Known as the Armor of the Soul, Armament Haki is one of the most basic types in the world of One Piece. It’s also one of the easiest to master, with most characters in the series holding some rudimentary form at least. Some are well beyond the levels of others though, and have Armament Haki that makes them hit harder than a runaway sea train, so time to rank The Best Armament Haki Users!
Warning that this article contains spoilers through One Piece chapter 1095. The manga is available to read on Viz and MangaPlus, so catch up there before reading here!
What is Armament Haki?
Armament Haki is the most basic form, which pulls the Haki energy of the user out of their body to layer itself on their skin. This reinforces them, giving an armoring layer that’s able to stand up to blades that could normally slice steel. Armament Haki has a more primary use in the New World though, as it’s the only way to truly damage Logia Devil Fruit users in their transformed state. The Logia Powers can’t stand up to a strong enough Armament Haki and will take damage no matter what form they may be in.
Then other users have Advanced Armament Haki, which means they can imbue other objects with their Armament, giving it the same reinforced properties. This is what’s commonly done by sword users who have Advanced Armament Haki abilities, but a few others take advantage of it for other weapons or even just their bare fists in battle.
16. Vergo
- Advanced Armament Haki? Yes
Vergo is one of the first that shows off an Advanced Level of Armament Haki, before only showing the application to skin. He applies him to a bamboo staff that reinforces it harder than steel, able to take on Smoker and damage him even in his Logia state. He’s a menace, and has been a master of Armament Haki since he was just a child of ten years old. The absolute mastery Vergo has is terrifying, especially when he decides to go all out against G-5 and Smoker during Punk Hazard.
He’ll coat his entire body in Armament Haki to battle tougher enemies, and this lets him tear through them easily. Vergo distinguishes himself early as just a start to the terror of the New World, and an intro to the Donquixote Family.
15. Yamato
- Advanced Armament Haki? Yes
Yamato is one of the stronger Armament Haki users in Wano, but is still woefully underprepared for the New World beyond his borders. Armament Haki is a central part of his fighting style though, and he keeps his Bagua weapon coated in it much like his father during battle. Yamato also has the advantage of Advanced Color of Conqueror Haki, able to imbue his weapon with the lightening of Conquerors.
Even though Yamato is staying behind in Wano for now while the Straw Hats venture on, he’s going to come back with a massive upgrade. His journeys throughout Wano before joining them will no doubt increase his powers just like they did for his idol, and allow his further footsteps echoing Kozuki Oden’s journey.
14. Trafalgar D Water Law
- Advanced Armament Haki? Yes
While Law’s Armament Haki at first isn’t enough to stand up to someone like Vergo’s level, it does get that way. Through his journey with the Straw Hats, he learns to coat his blade in Armament Haki, stabbing through Big Mom in Wano. He becomes an incredibly powerful fighter throughout even Dressrosa, despite relying on Luffy to save him on many occasions.
The Armament Haki he uses isn’t nearly enough to stand up to some more powerful users, unfortunately, and he’s taken down not long after facing Big Mom. It still puts him above other Armament users though, and makes him one of the Warlords before he voluntarily betrays the title.
13. Silvers Rayleigh
- Advanced Armament Haki? Oh yeah. He’s known as ‘Dark King’ for a reason.
Rayleigh is the former First Mate to Gold Roger, so naturally there’s a huge standard for how much Haki ability he has. Seriously, he got the name ‘Dark King’ by the time he and Roger fought at God Valley, well before their journey for the One Piece. He’s an absolute terror to take on, even in his old age. When training Luffy, he’s easily able to keep the Straw Hat Pirate in check with all forms of Haki at incredibly advanced levels.
Not much else anyone can expect from a former First Mate to the Pirate King, but Rayleigh has slipped a little in his old age. Even still, he’s enough to keep Blackbeard at bay in the attack on Amazon Lily, saving Boa Hancock in the process.
12. Jimbei
- Advanced Armament Haki? None Shown
The former Sun Pirate and Fishman Pirate, now a Straw Hat, has some of the best Armament Haki in the early story. It’s the only reason that Luffy even survives Marineford for the most part but still leaves a nasty scar. Jimbei’s Shark Skin attacks are deadly when combined with his Fishman Karate abilities though, and he can take out waves of enemies.
11. Kozuki Oden
- Advanced Armament Haki? Yes
Oden’s incredible Advanced Armament Haki gives him his deadly Two Sword Style, Oden was one of few in Wano able to use the ability of Haki, coating himself with it in battle with the Roger Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates on many occasions. It really plays into his creation of the Oden Two Sword Style when he combines it with Conqueror Haki, imbuing both into his blades before attacking.
While Oden held incredible strength, he wasn’t around long enough to truly take advantage of the techniques others would. Imparting his knowledge through others like Kin’emon leads to the eventual creation of Zoro’s King of Hell style though, and a sun rising over Wano once more.
10. Sanji
- Advanced Armament Haki? Unknown
Sanji just got a major boost with both his Haki and Germa exo-skeleton enhancements. Now he’s one of the most resilient characters in the Straw Hat Pirates, able to withstand massive hits and deliver even harder ones. Usually, Sani applies his Armament Haki to his legs and feet, reinforcing his Black Leg kick style for harder hits. This also helps him superheat his skin and protect his own health in the process, like when he uses the Diable Jambe and Ifrit Jambe in Wano.
The Straw Hat cook also has an extra advantage thanks to his Observation Haki, which allows him to sense everyone within a wide area. He’s one of the best on the Straw Hats when it comes to keeping up with everyone. Has anyone thought about teaching Zoro Observation Haki?
9. Koby
- Advanced Armament Haki? Unknown
Of many in the Marines, Koby has some of the best Armament Haki next to Garp. He shows it off multiple times during his rescue of the Riku Dynasty in the Reverie arc and is even able to deflect a torpedo using a punch with Armament imbued. The kid has come a long way from being the cabin boy for Alvida, and he’s an incredibly strong fighter on the side of justice now.
Koby doesn’t use weapons typically but likely has some mastery of Advanced Armament Haki. He’s known to just use his fists like his mentor Garp though, and is more than capable without Haki. As shown in the Egghead Island arc, Koby can beat the side of a warship in with his bare fists, no Haki needed.
8. Kaido
- Advanced Armament Haki? Yes
Kaido doesn’t just have mastery of every form of Haki, but also the Advanced forms of each as well. While he’ll use his bare fists or bagua in battle with lesser enemies or pests, Kaido coats his massive spiked club in Armament and Conqueror Haki when fighting dangerous foes. He’s an incredibly dangerous fighter with it too, and earns the Emperor of the Sea title early in life thanks to the raw power of his multiple forms of Haki.
Kaido believes that Haki is the ruler over all, even more so than Devil Fruits. To this end, he trains his to incredible amounts, and the combined effort of his Armament and Conqueror Haki is enough to deal a fatal blow to Luffy. Unfortunately for Kaido, it also Awakens his Devil Fruit, and Kaido gets the beating of his life after.
7. Big Mom
- Advanced Armament Haki? Yes
Big Mom is terrifying in not just the Armament Haki department, but the EVERYTHING department. An incredibly strong fighter on her own, she also has access to Conqueror, Armament, and Observation Haki much like her former crewmate Kaido. Big Mom has enough Armament Haki to make herself dangerous, even able to imbue it into her Soul Soul Fruit powers to battle, but when she goes into a frenzy, it’s terrifying.
She uses her Advanced Armament Haki on Napoleon, Prometheus, and Zeus frequently, able to manipulate them since they’re part of her soul. It’s a terrifying sight to see her rampaging with eyes glowing, swinging Napoleon as he’s imbued with Haki crackling off.
6. Sabo
- Advanced Armament Haki? Yes
The middle brother of Ace and Luffy is a master of Armament Haki, using it to reinforce his Flame-Flame Fruit attacks. Even before that, it was a huge part of his Dragon Claw fighting style, and he’s even used the Advanced Armament Haki to reinforce the pipe he carries. It comes in even more use now since it helps to reinforce the pipe, keeping it from overheating and allowing him to use it for travel utilizing his flames.
Sabo doesn’t have any confirmed Conqueror Haki, but don’t be surprised if he’s a master of all three forms by the end of the story. His Armament mastery was enough to stand up to the Gorosei and Imu, which is the sure sign of a stone-cold badass. He’s earning his Flame Emperor title more every day.
5. Zoro
- Advanced Armament Haki? Yes, King of Hell Style
One of the most proficient users of Armament Haki, and one of the first to show off Advanced Armament Haki in the Straw Hat Pirates. Initially, he just uses it on himself to guard his arms and body against other foes’ weapons, but eventually, in Dresssrosa, he learns Advanced Armament Haki. First, he uses this to imbue just Armament Haki into his swords, maintaining the edge so he can cut Pica into pieces.
This isn’t the beginning of his Advanced Armament Haki though, because he refines it further when in Wano. Combining it with his Conqueror Haki to imbue into his swords, this finally forms his King of Hell Style. It’s this power that allows Zoro to slice through King the Lunarian, and he’s able to take him down with massive effort but a massive payoff.
4. Katakuri
- Advanced Armament Haki? Super Advanced
Katakuri has some of the wildest Armament Haki in the series. He’s able to imbue it into everything from his trident to his Mochi-Mochi Fruit Powers. The Sweet Three General is able to turn the white dough of the mochi to jet black, pummeling his foes. One incredible part of his Advanced Armament Haki that Katakuri possesses is a combo with his Devil Fruit abilities. With his mochi, it’s not really surprising that he can coat the parts of himself that he turns into the substance, but he can also spawn Mochi in the air that is covered in it.
There’s no telling what other powers Katakuri could bring in the future. He’s going to be a big ally of the Straw Hat Pirates, no doubt Katakuri will end up on the Straw Hat Fleet by the end.
3. Luffy
- Advanced Armament Haki? Likely, but doesn’t use it.
The Straw Hat Captain is one of the strongest Armament Haki users in the current One Piece world. Seriously, in the recent Egghead Island arc, Luffy uses Gear Fifth and a coating of Armament Haki to one-shot a Marine Admiral! Not just any Admiral either, but Kizaru, the same one that absolutely wrecked the Straw Hat Pirates at Sabaody Archipelago. He’s already shown his power with not just Armament Haki but Conqueror and Observation too.
Luffy is an Emperor now, and as such has to have incredible Haki to back his power up. There’s just a question of where he is in regards to his hero Gold Roger. Still there’s an even bigger question of how he’ll handle himself coming up against Shanks. The Red Hair Pirate is Luffy’s biggest rival when it comes Haki skill, but he may still be outmatched.
2. Shanks
- Advanced Armament Haki? Hell yeah.
Shanks is just one of the strongest people in One Piece period, but his Armament Haki is incredible. It was strong enough to block a blow from Akainu with Armament only in Marineford. Meanwhile he simultaneously subdued the entire battlefield with his Conqueror Haki. If that’s not the most badass thing someone has done in One Piece, then what is?
He takes plenty of cues from his hero just like Luffy though. Shanks even uses his Armament Haki in tribute to his former captain, Gold Roger. Using his signature Divine Departure is a sight to behold. Without the use of Conqueror Haki, he would probably still slice an entire ship in half.
1. Gold Roger
- The greatest Advanced Armament Haki of All Time!
Gold Roger is not only one of the strongest Haki users for Conqueror Haki, but Armament as well. Hell, there was no way any sword could probably handle just how hard he hit his opponents otherwise. He would frequently imbue his blade Ace with Conqueror and Armament Haki for his signature Divine Departure technique, now used by Shanks. It’s this technique that would take him toe to toe with the likes of Whitebeard, Rocks D Xebec, and Kozuki Oden.
Luffy is still just learning all of his Haki mastery though, and will likely find new ways to reinforce his Armament in the future. Until there are any more good shows of Armament in the series though, it’s going to be a tough battle for the ability to evolve much more. Still, One Piece is constantly pulling out some sort of power to change the balance of things, so Armament Haki may get some secret upgrades with more advanced users.
