In the anime series One Piece, protagonist Monkey D. Luffy continually grows stronger, much to the anticipation of fans eagerly awaiting his Gear forms.

Specifically, when does Luffy use Gear 3 in One Piece?

Gears play a crucial role in Luffy’s combat arsenal, empowering him to face and overcome the countless challenges he encounters on his journey to become the Pirate King.

One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy in ONE Esports featured image for article "Who is Luffy’s dad? The identity of Luffy’s father revealed"
Credit: Toei Animation, ONE Esports
Who is Luffy’s dad? The identity of Luffy’s father revealed

In this article, let’s delve deeper into his Gear 3 form.

What are Gears in One Piece?

In the world of One Piece, “Gears” refer to special techniques used by Luffy. These techniques allow Luffy to temporarily enhance his physical abilities to gain an advantage in battle.

Luffy has a total of four Gears in One Piece: Gear 2, Gear 3, Gear 4, and Gear 5.

One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy in his Gear 4 form in ONE Esports featured image for article "When does Luffy use Gear 4 in One Piece?"
Credit: Toei Animation, ONE Esports
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In this article, we are focusing on his Gear 3 as well as providing the exact episode on when does Luffy use Gear 3.

What is Gear 3 in One Piece?

Gear 3 is one of the special techniques used by Luffy in One Piece.

In Gear 3, Luffy inflates his bones, making them much larger than usual. This process allows him to increase his size and strength dramatically.

He usually focuses this enlargement on one specific body part, most commonly his arms, to deliver devastating punches.

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Credit: Bandai Namco, ONE Esports
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To activate Gear 3, Luffy typically bites into his thumb or another finger, blowing air into his body until his selected body part inflates to a massive size.

Once inflated, he can unleash powerful attacks with incredible force, dealing significant damage to his opponents or breaking through tough defenses.

When does Luffy use Gear 3?

Monkey D. Luffy in his Gear 3 form
Credit: Toei Animation

Gear 3 was first introduced during the Enies Lobby arc in the series and has since become one of Luffy’s signature techniques.

Luffy first uses Gear 3 to bring down a pair of giant steel doors at the Tower of Justice in One Piece episode 288 of the anime, titled “Fukurou’s Miscalculation! My Cola is the Water of Life.” This One Piece episode aired on December 3, 2006.

Later in the series, he activates Gear 3 again during his battle against Rob Lucci, a formidable member of the CP9 organization, to break through Lucci’s strong defenses and deal significant damage.

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