Kizaru's place in One Piece powerscaling represents Oda's biggest flaw

Modified Oct 25, 2024 16:00 GMT

In One Piece, Admiral Borsalino, known as Kizaru, wields the Pika-Pika no Mi, a Devil Fruit that grants him control over light and the ability to move at light speed, making him theoretically one of the most powerful characters. However, his portrayal often leaves fans puzzled.

Despite his immense abilities, Kizaru’s battles lack the overwhelming force one would expect from a light user. Many believe that creator Eiichiro Oda intentionally restrains Kizaru’s power to maintain story balance, giving him a laid-back personality that masks his true potential. This approach sparks debate about whether it adds depth to Kizaru’s character or highlights a flaw in One Piece's powerscaling.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion.

One Piece: The limits of Kizaru’s Devil Fruit capabilities

Admiral Kizaru as shown at Sabaody Archipelago (Image via Toei Animation)

Since his introduction at Sabaody Archipelago, Kizaru’s abilities have hinted at a game-changing level of power in One Piece. With the Pika Pika no Mi, he controls light itself, enabling him to move at light speed and unleash devastating laser attacks.

In theory, this Devil Fruit should make Kizaru one of the most unbeatable forces in the series. His speed alone could make him nearly untouchable, allowing him to evade effortlessly, strike before opponents can react, and even possibly vaporize foes with light-based attacks.

Kizaru displays the power of the Pika-Pika no Mi (Image via Toei Animation)

Yet, Oda’s portrayal of Kizaru’s combat style has been surprisingly restrained. Rather than showcasing the full potential of light-speed combat, Kizaru’s attacks are often straightforward and slow-paced, relying on basic kicks and laser beams.

In his recent encounters on Egghead Island, fans hoped to finally see his abilities unleashed, especially given the rising power levels of the Straw Hats and their allies. However, Kizaru’s moves remained predictable, raising questions about why his powers haven’t evolved.

Many fans speculate that Oda intentionally limits Kizaru to avoid “breaking” the series' powerscaling. Allowing Kizaru to fully utilize the Pika Pika no Mi might disrupt the balance, overshadowing other characters and undermining the tension and growth central to the story.

Reason behind One Piece mangaka Oda’s reluctance to let Kizaru shine

A snapshot of Admiral Kizaru (Image via Toei Animation)

Oda’s treatment of Kizaru reflects both a storytelling strategy and a limitation within the anime series. By keeping Kizaru laid-back and seemingly uninterested in giving his all, Oda maintains his status as a powerful character without disrupting the power balance.

Kizaru’s actions in battle imply he is aware of his overwhelming strength but chooses not to unleash it fully, opting instead for minimal effort and basic attacks rather than more complex light-based abilities. This “bare minimum” approach keeps him as a theoretical powerhouse rather than a fully realized threat, leaving fans to wonder if Oda is intentionally downplaying Kizaru’s potential to avoid creating an unstoppable character who might overshadow other storylines.

Kizaru is portrayed as a slow and sarcastic character (Image via Toei Animation)

By holding back Kizaru’s true power, Oda preserves narrative cohesion but risks undermining the integrity of his world’s powerscaling system. In a series celebrated for its creativity in Devil Fruit powers, sidelining a character’s potential to maintain balance may feel like a flaw, limiting logical character development.

Final thoughts

A snapshot of Kizaru and Akainu from the anime series (Image via Toei Animation)

Kizaru’s Devil Fruit powers position him as one of One Piece's most potentially powerful characters, yet Oda restrains him to maintain balance within the story. This frustrates fans who wonder what Kizaru could achieve if he were fully unleashed. As the story nears its climax, fans hope he’ll finally reveal his full “light-speed” power.