Sulong in One Piece: The Ultimate Transformation of the Mink Tribe

In One Piece, the Mink Tribe is known for its natural physical strength and unique ability to generate electricity called Electro. But the Minks possess an even more powerful ability: Sulong, also known as the Moon Lion.

Sulong is a special transformation that occurs when a Mink looks directly at a full moon. The transformation dramatically increases the Mink's physical abilities, speed, agility, and Electro power. It is regarded as the true or ultimate form of the Mink Tribe.

The anime officially showcased the transformation through Carrot during the Whole Cake Island Arc and later through Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, and other Minks during the Wano Country Arc.

What Is Sulong?

Sulong (スーロン) literally means "Moon Lion."

It is a temporary transformation available to members of the Mink Tribe. When a Mink directly looks at a full moon, the transformation begins and can occur within seconds. Their fur and hair become dramatically longer and turn white, their eyes become red, and their bodies become more animalistic. Electro continuously surrounds their transformed bodies.

The transformation isn't simply cosmetic.

Sulong dramatically enhances the Mink's existing abilities, turning an already powerful warrior into a much more dangerous fighter.

How Does a Mink Transform Into Sulong?

The basic requirement is direct exposure to the full moon.

A Mink needs an unobstructed view of the moon. Clouds, roofs, or other obstacles can prevent the transformation from beginning. A Mink can also avoid or stop the transformation by blocking the moonlight from reaching their eyes.

This limitation is important because Sulong cannot normally be activated whenever the user wants.

A full moon must be visible.

That's why the ability became especially important during nighttime battles.

What Happens During the Transformation?

The physical changes are dramatic.

A Mink entering Sulong typically develops:

• White fur and hair
• Bright red eyes
• A larger and more muscular body
• Much longer fur
• A more feral appearance
• A powerful Electro aura

The Mink's natural animal characteristics also become more pronounced.

For example, Carrot, who is already an extremely agile rabbit Mink, becomes extraordinarily fast and mobile in Sulong.

The transformation essentially pushes the Mink's natural abilities far beyond their normal limits.

Sulong Greatly Increases Strength and Speed

One of the biggest advantages of Sulong is the dramatic increase in physical ability.

A Mink that is already strong becomes considerably stronger.

A Mink that is naturally fast can become almost impossible to catch.

This was demonstrated particularly well by Carrot in Whole Cake Island.

After transforming into Sulong, Carrot was able to move rapidly between ships, evade attacks from the Big Mom Pirates, and overwhelm multiple enemies in a short period of time. She was even able to tear the steering wheel from one of the enemy ships.

The official ONE PIECE website described Sulong as the true power of the Minks when Carrot transformed beneath the full moon.

Sulong Makes Electro Even More Powerful

All Minks naturally possess Electro, allowing them to generate electricity through their bodies and weapons.

Sulong dramatically increases this ability.

Electro becomes powerful enough to overwhelm groups of opponents rather than simply delivering a small electrical shock.

This makes Sulong particularly dangerous in close combat.

A Mink doesn't necessarily need a complicated weapon or Devil Fruit.

Their body itself becomes a powerful electrical weapon.

Carrot: The First Major Sulong Showcase

The most famous introduction of Sulong came through Carrot during the Whole Cake Island Arc.

The Straw Hats were being pursued by the Big Mom Pirates, and their situation became increasingly desperate.

Carrot looked toward the full moon and revealed that she had trained to control the transformation.

She then became Sulong.

The transformation surprised the Straw Hats, including Nami and Jinbe, and Carrot immediately began attacking the enemy fleet at incredible speed.

Her transformation established Sulong as one of the most visually spectacular abilities in the series.

Inuarashi and Nekomamushi: Sulong at Its Highest Level

Another major demonstration came during the Wano Country Arc.

Duke Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, the two rulers of Zou, both possess Sulong.

During the battle on the rooftop of Onigashima, the full moon allowed them to transform and fight Jack and Perospero.

The official anime shows that their Sulong transformations significantly increased their combat abilities, eventually allowing them to defeat their respective opponents.

Their transformations are particularly important because they show that Sulong isn't simply a power-up for younger Minks like Carrot.

Experienced warriors can also take the form to another level.

The Mink Tribe vs. Jack

The Minks' history with Jack made Sulong particularly important during the Onigashima battle.

Jack had previously attacked Zou while searching for Raizo and used a poisonous gas weapon that devastated the Mink population.

When the Minks finally encountered Jack again under the full moon, many of them transformed into Sulong.

Their appearance changed dramatically, and they overwhelmed Jack's forces with their enhanced strength and Electro.

The anime describes the Sulong Minks as becoming powerful berserkers with substantially increased physical abilities.

The Biggest Weakness of Sulong

Sulong is incredibly powerful, but it comes with a serious price.

The transformation consumes an enormous amount of energy.

If a Mink remains in Sulong for too long, they can become severely exhausted and potentially put their life at risk. Carrot, for example, became extremely fatigued after using Sulong during the Whole Cake Island battle.

There is also another danger.

An inexperienced Mink can lose control of their animal instincts while transformed.

Instead of fighting strategically, they may become feral and attack indiscriminately.

Proper training allows a Mink to maintain their intelligence and personality while using Sulong, making trained users considerably more dangerous.

Blocking the Moon Can End Sulong

One of the simplest ways to stop Sulong is to block the user's view of the full moon.

If the moonlight can no longer reach the Mink's eyes, the transformation can be reversed.

This weakness was demonstrated dramatically in Wano.

When clouds covered the moon during the battle against Kaido, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi lost their Sulong transformations and were placed in serious danger.

When the moon became visible again, they were able to transform once more and return to battle.

Sulong and Bepo

Perhaps the most unusual Sulong transformation belongs to Bepo, the polar bear Mink and navigator of the Heart Pirates.

Bepo demonstrated his Sulong form during the Heart Pirates' defeat by Blackbeard.

Normally, Bepo would need the full moon to activate Sulong. However, Chopper developed a special drug that allowed him to trigger the transformation without directly looking at the full moon.

This allowed Bepo to transform at a critical moment and use his enhanced strength to rescue Trafalgar Law.

The development is significant because it suggests that, with the right technology or medicine, the traditional limitations of Sulong can potentially be bypassed.

Is Sulong a Devil Fruit Ability?

No.

Sulong has nothing to do with Devil Fruits.

It is a natural ability of the Mink Tribe.

That makes it fundamentally different from transformations such as Luffy's Gear Fifth or Chopper's Monster Point.

A Mink is born with the potential to use Sulong, although proper training is necessary to control its dangerous effects.

Sulong vs. Monster Point

Sulong has an interesting similarity to Chopper's Monster Point.

Both transformations:

• Dramatically increase physical strength
• Increase combat ability
• Can cause loss of control
• Consume enormous amounts of energy
• Require training to use safely

The major difference is that Sulong is a natural Mink transformation, while Monster Point is connected to Chopper's Devil Fruit and Rumble Ball technology.

Why Is Sulong So Important to the Mink Tribe?

Sulong represents much more than a simple power-up.

For the Minks of Zou, it is regarded as their true strength and ultimate combat trump card.

The transformation represents the warrior heritage of the Mink Tribe.

This becomes particularly meaningful during Wano, when the Minks fight alongside the Samurai and Pirates against Kaido's forces.

For generations, the Minks have possessed this hidden power.

When the full moon appears, they can unleash it.

The Most Powerful Known Sulong Users

Some notable Sulong users include:

Carrot — Rabbit Mink

Inuarashi — Dog Mink

Nekomamushi — Cat Mink

Bepo — Polar Bear Mink

Pekoms — Lion/Turtle Mink

Wanda — Dog Mink

Pedro — Jaguar Mink

Shishilian — Lion Mink

The entire Mink Tribe is potentially capable of using Sulong, although individual strength and mastery vary.

Final Thoughts

Sulong is one of the most unique transformation abilities in One Piece.

Triggered by the light of a full moon, it transforms members of the Mink Tribe into powerful, white-furred warriors with greatly enhanced strength, speed, agility, and Electro.

Carrot gave fans their first major look at the transformation during Whole Cake Island, while Inuarashi and Nekomamushi demonstrated its devastating power against Jack and Perospero in Wano.

Bepo later added another important development by using Chopper's special drug to access Sulong without waiting for the full moon.

But Sulong also has a dangerous price. Without proper training, a Mink can lose control, while prolonged use can cause extreme exhaustion and potentially become fatal.

Ultimately, Sulong represents the true warrior power of the Mink Tribe—a transformation that turns an already formidable race into one of the most dangerous fighting forces in the One Piece world.

©SEVENKIX ANIME