Summary
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Often inOne Piece, Luffy, the hero and protagonist of the story, faces off against impossible odds. Whether or not he is strong enough to win, Luffy will always barrel into danger to help those he cares about. Although this works out most of the time, sometimes, like duringOne Piece’sImpel Down Arc, these heroic underdog moments end in defeat.
However, this was not the case for theOne Piecebattle between Luffy and Crocodile, where the former still won, despite all odds being stacked against him. Utilizing some creative techniques and exploiting Crocodile’s weaknesses, Luffy was able to defeat the supposedly much stronger foe. Despite winning in the end, many have attributed Luffy’s victory to dumb luck, stating that there is no possible way someone like Luffy could have defeatedthe powerful Warlord Crocodileat this point in the series.
One Piece: Crocodile Versus Luffy Throughout Alabasta
Third Times The Charm
DuringOne Piece’sAlabasta Arc, Luffy faces off against the Warlord of the Sea and leader of Baroque Works, Crocodile. Attempting to take control of the Alabasta Kingdom and find the secrets of the Ancient Weapons that the land possesses, Crocodile draws the attention of Luffy and his never-ending need to help those who ask for his assistance. Crocodile himself, being a Warlord and high-ranking member oftheOne Pieceworld, of course, is extremely strong, especially with his Logia Devil Fruit, the Sand-Sand Fruit, which allows him to control and manipulate sand.
I’ve honed my powers to perfection. - Crocodile
Due to the sheer difference in strength between theseOne Piececharacters, Luffy was defeated by Crocodile twice throughout the arc. However, with Luffy being Luffy, the Straw Hat Captain defied all odds and beattheOne PieceWarlordduring their third confrontation. Both in the story and in the eyes of fans, although many expected Luffy to win, this felt like a major upset, with Luffy being presented as much weaker than Crocodile for much of the arc before this.
Luffy Beating Crocodile Is Reasonable For Multiple Reasons
A Surprisingly Powerful Rookie
Firstly, when it comes to fights likeLuffy’s tense battle against Crocodile, it’s important to note that power levels and scaling aren’t everything. Plenty of things, like the circumstances of the fight, exploitation of various weaknesses, and the emotional and mental state of each fighter can play massive factors in the outcome. Additionally, luck can play a bit of a role as well, though it can feel a bit cheap if an underdog victory completely relies on luck.
During the final moments ofOne Piece’sAlabasta Saga, Crocodile has become both arrogant and a bit lazy. Having no need to deal with strong opponents at this point in the Grand Line, Crocodile didn’t expect any person, save for something like another Warlord or Navy Admiral, to be able to come and stop him. Luffy on the other hand was full of passion and rage, fighting almost like an animal backed in a corner.
Paired withtheOne PieceStraw Hat Captain, Luffy’s, incredible firepower, when Crocodile actually started getting hit, it completely threw off his mental state, giving Luffy the upper hand. As Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” This applies perfectly to Crocodile, who started losing once Luffy was able to consistently land attacks against him.
Luffy Also Exploited Crocodile’s Weaknesses
Crocodile Is Not Great With Liquids
On top of this, Luffy was able to defeatthe former Warlord Crocodilethrough the help of others and the exploitation of his weakness. With Robin saving his life on the first encounter with the Warlord, Luffy is able to continue fighting with renewed passion, gearing up for the final battle. Additionally, using water and blood to weaken and solidify Crocodile was something that the former Warlord expected from the rookie pirate, leading to Luffy gaining a huge advantage over Crocodile, especially since the latter relies heavily on his Devil Fruit for combat.
Blood can stop your sand too, right? - Luffy to Crocodile
In the end, while it may seem like a bit of an upset,theOne Pieceprotagonist, Luffy, should have won his fight against Crocodile. Despite Crocodile seeming like an unstoppable threat, especially with his appearances after Alabasta, in many ways, it’s perfectly reasonable that Luffy was able to emerge victorious in the arc. Raw power truly isn’t everything in a fight, and with the proper drive, motivation, and circumstances, even the weak can defeat the strong in the world ofOne Piece.
