time.

Highly advanced masters of Observation Haki can go even further, seeing into the future for a short period rather than just sensing what will happen through intuition. So far, only a handful of characters — Katakuri, Luffy, Kaido and Shanks — have been shown to be powerful enough to use Observation Haki’s Future Vision.

Armament Haki is a Well-Rounded Ability

The Power Can Cut Through Devil Fruit Defenses

The most well-rounded form of Haki is referred to as Armament Haki, and it allows its user to harness their spiritual energy to enact an invisible piece of armor around themselves. Armament Haki gives its wielder powerful offensive and defensive powers, and it can even be used to injure Devil Fruit users who are immune to physical attacks. The versatility of Armament Haki makes it one of the most common forms of Haki seen in the series, most often used in One Piece‘s legendary combat scenes.

Armament Haki was first seen when Vice Admiral Garp bypassed Luffy’s Devil Fruit powers and injured him in Episode 313 during Water 7. This form of Haki was also used by both the Marines and pirate crews during the Summit War of M arineford. Armament Haki is considered to be a common ability in the New World, and as a result, many One Piece

Despite how common it is, Armament Haki still has a learning and power curve. One of the main drawbacks of the ability is the skill and stamina required to maintain it during prolonged battles. In clashes between two fighters armed with Armament Haki, the fighter with the superior Haki levels usually proves to be victorious.

Armament Haki’s Techniques

The most basic usage of Armament Haki is referred to as “Hardening”, when the user coats their body in Haki, strengthening their defenses and augmenting their power output. The hardening acts as both armor and a weapon, but it is not entirely impenetrable. One Piece has generally shown that if two users of Armament Haki clash, the one who has a higher level will break through the other user’s hardening defenses and be able to injure them. This forces One Piece’s fighters to work hard to train and become masters of Haki.

Armament Haki can also be imbued into other objects, granting them the same boosts as the user’s own body would receive. This proves to be particularly deadly when characters like Zoro or Dracule Mihawk imbue their weapons with Armament Haki.

Advanced Armament Haki techniques allow the user to emit blasts of Haki from their body (typically from their hands). The Haki will travel a short distance, virtually allowing the wielder to attack their opponents without even touching them. The highest level of mastery over Armament Haki involves Internal Destruction, which uses the outward flow of the Haki, sending it to the target’s body and destroying them from the inside out. Only Silvers Rayleigh and Luffy have been shown to have the power of Internal Destruction so far in the series.

Conqueror’s Haki is the Rarest Haki in One Piece

Only the Most Powerful Warriors Can Wield It

While Armament Haki is fairly common in the world of One Piece, Conqueror’s Haki (also called Supreme King Haki) is incredibly rare. It is impossible to awaken with training, and it is said that only one in a million people are born with the power to use it. With this in mind, those who have shown the ability to use Conqueror’s Haki are usually Supreme Rulers, considered to be dangerous enemies (or valuable assets) by some of One Piece‘s overarching antagonists, like the Five Elders and the Marines.

Luffy, Shanks, Silvers Rayleigh, Big Mom and Boa Hancock are a handful of the One Piece characters capable of using Conqueror’s Haki. Gol D. Roger, Edward Newgate and Portgas D. Ace also proved themselves worthy of wielding the incredible power when they were alive.

The exclusive form of Haki allows its user to quite literally dominate the will of those around them. With that said, Conqueror’s Haki is not entirely invincible; those who have strong forces of will are able to resist — or completely ignore — Conqueror’s Haki’s influence.

Conqueror’s Haki’s Techniques

The One Piece characters who have been lucky enough to use Conqueror’s Haki are able to tap into some of the franchise’s most raw powers, with even basic Conqueror’s Haki techniques allowing them to temporarily dominate their opponents and get inside their minds. Conqueror’s Haki users are even powerful enough to incapacitate people and animals around them unconscious almost instantly.

Advanced Conqueror’s Haki techniques involve “infusing” the power in a way similar to Armament Haki, letting the wielder coat their attacks in the Haki for greatly improved strength. This was one of the key factors that allowed Luffy to go head-to-head against Kaido of the Beasts Pirates — the world’s strongest living creature — despite being otherwise greatly outclassed.

While Conqueror’s Haki is one of the rarest forms of the mysterious power to be seen in One Piece‘s world, it frequently makes an appearance in the show’s most thrilling battles. As Luffy continues his adventures in the New World, he faces more powerful opponents as time goes on — and it’s proven that the key to beating them involves leveling up his own Conqueror’s Haki and proving that he deserves to be one of the Supreme Rulers of the world.