The animation here is a stylistic leap. Luffy’s body inflates into a massive, round-torso, disproportionately small-legged form — and it looks weird . But intentionally so. The show emphasizes that this isn’t just a bigger, stronger version of Gear Third. This is a different philosophy of fighting: compression, spring-loaded power, and hyper-mobility.
Debuts in Episode 870 during the legendary fight against Charlotte Katakuri. This form sacrifices some power for extreme speed and unpredictable "Python" attacks that change direction mid-air. Why This Episode Matters which episode luffy use gear 4
Luffy first activates Gear 4 in of the One Piece anime, titled "Gear Fourth! The Phenomenal Boundman!" The animation here is a stylistic leap
The episode brilliantly doesn’t make Gear Fourth an instant win button. After using it, Luffy is left completely drained, shrinking into a tiny, chibi-like form unable to move for 10 minutes. It’s a high-risk, high-reward technique that adds real stakes. The episode ends on a nail-biting cliffhanger — Doflamingo gets back up, and Luffy is defenseless. The show emphasizes that this isn’t just a
The moment Gear 4 is unleashed, the tide of the battle shifts instantly. Luffy uses moves like the and Gum-Gum Culverin to overwhelm Doflamingo’s defenses. The sheer force of Gear 4 was so great that it sent Doflamingo flying across Dressrosa, a feat no one thought possible at the time. Other Gear 4 Forms to Watch