One Piece: Luffy’s Gear 5 is Much Better Than Goku’s Ultra Instinct Because it Breaks a Shonen Tradition That Was Set in Stone

SUMMARY

When Luffy initially unlocked the Gear 5 mode, the entire anime and manga world erupted because it was one of the most memorable scenes.
The same can be said of Dragon Ball’s protagonist, Goku, who received his most recent transformation, Ultra Instinct, in Dragon Ball Super Tournament of Power.
However, when comparing Luffy’s Gear 5 to Goku’s Ultra Instinct, the One Piece protagonist wins.

When Luffy first unlocked the Gear 5 mode in One Piece, the entire anime and manga world went through a surge because it was one of the most iconic moments in the entire series. The same can be said for Dragon Ball’s protagonist, Goku, who got his latest transformation, Ultra Instinct, in Dragon Ball Super Tournament of Power.
Gear 5 Luffy in One Piece
As both Goku and Luffy are two of the most legendary protagonists, their power-ups usually bring a sense of excitement among fans and increase their appreciation for the character. Not only that, but because these transformations are quite frequent, fans always compare these power-ups with one another.

However, when comparing Luffy’s Gear 5 to Goku’s Ultra Instinct, the One Piece protagonist emerges victorious solely on the fact that it breaks every basic Shonen power-up rule that has been followed within the anime and manga industries for so many years. This unique trait not only makes Luffy’s Gear 5 better than Goku’s ultra instinct, but it also makes it the best power in the entire Shonen genre.

Luffy’s Gear 5 vs. Goku’s Ultra Instinct

Both Gear 5 and Ultra Instincts have completely different powers. Although these powers are different, Ultra Instinct is called the State of the Gods, and Gear 5 is a rendition of Sun God Nika. While Ultra Instinct is an ability that changes the mind and body synchronization, Gear 5 allows Luffy to manipulate the environment and use it however he likes.

Goku’s Ultra Instinct allows him to free his body from the limitations of thinking before taking any action. The body itself gets into the mode of understanding the attacks and eliminating the time that is required to process the attack and counter it, making it extremely fast and powerful. This power gives Goku the perfect attack and defense combination.
Goku Ultra Instinct
Gear 5, on the other hand, is based on the imagination of the user. It provides Luffy with more agility and freedom, making it more flexible than it already was. This may make Luffy look more cartoonistic and goofy, but it is considered the most ridiculous power in the entire One Piece world.

Luffy’s Gear 5 Makes Him a Better Shonen Protagonist Than Goku

When comparing the events of these power-ups and the abilities they give, there may be a chance that Goku might be the stronger character than Luffy, but Luffy’s Gear 5 is much more unique as it breaks all the Shonen power-up barriers. Luffy’s newfound power is not awakened from any pain or anger but from his desire to fight Kaido and defeat him.
Luffy Gear 5
Secondly, whenever a stereotypical main character undergoes a power-up, their attitude and emotions change as they become more serious and focused. However, Luffy’s power-up stays true to his goofy and silly nature, and it only makes him laugh more when facing dangerous opponents like Kaido and the Five Elders.

The final aspect that makes Luffy’s Gear 5 a better power-up than Goku’s Ultra Instinct is Gear 5’s ability to make Luffy’s imagination come to life. Ideally, any power-up provides a series of attacks to the user, which helps him defeat the enemy. But Luffy’s gear allows him to use his imagination in any way possible and use it however he pleases.