In the world of One Piece, awakened Zoan Devil Fruits are often regarded as the pinnacle of power among the various types of Devil Fruits. The mystery surrounding these fruits casts a shadow over their complete abilities. A significant indicator of a Zoan fruit’s awakening is the presence of a cloud enveloping the user. The color of this cloud is believed to represent the degree of control a user has over their Devil Fruit.
The Gorosei and Lucci exhibit black clouds, indicating their dominance over their respective Devil Fruits. In contrast, Luffy’s white cloud signifies a harmonious connection with his Nika Devil Fruit, suggesting a balanced relationship. This observation gains credence through the contrasting control displayed by these characters in their awakened states, particularly as an antagonist was shown with a cloud resembling Luffy’s.
Disclaimer: The following article reveals potential spoilers from the One Piece manga and reflects the author’s perspective.
Analyzing the Cloud Colors in Awakened Zoan Devil Fruits

Zoan Devil Fruits represent one of the three primary categories of Devil Fruits, granting users the extraordinary physical abilities associated with various animals. The diversity of these fruits spans from commonplace examples, like Dalton’s Ox-Ox Devil Fruit, to legendary variations, such as Kaido’s Azure Dragon Devil Fruit. Notably, Zoan fruits possess an inherent will even before being consumed, setting them apart from other Devil Fruit classes.
Upon awakening, the powers derived from these Devil Fruits expand significantly. However, only a select few characters have successfully awakened their Zoan fruits. Notable among them are the Jailer Beasts, Lucci, and Monkey D. Luffy. It’s crucial to note that awakening does not guarantee overwhelming power; rather, it often involves a struggle for control against the fruit’s innate will.

For instance, as chronicled by Eiichiro Oda, the Jailer Beasts from Impel Down exhibited a lack of control over their bodies due to the dominion of their Devil Fruits. Comparatively, both Luffy and Lucci displayed a degree of mastery over their awakened forms, with their cloud colors providing insight into their respective levels of control.
Luffy’s cloud, characterized by its white hue, represents a balanced power dynamic between him and the Nika Devil Fruit. In contrast, Lucci’s black cloud signifies his antagonistic dominance over his Devil Fruit’s will. This distinction is crucial in understanding the implications of their control over their powers.

Similarly, the Gorosei’s awakened forms—often viewed as yokai manifestations—exhibit black clouds, reinforcing their malevolent essence and indicating their mastery over the will of their Devil Fruits. Interestingly, a new character named Rimoshifu Killingham, recently introduced in chapter 1142, displays a white cloud, implying he struggles with complete control over his awakened powers. This raises questions about whether partial or complete control correlates with enhanced strength in awakened Zoan users.
Concluding Analysis

The interpretation of cloud colors traditionally suggested that black represents antagonists and white signifies protagonists. However, the introduction of Saint Rimoshifu Killingham may challenge this assumption. As we delve deeper into the nature of Zoan Devil Fruits, the extent of their classification remains an intriguing enigma worthy of exploration.