AnimeOshi Guide: Nika’s Role in the One Piece True Story

What is the Sun God, Nika? Let’s explore the deep connection between Nika, Joy Boy, and the One Piece in this exclusive lore guide from AnimeOshi!

In the Wano Country Arc (Onigashima Part), specifically anime Episode 1069, the main character Monkey D. Luffy wanted to use his Gear 4 form to finish his battle with the "Strongest Creature in the World," Kaidou of the Hundred Beasts. With his new technique, Over Kong Gun, it seemed Luffy might actually win; however, a CP0 agent suddenly interfered in the intense fight, allowing Kaidou’s attack to land directly on Luffy. Since Kaidou had used all his strength for the blow, he believed Luffy couldn’t survive, so after killing the agent, he flew off in his dragon form.

While Kaidou flew back to the castle, he didn’t notice that Luffy hadn't actually died and was even awakening his Devil Fruit ability. At the time, fans around the world thought the awakening of the Gomu Gomu no Mi was simply a power-up of his rubber abilities; however, through the explanations of the Gorosei, we learned quite a few important facts.

The Devil Fruit Luffy ate is not actually the Gomu Gomu no Mi; in fact, as Dr. Vegapunk explained, the Gomu Gomu no Mi cannot be found in any ancient Devil Fruit reference books. Because Luffy trusted Shanks deeply, when he ate the fruit as a child and Shanks called it the Gomu Gomu no Mi, Luffy believed he had consumed a Paramecia-type fruit. It turns out, however, that everyone was wrong. What Luffy actually ate is one of the rarest and most powerful Mythical Zoan fruits: the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

Zoan fruits grant the ability to transform into specific animals or even legendary beings, like Marco, Kaidou, and Momonosuke. Just as the Hito Hito no Mi allows Chopper to become human and the former Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku to become a Daibutsu (Giant Buddha), Luffy’s fruit allowed him to become the next "Nika" upon awakening. Nika is not only the name of Luffy’s Devil Fruit but also a vital piece of the true history of One Piece. Therefore, learning more about Nika is essential for any fan.

Before we dive in, please note that this post only covers the One Piece anime. One Piece exists as both an anime and a manga; as a massive fan of the series, I have watched and read everything multiple times. While we could discuss much more with manga spoilers, I won’t include any here so that everyone can read this post without concern. However, this post will cover episodes which Nika has appeared in the anime, with a specific focus on the Egghead Island Arc. If you haven't finished—or even started—the Egghead Island Arc and want to avoid spoilers, please stop scrolling here!

Source: ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official X account

The Legend of Nika and Its Connection to Users:

Since this post focuses on Nika, I’d like to explain some key information regarding Monkey D. Luffy and Nika. After his awakening and the grueling fight with Kaidou, Luffy is now able to use Gear 5 to transform into Nika anytime, anywhere. Unlike his previous gears, Luffy can use this new power-up very easily; he no longer needs complex preparation—he just needs to make sure his stomach is full.

Luffy’s personality and appearance change significantly when he transforms into Nika. First, let's talk about his appearance: even in the anime, it is quite obvious that Luffy’s eyes have become more "cartoonish." His look has become more ridiculous, allowing him to finally do whatever he wants freely. As many fans have noted, Luffy’s personality also shifts when he becomes Nika. While Luffy has never been one to worry much, he isn't usually someone who laughs all day, either. Normally, Luffy doesn't think deeply, but he still strategizes; however, when he turns into Nika, he seems to stop overthinking entirely. A great example of this is his fight with Katakuri, one of the Three Sweet Commanders, where Luffy thought and experimented a lot. But now, we don't really see "Nika Luffy" strategizing while fighting the Gorosei.

The reason I’m sharing this is that, although Nika hasn't currently controlled or taken over Luffy’s mind—as seen by the fact that Luffy knows nothing about Emet even while in Gear 5—Nika’s personality has clearly fused with his. What I am trying to say is that while Luffy is still Luffy, the influence of the Devil Fruit's will is always present.

This strange phenomenon doesn't just apply to Luffy, but also to the previous user, Joy Boy. In anime Episode 1153, we finally saw some scenes featuring the mysterious Joy Boy. Judging by his speaking style, his tone, and everything he set in motion centuries ago, I personally don't think he was someone who laughed all day. If you are entirely focused on the present and laughing constantly, how could you plan so many details for the future? Although Nika’s full story hasn't been revealed yet, I believe Joy Boy was just like Luffy: they both have a normal form and a legendary Nika form. These forms exist simultaneously, and their minds aren't completely taken over by the fruit.

Source: ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official X account

It may be hard to believe that Luffy and Joy Boy have two distinct "modes," but if you look at the mysterious Nika dance, you may start to see how the Nika form truly affects its users. Throughout the series, Luffy has always loved to dance and has shown off many different moves, but he definitely isn't someone who would dance all day—especially during an intense fight. We’ve seen Luffy dance plenty of times, but have you ever seen him dancing during his battle with Katakuri or even with Kaidou before the awakening?

While the Nika dance might look like Luffy is just jumping around to fly, consider this: have you ever seen him jumping so recklessly in Gear 4? In Gear 4, Luffy can fly through the sky easily, but he doesn't bounce around aimlessly. When using Gear 4, Luffy is incredibly strict, serious, and focused; he doesn't fool around. However, when he activates Gear 5, everything changes dramatically. These shifts show us that while Luffy is still Luffy, the moment he enters Gear 5, he automatically changes to match the legendary image of Nika.

Unlike Sengoku’s Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu, the Nika fruit belongs to a legendary hero with a very specific lore. From Bartholomew Kuma’s explanations in the Egghead Island Arc, we know that Nika loves to dance with a specific rhythm and steps. Whenever Nika appears, there is a distinct "Drum of Liberation" sound, and most importantly, Nika laughs constantly. In fact, Jewelry Bonney realized Luffy is Nika primarily because he was laughing so much.

While Luffy has done these things before, he never did them in the middle of a fight—especially not in his Gear 4 form. These changes suggest that many of his actions in Gear 5 aren't things Luffy would normally do; they are Nika’s traits. Nika is the legendary "Warrior of Liberation" who helped people by bringing them freedom and joy. I know Luffy’s Gear 5 has received some negative comments because the "aura" feels weaker and the anime has become so "ridiculous." I understand those views, but let me ask you this: doesn't a man who laughs all the time seem more like a "good person" than someone who is angry or serious 24/7? While Gear 5 might look strange from certain perspectives, it perfectly fits the setting of Nika: freeing others and laughing.

Source: ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official X account

The Legend of Nika and Why the World Government Erased His Name:

In One Piece Episode 1071, when Luffy awakened and transformed into Nika, we learned that the World Government knew the truth all along and had been trying to cover it up. That is exactly why they sent the CP0 agent to interfere in the fight between Luffy and Kaidou. To the World Government and the main antagonist, Imu, their greatest opponent is Nika, and they will do anything to erase his existence. Although Kaidou and the other Emperors are terrifying, erasing Nika has always been their top priority.

In the One Piece anime, Imu appeared in Episode 1119, titled "The Wings Spread! Sabo's Choice!" In that episode, Sabo encountered these "monsters" for the first time and even had a brief clash with them. For those who aren't familiar with Imu—or might have forgotten who they are—I highly recommend rewatching Episode 1119. Imu is the primary antagonist for the upcoming arcs and holds the key to the true story of One Piece.

Although the author, Eiichiro Oda, suddenly shifted the tone of the story to focus on Nika during the finale of the Wano Country Arc, the World Government has actually been trying to obtain the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika throughout the entire One Piece timeline. They failed many times, leading the Gorosei to admit that the Devil Fruit itself seems to have a mind of its own and has been "escaping" from them. As many may have forgotten, this fruit is the primary reason the World Government betrayed Who's-Who.

Who's-Who was tasked with protecting the fruit, but it was unfortunately stolen by a young Red-Haired Shanks. From Who's-Who’s perspective at the time, losing a Devil Fruit shouldn't have been a major disaster—especially since he thought it was just a simple Paramecia (the Gomu Gomu no Mi)—yet he still received the harshest possible penalty from the World Government. Even though Who's-Who is a relatively minor character in the Wano Arc, he was actually the first person to tell us the legend of Nika, and he was once a believer in Nika himself.

Source: ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official X account

The reason the World Government and Imu are so obsessed with this specific Devil Fruit is because of Joy Boy. In Episode 1153, through the dialogue between Luffy and Emet—along with other hints in the story—it was confirmed that Joy Boy was the previous user of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. Although we still don't know much about him, we do know that his Conqueror's Haki (Supreme King Haki) was even greater than Luffy’s. In fact, it's safe to say he mastered it completely, as he was able to seal his Haki inside Emet and even knock out everyone in the vicinity just by releasing it.

In that same episode, we see how threatened Imu is by Joy Boy’s Haki. We can assume Joy Boy was Imu’s ultimate nightmare, which explains why the World Government is so desperate to erase the Devil Fruit from history. They did everything in their power to ensure a "new" Joy Boy would never appear. Despite the World Government’s elaborate plans, Joy Boy has unfortunately (for them) returned, and he has already begun to trigger the events that the original Joy Boy set in motion centuries ago.

What exactly did Joy Boy set in motion, and why are the World Government and Imu so afraid of him? To answer these questions, we must look back at Dr. Vegapunk’s speech. If we combine Vegapunk’s revelations with the hints from Joy Boy’s own journey, we see that Joy Boy could fight like the legendary Nika, possessed advanced technology (like Emet), and was even linked to the Ancient Weapons. Just as Joy Boy entrusted Emet to stay functional and gave him a portion of his Haki, it’s clear that Joy Boy was planning for the future even as his death approached.

Emet, Zunesha, the Minks, and Wano Country all continue to function to this day; the Ancient Weapons still exist, and the rare races the World Government has tried to eliminate for centuries have somehow survived. When you look at the One Piece story through the lens of Joy Boy’s history, it’s amazing to see how everything still follows his will. It seems like an impossible feat, yet Gol D. Roger did something very similar. Roger triggered a new era by using his own execution to inspire the future. In doing so, he paved the way for the next Nika—Luffy—who decided to become a pirate and ultimately shared the same secret dream.

Source: ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official X account

The Difference Between the Legendary Nika and the First Pirate, Joy Boy:

Since the names "Joy Boy" and "Nika" are mentioned frequently throughout this post, I want to clarify for everyone that they are two different entities. While this might seem obvious to some, it is important to understand because the historical life of Joy Boy is distinct from the legendary myth of Nika, and the legend of Nika exists independently of Joy Boy.

Joy Boy was a pirate who truly existed in One Piece history and was a former user of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. From the dialogue of Gol D. Roger and his crew after they reached Laugh Tale and learned the world's true history, we know that Joy Boy had an incredible adventure and put immense effort into passing something down to future generations. From the hints found at Fish-Man Island, we know Joy Boy had a connection with the Mermaid Princess of that era and that the ship Noah is deeply related to him. We even know that the Sea Kings were meant to pull that ship for Joy Boy and the Princess.

Joy Boy was also the reason Wano Country followed a strict policy of isolationism, and the reason Oden suddenly tried to open the borders. From Kouzuki Sukiyaki’s explanations, we know that Pluton—a massive battleship—is actually hidden within Wano, waiting to be activated for Joy Boy’s return. Joy Boy was also the one deeply connected to Zunesha and Emet, and he is the reason both have continued to exist until now. These are the stories and relationships of Joy Boy during his historical journey, rather than the legend of the Sun God Nika.

The main difference between Joy Boy and the legendary Nika is that Joy Boy didn't necessarily set out to act as a "Warrior of Liberation." His story isn't that of a traditional hero, but rather an adventurous man on an incredible journey. This parallels Luffy’s story: while Luffy has become the current Nika, he isn't portrayed as a selfless hero of liberation, but as someone on a great adventure. During their journeys, Joy Boy and Luffy obviously changed and saved many lives, but their primary goal wasn't to become heroes—it was to enjoy the adventure. What I am trying to say is that while Joy Boy and Luffy do save people, they don't go around saving everyone from suffering like a god would; they have their own business to attend to as well.

Source: ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official X account

The final difference we must notice is that it was Joy Boy who lost to the 20 Allied Kingdoms—leading to the establishment of the World Government and the rise of the Celestial Dragons—not the Sun God Nika. Despite having vast resources, a powerful Devil Fruit, and the highest level of Conqueror's Haki, Joy Boy still lost that war. It is a hard truth to admit, but his defeat was ultimately responsible for the brutal elimination of rare races, the persecution of the "D." clan, and the rise of the slave system. The World Government implemented these cruelties to sever any remaining ties to Joy Boy, ensuring that no one like him could ever appear again.

It is a sad realization, but Joy Boy’s failure paved the way for the darkness of the One Piece world. Whether he was seeking revenge, trying to leave hope for the next generation, or perhaps sensing something with his abilities, we don’t yet know why he left these Ancient Weapons behind. However, we do know that these "triggers" are being activated by Luffy one by one. After Joy Boy died, his personal story was erased from history. Fortunately, with the help of the ancient Kozuki clan, his legacy was preserved through the Poneglyphs.

While Joy Boy's actual adventure was forgotten by most—known only to Gol D. Roger and his crew—the same cannot be said for Nika. Although the historical records of Joy Boy were wiped away, the legend of the Sun God Nika survived and was passed down, and soon, everyone will learn the full story.

On AnimeOshi, 22 scouts have left reviews, and the data shows an incredible 98% "Great" score! With a rating this high, it’s clear that this episode is a must-watch for everyone. So, if you missed any of the details about Joy Boy, please go back and rewatch it—it is truly a great episode!

The Transformation of Nika and Jewelry Bonney:

After exploring the history of Joy Boy and Nika, let’s look into one of the most heated discussions among One Piece fans worldwide: the "Girl Nika." While there is only one Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, in anime Episode 1151, Jewelry Bonney—after being encouraged by Luffy—surprisingly transformed into a girl version of Nika! While it was an emotional scene, many fans were upset by it; they felt it was too much for a young girl to have such a powerful transformation. More importantly, they worry that if Bonney can turn into Nika, it might mean anyone can become Nika if they want to.

I can understand why fans feel this way, but at the same time, I am actually looking forward to the idea of others becoming Nika. My reason isn't just about increasing Luffy’s chances of winning, but rather because it allows us to see different perspectives on liberation and the true story of One Piece. Personally, I felt that Bonney’s transformation seemed unrealistic at first, too, but it actually aligns perfectly with Luffy’s core values.

Throughout the entire story of One Piece, unlike the legendary Sun God Nika—who is described as being willing to save everyone from suffering—Luffy isn't motivated by a simple desire to be "kind" to everyone. If he truly wanted to be a hero like Nika, he would have joined his father’s Revolutionaries or attacked the Holy Land of Mary Geoise long ago, just as Fisher Tiger did. For better or worse, Luffy is quite straightforward; he doesn't focus on "liberation" or changing the world like his father does. Usually, the liberation of each island is merely a byproduct of Luffy completing his adventure there. Luffy doesn’t set out to liberate during his journey; it’s just that his journey always ends with everyone being freed.

What I am trying to say is that while we view Luffy as a hero, love his incredible journey, and believe he is the one who will liberate the world, from Luffy's own perspective, he doesn't see himself as someone "big" enough to save everyone. More importantly, rather than people waiting to be saved, Luffy always prefers those who fight for themselves, no matter the circumstances. For example, characters like Nefertari Vivi, Tama, Rebecca, or even Charlotte Lola (from the Thriller Bark Arc) weren't simply waiting for a "Nika" to save them; they fought with everything they had and showed incredible spirit.

Source: ONE PIECE スタッフ【公式】/ Official X account

Luffy loves and is always willing to help those who have fought and shown true spirit. Just as with Rebecca and Tama, Luffy is willing to do anything for them because they aren't people who just wait to be saved; they gave everything they had. As Luffy has admitted himself, he is not a hero who saves everyone, and he applies that same standard to Bonney. Based on Luffy’s personality, he doesn’t know much about Bonney’s past and he doesn't necessarily act out of pity, but he knows she hates the Gorosei, so he encourages her to fight them.

Even though Bonney can turn into Nika, does she really make the battle easier? If we look closely at Episodes 1151 and 1152, even after Bonney becomes "Nika," Luffy still needs to protect her and fight alongside her. Her transformation didn't actually make Luffy’s job easier. However, Luffy didn't complain; instead, he fought alongside her happily. He loves those who fight for themselves rather than waiting for help. When Bonney finally struck Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, Luffy even praised her for it.

From these scenes, we can see that Luffy actually wants people to fight for themselves, rather than just waiting for him to handle everything. This is actually the primary reason why Luffy disliked Kozuki Momonosuke at first. While it seemed like Luffy just found him to be a spoiled child, when you compare Momonosuke to Tama, the real reason becomes clear. Luffy resented Momonosuke because he didn't try to fight; instead, he chose to leave everything to his samurai and Luffy.

While we can understand that Momonosuke was terrified of Kaidou—having lost his parents at such a young age—the fact that he wouldn't even try to fight made Luffy angry. On the other hand, Tama had a similarly tragic past, yet she used every method available to stay alive while waiting for Ace’s return. Luffy was clearly impressed by her spirit. Because of this unique personality, Luffy is quite different from the legendary Sun God Nika: Luffy doesn't just liberate people; he encourages everyone to fight for their own freedom, which ultimately brings liberation as a byproduct.

Here’s a YouTube video worth checking out.

Conclusion:

As we enter the final saga of the One Piece story, the characters within the world finally have their hero, Nika, to save them; however, in the real world, many fans still struggle to accept "Nika Luffy." I can understand why some wanted a different design for Luffy’s new form, but since this was the choice of Eiichiro Oda, we should try to embrace it and find reasons to love Gear 5.

It can be difficult for us as viewers to understand why Nika Luffy needs to be funny, hilarious, or even "silly," but if we look through the lens of the characters themselves, we gain a different perspective. The world of One Piece is filled with incredible powers, monsters, and superhumans, but among all of them, only Nika can affect others so deeply, create something from nothing, and grant the user's wildest desires—like flying or becoming a massive giant—just like a God. Before Gear 5, many powers in the One Piece world felt "greater" than the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but after witnessing everything Nika Luffy has done, it’s hard to find a Devil Fruit that feels more like a "God" than the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

Here’s a YouTube video worth checking out.

More importantly, although Nika Luffy may look childish or unrealistic from a certain perspective, imagine if you were a slave in the One Piece world who had suffered your entire life. To be honest, compared to monsters like Kaidou, the Gorosei, or even Imu, who would you actually trust? Even if Nika Luffy laughs and jumps around all day, you cannot deny that he feels more trustworthy than any other Devil Fruit user just by his appearance alone. As viewers, we have seen legendary transformations like Goku, Naruto, and Ichigo, so we might feel that Nika Luffy "isn't enough." But through the lens of the characters in One Piece, how could a God who laughs not be more trustworthy than those monsters?

Nika may not be the "hero" we expected, but he is the one who can save everyone and free the hearts of the people in the world of One Piece. Thank you for reading! I will be publishing more content soon, including plot explanations, character deep-dives, and much more, so please stay tuned. While you wait for my next post, feel free to leave as many episodic reviews as possible, as there are plenty of challenges waiting for you on AnimeOshi! Plus, AnimeOshi has just launched a new Dropkick on My Devil! campaign, so everyone is welcome to join!

Here’s a YouTube video worth checking out.