As a Child

Luffy has always wanted to be a pirate, to find infamous pirate Gold Rogers' treasure and become the freest man in the world, but his dream almost comes to an end before it even begins when he can't keep his hands to himself.

In the quaint port town of Windmill Village, Luffy is filled with anticipation for the return of the Red Hair pirates, led by his idol, Shanks. His excitement quickly sours when he witnesses a local gang harassing Shanks, who chooses not to retaliate. Upset and confused by his hero's inaction, Luffy storms off.

While sulking, Luffy discovers a mysterious box hidden within Shanks' treasure trove. Inside, he finds an odd fruit which he consumes without hesitation. Unbeknownst to him, it is a Devil Fruit, granting him extraordinary abilities but also cursing him to be shunned by the sea itself. With newfound powers and a desire to prove his worth, Luffy begins training, hoping to eventually join Shanks and his crew.

The gang that previously confronted Shanks returns, more aggressive than before. In an attempt to protect Shanks and the crew, Luffy confronts them but is quickly overpowered and taken hostage by the gang's leader. This act finally prompts Shanks into action. The pirates swiftly deal with the gang, but not before Shanks makes a grave sacrifice to save Luffy, losing his left arm in the process.

This pivotal moment deeply impacts Luffy, strengthening his resolve to pursue a life at sea as a pirate once he comes of age.

Recruiting Zoro and Nami

Day one as a pirate doesn't go well. His ship sinks, and he ends up on the ship of the ruthless pirate captain Alvira. Here, he befriends Koby, a member of Alvira's crew. After defeating Alvira, Luffy and Koby escape together.

Their adventure leads them to a Marine base in pursuit of a map to the Grand Line, a legendary sea where the treasure of Gold Roger is said to be hidden. It's here they encounter two individuals who will become pivotal members of Luffy's crew: Roronoa Zoro, held as a prisoner, and Nami, who has infiltrated the base under the guise of a Marine. Luffy, meanwhile, finds his way in through the sewers.

Joining forces, they manage to obtain the map of the Grand Line and defeat the base's commander, Captain "Axe-hand" Morgan. With their goals achieved, Luffy and Koby part ways, each determined to follow their own dreams.

Recruiting Usopp

After an encounter with Captain Buggy the Clown trying to steal their Grand Line map, they set their sights on the Gecko Islands, aiming to acquire a seaworthy ship for their adventures. Upon arrival at Syrup Village, Luffy immediately heads to the local shipyard, eager to find a vessel that meets their needs.

At the shipyard, Luffy encounters Usopp, an employee with close ties to the ship's owner. Usopp extends an invitation to Luffy and his crew to visit Kaya's mansion. Despite the staff's initial reluctance, they are eventually welcomed for dinner. Unknown to the guests, this evening was supposed to mark a sinister turn of events where the staff planned to seize control of the shipyard by murdering Kaya.

The plot is uncovered, and in gratitude for saving her life, Kaya generously offers the ship to Luffy and his companions, significantly aiding their journey.

Recruiting Sanji

On their journey, Luffy and his crew find a floating restaurant called the Baratie. They rack up a giant bill they cannot pay, so Luffy is enlisted as a chore boy in the kitchen. While washing dishes, he learns about a talented chef named Sanji and his dreams for the future.

Meanwhile, the rest of the crew spends their time at the bar within the Baratie. Here, Zoro encounters Dracule Mihawk, heralded as the world's greatest swordsman. For Zoro, defeating Mihawk is essential to fulfilling his childhood dream. Despite Nami's objections—aware that Zoro stands little chance—Luffy chooses not to interfere, believing firmly in the pursuit of one's dreams, no matter the cost.

As anticipated by Nami, Zoro is defeated and severely injured, needing urgent care from both the Baratie and Sanji to stabilize him. During this critical moment, they face a new menace: Captain Arlong of the Arlong Pirates. The revelation that Arlong is both Nami's employer and captor shocks the crew; Nami has been covertly working for him all along. To protect Luffy and her vulnerable crewmates, Nami steals their Grand Line map and departs with Arlong to his stronghold.

Despite Nami's actions suggesting otherwise, Luffy is convinced that she needs help. Once Zoro regains consciousness, Luffy, the crew, and Sanji set out to rescue Nami.

Rescuing Nami

They find a ransacked village paying tribute to the Arlong pirates. It is Nami's childhood home that she turned her back on in order to save her people by negotiating a deal with Arlong. She has been stealing money to buy her village back for years, but Arlong betrays their promise.

When all hope seems lost, Nami asks Luffy to help her save her town. He vanquishes Arlong and his pirates and reunites his crew before sailing for the Grand Line together.

+ Loyal
Luffy's loyalty is the cornerstone of his relationships, likely stemming from his own profoundly lonely childhood. Sharing a meal with him isn't just a casual act; it signifies a bond he cherishes deeply. This loyalty translates into a fierce protectiveness and steadfast support for his friends' dreams, which inspires them in turn.

Right away, we see this aspect of Luffy shine through his bond with Koby. Despite their contrasting dreams–Luffy as Pirate King, Koby as a Marine–Luffy defends Koby against Alvida and encourages him to chase his dream. As a result, Luffy's words and deeds motivate Koby to part with Luffy and pursue his own path.

Similarly, Luffy's commitment extends to Sanji, despite only knowing him for a few hours. He wholeheartedly backs the chef's dream by asking him to join his crew. Luffy even confronts Sanji's surrogate father, the owner of Baratie, for holding Sanji back not long after he's met them. His loyalty extends further by protecting the Baratie against Arlong simply because they fed Luffy.

That loyalty doesn't end when the going gets rough either. In the aftermath of Zoro's defeat and Nami's betrayal, he doesn't give up on either of them. In fact, he bluntly declares he'd consume his own limbs for Zoro if that's what he needed to do to keep him alive. Later, Luffy commands his crew to sail after Nami in order to make 100% sure that this separation is what she truly wants.

This intense commitment inspires his friends, giving them the courage and determination to pursue their own dreams. In short, Luffy's profound loyalty and unwavering dedication empower those around him to strive for their aspirations.

- Gluttonous
Luffy's insatiable appetite is a strange counterbalance to his unflagging loyalty. He possesses an uncanny ability to spot and seize any opportunity for a bite. Give half a chance or an inattentive waitress, he will take other customer's food that he did not order.

He almost kills himself when he sneaks into the kitchen in Kaya's mansion at night and drinks an entire pot of blue-something. That blue-something is poison.

At Baratie, his legendary appetite leads him to devour a year's worth of dishwashing wages in a single sitting without having any money to cover the bill. His insatiable appetite led him to working for the Baratie as a chore boy to work off all that food.

The only time Luffy exhibits a glimmer of restraint is in Orange Town, where he acknowledges the town's plight by leaving most of the remaining food for the citizens. However, even then, he's unable to resist a parting snack. Although it's a comedic scene, it also points to the potentially insensitive side of his gluttony.

- Overconfident
Luffy's immense confidence is another key character trait. He boldly declares his ambition to become Pirate King with a conviction that goes beyond mere optimism. The world, riddled with monstrous sea creatures and powerful adversaries like the World Government, seems to scoff at such dreams. And yet Luffy's belief remains unshakeable.

This confidence spills into his everyday actions. He attempts to negotiate his way out of Buggy's clutches because he is wholly confident that his ragtag crew will rescue him, despite their disinterested outward attitude.

To get a ship for his crew, he doesn't believe for an instant that he cannot convince the owner to gift him the ship he'd picked out, showcasing his fearless spirit that borders on recklessness.

Not surprisingly, Luffy's boundless optimisim can lead him down perilous paths. He nonchalantly discusses sailing through the treacherous Grand Line, a feat seasoned sailors would describe with trepidation. His unwarranted faith in Zoro's ability to defeat Mihawk, the world's greatest swordsman, exemplifies the potential pitfalls of his unchecked confidence. This decision leads to a harsh reality check when Zoro is defeated; a situation only salvaged by Mihawk's unexpected respect for their audacity.

Luffy's overconfidence may land him and his crew in dire situations, but it's also deeply genuine and a captivating facet of his personality. The sheer force of his determination inspires and even infects those around him.

- Impulsive
Luffy's charm lies not just in his loyalty, determination and optimism, but also in his refreshingly unfiltered personality. Unfortunately, this candor often translates to impulsiveness and a lack of tact. He readily tell Alvida everything negative Koby said about her, even insults he didn't say.

He almost blows his cover when Nami and he sneak into the Shells Town military base for the Grand Line map. When acknowledged by another Marine, Luffy thoughtlessly compliments Nami by saying "She's the best!" while pretending to be her captive. It forces them both to backtrack into a clumsy scramble to maintain their cover.

Even more problematic is his habit of blurting out his pirate identity in the most inopportune moments, like during dinner at Kaya's or in a village ravaged by Arlong. The crew hoped to pull one over on Kaya, but instead Luffy proudly declares them as pirates, which can be a death sentence. In Coco Village, Zoro has to concoct a story about them being "pirate hunters" in order to avoid immediate hostility from the traumatized villagers after yet another of Luffy's declaration.

His impulsiveness is a double-edged sword. It guarantees honesty, a rare treasure in this world, but filters are a foreign concept to him. Prepare for blunt truths delivered with the finesse of a stray cannonball.

Gum-Gum Devil Fruit Powers — Luffy's body has been remade into rubber. He can no longer swim in the sea, as the ocean water weakens his devil fruit powers. Dropped into the sea, he will sink like a stone. The following are characteristics his ability has given him:

Stretchy — He can stretch every part of himself. His arms, legs, neck, skin can extend. He can also pull in air and expand himself like a balloon.

Immunities — He is immune to electricity, as well as unaffected by blunt weapons, blunt projectiles, and falls from great heights.

Super Strength — By winding up his attacks and twisting his stretchy body, he can create more torque, and thus more power.

The clothes on his back and his straw hat