Conqueror’s Haki, also known as the Supreme King Haki, is one of the rarest and most powerful Haki abilities in the One Piece world. Only a select few individuals have been shown to possess this ability, which allows the user to exert their willpower over others to knock them unconscious.
Fans have long debated whether Roronoa Zoro, the swordsman and first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, can also use this rare ability. While Zoro has incredible strength, endurance and mastery of Armament Haki, he has yet to explicitly demonstrate the use of Conqueror’s Haki in the story so far.
In this article, we will examine the evidence for and against the idea that Zoro has Conqueror’s Haki based on the manga, anime, SBS questions answered by Oda, as well as analysis from influential One Piece content creators.
Evidence Supporting Zoro Having Conqueror’s Haki
Here are some of the key points that support the theory of Zoro being able to use Conqueror’s Haki:
Zoro’s Ambition and Willpower
– Zoro’s stated goal is to become the Greatest Swordsman in the World by surpassing Mihawk. This aligns with the ambitious nature of other Conqueror’s Haki users like Luffy, Kid, Doflamingo and Hancock among others.
– Zoro has demonstrated immense levels of willpower and tenacity throughout the series, evident by acts like voluntarily taking in Luffy’s pain and fatigue at Thriller Bark and surviving Kuma’s Ursus Shock at Sabaody Archipelago. This aligns with the superhuman willpower associated with Conqueror’s users.
Parallels with Rayleigh
– As the right hand man of the future Pirate King, Zoro mirrors the role of Silvers Rayleigh who served under Gol D. Roger. Rayleigh is a known Conqueror’s Haki user, suggesting Zoro may have inherited a similar ability.
Knocking Out Monet
– During the Punk Hazard arc, Zoro is able to intimidate and knock out Monet, a Logia user, demonstrating an ability to exert his willpower and dominate the battle through non-physical means. This is similar to how Conqueror’s Haki works.
Taming Enma
– In Wano, Zoro was able to tame the cursed sword Enma and force it to submit to his will and refrain from draining his Haki. This demonstrates Zoro’s ability to overpower Enma with his will and conquer it.
Evidence Against Zoro Having Conqueror’s Haki
However, there are also several counterarguments that challenge the idea of Zoro being a Conqueror’s Haki user:
No Explicit Confirmation
– Unlike Luffy, Zoro has never been definitively shown using Conqueror’s Haki visual effects like knocking out fodder. Oda has not directly confirmed Zoro as a user in SBS or interviews.
Could Have Been Armament Haki on Monet
– Some argue that Zoro used advanced Armament Haki or even just an intimidation tactic rather than Conqueror’s on Monet. The black lightning effect was absent.
Enma Was Already Tamed
– Enma was already tamed by Kozuki Oden before Zoro inherited it. So Zoro may not have actively used Conqueror’s Haki to conquer Enma, but simply mastered using its existing powers.
Would Diminish Luffy’s Achievement
– Luffy is praised by other pirates for possessing Conqueror’s as the captain. Having his subordinate also possess it could distract from Luffy’s achievement.
Theories on How Zoro Could Awaken Conqueror’s Haki
While it remains ambiguous if Zoro currently has access to Conqueror’s Haki, there are some popular theories on how he could awaken this power in the future:
Against a Top Tier Opponent
– In a desperate fight against an incredibly strong opponent like an Admiral or Mihawk, Zoro could awaken his Conqueror’s Haki in the heat of battle to turn the tide. This follows Luffy’s growth.
Protecting Luffy or Crew
– If Luffy or other Straw Hats are in grave danger, Zoro could awaken his Conqueror’s Haki by unleashing his full willpower to save them against all odds.
During Training
– Rayleigh helped Luffy develop his Conqueror’s Haki during their training. Similarly, Mihawk could help awaken Zoro’s latent ability during his swordsmanship tutelage.
Automatically with Swordsmanship Mastery
– Reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship and becoming the World’s Strongest Swordsman could naturally awaken Zoro’s Conqueror’s Haki without specific training.
Notable One Piece Community Opinions
Here is a summary of what some influential One Piece content creators, theorists and platformers have said about Zoro possessing Conqueror’s Haki:
| Person | Viewpoint |
|---|---|
| Sawyer7mage | Considers it very likely Zoro has Conqueror’s based on willpower arguments |
| GrandLineReview | Believes evidence suggests Zoro has yet to awaken this power |
| Ohara | Theorizes Zoro could awaken it in the final war against Blackbeard |
| RogersBase | Argues hints point to Zoro having dormant Conqueror’s Haki |
| Tekking101 | Thinks Zoro possesses it but Oda is waiting for right moment to reveal |
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Zoro using Conqueror’s Haki is a very popular fan theory, there is no definitive proof yet that he can fully control and wield this supreme ability. The case relies predominantly on circumstantial evidence based on Zoro’s characterization, parallels and interpretations of certain past feats.
Ultimately, the question can only be settled conclusively if Zoro overtly displays textbook Conqueror’s Haki abilities on-panel in the manga or if creator Eiichiro Oda himself confirms it directly. Until then, the debate remains a hot topic of discussion and speculation within the One Piece fandom with convincing arguments on both sides.
References
1. One Piece Wiki Fandom, Roronoa Zoro – https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Roronoa_Zoro
2. Library of Ohara, Does Zoro Have Conqueror’s Haki? – https://thelibraryofohara.com/2020/11/24/does-zoro-have-conquerors-haki/
3. Tekking101 YouTube, Does Zoro Have Conqueror’s Haki? | Tekking101 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lj-IYjfhcY
4. RogersBase YouTube, Zoro’s Conqueror’s Haki Explained! | One Piece Chapter 1033 Review – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRsOB1D8Hb0