The Egghead Island arc in One Piece has delivered on all fronts—action, mystery, character development, and a much-anticipated showdown between Admiral Kizaru and Yonko Monkey D. Luffy. But to many fans' surprise, the battle didn't go how they expected. Kizaru, the speed-based admiral, was hyped for years as a top-tier powerhouse, someone who could give the likes of a Yonko serious trouble. And yet, when the moment came, Kizaru found himself completely outclassed.
So, why exactly is Kizaru no match for Luffy? Is it disappointing storytelling or a natural progression in One Piece's power scaling? Let's dive into the facts.
The Reality of Power Scaling in One Piece
First and foremost, it's crucial to understand that One Piece has evolved dramatically in terms of power scaling. Gone are the days when Admirals and Yonko were perceived as equals. The story post-Wano and into the Egghead arc has made it clear: Yonko are in a league of their own, and Luffy—especially after mastering Gear 5 and obtaining advanced forms of Haki—is now one of the top-tier characters in the series.
"There Are Levels to This"
Yes, Kizaru is strong. He is, without question, one of the strongest Marines in the world. His Light-Light Fruit (Pika Pika no Mi) makes him absurdly fast, nearly untouchable. But strength in One Piece isn't just about Devil Fruit abilities. It's about Haki, physical durability, battle IQ, and most importantly—willpower.
Kizaru simply doesn’t reach Yonko tier. His fight with Luffy makes this painfully obvious.
Observation Haki: Luffy Reads the Room
One of the most telling signs that Kizaru is out of his depth is how Luffy treats him. Luffy—thanks to his advanced Observation Haki—can now sense power levels. He doesn’t need Conqueror’s Haki to keep Kizaru and Saturn in check. This is a far cry from pre-timeskip Luffy, who was blindsided by Kizaru in Sabaody.
In Egghead, Luffy is completely aware of what Kizaru is capable of and doesn’t even treat him as the main threat. That should speak volumes.
Luffy Immobilizes Kizaru With One Serious Hit
This moment sealed the deal for many fans. When Luffy finally got serious and used his Gear 5 punch, Kizaru was completely immobilized. Not knocked back. Not phased. Immobilized.
Kizaru himself admits he was "too slow" to keep up. Let that sink in—the "light-speed" admiral couldn't handle a punch from Luffy. That punch alone dismantled the hype surrounding the admiral.
No Meaningful Damage from Kizaru
Throughout the fight, Kizaru never really damages Luffy. Compare this with what Luffy did to Kaido or Lucci. Kizaru can’t land meaningful hits, and when he tries, Luffy either dodges or tanks the blow.
Contrast that with Luffy, who actively lays into Kizaru with punches that make the admiral struggle to even stand. In terms of damage output, Kizaru comes off looking embarrassingly underwhelming.
Saturn Has Lost Faith in Kizaru
Let’s not forget that Saturn himself has now stepped in. If Kizaru were even close to Yonko-tier, there’d be no need for a Gorosei to interfere. But Saturn clearly sees that Kizaru cannot get the job done.
And it gets worse: Saturn doesn’t just step in, he basically treats Kizaru like a failure. That’s how far Kizaru’s stock has fallen.
Luffy's Palm Has Better Feats Than Kizaru
This might sound like an exaggeration, but it’s true. Luffy's Gear 5 palm alone has feats that surpass anything Kizaru has done. Think about it: Luffy stopped a massive robot, held off Saturn, and kept Kizaru down—all while juggling multiple priorities.
The sheer versatility and power in Gear 5 is so insane that even Luffy's palm gets more respect than Kizaru’s full body attacks.
The Fallacy of Admiral = Yonko
This is where many fans get tripped up. For years, there was this belief that the Admirals and Yonko were equals. But let’s be real:
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Whitebeard fought three Admirals and still nearly destroyed Marineford.
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Kaido and Big Mom took on the entire Supernova cast and only fell after insane 2v1s and plot-based exhaustion.
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Meanwhile, Kizaru gets one-shot by Luffy in a real fight.
The narrative is shifting. Admirals are no longer the ceiling of Marine power; they are stepping stones to a larger world order.
Advanced Haki: The Real Game Changer
Kizaru may have basic Armament and Observation Haki, but he lacks the advanced forms that define top-tier battles in the New World.
Luffy, on the other hand:
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Has Future Sight (Advanced Observation Haki)
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Uses Internal Destruction Haki (Advanced Armament Haki)
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Wields Conqueror’s Haki Infusion, which only legends like Kaido and Roger have shown
This gap in Haki mastery alone makes Kizaru unable to compete.
Why This Isn't Bad Storytelling
Some fans may find this disappointing, but it actually makes perfect narrative sense:
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Luffy is now a Yonko. He’s supposed to be on par with the strongest in the world.
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Kizaru has always been enigmatic, but he’s also been passive and, at times, lazy. That doesn't scream "top tier".
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The World Government is now throwing literal gods at Luffy because Admirals just don’t cut it anymore.
This shift also gives room for newer villains to shine, such as Imu, the Gorosei, and the Seraphim.
Final Thoughts: Kizaru Is Not Yonko Level
To summarize, Kizaru is no match for Luffy because:
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He lacks advanced Haki
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He fails to land meaningful damage
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He gets immobilized in one hit
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He is overshadowed by the new threats like Saturn
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Even Luffy’s Gear 5 palm has better feats
In the current power scale of One Piece, no Admiral can stand toe-to-toe with a Yonko who has mastered advanced Haki and achieved godlike abilities. Kizaru is impressive in his own right, but he’s simply not enough.
And maybe that’s okay.
The world of One Piece is evolving, and it’s time we all moved on from the Admiral vs Yonko debate. The results are in, and the gap is wider than ever.
What are your thoughts? Do you still believe in the Admiral hype? Or has Luffy proven once and for all that the new generation has already surpassed the old order? Let us know in the comments!
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