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For the chapter of the same name, see Chapter 105.

A Log Pose is a specialized type of compass, a necessity for navigating the Grand Line (where the unique minerals in every island produce atypical magnetic fields that render ordinary compasses useless).

Overview[]

No matter what happens to this ship... no matter what kind of crisis we face... We must never suspect the Log Pose. That is essential. If we doubt anything on these seas, it should be our own senses.
— Nico Robin[2]
Paradise Infobox

Magnetic routes the Log Pose follows through the Grand Line.

Unlike conventional compasses, the Log Pose does not affix to a single direction; instead, it "records" the magnetic field between a given island and the next-closest island, and points to the latter. By keeping course with the needle, any vessel can pass from island to island in the ultimate direction of Laugh Tale.[3] After reaching the next island and staying there for a given amount of time, the Log Pose will reset and lock on to the magnetism of the next island in the Grand Line.

The time it takes for a Log Pose to fully record an island's magnetic field and reset varies from island to island, and may range from a few hours to multiple years.[4][5] Despite this, experienced sailors will rely on Log Poses over virtually any other navigational method, given their general immunity to the Grand Line's infamously bizarre climate and currents.

Nevertheless, Log Poses retain a few shortcomings. Their magnetic "routes" are strictly one-way, and cannot be used to return to prior islands. Additionally, they cannot distinguish between different parts of a specific island, which limits their use at disjointed landmasses such as Long Ring Long Land (a single island whose ten "peaks"—each many days' travel apart—are its only habitable land).

Paradise[]

The standard Log Pose used in the Grand Line's first half, also known as Paradise, consists of a glass orb, with a directional needle inside suspended by a thin piece of wire.[1] In most cases, the device is mounted on a bracelet that a navigator can keep on their wrist at all times.

Because of the irregular sea currents in the Grand Line, a ship can get turned off course at any moment without anyone on the crew realizing. Because of this, the Log Pose must be checked much more frequently than a regular compass would be.

According to Crocus, Reverse Mountain and the Twin Cape are a great starting point, from there a Log Pose can record seven different levels of magnetism, each leading to one of seven different islands, each of which is the first island in one of seven different island chains that one can travel across to traverse the first half of the Grand Line. The seven paths gradually merge together into one over the distance of the Grand Line, ending at Laugh Tale.

Interestingly, one does not have to go to the island the Log Pose is pointing to in order for it to reset, as any island other than the one last visited will allow the Log Pose to record the magnetism of the next island. After staying on this alternate island for however long it takes for the Log Pose to reset, the magnetism of the island it was initially pointing toward will be lost and the needle will lock on to a different island.

New World[]

While Paradise can generally be navigated by a single standard Log Pose, the second half of the Grand Line, also known as the New World, requires more elaborate measures, due to the fact that some islands change or even completely hide their magnetic fields at random, which may leave a crew stranded if they rely on a Log Pose with only a single needle.[6]

To safely navigate through the New World, a crew needs to have a Log Pose with three needles. Each needle records the magnetism of one of three different islands simultaneously, as opposed to the Paradise Log Pose, which only records the magnetic waves of one island at a time. This way, if you lose the magnetism of one island, you still have two backup options.

The stability of the needle reflects the stability of the island's magnetic field; if the needle is displaying erratic movement, it means that the island's magnetism is unstable. There are no guarantees, but as a rule of thumb, this likely means that there is something dangerous on the island, as disturbances in magnetism can be caused by abnormalities on the islands in the New World.[7]

Pudding's Secret Map

Charlotte family sibling's secret route map using the technique.

It is possible to navigate between islands to reach a farther island by following the change in direction or sensitivity of each needle as you go, as opposed to following only one needle to its island, as explained by Charlotte Pudding's map of the Totto Land archipelago which details the special route that members of the Charlotte Family use to reach Whole Cake Island.[8]

The Log Pose can still be affected by the tampering of magnetic waves, as their function was warped within the Seducing Woods.[9]

For unknown reasons, some islands cannot be pinpointed by Log Poses, making them extremely difficult to reach. Notable examples include Sabaody Archipelago,[10] Zou,[11] Punk Hazard,[12] and Laugh Tale.[13]

Other Variants[]

Larger mounted versions of a Log Pose can be found on ships such as the Thousand Sunny, as they have the Paradise version on its helm.[14] Upon reaching the New World, they updated the large Log Pose to the appropriate version.[15]

A variation of the Log Pose is the Eternal Pose, which always points to one specific island.[16]

History[]

Arabasta Saga[]

Reverse Mountain Arc[]

Luffy Finds Log Pose

Luffy finds Mr. 9's Log Pose.

While Log (and Eternal) Poses have been used for at least a century on the Grand Line, the original five Straw Hat Pirates (Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji) were ignorant until they crossed Reverse Mountain and met Laboon and Crocus, as well as Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9.

Once driven off by the Straw Hats, Mr. 9 unwittingly left his Log Pose aboard the Going Merry, where it was found by Luffy. Shortly after, Nami found her own compass malfunctioning wildly, prompting Crocus to explain the technology.

To Nami's fury, Luffy and Sanji accidentally broke Mr. 9's Log Pose almost immediately after Crocus' explanation; fortunately, Crocus gave them a replacement as thanks for protecting and befriending Laboon.[17] Subsequently, Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 re-boarded the Merry to beg transportation to the town of Whisky Peak; despite his crewmates' reservations, Luffy agreed, and Nami accordingly set the Log Pose toward Cactus Island.

Whisky Peak Arc[]

Even with the Log Pose, the Straw Hats' first day navigating the Grand Line proper proved grueling, with several currents completely reversing the ship's direction within seconds. Nevertheless, by holding true to its needle, they successfully reached Whisky Peak.

That night, Zoro and Nami discovered the town was a base for the criminal syndicate Baroque Works, and that Miss Wednesday was actually Princess Nefertari Vivi of Arabasta Kingdom, infiltrating it alongside her guard captain Igaram ("Mr. 8"). After an explosive battle and several hasty negotiations, the Straw Hats agreed to escort Vivi to Arabasta, via the conventional Log Pose route. Meanwhile, Igaram set sail for Arabasta by himself, using an Eternal Pose from Vivi, in hopes of decoying any more Baroque Works pursuers.

Amused by the gambit, Baroque Works' vice-president Miss All-Sunday easily sunk Igaram's ship, then boarded the Merry to mock the Straw Hats' efforts. Openly doubting that they could survive the Log Pose route, she offered them an Eternal Pose to Nanimonai Island, supposedly a shorter and safer stopover to Arabasta. To Vivi's surprise, Luffy immediately broke the Eternal Pose, declaring that he would not let an enemy set their course.[18]

Though exasperated, the rest of the crew accepted Luffy's decision, and kept to their Log Pose.

Little Garden Arc[]

From Cactus Island, the Log Pose led the Straw Hats to Little Garden, where the Giants Dorry and Brogy revealed what Miss All-Sunday had tauntingly implied: Log Poses needed a year to record its magnetic field. The Giants themselves could offer no solution, possessing only an Eternal Pose set to Elbaf.[5]

Ironically, this problem was solved by Baroque Works, the syndicate's head Sir Crocodile having dispatched Mr. 3 against the crew, overestimated his abilities, and (in preparation for Operation Utopia), sent him an Eternal Pose for Arabasta. While Mr. 3 was being defeated, the delivery was intercepted by Sanji, who took the Eternal Pose back to his shocked—but relieved—crew.[19]

(However, this Eternal Pose would go unused for several days, as the Straw Hats were momentarily diverted to Drum Island when a sudden illness struck Nami.)

Sky Island Saga[]

Jaya Arc[]

Shortly after leaving Arabasta—and narrowly dodging the falling hulk of the St. Briss—the Straw Hats were shocked to find their Log Pose pointing straight up at the sky. Though Nami suspected a malfunction, the crew's newest member Nico Robin spoke for the Log Pose and concluded that it was pointing to a Sky Island.[20] This was confirmed when the Straw Hats excavated the St. Briss' remains, uncovering evidence of an island called Skypiea.

At the same time, the Straw Hats encountered the Masira Pirates, from whom Robin stole an Eternal Pose set to the nearby island of Jaya. Though aware that its own magnetic field could reroute their Log Pose entirely, the crew sailed there in hopes of further leads on Skypiea.[21] Ultimately, with help from the Saruyama Alliance, they learned of the Knock-Up Stream and used it to reach Skypiea less than a day before their Log Pose could be rerouted.[22][23]

Fish-Man Island Saga[]

Fish-Man Island Arc[]

After the Straw Hat Pirates were erroneously accused of kidnapping mermaids, Nami reminds them that they can't leave the island until the Log Pose resets. The Ryugu Kingdoms Minister of the Left mock the Straw Hats for not having an appropriate Log Pose for the New World.

After Hody Jones and his crew were defeated, the Minister of the Left gave Nami a new Log Pose with three needles and explained to her how it works. Nami, Chopper and Usopp though the idea of a jiggling needle pointing towards dangerous islands would be too scary and wanted to smash the new Log Pose. Though the Minister of the Left manages to convince them otherwise.

Known Owners[]

Paradise[]

New World[]

Translation and Dub Issues[]

The 4Kids-dubbed anime (as well as video games) renamed the Log Pose and Eternal Pose to Grand Compass and Eternal Compass, respectively. While this renaming was kept by the FUNimation-dubbed anime's initial TV cut, both the uncut FUNimation anime and the VIZ Manga use the original terms.

In addition, to fit story changes that truncated the Reverse Mountain Arc to remove Laboon and Crocus, and completely eliminated the Little Garden Arc, the 4Kids anime extensively rewrote the context behind the Poses the Straw Hat Pirates acquire during the Arabasta Saga:

  • The crew's first "Grand Compass" (originally taken from Mr. 9) is depicted as an item that Yasopp deliberately left Usopp. Several of the Straw Hats recognize it on sight, and its workings are explained by Sanji, relaying experience from Zeff.
    • As the crew never drops anchor at Twin Cape, this compass is never broken, and Crocus' substitute is not needed.
  • The "Eternal Compass" that Robin offers the crew at Whisky Peak is said to lead directly to Arabasta, rather than Nanimonai Island.
  • The compass ultimately used to reach Arabasta (originally taken from Mr. 3's base on Little Garden) is depicted as a spare that Igaram gave to Vivi, which was "forgotten" until Luffy broke Robin's.

Trivia[]

  • Log Poses are implicitly useless outside the Grand Line, as the Straw Hats gave no reaction to Thriller Bark (an island originally from the West Blue).
  • Wristwatches modeled after Log Poses are (among many other One Piece references) commonly featured in the gag manga Me & Roboco.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 12 Chapter 104 (p. 4) and Episode 63, Luffy finds a Log Pose.
  2. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 24 Chapter 219 (p. 4) and Episode 144, Nico Robin explains to the other Straw Hats that the Log Pose cannot be doubted—even if it suggests absurdities such as Sky Islands.
  3. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 12 Chapter 105 (p. 4-8) and Episode 63, Crocus explains about the necessity of a Log Pose.
  4. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 12 Chapter 106 (p. 14) and Episode 64, Nami mentions the time a Log Pose roughly takes to memorize an island's magnetic field.
  5. 5.0 5.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 13 Chapters 116117 and Episodes 7172, Dorry and Brogy separately confirm that Log Poses need one year to adjust to Little Garden; the former also notes that they own a single Eternal Pose set for Elbaf.
  6. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 62 Chapter 614 (p. 5) and Episode 533, Nami notes that her Log Pose has not stabilized on Fish-Man Island, and the Minister of the Left mocks her for not preparing it to New World standards.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 66 Chapter 653 (p. 6-8) and Episode 573, The Minister of the Left explains to Nami about the New World Log Pose.
  8. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 83 Chapter 828 (p. 10) and Episode 787, Charlotte family sibling's secret route map is shown.
  9. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 83 Chapter 831 (p. 17) and Episode 792, Nami's Log Pose is affected by the Seducing Woods.
  10. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 51 Chapter 496 (p. 14) and Episode 390, Hatchan explains the Archipelago is just a clump of trees.
  11. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 81 Chapter 811 (p. 18) and Episode 762, Brook explains that Zou is a living animal.
  12. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 67 Chapter 666 (p. 5) and Episode 592, Law talks about the navigation to Punk Hazard.
  13. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 96 Chapter 966 and Episode 966, Roger explains about Laugh Tale.
  14. SBS One Piece Manga — Vol. 46 (p. 146), The larger pose is seen in the diagram of the helm.
  15. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 83 Chapter 829 (p. 4) and Episode 788, The New World Log Pose is at the helm of the Thousand Sunny.
  16. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 13 Chapter 113 (p. 14-15) and Episode 67, Igaram explains about the Eternal Pose.
  17. 17.0 17.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 12 Chapter 105 (p. 10-12) and Episode 63, Mr. 9's Log Pose is destroyed.
  18. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 13 Chapter 114 and Episode 67, As the Straw Hats prepare to leave Whisky Peak, Miss All-Sunday (Nico Robin) tauntingly offers them an Eternal Pose, which Luffy rejects.
  19. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 15 Chapters 127128 and Episode 77, Sanji defeats the Unluckies (Mr. 13 and Miss Friday) and takes from them the Arabasta Eternal Pose meant for Mr. 3.
  20. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 24 Chapters 218219 and Episode 144.
  21. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 24 Chapter 222 and Episode 145, Robin hands Nami the Masira Pirates' Jaya Pose; after debating whether to risk Skypiea's route being overwritten, the crew sets sail for Jaya.
  22. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 25 Chapter 229 and Episode 149, While Mont Blanc Cricket explains the Knock-Up Stream as a possible entry to Skypiea, Nami realizes the crew can spend only one more day on Jaya before their Log Pose loses the Skypiea route.
  23. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 25 Chapters 235236 and Episode 152, The Straw Hats successfully reach the Knock-Up Stream using a captured South Bird (as Log Poses can only affix to land), and are launched towards Skypiea.
  24. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 18 Chapter 157 (p. 16) and Episode 70, Ace is seen with a Log Pose.
  25. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 54 Chapter 523 (p. 13) and Episode 417, Ace is seen without a Log Pose.
  26. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 13 Chapter 117 (p. 3) and Episode 70, Galdino is seen with a Log Pose.
  27. One Piece Manga — Vol. 40 Chapter 382, cover story: Miss Goldenweek's "Operation: Meet Baroque Works" Vol. 18, Galdino is seen without a Log Pose.
  28. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 24 Chapter 223 (p. 13) and Episode 146, Eddy is seen with a Log Pose.
  29. One Piece Anime — Episode 138.
  30. One Piece Movie — One Piece Film: Strong World.
  31. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 66 Chapter 655 (p. 8) and Episode 579, Smoker holding a New World Log Pose.

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