One Piece: What Every Straw Hat Member Did During The Time Skip (2024)

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ONE PIECE

What did Luffy and the Straw Hat pirates get up to during One Piece's two-year time skip? One Piece's time skip changed the status quo of the series and worked to establish how all the Straw Hat Pirates would act for the rest of the series. Even long after the time skip took place, the lessons and experience many of the Straw Hat crew members gained are still incredibly important.

One Piece's time skip takes place in episode #517 of the anime and chapter #597 of the manga. After Luffy suffered a terrible loss and his crew was forcefully separated in the Sabaody Archipelago, he realized that he and his crew were still far too weak to take on the challenges of the New World, so Luffy sent a coded message to the Straw Hats via the newspaper that they were to reunite on Sabaody in two years.

Luffy's message of reuniting on the Sabaody Archipelago in two years is what kickstarted the One Piece time skip, and this is what all Straw Hat Pirates did during that time. The detailed specifics of what the Straw Hats did during the time skip have yet to be fully explored. Still, new details about their activities have been revealed periodically over the years.

11 One Piece's Time Skip Changed Everything

One Piece manga by Eiichiro Oda, Anime produced by Toei Animation

One Piece's time skip covered an in-universe period of two years in which the Straw Hat Pirates were all training to become stronger. The period lasted from the end of the Marineford arc to the Straw Hat's reunion on the Sabaody Archipelago. Everything that the Straw Hats did during that time was largely unexplored outside the non-canon One Piece anime special titled "3D2Y: Overcome Ace’s Death! Luffy’s Vow to his Friends" that centered around a conflict Luffy was involved in during his training.

Everything after the One Piece time skip is typically referred to as "Part 2" or the "post-time skip era." However, neither one is an official name for that portion of the story as opposed to, for example, the Naruto anime becoming Naruto: Shippuden and Dragon Ball becoming Dragon Ball Z after their respective time skips. Still, One Piece's time skip proves to be a pivotal transition for its story and beloved cast of characters.

10 Monkey D. Luffy Trained His Haki With The Pirate King's First Mate

Luffy learned to control Conqueror's, Observation, and Armament Haki

During One Piece's time skip, Luffy received training from Silvers Rayleigh, the former first mate of Pirate King Gol D. Roger, whom Luffy and the Straw Hats had befriended in Sabaody Archipelago. Rayleigh brought Luffy to Rusukaina, an island with extreme weather patterns inhabited by ferocious beasts. With the combination of the harsh conditions of the island, its inhabitants, and his own training, Luffy drastically improved his overall strength and learned how to control the three types of Haki.

By the time Luffy finished his training, not only had he gotten far stronger, but he had mastered the basics of all three types of Haki. Each would prove to be vital in the adventures ahead. However, Luffy's creative use of his Devil Fruits powers enabled him to integrate his increasing control of the three types of Haki into the creation of Gear Four: Bounce-Man and Gear Four: Snake-Man, respectively.

Like the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates, details about Luffy's activities during the time skip are scarce, but they have been explored occasionally. During the Dressrosa and Whole Cake Island arcs of One Piece, for example, there were brief flashbacks to Luffy's training where the audience was shown Luffy getting help from Rayleigh with Gear Four, as well as him being told about Observation Haki making it possible to see seconds into the future.

The anime special 3D2Y showed more of the Straw Hat Captain's training during the time skip. It centered around Luffy fighting against the World Pirates, and while 3D2Y is non-canon, it did add a lot to the overall story. Viewers are able to see Luffy's struggle to control his Armament Haki. When he figures it out, it firmly and satisfyingly establishes Luffy as someone able to fight in the New World. It's also a special that fans should watch because it reveals how Luffy developed his iconic Red Hawk technique in one of the One Piece franchise's best fights.

9 Roronoa Zoro Received Training From His Ultimate Goal

Zoro significantly upgraded his strength and range of attacks, while also losing an eye

Roronoa Zoro was sent to the gloomy Kuraigana Island, an island inhabited by giant war-hungry apes called Humandrills that also happened to be the home of Dracule Mihawk. While Zoro's ultimate goal in life is to defeat Mihawk and become the One Piece world's greatest swordsman, he knew that he was nowhere close to beating his ultimate rival, so to both work towards that goal and become strong enough to support Luffy, Zoro had Mihawk train him during the time skip.

During those two years, Zoro trained under Mihawk and against the Humandrills. However, the giant apes had the ability to quickly learn techniques from their opponents, providing a massive challenge for Zoro to overcome. Unfortunately, he did not leave the training in one piece, as he lost his left eye during the time skip. Still, not only did his swordsmanship greatly increase, but he learned how to use both Armament and Observation Haki, the former of which he would use to coat his swords in Haki to dye them black and increase their power.

8 Nami Learned How To Be The World's Strongest Meteorologist

Nami improved her knowledge and weapons that allow her to control aspects of the weather

Nami spent the two-year time skip on Weatheria, an artificial sky island specializing in weather-based technology. The island's population is seemingly only a group of tall elderly men dressed like wizards with pointy hats. Their technology and knowledge of the weather allow them to control it, which they use to make a living by flying over islands in need of a change in weather conditions, such as rain during a drought.

In addition to increasing her navigational abilities, Nami was able to use both Weatheria's technology and their vast knowledge of the weather to upgrade her Clima-Tact into the Sorcery Clima-Tact. Unlike previous versions of the Clima-Tact, the Sorcery Clima-Tact didn't require elaborate setups for its weather-based techniques. It could even produce Sea Clouds, which normally can't exist on the Blue Sea, so it was a clear testament to how much her abilities had developed over time.

7 Usopp Gained A Green Thumb, Which Turned Him Into A Real Threat

Usopp learned to control Pop Greens, which are plants that are as dangerous as they are versatile

Out of all the Straw Hat Pirates, Usopp was the one with the most radical change in abilities following the time skip. Stranded on the Boin Archipelago, a chain of giant, carnivorous plants disguised as islands, Usopp met Heracles, a researcher well-versed in the Boin Archipelago. He taught Usopp how to fight with special seeds called Pop Greens. His training made him more than prepared to handle the threats of the New World and enabled him to pull off several incredible achievements over One Piece's post-time skip arcs.

While Usopp's toolkit was already one of the Straw Hat Crew's most varied arsenals, it was nothing compared to the range of tools he'd acquired during the time skip. Each Pop Green turns into a different type of plant whenever fired from Usopp's new slingshot, the Kuro Kabuto. The Pop Greens provide Usopp with a moveset that involves things like vines, gas, carnivorous plants, and more that ultimately set him apart from how he fought pre-time skip. It also gives his intellect much more time to shine with the clever traps and tactics the plants allow Usopp to pull off.

6 Sanji's Time Skip Journey Was The Most Stressful

Sanji drastically improved his mobility, power, and learned how to buff the Straw Hats with food

One Piece's Sanji was sent to the Kamabakka Kingdom, an island inhabited entirely by Okama (crossdressers) that was home to one of Luffy's newest allies and founding member of the Revolutionary Army, Emporio Ivankov. Ivankov, admiring Sanji's resolve, offered to teach him the Kamabakka Kingdom's Special Attack Cuisine so long as he could defeat the 99 masters of Newkama Kenpo while he evaded the inhabitants trying to convert him into an Okama. Once he did, he was taught the Cuisine's 99 recipes that actively help strengthen those they feed.

Sanji spent the two years during the time skip fighting the masters and running away from the Okama. While on the island, he developed the ability to use Armament and Observation Haki, as well as new techniques with his newly acquired strength. Sanji gained the ability to kick solid air and essentially fly with the Sky Walk, which is the Straw Hat Cook's adaptation of CP9's Moonwalk technique. Combining each aspect made Sanji capable of incredible mobility and power, abilities that get even more impressive once he's warmed up.

Vinsmoke Sanji also learned to imbue his attacks with fire more effectively, culminating in one of his ultimate attacks, Hell Memories. By recalling traumatic memories, Sanji can ignite his entire body with powerful flames, creating devastatingly strong attacks that have sent even the most enormous foes flying. While the memories were initially triggered by his time in the Kamabakka Kingdom, the One Piece anime later changed Sanji's trigger to his horrific past with his war-mongering family.

5 Chopper Took Control Of His Power's And Expanded His Mind

Chopper mastered his transformations and further improved his medical skills

Tony Tony Chopper spent the time skip in Torino Kingdom, an island where the humans are subservient to giant birds. While the humans initially appeared primitive, Chopper discovered that they were actually highly advanced in the fields of technology and medicine, and he spent the two-year time skip studying both to improve his abilities. Chopper's ability to communicate with animals helped him establish peace amongst the island inhabitants.

Thanks to his research, not only did Chopper develop the Kung Fu Point, but he was able to improve on the power of his Human-Human Fruit so that he could access the majority of his transformations without needing a Rumble Ball. Chopper still needs the Rumble Ball to enter his Monster Point, but now he can enter it with just one Rumble Ball and can retain his sense of self during the transformation, making it a far more reliable technique.

4 Nico Robin Joined The Revolutionary Army

Robin improved her already powerful Devil Fruit powers while working for Luffy's Dad

Unlike the majority of the Straw Hat Pirates, Nico Robin didn't spend the time skip in the same place she was sent to. Robin and Kuma both had tragic pasts thanks to the World Government, which makes it strange for him to have sent her to Tequila Wolf. There, she was forced into slave labor by the government, which had been using prisoners and slaves to construct a massive bridge for over 700 years. Thankfully, the Revolutionaries liberated Tequila Wolf, allowing her to join up with them for the duration of the time skip.

Following the time skip, Robin's proficiency with her Flower-Flower Fruit has increased to the point where she can easily summon giant limbs and even create clones of herself. During her time with the Revolutionaries, Robin also befriended Koala, Hack, and Luffy's brother, Sabo. In her fight with Black Maria in the Wano arc, it's revealed that Koala taught Robin how to use Fish-Man Karate, a genuinely devastating combo with Robin's devil fruit abilities.

3 Franky Upgraded More Than His Genius Mechanic Mind

Franky upgraded his robotic body signficantly, complete with laser

Franky spent the time skip on Karakuri Island, a technologically advanced island that was the birthplace of Dr. Vegapunk, the most intelligent man in One Piece's world. Being the greatest scientist alive, Dr. Vegapunk had apparently left behind a lot of unfinished inventions and blueprints that someone like Franky could accomplish great things with. Unfortunately, the Straw Hat shipwright triggered a trap that set off a massive explosion that destroyed parts of the lab and nearly obliterated the partially robotic man.

While Franky had previously rebuilt himself after suffering grievous injuries in his youth, he had to do it once again during the time skip. This time, he was able to use Dr.Vegapunk's leftover tools and plans to upgrade himself into Battle Franky-37, a.k.a. "Armored Me." The upgrades further changed his appearance, made him far more powerful, and gave him a laser beam called the Franky Radical Beam. He also created a motorcycle and a tank that combine into a mech suit called Battle Franky-38, a.k.a. General Franky, with said mech suit being Franky's primary means of fighting post-time skip.

2 Brook Moved Countless Souls With His Music

Brook learned to better control his and other's soul, as well as cool icy powers

Not unlike Robin, Brook ended up spending One Piece's time skip away from where Kuma initially sent him. Brook was sent to Namakura Island, where occultists mistook him for Satan, when he suddenly appeared inside a demonic summoning circle. Although he initially helped them fight off the warring Longarm Tribe, the tribe returned to kidnap and take advantage of the Straw Hat's musician. Brook's musical talents prompted them to begin touring, performing extravagant concerts across many islands. Eventually, the Longarm Tribe turned Brook into a globetrotting rockstar called the Soul King.

While Brook performed music and moved countless souls with his jams, he mastered the power of his Revive-Revive Fruit. While the fruit initially didn't give Brook any powers after it brought him back to life, as Brook became more engrossed with his music, he gained a deeper understanding of souls that gave him the power to manipulate soul energy. This gave him a wide variety of abilities, such as separating his soul from his body, reattaching his limbs, and even creating ice by summoning the "Chill of the Underworld."

1 Which One Piece Character Changed The Most In The Time Skip?

All the Straw Hat Pirates went through a lot of changes in the time skip, but the one who probably changed the most was One Piece's Usopp. While most of the Straw Hats' training just involved improving on the abilities they already had, Usopp, by comparison, completely changed his fighting style, abandoning Dials and his bag of tricks in favor of the versatility of Pop Greens and, later on, sporadic uses of exceptional Observation Haki.

Usopp hasn't been as involved in the fighting post-time skip as other characters, but the action he's had does a lot to show off how much he's grown over the course of the story. Without the improvements that Usopp made during the time skip, Luffy and the Straw Hat crew would be much worse off and would not have survived the many tribulations they experienced post One Piece's time skip.

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One Piece

Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history's longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix's 2023 adaptation.