The steam around him started becoming more cloud-like, a hallmark of Awakened Zoan forms like Gear 5. 4. Iconic Anime Additions

Whether you are a long-time fan reliving the hype or a newcomer wondering how Luffy survives Doflamingo, do yourself a favor: watch Episode 726. Just be prepared for a transformation so powerful (and so bouncy) that it breaks the internet’s reaction meter.

To set the scene: Doflamingo has pushed Luffy to his absolute limit. After using Gear Second and Gear Third extensively—and even needing a 15-minute break where the citizens of Dressrosa had to protect him—Luffy realizes his standard techniques won't cut it against the Warlord's overwhelming power.

Here are the details for that specific moment:

Up until this point, Luffy relied on Gear 2 for speed and Gear 3 for raw power. Gear 4 merged these concepts while introducing a new element: .