One Piece: What are Usopp's powers and abilities?

One Piece: What are Usopp
One Piece: What are Usopp's powers and abilities? (Image credit: Toei Animation)

One of the most unique characters in all of mangaka Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece series is Usopp—a faithful member of protagonist Monkey D. Luffy’s Straw Hat Pirates. A major part of what makes Usopp so unique is his desire to become a brave warrior of the sea despite being a coward. Likewise, many fans are often curious as to what he can actually do to achieve this dream.

As a sniper, Usopp’s powers and abilities unsurprisingly revolve around this identity. Throughout the series, he uses multiple slingshots and ammunition types to better compete with stronger enemies. While these exact combinations change, Usopp’s primary weapon throughout the entire series has been a slingshot, except for his fight against Luffy.

In this fight from One Piece’s Water 7 Arc, Usopp is seen using the Skypeian technology known as Dials to fight Luffy. While not much is known about Dials, they are the remains of a particular shellfish found mostly in Skypiea, which can store energy and matter. While this is the only time Usopp fights with them, he is shown to be very skilled in their use.

Despite his cowardly presentation, One Piece has made it clear that Usopp can be relied on when push comes to shove (Image credit: Toei Animation)
Despite his cowardly presentation, One Piece has made it clear that Usopp can be relied on when push comes to shove (Image credit: Toei Animation)

Usopp is also incredibly resourceful and handy, which translates into significant engineering and manufacturing skills. This is how he both enhances his own weapons throughout the series, creates, and enhances Nami’s Clima-Tact. While not as physically strong as some other Straw Hats, he still has considerable strength and is one of the crew’s best tacticians.

Usopp has also unlocked the power of Observation Haki, which he first used during the second half of One Piece's Dressrosa Arc. He was able to use this ability to snipe Sugar of the Donquixote Pirates from an unbelievable distance, which was key in ensuring his crew’s goals were achieved. While he hasn’t used it since, it is still confirmed that he can use Observation Haki.


Usopp’s Pop Greens in One Piece

During the series’ two-year timeskip, Usopp was sent to the Boin Archipelago by Bartholomew Kuma. On this island, there were several varieties of hostile plants in a forest called Greenstone, where Usopp got his Pop Greens. These Pop Greens are the seeds of these hostile plants, which have various effects, including the ability to grow to full size immediately.

In One Piece, Usopp uses these Pop Greens as his primary ammunition for his sniper, growing the plants on the Thousand Sunny for a constant supply. His use of them is due to their versatility and the several different effects they can have. They can do anything from creating explosions to providing means of travel, such as boats, and even enhance their slingshot.

Usopp has also implemented Pop Greens into the construction of weapons. Nami’s upgraded Clima-Tact is one example, as is Usopp’s Kuro Kabuto slingshot. The former gains the ability to retract and expand its length, while the latter is effectively turned into a living plant. After transforming, it eats large amounts of rubble to grow in size and attack opponents with it.


In summation

Usopp’s primary powers and abilities in One Piece are his sniper skills. He uses a unique type of ammo called Pop Greens to maximize his combat potential and be prepared for any situation. Usopp is also capable of using Observation Haki. Although he has only used it once, that single demonstration clearly showcased how impactful such an ability is to his sniper skills.

Usopp is also an excellent tactician and a resourceful engineer and craftsman, capable of making and upgrading weapons for himself and others. Usopp is also able to use unique technology, such as Skypiea’s Dials, and reinvent their original usage for combat purposes. This further emphasizes his skill as a tactician and his resourcefulness.

Edited by Amey Mirashi