Weidled by such heavyweight fighters as the Fire Fist Ace and Flame Emperor Sabo, the Mera-Mera no Mi is one of One Piece’s strongest Devil Fruits. Others may know it as the Flame-Flame Fruit, but the one thing for sure is that this dangerous power will leave a fiery path wherever it goes. So, what is the Mera-Mera no Mi of One Piece?
Warning! This article contains spoilers for One Piece through chapter 1090, currently in the thick of the Egghead Island arc. If not caught up in the story, the manga is available on MangaPlus and Viz platforms. Read on with caution!
What is the Flame-Flame Fruit?
The Flame-Flame Fruit is a Logia-type Devil Fruit capable of turning the user into fire. It’s one of the most powerful to show up in One Piece, with very few weaknesses when it comes to power. As with most Logia Fruits, it lets the user both become and conjure flames at will, while also only burning what the user allows. Both Ace and Sabo have shown great mastery of these abilities, to the point of summoning massive flame pillars or creating supernovas in the palm of their hands.
Ace
Though he doesn’t eat the Flame-Flame Fruit until he’s already a part of the Whitebeard Pirates. When he does get the Fruit though, Ace becomes a terror of the Grand Line known as Fire-Fist Ace. He quickly works his way up the ranks of Whitebeard’s fleet to become the second division commander thanks to his Devil Fruit ability and the fiery personality that complements it. Ace develops everything based on his Flame-Flame Fruit powers, from his fighting style to travel in a flame-powered boat.
He doesn’t use any kind of weapon, but instead fights hand-to-hand with bare knuckles. This earns the Fire-Fist epithet, as he typically finishes his enemies with a massive concentration of flame in one good punch. There’s a reason he’s seen as a menace by the World Government, which is why he’s such a good trade for Blackbeard to bring them. Blackbeard actually wants to take the Flame-Flame Fruit at Marineford after Ace is killed, but fortunately doesn’t make it that far before Shanks ends the battle.
Sabo
The second wielder of the Flame-Flame Fruit in One Piece, Sabo is also the third brother in a trio with Luffy and Ace. It’s fate that he takes on the Devil Fruit of his dead brother, even to the point where he adopts the Fire-Fist move in Ace’s honor. Sabo isn’t only a hand-to-hand fighter though, and channels his flames through the pipe he often wields as a weapon so he can fly around on it.
Despite his short time with the Devil Fruit in the universe, Sabo has quickly made it into a deadly part of his inventory. His already powerful Dragon Claw martial arts technique is even more dangerous thanks to the Flame-Flame Fruit. Sabo has quickly gone from the Revolutionaries’ Chief of Staff to his own epithet of Flame Emperor Sabo thanks to a raid on the Celestial Dragons.
A Will of Fire
Just as Ace made the most of his life to be free and free others, Sabo will do the same. Even before he remembers his true identity, Sabo begins to work with the Revolutionaries while Ace becomes a pirate. When Ace’s flame dies during the battle at Marineford, Sabo’s is lit once more upon hearing about his brother’s death. The Revolutionary makes his way to Dressrosa two years later on a mission, and so happens to meet Luffy in a contest to win the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Ace’s will of fire brings his brothers back together, and allows Sabo to make his way into the coliseum tournament. Here he wins the Flame-Flame Fruit in battle, eats it all right there, and jets off to help Luffy. Even while the Birdcage is destroying Dressrosa and Luffy is fighting Doflamingo, Sabo uses his newfound powers to take out Jesus Burgess and get a little justice for their brother. The Flame-Flame Fruit and Ace’s will continue on now, with Flame Emperor Sabo sparking fires of revolution and freedom across the Grand Line.
