One Piece: 3 Straw Hats who could use Haki before the timeskip (& 3 who can't use it even now)

A mysterious energy that all One Piece characters can awaken and develop, Haki appears to be the strongest power in the series, surpassing even Devil Fruits. Armament Haki users can generate an armor of spiritual force to enhance their bodies and weapons, while Observation Haki users gain sensitive and precognitive abilities.

Whereas anyone can learn to use Armament and Observation Haki, there’s another type of Haki, the Color of Conqueror, which is only available to the few selected individuals who are born with it. Conqueror’s Haki users typically overwhelm the others with their superior willpower, and can even coat themselves with their aura to gain a whole new level of strength.

The best Haki users can potentially overcome any obstacle and defeat any opponent. With Haki standing out as the deciding factor in most battles, it only follows that learning to use it is a pivotal step for the Straw Hat Pirates’ rise to fame. It is interesting to note that certain Straw Hats could use Haki even before the time skip, whereas others remain unable to use it to this very day.

Before One Piece’s timeskip, Luffy and Zoro could use Haki subconsciously, while Jinbe was already skilled with it

1) Monkey D. Luffy

Luffy before One Piece's time-skip (Image via Toei Animation)

Impressively enough, Monkey D. Luffy can now use the advanced version of all three types of Haki. During the time skip, Luffy was taught how to use Haki by Silvers Rayleigh. However, Luffy was already using it before the time skip, albeit unintentionally.

Without really being aware of what he was doing, Luffy used the basic version of Conqueror’s Haki to intimidate Motobaro. He also knocked out the spectators at Amazon Lily’s arena, as well as the wolves in Impel Down and the executioners in Marineford.

In Little Garden, Galdino created countless clones of himself to confuse Luffy, but the young pirate immediately recognized the real one. According to Luffy, this was due to “instinct”, but, in retrospect, it’s easy to see this as an unconscious usage of Observation Haki.

Luffy using Haki before the timeskip (Image via Shueisha)

During the Paramount War, Luffy suddenly abandoned his previous intent to attack Dracule Mihawk as he somehow sensed that “Hawk Eyes” would have sliced his hands off. While this remains highly controversial, many fans believe that Luffy subconsciously used Observation Haki and foresaw his arms getting chopped off by Mihawk’s counterstrike.

As for Armament Haki, it’s possible that Luffy somehow used it during the fight with Crocodile. At one point, Luffy damaged Crocodile with a kick, even though he explicitly stated that he could only hit his enemy’s real body because he had blood on his hands.

2) Roronoa Zoro

Zoro before One Piece's time-skip (Image via Toei Animation)

The formidable swordsman Roronoa Zoro can use all three types of Haki, two of them in their advanced versions. Zoro learned how to use Haki during his two-year training under Dracule Mihawk’s tutelage, but awakened this power much earlier.

Even before the time skip, Zoro could use his willpower to create the illusion of his body multiplying like a demon. As it’s well known, Conqueror’s Haki equates to the user’s willpower. This means that Zoro had been subconsciously using Haoshoku long before the Wano Arc, in which he unleashed and even evolved this type of Haki.

In Arabasta, Zoro learned to cut steel by remembering the teachings of his master Koushirou. The ability to cut steel was recently implied to be an advanced form of Armament Haki, as Koushirou described it with the same exact words that Hyogoro used to teach Luffy how to emit his Busoshoku.

Zoro using Haki before the timeskip (Image via Shueisha)

During the battle with Mr 1, Zoro not only used Armament Haki but also Observation Haki. The swordsman entered a state of omniscience where he could dodge the rocks that were about to crush him by sensing them, as well as find his sword under a massive pile of rubble as if he could see through it.

The so-called “Breath of All Things” wasn’t the only time when Zoro subconsciously used Observation Haki. Zoro literally predicted Kaku’s movements, reading his intentions and striking him even though Kaku was actively using Kami-e to dodge. Many fans also believe that Zoro amped his reflexes with Kenbushoku when he flawlessly dodged Kuma’s super-fast barrage of air projectiles.

3) Jinbe

Jinbe before One Piece's timeskip (Image via Toei Animation)

In chronological order, Jinbe is the last person to join the Straw Hat Pirates. Even so, he is the most experienced member of the crew. As a former Warlord as well as a former subordinate of two Emperors, Edward Newgate “Whitebeard” and Charlotte Linlin “Big Mom”, Jinbe used Haki long before he became a Straw Hat.

While most of Jinbe’s combat prowess stems from his inborn traits as a Fish-Man, including his mastery of the Fish-Man Karate, the former is also a quite skilled Armament and Observation Haki user. That’s hardly surprising, given that a certain degree of proficiency with Haki is a core requirement to hold such positions.

Whether as the captain of the Sun Pirates, a Warlord, or an executive of two different Emperors, Jinbe regularly used his Haki to fend off New World-toughened opponents. A testament to his capabilities with Armament Haki, he was able to fight evenly against Portgas D. Ace, a Logia user, for five days straight.

During the Paramount War, Jinbe even blocked a punch from Admiral Sakazuki “Akainu”, another formidable Logia user. Granted, he was only able to stop Akainu for a brief moment, but that’s already more than most Haki users can ever hope to do.

As of One Piece chapter 1124, Brook, Nico Robin, and Chopper still can’t use any form of Haki

1) Brook

Brook as seen in One Piece's latest arc (Image via Toei Animation)

Although the Straw Hat Pirates are now a full-fledged Yonko crew, many of them can’t even use the basic forms of Armament and Observation Haki, which is quite disappointing. For example, this is the case with “Soul King” Brook, the crew’s quirky musician.

With Brook’s quick movements and precise fencing-like attacks, Observation Haki would be a very suitable addition to his fighting style. As a swordsman, he would also benefit greatly from learning to use Armament Haki.

It’s worth noting that Brook's techniques combine swordsmanship with the peculiar properties of the Revive-Revive Fruit, allowing him to freeze any target he touches with his blade. Owing to his soul-manipulating powers, Brook was able to damage Prometheus, Big Mom’s fire-based Homie. Based on this, he may be able to hurt a Logia even without Haki.

2) Nico Robin

Robin as seen in One Piece's latest arc (Image via Toei Animation)

Despite spending two years training with the Revolutionary Army, Nico Robin seemingly didn’t learn any Haki skills. Needless to say, this is something that many One Piece fans are absolutely unhappy about, as it means that Robin is still completely helpless against any Logia user.

Robin can use the Flower-Flower Fruit to sprout duplicates of her body from any surface within range, an ability which she typically uses to generate giant-sized limbs. The Flower-Flower Fruit’s glaring weak point is that the replicated body parts are an extension of the user’s body, meaning that if the duplicates are damaged, then the user’s real body will be injured.

If Robin learned how to use Armament Haki, she could fix this massive weakness by coating her body parts in Busoshoku. At least, this would allow her to defend herself against the most basic cutting and piercing attacks. As a character who does a lot of spying and information gathering, she would also benefit from learning Observation Haki.

3) Chopper

Chopper as seen in One Piece's latest arc (Image via Toei Animation)

Unlike in the first part of the series, One Piece nowadays doesn't give Chopper much of a spotlight as a fighter. Nevertheless, the doctor of the Straw Hat Pirates remains a decent combatant, especially as he can use his Rumble Balls to change his form depending on the situation.

Armament Haki would be very helpful in increasing Chopper’s effectiveness in battle. It would strengthen his offensive forms, i.e., Arm Point, Horn Point, and Monster Point, making their attacks significantly more powerful. It would also upgrade the Guard Point, giving it similar properties to Luffy’s Tankman.

Likewise, Observation Haki would be perfect if used in combination with the Jumping Point’s speed and agility. With One Piece having entered his final saga, the stakes are higher than ever, and all the Straw Hats are called upon to make their individual contributions. Hence, the time may have finally come for Chopper and the others to learn, at least, the most basic forms of Haki.