13278


We know of the several forms of Haki, the Kenbunshoku Haki, Busoshoku Haki and
the Haoshoku Haki. I've been wondering, are those Haki visible to other
characters in the One Piece universe, or only visible for the reader?

And I am mainly interested in the Busoshoku Haki, as this seems to harden the
body and makes the skin look metal like. Can people in the One Piece universe
also see this metal like change? Or is this just for the viewer to
differentiate between normal fighting and Haki fighting?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-26T00:28:06.127
9922
2023-09-22T03:54:43.890
2014-05-26T06:32:31.800
63
1458
question
one-piece
Is Haki visible to other characters?


Both Kenbunshoku and Haoshoku are not visible at all, since, well it was not
made as something that is visually needed to the reader, since they're
basically perception and sheer will power respectively.

Busoshoku, however, can be seen both by the user and others alike, though not
all the time, since it acts like an "invisible armor" or coating, in a sense.
At that point, it is not seen, which could be demonstrated by someone like
Zoro, for example. But, when in is concentrated heavily on certain areas of
the users body (i/e: Luffy or Vergo) or to a weapon of theirs (i/e: Vergo or
Smoker), it hardens said part (or extension of the users body) and turns it
black, making it "denser".

(As for Vergo's extension for to his bamboo: Chapter 672, page 4 Smoker:
Chapter 690, page 8.

For a use of Buso, without demonstrating it physically: Chapter 512, page 12,
among many others. Zoro vs Monet for instance.)

Hope this helps.


CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-26T06:44:50.263
9925
2014-05-27T01:05:23.437
2014-05-27T01:05:23.437
5017
5017
9922
answer


Any type of Haki is not visible. There is just a time when a user of Busoshoku
changes the color of their body/weapon just to show that they are using
something. It is just an indicator that it is not an ordinary punch or kick.

It's just my idea because Haki is the will of someone or his/her eagerness to
hit a devil fruit user. It's like you really want to hit a smoke man (like
Smoker), and because you focus and set in your mind that you really want to
hit him, it became possible, and it will be more possible because of training.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-06-03T14:01:04.687
10086
2022-01-07T01:55:43.100
2022-01-07T01:55:43.100
2516
5104
9922
answer


As stated in [One Piece Wiki](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Haki), Haki are
invisible. As stated in **Anime and Manga Differences** , Haki are made
visible so that viewers can understand that Haki is being used.

  * In the manga, those hit with Haoshoku Haki foam at the mouth after or while losing consciousness, whereas in the anime, they simply faint.
  * In the anime, the use of Haoshoku and Busoshoku Haki creates a rippling or shockwave-like effect, similar to the [Gura Gura no Mi](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Gura_Gura_no_Mi), while in the manga, it is completely invisible. Also, in recent episodes, the use of Haoshoku Haki causes the affected area, excluding the user, to gain a dark blue tint. However, this could just be for dramatic effect. In the [One Piece Film: Z](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/One_Piece_Film:_Z), the Haoshoku Haki's use creates a circular purple wave.
  * In the last anime episode before the time-skip, the use of Busoshoku Haki as "invisible armor" was shown as a swift percussion forming a light-blue beam, similar to lightning, while in the manga, it is shown simply as an amplified impact, nothing else visible is shown.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-08-06T10:11:10.600
13277
2022-01-07T01:57:21.087
2022-01-07T01:57:21.087
2516
6345
9922
answer


From the moment Rayleigh explained to Luffy (and to us) what Haki really is, I
believe that every single time Busoshoku Haki is used, Oda draws visual cues
for the reader to know it has been used, but it doesn't actually change color
in the OP universe. Mainly to prevent too much speculation from our point of
view.

The [Busoshoku Haki wiki
page](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Haki/Busoshoku_Haki) in a way confirms
this by explaining Busoshoku Haki as an _invisible_ armor.

> Busoshoku Haki allows the user to create a force similar to an **invisible
> armor** around themselves.

Therefore I believe that when Busoshoku Haki is used, the object does not
really change colors in the OP world. Not much real proof could be found to
the visual changes of Busoshoku Haki except for maybe the fight between Zoro
and Monet. When Zoro slashed Monet, both Monet and Tashigi thought the slash
was coated in Haki, which it wasn't in the end. So to me that means that the
characters can't distinguish Busoshoku Haki usage with visual cues as we can.
They can only distinguish it from the after-effect.

[![enter image description
here!](https://i.stack.imgur.com/dfPFnm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vO2MY.jpg)

**Edit:** Actually after thinking about it some more, the fact that Oda didn't
draw Busoshoku as black before the time-skip would proof that it doesn't
actually turn black in the One Piece universe. **If it would, wouldn't he have
drawn it from the beginning**? One could argue that the Koju tribe's Haki
wasn't as powerful enough to be turned black, but I doubt someone would
disagree on this with _Dark King_ Rayleigh. The moment he blocked Kizaru he
must have needed some powerful Haki to block that kick and yet it still didn't
turn black. Other examples can be seen during the Marineford arc with Marco,
Whitebeard, Shanks, etc.

[![enter image description
here!](https://i.stack.imgur.com/srt4Pm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/srt4P.jpg)

* * *

Contra to what I have said earlier and I'm not sure whether this would be
considered canon, but I'll mention it anyway. In [Volume
1000](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/One_Piece_Volume_1000),
[Zephyr](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Zephyr) is nicknamed "Black Arm" for
his superior B. Haki usage. Nicknames are usually something you obtain within
the OP world as an OP character, so if you would consider Volume 1000, which
is a free volume distributed to One Piece Film Z's attendees, canon, then the
answer would be that the black color is indeed visible to people in the OP
universe.

[![enter image description
here!](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5oNUFm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5oNUF.jpg)

_PS: I don't speak Japanese and I think this is the picture the wiki referred
to, but could someone confirm what is written there?_


CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-06T11:45:28.423
13278
2014-08-07T09:49:48.120
2014-08-07T09:49:48.120
6166
6166
9922
answer


I like to think Armament Haki is only visible when you’re using Observation
Haki, but it’s invisible if you aren’t using Observation Haki.

But, another plausible scenario is that the New World (including Fishman
Island) has a certain thing about its environment that causes Armament Haki to
become darker the stronger it is, which is why we couldn’t see Armament Haki
become dark when being used during pre-timeskip and return to Sabody arc
because Haki only gains the ability to darken once you enter Fishman Island.
"The stronger, the darker" idea also explains why we only see darkened Haki
when it’s a strong amount, even when it’s in the New World where Haki is
theoretically visible.

(tl;dr - theoretically, Fishman Island and New World has an environment that
makes haki appear darker the stronger it is, but it stays invisible if it
isn’t that strong or if it is used outside of the New World)

Personally, I like my first theory better.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-06T22:27:28.610
66179
2022-01-07T01:53:33.567
2022-01-07T01:53:33.567
2516
64933
9922
answer


Busoshoku is visible but not all the time ! The Koka (hardening) is visible,
being a very dancer version of the normal Busoshoku (pre time skip). Not
talking about vergo, Luffy or any others, the proof lies in the "Kokuto"
Shusui and Kokuto yoru were tuned BLACK by their respective users (Ryuma and
Mihawk) with very advanced version of Busoshoku and stayed permanently Black.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-22T03:50:56.130
68326
2023-09-22T03:54:43.890
2023-09-22T03:54:43.890
73476
73476
9922
answer