Spoiler
Warning: This article contains spoilers from the One Piece
manga and anime, including the Dressrosa and Reverie storylines.
Sabo
is one of the most important supporting characters in One Piece. He is
the sworn elder brother of Monkey D. Luffy and Portgas D. Ace, as well as the
Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, serving directly under Monkey D.
Dragon. The official ONE PIECE character profile lists Sabo's Devil
Fruit as the Mera Mera no Mi and his current bounty as 602 million berries.
Although
Sabo was initially believed to have died as a child, his return during the
Dressrosa Arc revealed that he had survived and grown into one of the
Revolutionary Army's most powerful fighters.
Sabo,
Ace, and Luffy's Brotherhood
Sabo,
Ace, and Luffy formed their brotherly bond when they were children in the Gray
Terminal of the Goa Kingdom.
Although
they were not biologically related, the three boys considered themselves
brothers after sharing sake and making a lifelong brotherhood pact.
Sabo
dreamed of escaping the social system of his homeland and becoming a free man.
His desire for freedom eventually placed him in danger.
When
Sabo attempted to leave the Goa Kingdom by ship, his vessel was attacked by a
Celestial Dragon. Sabo was believed to have died in the incident. In reality,
he survived after being rescued by Monkey D. Dragon, although the trauma caused
him to lose his memories.
How
Did Sabo Become a Revolutionary?
After
being rescued by Dragon, Sabo was taken in by the Revolutionary Army.
He
trained under experienced fighters and gradually developed exceptional combat
abilities. The official anime's Sabo flashback shows him training with
Revolutionary Army members and eventually becoming an active revolutionary
fighter.
As an
adult, Sabo eventually became the Chief of Staff, making him one of the
highest-ranking members of the organization.
His
primary goal became connected to the Revolutionary Army's struggle against the
World Government and the oppressive system surrounding the Celestial Dragons.
Sabo's
Return in Dressrosa
Sabo's
official return to the main story takes place during the Dressrosa Arc.
He
enters the Corrida Colosseum while hiding his identity and takes Luffy's place
in the tournament for the Mera Mera no Mi, the Devil Fruit once possessed by
Ace.
The
official ONE PIECE character profile confirms that Sabo and Luffy
reunite during the Dressrosa events and that Sabo eventually inherits Ace's
Devil Fruit.
For
Luffy, the reunion is emotional because Sabo is the second of his two sworn
brothers to return to his life after Ace's death.
Sabo
Inherits the Mera Mera no Mi
After
winning the tournament, Sabo eats the Mera Mera no Mi, the Flame-Flame Fruit
previously used by Ace.
The
Devil Fruit gives him the ability to create, control, and transform into fire.
Sabo
immediately begins developing his own fighting style around the fruit rather
than simply copying Ace.
The
official ONE PIECE website describes Sabo as the person who inherited
Ace's Mera Mera no Mi and continued carrying his brother's will.
Sabo's
Dragon Claw Fighting Style
Before
obtaining the Mera Mera no Mi, Sabo was already an extremely capable martial
artist.
His
signature fighting style is based on Ryusoken, often translated as Dragon Claw.
Sabo
uses his fingers and hands like the claws of a dragon, concentrating enormous
force into his grip.
One of
his most famous techniques is:
Ryusoken:
Dragon Claw
His
fighting style is especially effective when combined with Armament Haki.
The
anime's Sabo flashback shows him using Dragon Claw during his Revolutionary
Army missions before he had regained all of his childhood memories.
Sabo
and the Mera Mera no Mi
Sabo's
combat style becomes even more versatile after combining Ryusoken with the Mera
Mera no Mi.
Among
his recognizable techniques are:
- Hiken
- Hiken: Homura Ryu
- Moeru Ryusoken
- Ryusoken
- Kaiser Impact
- Hiken: Entei
Some
techniques combine his Dragon Claw martial arts with fire, creating attacks
that are visually and mechanically distinct from Ace's fighting style.
This
is important because Sabo isn't simply taking over Ace's old fighting style.
He is
building his own style around Ace's inherited power.
Sabo's
Haki
Sabo
is also a capable Haki user.
The
official anime's Sabo flashback explicitly describes him using two types of
Haki during his Revolutionary Army training and missions.
His
known Haki abilities include:
Armament
Haki
Sabo
uses Armament Haki to reinforce his body and his Dragon Claw techniques.
This
greatly enhances his ability to grab, crush, and break extremely durable
objects.
Observation
Haki
Sabo
is also shown using Observation Haki, allowing him to sense opponents and react
to their movements.
Together
with his martial arts and Devil Fruit abilities, these forms of Haki make Sabo
a highly versatile fighter.
Why Is
Sabo Called the "Flame Emperor"?
After
the events surrounding the Reverie, Sabo's image changes dramatically across
the world.
Because
of his involvement in the events surrounding Mary Geoise and the Revolutionary
Army, newspapers begin portraying him as a major symbol of resistance against
the World Government.
He
becomes known as the "Flame Emperor".
The
name is particularly fitting because Sabo possesses the Mera Mera no Mi while
simultaneously becoming one of the Revolutionary Army's most recognizable
figures.
However,
the title is more than a reference to his Devil Fruit.
Sabo's
fire also becomes a symbol of the revolutionary movement spreading throughout
the world.
Sabo
and the Revolutionary Army's Attack on Mary Geoise
One of
Sabo's most important recent storylines involves the Revolutionary Army's
assault on Mary Geoise.
The
Revolutionary Army's objectives included destroying the symbol of the Celestial
Dragons, freeing slaves, and reclaiming Bartholomew Kuma.
Sabo
was among the revolutionaries who infiltrated the Holy Land.
The
official anime later depicted Sabo returning to Kamabakka Kingdom and
recounting what happened during the attack. He also revealed information
concerning the events surrounding King Cobra of Alabasta and the destruction of
Lulusia.
This
storyline dramatically increased Sabo's importance to the Final Saga.
Sabo
and King Cobra
During
his infiltration of Mary Geoise, Sabo witnessed an event involving King Cobra,
the ruler of Alabasta.
The
information surrounding Cobra's death became one of the biggest political
mysteries in the world of One Piece.
Sabo
survived the incident and eventually returned to the Revolutionary Army, where
he explained what he had witnessed.
The
anime adaptation shows Sabo telling Dragon and Ivankov about the incident after
returning to Kamabakka Kingdom.
His
knowledge makes Sabo one of the few people who has personally witnessed events
at the highest level of the World Government.
Sabo's
Relationship With Luffy
Even
though Sabo and Luffy belong to completely different organizations, their
relationship remains extremely important.
Luffy
is pursuing freedom as a pirate.
Sabo
is pursuing freedom through the Revolutionary Army.
Their
methods are different, but both inherited the same childhood bond created with
Ace.
Sabo
also carries the memory of Ace through the Mera Mera no Mi.
For
Luffy, Sabo is therefore more than an ally.
He is
his brother.
Sabo's
Current Status in the Final Saga
As of
September 25, 2026, the latest officially released manga chapter is Chapter
1193, published on September 13.
The
current manga is focused heavily on the Elbaf Arc, while Sabo remains an
important figure connected to the Revolutionary Army and the wider conflict
surrounding the World Government.
The
latest official ONE PIECE character information continues to list Sabo
as the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, with the Mera Mera no Mi and a 602
million berry bounty.
His
current storyline is particularly interesting because the Revolutionary Army's
conflict with the World Government is becoming increasingly important to the
Final Saga.
Sabo
vs. Ace: What's the Difference?
Although
Sabo inherited Ace's Devil Fruit, the two brothers have very different fighting
styles.
Ace
primarily fought as a powerful fire-based combatant, combining the Mera Mera no
Mi with his own physical abilities.
Sabo,
on the other hand, combines:
Ryusoken
- Armament Haki
- Observation Haki
- Mera Mera no Mi
This
gives Sabo a more martial-arts-focused combat style.
The
Mera Mera no Mi therefore did not erase Sabo's old fighting style. Instead, it
became another weapon in his existing arsenal.
Final
Thoughts
Sabo
is one of the most important characters connecting Luffy, Ace, the
Revolutionary Army, and the World Government.
He
began as a noble-born child who dreamed of freedom, became Ace and Luffy's
sworn brother, survived a Celestial Dragon attack, lost his memories, and
eventually rose through the Revolutionary Army to become its Chief of Staff.
After
inheriting Ace's Mera Mera no Mi, Sabo gained the power to create and control
fire while continuing to rely on his unique Dragon Claw martial arts and Haki.
His
role became even more important after the Reverie, when he witnessed events
inside Mary Geoise and became known throughout the world as the Flame Emperor.
With
the One Piece Final Saga moving toward a confrontation involving the
Revolutionary Army, the World Government, and the hidden history of the world,
Sabo is positioned at the center of several of the story's biggest mysteries.
For a
character once believed to be lost forever, Sabo has become one of the most
important figures in the changing world of One Piece.
©SEVENKIX
ANIME