The Mera Mera no Mi[5] is a Logia-type[4]Devil Fruit that allows the user to create, control, and transform into fire at will.[5] It was previously eaten by Portgas D. Ace,[5] and currently by Sabo.[3]
Meramera (メラメラ/めらめら?) is the Japanese onomatopoeia for something flaring up/bursting into flames.
It is called the Flame-Flame Fruit in the VIZ manga and Funimation dub.
It is called the Flare-Flare Fruit in the 4Kids dub and Funimation subs.
Appearance
The Mera Mera no Mi is a round orange fruit, composed of many flame-shaped components with swirl patterns on each one, and has a swirled stem on the top.[1]
Strengths and Weaknesses
The fruit's major strength, like other Logia types, is that it allows the user to produce as well as become the element they control. In this case, the user is able to create, control, and become fire. With this in mind, the user can create devastating fire-based attacks and gain a high resistance towards most heat-based attacks. The flames can also be used to increase the force of physical attacks.[6] By turning into fire, the user is capable of letting enemy attacks harmlessly pass through their fiery body or move around quickly in a stream of flames.[7][8] Igniting oneself similarly has the added effect of burning an opponent if they had tried to physically harm the user.
When this power clashes against certain other Logia on equal grounds, this seems to come to a stalemate: neither smoke[9] nor ice[10] was able to overcome nor succumb to the flames, instead cancelling each other out when the two elements collided.
The Mera Mera no Mi is inferior to the Magu Magu no Mi in terms of elemental hierarchy.[11] Magma is considerably hotter than fire, allowing it to overwhelm the Mera Mera no Mi's powers. The magma can neutralize even the intangibility and heat-immunity of the Mera Mera no Mi, thus leading the user to be burned and completely vulnerable. If the magma strikes through the body of the user, it cannot be phased through like most other attacks, and the damage inflicted will remain, as with any normal person's body.[12] Other than that, the user is also affected by the standard Devil Fruit weaknesses.[13]
Usage
Portgas D. Ace
The fruit's bestowed powers, as used by Ace, have been used in a variety of ways. Since he left home three years before Luffy, who did not know that Ace had powers before their reunion in Arabasta, Ace had his powers for no more than three years. Ace notably used his powers usually either to fight or to propel his raft. Ace names his attacks in Japanese and they are often made of two-word phrases. According to Gatz, Ace had sunk countless battleships and burned down mighty cities with the fruit's power.[14]
During Ace's cover story, the powers of the fruit allowed Ace to rescue a Marine officer and some documents on board a burning ship.[15] Despite being weakened by the Yami Yami no Mi severely during his fight against Blackbeard, Ace was still able to skillfully use the fruit's power to inflict some damage to his former subordinate.[16]
Techniques
Kagero (陽炎,Kagerō?, literally meaning "Sunshine Flame/Blaze" or "Heat Haze"): Ace shoots a stream of fire from the palm of his hand. This was first seen being used to stop Smoker from catching Luffy, neutralizing the former's smoke assault.[2] This is called Sun Flare in the VIZ manga and Heat Haze in the Funimation adaptations.
Enjomo (炎上網,Enjōmō?, literally meaning "Blaze Net"): Ace creates a circle of fire around a selected area, preventing anyone from entering or leaving it. This was first seen being used against the Marines in Arabasta under the command of Smoker,[5] and was named in a flashback against Whitebeard.[13] In the VIZ manga, Funimation adaptations, this is called Flame Fence.
Hiken (火拳,Hiken?, literally meaning "Fire Fist"): Ace's signature attack and the source of his nickname "Fire Fist Ace". Ace turns his fist into flames and launches it as a dense column of fire at his target. This attack is so incredibly powerful that it is able to plow through several ships in one shot.[5] However, it was completely neutralized by Akainu's Dai Funka, and is the final attack Ace ever used prior to his death shortly after.[12] This is called Fire Fist in the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, Heat Fist in the 4Kids dub, and Flame Fist in the Funimation dub of "One Piece: Unlimited Adventure".
Higan (火銃,Higan?, literally meaning "Fire Gun"): Pointing the index and middle fingers of both hands at an opponent like guns, Ace turns his fingertips into fire and shoots bullets made of compressed flame from them. This technique was first seen when Ace retaliated against Van Augur's attack.[8] In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Fire Gun.
Enkai (炎戒,Enkai?, literally meaning "Flame Commandment/Precept"): Ace amasses a large amount of flames around his body (usually by first swinging his outstretched hand around him, summoning the flames) in preparation for an attack. This is apparently the prerequisite technique before Ace can use Hibashira.[8] Its name may play on enkei (円形?), meaning "circle" in Japanese, referencing the swirling form of the fire conjured. In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Flame Commandment.
Hibashira (火柱,Hibashira?, literally meaning "Fire Pillar"): Used following Enkai. Ace shoots the collected flames straight upward, destroying a target above him. It can also be fired downwards to clear any enemies that might be below him while he's in mid-air. This technique and its prerequisite technique were first seen when Jesus Burgess threw a hotel at Ace.[8]Hibashira (火柱?) is a generic word for columns of fire. In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Fire Pillar.
Hotarubi (蛍火,Hotarubi?, literally meaning "Firefly Light"): Ace creates many small, glowing greenish-yellow fireballs that float around an enemy. The idea behind this attack's name is that before Ace attacks with them, the small fireballs look like fireflies in the air. This move is apparently used in preparation for Hidaruma and was first seen in Ace's battle against Blackbeard.[16] In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Firefly.
Hidaruma (火達磨,Hidaruma?, literally meaning "Fire Daruma"): After using Hotarubi to send the fireballs floating around in proximity with the enemy, Ace sends them all flying into the target(s) all at once, burning them. This was first seen being used in Ace's battle against Blackbeard after Blackbeard performed his initial attacks.[16] In the Pirate Warriors games, the fireballs from Hotarubi actually home in targets themselves, while Hidaruma is instead a grab attack where Ace captures his target as he plows them into the ground for an explosion (which he leaps back from). Though the kanji separate translate as "fire daruma", hidaruma (火達磨/火だるま?) is a Japanese term referring to the general state of being on fire/enveloped by flames. In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Fiery Doll.
Shinka: Shiranui (神火不知火,Shinka: Shiranui?, literally meaning "Divine Fire: Unknown Fire"): Ace hurls long lances made out of fire. The lances have the combined effect of simultaneously burning an opponent while piercing them. This was first seen being used against Blackbeard when Ace was being pulled forward by the former's power.[8] "Shinka" (神火?) refers to mysterious and strange fires that are beyond man-made causes, like the ones provoked by natural phenomena such as lightning strikes or eruptions for example. "Shiranui" (不知火?) is a supernatural, ghostly phenomenon from the Japanese folklore of Kyūshū. Also called "sea fire", the term refers to mysterious lights on the sea, similar to will-o'-the-wisps. In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Saint Elmo's Fire, a clear reference to the homonymous, real weather phenomenon that is somewhat similar to shiranui.
Jujika (十字火,Jūjika?, literally meaning "Cross Fire"): Ace places his index fingers together in a cross shape before launching a cross-shaped column of fire directly at his opponent. In the anime, after crossing his fingers, a cross-shaped ray of light can be seen emanating from the fingers at the target followed by the column of fire. This was first seen being used against Blackbeard after Ace attacked him with Shinka: Shiranui.[16] The name of the technique is a pun since, written as such in Japanese, it refers to the crossfire of guns as opposed to a literal cross of fire as created by Ace; additionally, the homophonous jūjika (十字架?) refers to a cross for crucifixion. In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this is called Cross Fire.
Dai Enkai: Entei (大炎戒炎帝,Dai Enkai: Entei?, literally meaning "Great Flame Commandment/Precept: Flame Emperor"): Ace's ultimate technique. After creating a large, spiraling fire centered on his location and amassing it at a focused point (i.e. the palm of his hand), Ace turns it into a gigantic fireball resembling the sun and hurls it at his opponent to try to obliterate them. This was first (and only) seen being used during the final moments of Ace's and Blackbeard's battle where it collided with the latter's darkness, the clashing forces seemingly covering most of the island they were on and being visible from far away.[16] In One Piece: Unlimited Cruise, Ace activates this move by first bending his knees slightly and then placing the outstretched palm of his hand towards the ground (with his other hand gripping the wrist for support), where the flames begin manifesting themselves into a sphere. Entei (炎帝?) is Japanese for the "Yan/Flame Emperor" (pinyin: Yándì): a legendary pre-dynastic figure and title from ancient China, prominent in mythology. In China, Entei also refers to the sun as a summer god, or to a god with fire control abilities. The attack's name in the VIZ manga and Funimation dub is Great Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor and Flame Commandment: Flame Emperor in the Funimation subs. In the English version of Burning Blood, the move is called Flame Monarch.
Kyokaen (鏡火炎,Kyōkaen?, literally meaning "Mirror Fire Flame"): Ace releases a wall of fire to block an attack. This was first seen to counter Aokiji's Ice Block: Pheasant Beak, the two attacks canceling each other out.[10] This is called Mirror Flame in the VIZ manga and Flame Mirror in the Funimation adaptations.
Non-Canon Techniques
Twin Guns & Cross Fire (双銃&十字火,Sōjū & Jūjika?): Ace fires a volley of bullets from his two guns before finishing the technique with Jujika. This technique appears as one of Ace's special moves for his Strong World DLC costume in One Piece: Burning Blood.
Shinka: Shiranui Itto (神火不知火一灯,Shinka: Shiranui Ittō?, literally meaning "Divine Fire: Unknown Fire Single Light"): A variation of Shinka: Shiranui, where the lances are thrown at the same spot simultaneously. It was first seen used by Ace during a training session aiming at a shooting target of Whitebeard in One Piece episode A Chapter 2. In the VIZ manga, this is called St. Elmo's Fire: Beam of Light.
Hotarubi: Kasen (蛍火火旋,Hotarubi: Kasen?, literally meaning "Firefly Light: Fire Whirl"): A technique where Ace shoots the fireballs of Hotarubi at the enemy at high speed, causing them to scatter and ideally distract the enemy. It was first seen used against Jinbe to distract him in order to attack later with Hiken while airborne in One Piece episode A Chapter 2. In the VIZ manga, this is called Firefly: Fire Whirl.
Hotarubi: Funadama (蛍火船霊,Hotarubi: Funadama?, literally meaning "Firefly Light: Ship Spirit"): Similar to Hotarubi, Ace creates many small fireballs that float around an enemy. However, instead of firing them all at once, Ace staggers the timing of each one, using Observation Haki to place the fireballs where his opponent is going to be before setting them off. It was used against Whitebeard during their 99th duel in One Piece episode A Chapter 3. A "funadama" (船霊?) is, in Japanese myth, the guardian deity of a ship, to which seafarers pray for the safety of a voyage. In the VIZ manga, this is called Firefly Ship Spirit.
Hikyaku (火脚,Hikyaku?, literally meaning "Fire Leg"): A technique where Ace shrouds his feet in flames, which can allow him to push himself off the ground with immense force and facilitate a subsequent aerial attack. It was used by Ace against Whitebeard during their 99th duel in One Piece episode A Chapter 3. In the VIZ manga, this is called Fire Leg.
Dai Enkai: Onibi (大炎戒鬼火,Dai Enkai: Onibi?, literally meaning "Great Flame Commandment/Precept: Ogre Fire"): Ace creates a giant fire vortex around himself and his opponent, trapping his enemy within. He then targets his opponent with several fire dragons created from the vortex, which converges simultaneously, resulting in a mighty explosion. It was used against Whitebeard during their 100th duel in One Piece episode A Chapter 4. The term "onibi" (鬼火?) is a Japanese term whose literal meaning is "demon/ogre/oni fire", comparable to such English terms as "will-o'-the-wisp" or "jack-o'-lantern". In the VIZ manga, this is called Great Flame Commandment: Demon Fire.
Sabo
After Sabo had eaten the fruit, he has been shown being able to utilize it effectively mere seconds after consuming it. Although struggling to control his new powers at first, he adapted to it, and Sabo has displayed great control over the fruit's abilities, being able to utilize it in conjunction with his pipe and avoid injury by making himself intangible. Like Ace, Sabo names the techniques in Japanese, though Sabo's naming style follows more of his affinity with dragons.
Sabo has been shown using it to enhance the already immense destructive power of his "claws", allowing him to overwhelm powerful foes such as Jesus Burgess.
Techniques
Hiken (火拳,Hiken?, literally meaning "Fire Fist"): Ace's signature move which was inherited by Sabo after consuming the fruit. Like Ace, Sabo turns his fist into flames and launches it as a powerful column of fire at his target, capable of causing enormous damage and completely shattering a thick layer of stone floor. This was first seen used to destroy the entire Corrida Colosseum stage, and the first move Sabo made since consuming the fruit.[3] He also demonstrated the ability to use the attack at pointblank range, by grabbing onto his opponent's face and then triggering the ignition, sending the target flying backwards with tremendous kinetic force and severely burning them simultaneously, as he did so on Burgess.[17] In One Piece: Stampede, this attack was strong enough to create a vast wall of fire over the sea to help the Straw Hats and other pirates escape from the Marines.
Moeru Ryusoken: Kaen Ryuo (燃える竜爪拳 火炎竜王,Moeru Ryūsōken: Kaen Ryūō?, literally meaning "Burning Dragon Claw Fist: Fire Flame Dragon King"): A combination of the Mera Mera no Mi powers and his Ryusoken style. Sabo forms his "talons", coating them with Armament Haki and ignites them, and then slams them into his opponent and spins them around before blasting his target away with a burst of fire. This was first used against Burgess, who was sent flying a great distance away while suffering from burns of the flames.[6] In the VIZ manga and Funimation adaptations, this attack is called Burning Dragon Claw Fist: Flame Dragon King.
Otebisha (王手飛車,Ōtebisha?, literally meaning "Check Rook"): After using Hiken with his right fist, Sabo shoots a stream of flame with his left fist that travels upwards towards a target. The name of the technique refers to a move in shogi where the player checks the opponent's king and forks their rook (the second most important piece) simultaneously. This is likely a play on Sabo attacking Imu (the "king") after attacking the Five Elders (the "rook").[18] In the VIZ manga and Crunchyroll subs, this attack is called Rook Check.
Non-Canon Techniques
In the One Piece: Pirate Warriors series, Sabo has been shown to use Higan, Jujika, Enjomo along with fire-based versions of his Ryu no Kagizume (somewhat predating Kaen Ryuo) and Ryu no Ibuki (styled as a Hibashira), all as part of his moveset. In One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, Sabo can use Higan and Enkai Hibashira (Flame Commandment Fire Pillar in the English localization) as Special Moves.
Gomu Gomu no Heat Magnum (ゴムゴムの炎神銃,Gomu Gomu no Hīto Magunamu?, literally meaning "Rubber Rubber Flame God Gun"): A team combination attack used by Luffy and Sabo to defeat Donquixote Doflamingo in the alternate ending of the Dressrosa Arc that appears in One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3. After Kuzan freezes Doflamingo's legs in place, Sabo and Luffy stand side-by-side, Luffy activates Gear 2 and prepares a Gomu Gomu Red Hawk while Sabo prepares Moeru Ryusoken: Kaen Ryuo. Luffy then says Gomu Gomu no while Sabo says Heat, then they combine their fire-based punches into a single fireball (through the fire manipulation abilities of the Mera Mera no Mi) as they both shout Magnum. The attack is immensely powerful and capable of burning through Doflamingo's Off White threads and knocking the Warlord of the Sea through a wall. However despite this it apparently lacks the power of the Gomu Gomu no King Kong Gun that defeated Doflamingo in the canon storyline, as Doflamingo was only momentarily knocked out by this technique, though it was enough for Doflamingo to admit defeat and flee.
An alternate version of this technique is performed by Luffy (Gomu Gomu no Red Hawk), Ace (Hiken), and Sabo (Moeru Ryusoken: Kaen Ryuo) and appears at the end of the game's introductory cutscene.
Hono Sanjujo: Entei Ryuo Red Hawk (炎三十乗 炎帝竜王火拳銃,Honō San Jūjō: Entei Ryūō Reddo Hōku?, literally meaning "Thirty-Powered Flame: Flame Emperor Dragon King Fire Fist Gun"): A combination attack used by Luffy, a hallucation of Ace, and Sabo when under the effects of the Modo Modo no Mi. It combines Dai Enkai: Entei, Moeru Ryusoken: Kaen Ryuo, and Gomu Gomu no Red Hawk. It was used to defeat Super White Bear, doing so in a single attack.[19]
Creeping Flame Dragon (?): Sabo turns his body into flames and charges forward in a zigzag pattern leaving a trail of fire behind in the process. One of Sabo's Special Moves in One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4.
History
Past
At some point in the distant past, the fruit was found by a certain crew in the East Blue and kept in a chest aboard their ship. However, none of them got the chance to eat it as their ship got wrecked on the island of Sixis, and the fruit remained in its chest for many years to come. At a specific point, the chest was then eaten by a giant bird that was native to Sixis.
Portgas D. Ace and an unnamed man who would eventually be called Masked Deuce end up stranded on the island. The bird tried to eat Deuce, but Ace beat it, causing it to spit out the chest in its belly, and then scared it away with a stare. Ace then collapsed from hunger, so Deuce looked inside the chest and found the Mera Mera no Mi. Not knowing of its true nature, they began fighting over who would get to eat it, but then decided to split it between them with Ace taking the first bite, thus obtaining the Devil Fruit's power, which he used to help build the Striker with Deuce.[20]
He retained his powers for no more than three years, and gained much infamy by sinking battleships and burning down mighty cities, even before joining the Whitebeard Pirates.[14]
Marineford Arc
During the Summit War of Marineford, Ace was killed by Akainu while shielding Luffy from the Admiral, leading to the fruit reappearing in the world. Donquixote Doflamingo, who participated in the battle, would somehow obtain the fruit at some point afterwards.[1]
Dressrosa Arc
Two years after Ace's death, the fruit became the grand prize for whoever won a tournament at the Corrida Colosseum on Dressrosa, with Doflamingo's intent to use it as bait to break apart Luffy's alliance with Law. Upon being revealed, the fruit's presence aroused the entire audience, as not only was it a Logia, but it also previously belonged to the son of the Pirate King.[14] As per Doflamingo's prediction, Luffy could not stand the idea of his brother's former powers open for just anyone to take, and participated in the tournament. Since he already had the Gomu Gomu no Mi, he could not eat it himself and offered it to Franky, who turned down the offer because he wanted to retain his ability to swim.[21]
Besides Luffy, representatives from many kingdoms joined the tournament to claim the fruit as it would give them a small shift in military power. Others wished to claim it for their own reasons such as Cavendish, who wanted revenge on the Worst Generation, and Rebecca, who wanted it to kill Doflamingo.[22]Bellamy seemed to be the only one with no interest in it, as the only prize he desired was to become a top subordinate in Doflamingo's crew, though he did not need the fruit anyway since he already possessed the Bane Bane no Mi.[23] Also, Bartolomeo's reason for getting the fruit is to give it to his idol Luffy, as he already possesses a Devil Fruit which is capable of creating invisible walls. Sabo wants to get the fruit to inherit Ace's will.
Once Sabo destroyed the Colosseum platform, he then grabbed the fruit from off the Fighting Fish's back, and ate it seconds later, becoming the new wielder of Ace's powers. True to his word of inheriting Ace's will, the first thing Sabo did after eating it was used his brother's signature move, the "Hiken". Diamante was angered by this, as it was never intended for anyone outside of the Donquixote Family to win the fruit.[3] After Sabo stops Jesus Burgess from killing Luffy for the Gomu Gomu no Mi and revealing that he was the Lucy who won and ate the Mera Mera no Mi, Burgess targets him for the Logia type that he originally wanted,[6] only to fail by being defeated by Sabo.[17]
Anime and Manga Differences
In the manga, Ace introduces the Mera Mera no Mi after he already took care of the Marines headed by Smoker. In the anime he is seen confronting Smoker a bit longer.[2]
A scene exclusive to the anime showed Ace using the Mera Mera no Mi to light one of Sanji's cigarettes on fire from a distance. However, such an ability was never shown again.[24]
Trivia
The idea of a Devil Fruit that would allow someone to use fire was first brought up when Morgan explained what Devil Fruits are.[25]
Its powers were first foreshadowed when Ace visited a town on Drum Island, when it did not snow on that day, although it did for the whole Drum Island Arc.[26]
It is the first Logia Fruit that was not eaten by an antagonist, as both Ace and Sabo are Luffy's brothers and allies to the Straw Hat Pirates.
This can be considered fitting as Luffy's Devil Fruit actually transforms him into the Sun God Nika. Sun Gods are usually associated with fire.
Interestingly, Ace's ultimate attack and the last move he used against Blackbeard was creating a small sun.
This is the second Devil Fruit to be shown coming back into circulation after its user's death, the other being Smiley's Devil Fruit—the Sara Sara no Mi, Model: Axolotl. However, this is the first Devil Fruit whose possessor was human.
The color of Ace's fire changed over the course of the series, originally appearing red-orange to a more yellow orange color. However, when Sabo first used the fruit in the anime, its shade appeared red-orange again.
This is the first Devil Fruit known to be eaten by someone after its power had already been given, as Masked Deuce ate part of the fruit shortly after Ace did.[20]
In Pirate Warriors 3, Sabo has access to a fire-infused version of the Ryu no Kagizume, which predates the debut of the Kaen Ryuo.