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The Ito Ito no Mi is a Paramecia-type[3] Devil Fruit which allows its user to create and manipulate strings, making the user a String Human (糸人間, Ito Ningen?).[5] Ito (糸) means "string". In the FUNimation subs, it is called the String-String Fruit. It was last eaten by Donquixote Doflamingo.[4]

Its power was first seen in the Jaya Arc[2] and then several times afterwards, but not named or explained in any way until the Dressrosa Arc.[4]

Appearance

The Ito Ito no Mi is a gourd-shaped fruit with several swirl patterns embedded on it and a curly stem on its top.[1]

Strengths and Weaknesses

The Ito Ito no Mi provides the user the ability to manipulate people with strings by attaching them to their spines, similar to puppetry. Offensively, the strings can be used to cut through matter such as body parts or weapons. The strings can also be used to connect to clouds, thus providing aerial transportation. The maximum length of these strings is unknown, but they can be made long enough to reach from Green Bit to Dressrosa, as well as connect to the clouds. The strings can be compressed in bundles for various constructions.[4] It is also unknown if there is some sort of limit to the amount of string Doflamingo can generate at once. Doflamingo admits that the strings are indeed versatile, as he can even perform an emergency stitching of his internal organs should they be damaged.[6]

Doflamingo Dices Meteorite

Doflamingo using his strings to slice Fujitora's metorite.

The strength of these strings is such that the victims are unable to resist Doflamingo hijacking their mobility, while sharp enough to cut through the flesh and bones of Little Oars Jr.[7] and firearms with ease.[8] Until Luffy did by sheer force,[9] none of Doflamingo's victims were able to resist his body-manipulation powers and therefore was rendered completely helpless. This ability is even powerful enough to stop the physically strong "Diamond" Jozu in his tracks, preventing him from further attacking Crocodile.[10] Not even one of Issho's meteors can damage the strings, let alone penetrate the cage they formed.[11]

Additionally, because Doflamingo has "awoken" his Devil Fruit, he can turn parts of the surrounding area, such as the ground and buildings, into strings as well. Luffy states such a feat makes it no longer resemble the powers of a mere Paramecia.[12]

As stated by Law, one of this ability's weaknesses is that if there are no clouds in the sky, Doflamingo has nothing to attach his threads to, which in turn prevents him from being able to travel in mid-air.[4] Also the strings alone are only sharp enough to deeply lacerate the skin and flesh, unless they are pulled together into a rope or if used in a sawing motion. The strings are also incapable of cutting through Seastone, since the material nullifies Devil Fruit powers.[13] Busoshoku Haki also helps defend against the strings, as Zoro was able to use his Haki on his swords and strike the Birdcage without them being cut.[14] Also, constructs created from string using this ability will disappear if the user loses consciousness, as seen when the Birdcage surrounding Dressrosa disappeared after Luffy defeated Doflamingo.[15] Besides that, the user is still affected by the standard Devil Fruit weaknesses.

Usage

Doflamingo usually bends his fingers to move his strings as he pleases for either manipulating people like puppets[2] or to bifurcate his targets.[7] The strings appear to be extremely thin or may even be invisible, making it almost impossible to notice and avoid them; most people who are unaware of Doflamingo's powers become unaware of how their bodies are moving against their wills. He has shown himself capable of controlling more than one person at the same time without apparent effort.[16]

Doflamingo's Black Knight and Bellamy Attack Luffy

Doflamingo's "Black Knight" and "Parasite" (used on Bellamy) allow Doflamingo to fight with his 'puppets' instead of risking himself in combat.

He can make his victims move to his will by moving his fingers accordingly. Doflamingo mainly uses this power to force comrades to fight (and even kill) each other, while Doflamingo himself sits at the sidelines and watches.[2][17] When faced with multiple opponents, he may use his string clones in addition to his puppets.[18] He may also use both his puppets and string clones against a single opponent to create a 2 vs. 1 situation or make them fight alongside him for combo-potential.[19][20]

The strings can also be used for cutting, in a way similar to piano wire, allowing Doflamingo to effortlessly slice off body parts and destroy weapons. He managed to cleanly sever Little Oars Jr.'s right leg in one swift motion[7] and decapitated Crocodile.[21] Later, Doflamingo was shown to be well capable of cutting a Logia type as he brutally injured Smoker by combining his Haki with his strings.[8] When Issho brought down a meteorite on Green Bit, he crossed his strings to form a net, and sliced the meteorite into small pieces to protect himself from harm.[22] He can also compress the strings to create a giant whip[4] or even a perfect clone of himself, capable of fighting alongside him, moving its mouth and transmitting his voice to appear to be talking, and unraveling for his ultimate technique.[23]

Doflamingo has completely mastered his powers of the Ito Ito no Mi and has thus managed to achieve the rare phenomenon of "awakening". This allows him to turn the ground and buildings around him into strings for attacks, extending his range and attack volume.[12]

Aside from offense and defense, Doflamingo can also use his strings to stitch together his internal organs should they be damaged, which acts as a rudimentary form of first aid; however, this is only a temporary measure, as this does not heal him.[6]

Offensive Techniques

King Riku Controlled By Doflamingo

Doflamingo using Parasite to take complete control over Riku Dold III.

  • Parasite (寄生糸(パラサイト), Parasaito?, literally meaning "Parasite String"): Doflamingo attaches his strings onto his opponents and manipulates their movements like puppets. This was first seen used to force Vice Admiral Mozambia to attack Vice Admiral Stainless.[2] The strings used are so thin they seem invisible, and are so strong they can completely disable the likes of Jozu[10] and Sanji, even keeping his victims trapped floating in midair,[4] and none of his shown victims were able to resist at all, until Luffy did so by sheer brute force of his Gear Fourth.[9] Furthermore, this technique can be enhanced when used in combination with the Birdcage technique, where the strings can spread all across the entirety of Dressrosa and control multiple people across the island at the same time without any apparent strain on Doflamingo.[23] The string seems to attach to the targets spine at the base of the neck. As such, the controlled can still control their head, but everything below the neck is manipulated by Doflamingo, as seen when the controlled are still able to talk and make their own facial expressions, which contradicts their own actions. The technique's name was revealed in the flashback during Doflamingo's takeover of Dressrosa ten years ago, when he demonstrated the ability to take control of King Riku and many of his soldiers at the same time, and from far away.[16] Though Doflamingo is commonly seen moving his fingers, in a similar manner to how a puppeteer manipulates a marionette, whilst controlling the target(s), it doesn't seem to be necessary, as shown when he did mass control over several people in Dressrosa. This attack was incorrectly named Marionette (マリオネット, Marionetto?) in One Py Berry Match.
  • Goshikito (五色糸(ゴシキート), Goshikīto?, literally meaning "Five Color Strings"): Doflamingo slashes his target with five strings coming out from his fingers. In the anime the strings appear to be merely a spider web white color, but a shimmering of colors within each string can be seen. It was first clearly shown being used against the G-5 Marines on Punk Hazard [8] and named while he was using it against Sanji.[4] In the Viz Manga, it is called Penta-Chromatic String.
Overheat

Doflamingo using Overheat against Luffy.

  • Overheat (超過鞭糸(オーバーヒート), Ōbāhīto?, literally meaning "Excess Whip String"): Doflamingo shoots a thick rope made of strings from his palm and whips it at the target. Overheat's range can go from the sky of Green Bit all the way to Dressrosa, a distance of many kilometers, and is strong enough to cut through a building at that range. It was first seen being used in his fight against Sanji in an attempt to finish him off.[4] The anime has an added effect of the whip exuding high amounts of heat, causing it to glow a fiery orange and steaming. In the FUNimation subs, the first time it was used they called it Overheat, but the second time (in the same episode) it was subbed as Excess Whip String. In the video game One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3, Doflamingo stretches the rope far back, then slams it onto the ground causing a powerful explosion upon impact.
  • Tamaito (弾糸(タマイト), Tamaito?, literally meaning "Bullet String"): Doflamingo points at his opponent with his index finger and fires a string from it, as if he were firing a gun. He can shoot multiple rounds from both hands at the same time. It was first seen being used in the fight against Law on the iron bridge.[24] It was used earlier in the anime when Doflamingo was chasing Law on Green Bit.[25] The attack's power and effect are similar to Shigan, but it has the advantage of the longer range of a normal gun.
Black Knight

Abdullah and Jeet destroy a string clone made with Black Knight.

  • Black Knight (影騎糸(ブラックナイト), Burakku Naito?, literally meaning "Shadow Knight String"): Doflamingo forms a clone of himself, made entirely out of string. Doflamingo can then manipulate the clone with other strings. The technique was used to survive Kyros' attempted decapitation,[26] and Viola remarked that she had never seen it before herself, suggesting it is rarely used given her ability to see everything going on in the country. Doflamingo has shown great skill in manipulating his clone to orchestrate combined attacks with his real body, such as a double Goshikito.[23] Apparently, even a single clone is very strong, able to simply swat a Jet Pistol from Luffy.[27] Viola called it Marionette (操り人形(マリオネット), Marionetto?), while Law similarly referred to it as a "string puppet". Trebol referred to it as Ito Joker (糸ジョーカー, Ito Jōkā?, literally meaning "String Joker") when he asked Doflamingo where it had flown off to, after one of them confronted Luffy and Law.[27] It was formally named when Doflamingo created a clone in his battle against Law and Luffy.[28] In the anime, during the final battle between Law and Luffy, the clones glow sky blue to distinguish themselves from the real thing. Additionally, in the anime the clones have displayed the ability to use both Haki and bullet string in tandem with the real thing. Finally, the clones don't appear to feel pain, nor do they appear carry physical pain back to user, unlike other devil fruit copies.
  • Fulbright (降無頼糸(フルブライト), Furuburaito?, literally meaning "Falling Villainous String"): Doflamingo creates five detached strings from his hand and throws them downwards to impale his target from above. This attack was first used against Trafalgar Law in their second encounter at Dressrosa's royal palace. [29] In the anime, a similar unnamed attack was used against Trafalgar Law during the battle at the bridge.[30]
Itonoko

Doflamingo preparing to use Itonoko.

  • Itonoko (糸ノコ, Itonoko?, literally meaning "Fretsaw"): Doflamingo creates a string from the heel of his foot and attaches the other end to his leg. Holding the opponent down with his arms, he then uses the taut string as a saw to sever the opponent's limb. The produced cut is rather jagged, making it very hard to reattach any severed limbs.[31] This was first seen used to cut off Law's right arm, and named by Trebol.[32] This attack gets its name from the real world cutting tool called the fretsaw, which consists of a metal frame and a thin blade held under tension.
  • Athlete (足剃糸(アスリイト), Asurīto?, literally meaning "Leg Shave String"): Doflamingo attaches several long strings to his foot and kicks his opponents, cutting them. This was first seen used against Luffy, who, despite blocking the blow with his arms while also using Busoshoku Haki, still took damage and fell into Trebol's trap.[1]

Awakened Techniques

  • Break White (荒浪白糸(ブレイクホワイト), Bureiku Howaito?, literally meaning "Raging Waves White String"): Doflamingo creates two large, thick sheets of string that wrap around his opponent and crush them. This was first used to attack Luffy in midair, but Luffy managed to avoid it.[33]
File:Offwhite.png

Doflamingo uses Off White against Luffy.

  • Off White (盾白糸(オフホワイト), Ofu Howaito?, literally meaning "Shield White String"): Doflamingo creates two large masses of strings from the ground near him before swiping at an opponent with them. This was first used to counter Luffy's Gomu Gomu no Double Culverin.[34]
  • Billow White (大波白糸(ビローホワイト), Birō Howaito?, literally meaning "Billow White String"): Doflamingo turns several buildings into towering masses of strings before sending them at an opponent. This was first used against Luffy.[35]
  • Ever White (海原白波(エバーホワイト), Ebā Howaito?, literally meaning "Ocean Whitecaps"): Doflamingo kneels and touches the ground with his hands before turning a vast amount of the surrounding area into string. This was first used against Luffy.[36]
File:Flapthread.png

Doflamingo uses Flap Thread against Luffy.

  • Flap Thread (羽撃糸(フラップスレッド), Furappu Sureddo?, literally meaning "Wing Strike String"): Doflamingo condenses the vast amount of string from Ever White into countless points before sending them at his opponent in the formation of two wings. He likens this technique to "a thousand arrows". It is possibly a homage to his childhood while he was being tortured as someone wanted to fire a thousand arrows at Doflamingo and his family.[37] This was first used against Luffy.[38]
  • God Thread (神誅殺(ゴッドスレッド), Goddo Sureddo?, literally meaning "God Execution"): Doflamingo summons sixteen thick strings which he refers to as "holy ammunition" (聖なる凶弾, seinaru kyōdan?) before sending them at his opponent in a piercing formation. It is possibly a homage to his childhood while he was being tortured as a father cried out that the Celestial Dragons shot his son sixteen times with a pistol; Doflamingo's cruel way to mock the said father.[37] This was first used against Luffy, but was broken through by his King Kong Gun.[39]

Other Techniques

  • Sora no Michi (空の道, Sora no Michi?, literally meaning "Sky Road"): Doflamingo attaches his strings to clouds, allowing him to move through the air. He was first seen using the technique to travel from Dressrosa to Punk Hazard,[40] but there were not enough clouds for him to be able to complete the journey.[41] When Doflamingo was attacking the Straw Hats and Law at Green Bit, Law instructed the Straw Hats to sail along a route without any clouds, as doing so would prevent Doflamingo from pursuing them.[4]
File:Birdcage.png

The Birdcage surrounding Dressrosa.

  • Torikago (鳥カゴ, Torikago?, literally meaning "Birdcage"): Doflamingo's ultimate technique. He exudes a massive amount of strings from the center of his palm[42] or a previously created string construct, such as a string clone,[23] which then shoots into the sky. The individual strings then diverge to cover a large area, even an entire island, creating a massive razor-sharp wire-domed force-field, slicing anyone who tries to pass through it and severing even the signals of Den Den Mushi to the outside world. The bars are incredibly strong, with even multiple meteorites being unable to damage them.[11] Additional strings can then be spread into the cage's confines, attaching to selected people within and allowing Doflamingo to use his Parasite technique at a mass scale to force his victims to kill each other.[23] The Birdcage is Doflamingo's last resort for any desperate situation where he cannot allow anyone in the area to escape, such as when he prevented his brother from escaping with the Ope Ope no Mi (unaware at the time it was eaten by Law),[42] or in the event that Sugar fainted, the effects of the Hobi Hobi no Mi were cancelled and the reconverted citizens rebelled, so that he could kill everyone so no one would be able to reveal the country's dark secrets.[23] The Torikago will remain standing as long as Doflamingo is conscious[43] and should he desire, he can cause the cage to slowly but surely close in, eventually cutting anything inside apart, as when he desired for the endgame after his entire crew (sans Trebol and himself) were defeated;[33] Doflamingo can also increase the shrinking rate if necessary.[14] The cage does not contract towards its original center point: instead, it slowly converges on Doflamingo's position as it shrinks.[44] With enough physical force, the Torikago can be halted for a brief duration.[45] One can also escape the Torikago if one is immune to cutting damage, as Buggy can do so via his Bara Bara no Mi powers.[46]
Kumo no Sugaki

Doflamingo uses Kumo no Sugaki to destroy a tower sent at him by Law.

  • Kumo no Sugaki (蜘蛛の巣がき, Kumo no Sugaki?, literally meaning "Spider's Web"): A defensive technique. As the name implies, Doflamingo creates a huge web made of string that protects him from incoming projectiles. This was first used to block a massive piece of the Dressrosa Royal Palace, thrown at him by Law's powers.[32] When Issho brought down a meteor, Doflamingo used a similar technique by crossing his two Goshikito together to form a net-formation, though smaller in comparison, and unlike Kumo no Sugaki, can slice through matter.[22]


History

Trebol's Offer

Trebol offers Doflamingo the Ito Ito no Mi and his signature pistol.

When Doflamingo was 10 years old, he awakened his Haoshoku Haki, knocking out a mob set out to torture him. The four children — Vergo, Trebol, Diamante and Pica — who would be the future elite officers of Doflamingo's crew, became awed by the rise of one who is worthy to be their new king. Trebol offered Doflamingo power to be their king and to kill everyone who offended him, which took the form of the Ito Ito no Mi and an obsidian-black pistol with luxurious gold plating.[1]

Trivia

  • Out of all of the Devil Fruits named in the series so far, this fruit has had the longest gap between its first demonstration and when it was named, spanning 490 chapters (and 504 episodes) and more than eleven years.
  • Several of the named techniques are puns, ending with ito (string) in the Japanese pronunciation.
  • The abilities of the fruit are very similar to the string clouds that Shura uses in his Ordeal of String as they are invisible and can stop people from moving. Also, the "Birdcage" is very similar to the Ordeal of Iron used by Ohm, another of God's Army, as both moves consist of trapping people inside a dome-shaped cage of sharp material.
  • In One Piece: Gigant Battle! 2 New World, Donquixote Doflamingo is considered a Paramecia Devil Fruit user. This was long before his powers were revealed to be from the Ito Ito no Mi.
  • This is the first Paramecia Devil Fruit to be shown as awakened.

External links

  • String - Wikipedia article on strings.
  • Puppetry - Wikipedia article on puppetry.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 782 (p. 5), Trebol shows Doflamingo the Ito Ito no Mi.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 25 Chapter 234 (p. 2) and Episode 151, Doflamingo uses his Devil Fruit ability to cause Vice Admiral Mozambia to attack Vice Admiral Stainless.
  3. 3.0 3.1 One Piece GamesGigant Battle! 2 New World, Doflamingo's character bar shows the symbols of Paramecia Devil Fruit (three punches).
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 73 Chapter 724 and Episode 655, Law reveals the name of Doflamingo's Devil Fruit during Sanji's battle with him.
  5. One Piece Manga — Vol. 77 Chapter 768, Viola calls Doflamingo a String Human.
  6. 6.0 6.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 781 (p. 18), Doflamingo describes his ability to stitch his organs together.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 57 Chapter 555 (p. 17) and Episode 464, Doflamingo severs Little Oars Jr.'s leg with his ability.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 70 Chapter 698 and Episode 624, Doflamingo slicing through G-5 Marines' firearms and flesh.
  9. 9.0 9.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 79 Chapter 790 (p. 11-12), Luffy broke through the Parasite with Gear Fourth.
  10. 10.0 10.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 57 Chapters 560561 and Episodes 469470, Doflamingo controls Jozu.
  11. 11.0 11.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 75 Chapter 751, Issho's meteors are sliced up upon impact against the Torikago.
  12. 12.0 12.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 785 (p. 7-8), Doflamingo comments on his fruit being "Awakened".
  13. One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 785 (p. 5), The Birdcage drags the factory with it.
  14. 14.0 14.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 79 Chapter 787.
  15. One Piece Manga — Vol. 79 Chapter 791.
  16. 16.0 16.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 73 Chapters 727728 and Episodes 659660, Doflamingo uses Parasite to take control of King Riku and his army.
  17. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 32 Chapter 303 (p. 4-8) and Episode 207, Doflamingo controls Bellamy and Sarkies and make themselves fight each other to the death for failing him.
  18. One Piece Manga — Vol. 76 Chapter 759 (p. 10-12), Doflamingo makes his Black Knight and Bellamy fight Luffy and Law.
  19. One Piece Manga — Vol. 76 Chapter 761 (p. 4-5), Doflamingo makes his string clone and Bellamy attack Luffy at the same time.
  20. One Piece Manga — Vol. 76 Chapter 760 (p. 10-11), Doflamingo makes Bellamy fight with him.
  21. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 58 Chapter 566 (p. 7) and Episode 475, Doflamingo decapitates Crocodile.
  22. 22.0 22.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 72 Chapter 713 (p. 8) and Episode 643, Doflamingo forms a net by crossing his strings.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 One Piece Manga — Vol. 75 Chapter 745, Doflamingo uses a thread clone and his Torikago to lock down Dressrosa.
  24. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 73 Chapter 729 (p. 5) and Episode 661, Doflamingo uses Tamaito against Law.
  25. One Piece Anime — Episode 645.
  26. One Piece Manga — Vol. 75 Chapters 743744, Kyros decapitates Doflamingo, but it is revealed to be a clone of himself.
  27. 27.0 27.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 75 Chapter 752, Doflamingo sends his Black Knight against Luffy.
  28. One Piece Manga — Vol. 76 Chapter 759 (p. 10), Doflamingo formally names his Black Knight technique.
  29. One Piece Manga — Vol. 76 Chapter 760 (p. 9), Doflamingo using Fulbright to pierce Law.
  30. One Piece Anime — Episode 656, Doflamingo uses an attack similar to Fulbright against Law.
  31. One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 783 (p. 7), Leo examines Law's severed arm.
  32. 32.0 32.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 77 Chapter 769 (p. 3-4, 8), Doflamingo using Kumo no Sugaki and Itonoko.
  33. 33.0 33.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 780 (p. 13), Doflamingo uses Break White against Luffy, while the Torikago is shrinking.
  34. One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 785 (p. 7), Doflamingo uses Off White against Luffy.
  35. One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 785 (p. 16), Doflamingo uses Pillow White against Luffy.
  36. One Piece Manga — Vol. 79 Chapter 790 (p. 7), Doflamingo uses Ever White against Luffy.
  37. 37.0 37.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 76 Chapter 763 (p. 3), A commoner shouted that his child was shot 16 times.
  38. One Piece Manga — Vol. 79 Chapter 790 (p. 8), Doflamingo uses Flapthread against Luffy.
  39. One Piece Manga — Vol. 79 Chapter 790 (p. 16-17), Doflamingo uses God Thread against Luffy.
  40. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 70 Chapter 694 (p. 16-17) and Episode 620, Doflamingo runs in midair, from Dressrosa to Punk Hazard.
  41. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 70 Chapter 697 (p. 13) and Episode 623, Doflamingo notices his midair route ends prematurely.
  42. 42.0 42.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 77 Chapter 766 (p. 15-16), Doflamingo encloses Minion Island in a Birdcage.
  43. One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 779 (p. 12), Zoro states that as long as Doflamingo remains undefeated, the Torikago will not disperse.
  44. One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 Chapter 784 (p. 4), Viola sees that the cage is shrinking towards Doflamingo's position, instead of its original center.
  45. One Piece Manga — Vol. 79 Chapter 788.
  46. SBS One Piece Manga — Vol. 78 (p. 102), Oda reveals that Buggy is immune to the Birdcage.

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