Observation Haki

[blueinthespace.]

I think most of the fandom in One Piece doesn't actually quite understands how Observation Haki really works and jumps to conclusion about how it is inconsistent and works when Oda wants it.
Today, I will be debunking each and every point regarding that point by point by giving a complete analysis on this topic.

First and foremost I would like to state what I have learned about Observation Haki so far in the series.
Observation haki has seemingly multiple functions like
Precognition that is predicting incoming attacks, in the most basic form Zoro and Luffy can predict where the bullets will hit them so they move accordingly and only dodge when necessary.
Intention - Luffy/Otohime are good at this. It senses the emotions and figures out their intentions. (pretty self explanatory lol) Otohime could sense the emotions or simply the voice/sound of the entire population on fishman island.
Presence - For example Sanji/Koby, they can sense things from far away and incoming objects like a bullet without really looking and dodge it. Sanji could find Kinemon’s body parts like this on Punk Hazard or Luffy can sense the presence of Caribou.

Now, to the real question, why do I believe Observation Haki isn't 24/7 ?
The simple answer is that it's because the whole flow of the story contradicts it and from what Oda has been displaying so far completely rules that out.

First, Coo as stated by Katakuri's sister is limited and at after sometime it will start getting weak if the user has to constantly uses it and thus it would drain them which already pretty much confirms that Coo isn't 24/7 on.
Not only that, but Fujitora itself walks with his stick instead of using Coo all the time.

Why do you think such a top tier character isn't using Coo all the time but instead uses his stick to walk until he has to fight?

It's because it drains the user to constantly use it and being a blind man Fujitora can't afford that so thus he only use it when it's necessary to see Auras around him and if he can concentrate more like Ussop did then he can even see it more clear with every specifics like nose and overall body shape more precisely.

Both of the evidences refuses the idea that Coo is 24/7 active and even proves that it drains the user if it's continuously in use.
This is one of the major reason why Luffy wasn't able to detect Flampe/Aokiji got hit by Jozu/Akainu didn't sensed WB till the Marines informed him and the very reason Sneak attacks exists is because Observation Haki isn't always on.

Now you may have a question that what did Ray meant when he said "subconsciously" in this panel or how some characters even in middle of sleep is able to wake up during danger.

I won't be linking panels since I don't have the perms to do it here but just have a look at these examples which I would be using throughout the post.
Zoro didn't sensed Carrot SUBCONSCIOUSLY until she attacked and had killing intent. Luffy,Sanji,Zoro and Luffy didn't sensed anyone SUBCONSCIOUSLY until Caribou attacked Weakahoshi
WB didn't sensed Ace SUBCONSCIOUSLY until he attacked him with Mera Mera no Mi
Sanji didn't sensed Luffy SUBCONSCIOUSLY until Luffy displays a haki blast
Big Mom/Kat or let it be anyone didn't sensed SUBCONSCIOUSLY SHs until they got out or tried to attack
King/Queen didn't sensed Sanji SUBCONSCIOUSLY until he switched his Raid suit off
Zoro on ship didn't sensed Kaku SUBCONSCIOUSLY until there was a attack heading at him
Manga Spoilers but ||IMU didn't sensed sabo SUBCONSCIOUSLY until he comes out himself||

Now, back to the main point.
Did you noticed a similar pattern in each one of these examples?
Yes, it's the same repeating cycle and that is Observation Haki doesn't triggers the Coo users until and unless there's a killing/malicious intent involved in it.

Now why did I brought the word "killing intent" here. Oda has never mentioned about such things then why am I using headcanons. Well it's not a headcanon and I can very well explain how Oda already subtly explained this.

When Gan fall was teaching Sanji about Mantra i.e Observation Haki as stated by Rayeligh itself.

first of all Mantra is just a different name to Observation Haki that which was given in Skypiea by them.

Gan fall words about Mantra clearly line by line confirms that one has to listen to the voice/sound which each person makes and as killing or having a malicious intent is one of the strongest voices/sounds/emotion which one can make therefore even when one is sleeping then he/she can predict the danger beforehand.

If you still don't believe then just read the examples which I mentioned above again. Each one of them has a pattern set in which if a user is sleeping or is indulge in any other activity and then in between if some other person is trying to attack him/her or someone else then he/she is able to predict it beforehand.

All of them above (the examples I stated above) subconsciously sensed the malicious intent because "killing intent" is the highest degree of vibrations/sound/emotion which a person's body can make and due to that Observation Haki automatically detects it without even one having to use it consciously (even if they are half awake like Zoro).
One can't do the same if the other person is hiding there presence/hiding themselves like Caribou did until he tried to capture Weakhoshi or when Sabo kept himself hidden until he came out of the spot or Carrot with Zoro in Zou.

Honestly, there's not a single panel/anime moment where it suggests that one is able to sense someone hidden even after 1k+ chapters so it's enough evidence that Killing/Malicious intent provokes user to use CoO subconsciously which Ray mentioned above and thus is able to sense them.

There might be still a question that why is Killing intent the strongest emotion one can make?
It's because that's the only time Coo users are able to sense someone SUBCONSCIOUSLY even when they are in mid sleep and I think it's pretty much self explanatory that Oda is using these examples to teach us about Observation rather than putting words in front like most mangakas does.

I will end my post here with one more instance which once again completely rules out that Observation Haki is 24/7 and that is Zoro didn't sensed the Tontatta in dressrosa while he stole his sword until and unless he uses Observation Haki.

Also, keep this in mind that to use Observation Haki one has to be "calm and collected" as mentioned by Katakuri itself so there are many instances in story where one isn't able to sense someone because they are very much indulge in the killing/fighting and there's entire focus shifts to one characters which thus leaves the room for one to sneak attack them or sometimes like in Flampe situation with Luffy, he was already very tired that his Observation Haki was weakened to the point he wasn't able to sense the needle.

Tldr: Observation Haki is supposed to be used first in order to sense the danger around you and it's not always on and even if they are subconsciously being able to use it then it's because of the killing intent and not cuz it's always on by default.

Unrelated to the post but can anyone tell how is one supposed to gain the perms to post pictures in there post. I need it because I would be making theory/analysis sometimes and would like to post on my reddit account as well as here so it reaches to a larger audience.

[Gizmo]

I think this can be explained by Enel saying his lightning amplifies his mantra IIRC, but his use of mantra seems to contradict some of your ideas. He seemed to be able to use mantra constantly throughout the entire war game without stamina loss, and that includes sensing non-combatants without killing intent like Nami.

[blueinthespace.]

@Gizmo Well I didn't meant stamina loss. All I was talking about is that there "Color Of Observation would be drained and thus making it weaker which is what happened in Flampe shooting Luffy" and it definitely contradicts to "24/7 Haki on" statement because by now Luffy's Observation Haki should be of 1mm.
Also Enel utilises his DFs to maximise to the entire island by which he can listen to every single person words and it's only because of his DF and someone without Lightning fruit can't show similar feats.
He was able to hear Nami without killing intent because he sensed that consciously.
Killing Intent is only required when one senses it subconsciously. One can obviously sense the presence of everyone (depending on how fleshed there Observation is like Sanji can sense Woman because of his nature) consciously but to show the same feat subconsciously, it's a MUST that killing intent has to be there. It's the same reason Doflamingo didn't sensed Momo/Kinemon when they tried to free Kanjuro in Dressrosa because they were hidden.

[kevo_koma]

Problem is, people still get surprised attacked even in situations when they should be consciously using Observation haki.

Anyway, welcome to the Forums. See you in the chapter and spoiler discussions.

[blueinthespace.]

@kevo_koma Mind giving some examples for that?
As far as I remember there are only two scenarios which comes into my head atm and that is of Aokiji and another one of Akainu in the same arc MF.

Both of it can be explained by the easily.
Aokiji devoted his senses toward battling Whitebeard, the reputably Strongest Man in the World, to the point he dodges his point blank glaive attack and starts freezing him but then speedy Jozu uses this window of opportunity to blitz Aokiji from the side.

Akainu focused on chasing down Jinbei and Luffy then Marco gets in his path, with all this occupying his mind he doesn't notice Whitebeard suddenly sneak up from behind with a quake fist coming down, a marine has to yell to get his attention but it's too late.

It's all about what the characters are really focused and devoted about if X and Y are in a fight then both of them will truly devoted in trying to sense each other's move just like Aokiji infact was and thus when Z attacked with insane speed then X/Y wasn't able to react/dodge which absolutely makes sense in the context of story.

Like I said above, it's not 24/7 and it only and only works unconsciously when a character is calm and the other character have some sort of killing/malicious intent which makes the user to sense the presence of him/her.

Also, for the last message you may not find me in the discussions really since I have a busy schedule but I will try my best to have a look in that too so thanks :)

[FolhaS]

I think one great example of how CoO works was given back in Skypea, when Satori was defeated by Luffy and Sanji.

Knowing your opponent will atack, and even how he will attack makes no difference if you can't react. Luffy wrapped his limbs around Satori and Sanji just had to land a nice kick to forehead. And even before that, Luffy and Sanji managed to confuse and distract Satori enough for him to get caught by Luffy.

CoO was always presented has a skill that can and should be trained, even when it's a reflex. Saying it's a poorly written power when characters "fail" to use it is as silly as saying it's poorly written to have a character trip or slip and fall. Most humans know how to walk and have many years of experience doing it, yet not one is immune to tripping from time to time. Most people can write and spell without much trouble but if you never proofread your posts you're still going to end up with a typo or grammar mistake.

And besides the technique having a name in OP's world, it's not really different from any ki, nen, or chakra sensing we've seen in any movie or show. Characters in Dragon Ball are seen having ki sensing abilities at least since Jackie Chun in the 21st Tournament and they still get punched in the face. Half of HunterXHunter fights are all about knowing how to hide your nen and killing intent and they still get hit.