The concept of Devil Fruits in One Piece is shrouded in mystery. No one knows where they originated from or to what extent their powers can go. The only major update known about them is that when awakened, they grant the user immeasurable strength and help them greatly in battle.
Although the awakening of Devil Fruits was introduced early on, it only gained traction during the Wano arc. As of now, the strongest Devil Fruit awakening fans have seen is Luffy’s Nika transformation, also known as Gear 5. However, the first Devil Fruit awakening was foreshadowed by Eiichiro Oda at the beginning of the series.
Many fans believe that the first character to awaken his Devil Fruit was none other than Enel, the former god of Skypiea and the main antagonist of the Skypiea arc. His most powerful ability feels more than just a power-up and might just be the first awakening in One Piece.
The Devil Fruit Awakening in One Piece
Devil Fruits were the first major power source introduced in One Piece. At the time, the concept of Haki was a rarity, which is why Devil Fruits were given a lot of importance by One Piece fans. Many characters even believed that they were the ultimate treasure in the series, and their awakening made them even stronger.
The first major character to awaken his Devil Fruit was Donquixote Doflamingo during the Dressrosa Arc. His Devil Fruit, Ito Ito no Mi, allowed him to create and manipulate strings, and his Devil Fruit awakening allowed him to turn everything around him into strings. It was a terrifying ability and also one of the reasons why Doflamingo is considered to be one of the best-written characters.
As One Piece fans know, there are three different kinds of Devil Fruits, but the only categories that have witnessed a Devil Fruit awakening are the Paramecia and the Zoan types. Logia-types are the only ones who have not yet experienced a Devil Fruit awakening, which makes it even more intriguing for fans.
The First Devil Fruit Awakening Was Before Time Skip
While the first official Devil Fruit awakening was witnessed during the Dressrosa arc, u/qp2137 on Reddit pointed out that Oda might have already introduced Devil Fruit awakening in the Skypiea arc through Enel. Enel was one of the strongest enemies Luffy had ever faced, and he was also one of the only few Logia Devil Fruit users.
During the conclusion of his battle with Luffy, Enel revealed a new form called Amaru, which looked a lot like a typical Devil Fruit awakening.
Wasn’t Enel the first awakened devil fruit user we saw?
byu/qp2137 inOnePiece
His Amaru form transformed him into a gigantic figure completely made up of lightning, with his hair having the typical awakening clouds around it.
Although it was seen for just a few moments, it could be a hint towards Devil Fruit awakening by Eiichiro Oda. There is a lot that fans don’t know about the Devil Fruits and their hidden abilities. However, as the One Piece plot progresses to its conclusion, all of the Devil Fruits’ mysteries should be disclosed.
One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
