The Kage Kage no Mi is a Devil Fruit that grants its users the power to manipulate shadows, enabling them to steal and control the shadows of others, creating an army of loyal Zombies with unique abilities. While it has limitations related to the strength of the shadows and vulnerability to sunlight, it remains a more than memorable ability in the world of One Piece.
The Kage Kage no Mi lies on the dark side of Devil Fruits… literally. When we talked about Sugar, we ended the segment by making a reference to “Peter Pan Syndrome.” Well, here’s another one. One often thinks of shadows as a product of light absence and nothing more. It’s not something generally thought to bend beyond the natural order of things. One Piece makes an entertaining exception. Today, we do our best to define what the Kage Kage no Mi is, and what it means for the anime. Is it something to one fears in this universe? How does its power manifest? Be patient. We’ll tell you.
The User: Who Is Gecko Moria ?
One of the most notable story arcs featuring Gecko Moria is the Thriller Bark Arc, where he is the primary antagonist. He resides on the massive island ship Thriller Bark, which is a haunted, zombie-infested vessel roaming the Florian Triangle. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, cross paths with Moria and engage in a fierce battle.
Gecko Moria’s ultimate goal is to amass a vast army of shadows to create a crew of invincible, immortal warriors. His obsession with obtaining power through shadows and his past experiences as a pirate have shaped his character and motivations. He hopes to achieve this using the Kage Kage no Mi.
What Exactly Is The Power Of The Kage Kage no Mi
The Kage Kage no Mi, or Shadow-Shadow fruit, is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allows Moria (and presumably other users) to manipulate shadows. He can extract shadows from individuals. Thus leaving them in a lethargic state, and then insert those shadows into inanimate objects or corpses. Giving them life and making them his loyal servants. These shadow creatures, known as “Zombies,” serve as Moria’s personal army. He uses them to augment his own combat abilities.
In the world of One Piece, shadows are intrinsically tied to the movements of their owners souls. They remain stagnant from birth to death. However, a specific Devil Fruit bestows upon its user the extraordinary ability to defy this unalterable rule. Possessing this unique power, the user gains the capacity to seize a person’s shadow. Severing it from its owner using a pair of scissors. This is first observed when Moria acts as a Warlord and is using it on Brook. There are major strengths for this fruit.
How Strong Is The Kage Kage no Mi?
As stated, after extracting a shadow from its host, the user can then transplant it into a lifeless corpse. Effectively creating an obedient zombie minion. This ability proved particularly advantageous during the Summit War of Marineford. Moria displays the Kage Kage no Mi’s utility in war-like scenarios. There is an abundance of soldiers from whom he could steal shadows. Plus, there is an ample supply of deceased bodies for reanimation.
As for the original owner of the shadow, they fall into a coma lasting two days once their shadow is separates from them. This extended unconsciousness provides the user with a strategic advantage, capitalizing on the victim’s loss of consciousness. Moreover, the individual whose shadow is taken is compelled to remain in darkness. Exposure to sunlight in the absence of their shadow would result in their vaporization. It is essential to highlight that exposure to daylight without their shadows typically results in instantaneous death.
On Another Level
The Kage Kage no Mi user retains complete authority over whether the shadows are returned to their rightful owners. Merely defeating or even eliminating the user will not automatically restore the stolen shadows. Additionally, the user possesses the unique ability to materialize their own shadow into a semi-tangible form. They can then manipulate this shadow, utilizing it as a surrogate fighter in their place.
However, the most formidable aspect of this fruit’s power lies in the user’s capacity to extract the shadows they’ve imbued into their zombie minions and transfer them back into their own being, granting them substantial power augmentation. This makes the Shadow-Shadow fruit a candidate for the best dark power in the game really.
Does The Kage Kage no Mi Have Any Weaknesses?
To begin with, this power’s heavy reliance on others can lead the user to gradually weaken over time, as they become overly dependent on their subordinates for combat, potentially fostering a sense of laziness. Moreover, if the user harnesses other shadows to enhance their own abilities, they become vulnerable to losing control if subjected to sufficient force or pressure, causing the shadows to escape through the user’s mouth and return to their original owners. It’s like what happened to Scrappy-Doo in that Scooby-Doo live-action when he’s uncorked and all of the harvested souls are returned.
Anyway, another vulnerability lies in the fact that the user need not issue a direct order for a shadow to be returned to its owner. If a zombie, powered by a shadow obtained through this Devil Fruit, is exposed to salt, it triggers the shadow’s automatic return to its original owner. Furthermore, should the corpse containing the shadow be utterly destroyed, as exemplified when Ryuma’s body is set ablaze, the shadow is inevitably restored to its original owner, as witnessed with Brook’s shadow.
The Legacy Of the Kage Kage no Mi
Despite these limitations, the Kage Kage no Mi is a formidable Devil Fruit that offers its user immense power and versatility. In the hands of a skilled and strategic individual like Moria, it can create a significant advantage in battles and other confrontations. However, it also poses risks and challenges, particularly when faced with opponents who understand its weaknesses and limitations. Moria is almost too vain to wield it, often claiming that he could easily be Pirate King. But all fans know he was thrown in the slammer. So… epic fail.
