Shusui

Shusui’s original color in the manga.

Shusui’s new color in the Dressrosa arc.

Abilities

As one of the 21 Great Grade swords, Shusui is one of the finest swords in the world, being a national treasure of Wano and also the signature weapon of the legendary samurai, Shimotsuki Ryuma, which became a permanent black blade in his hands.^[10] Before acquiring Enma, Zoro believed that Shusui was an extremely important necessity for him in order to attain victory in his crew’s upcoming decisive battle against Kaidou and the Beast Pirates.

Shusui is designed to increase both the damage potential and destructive power of the user to a tremendous extent, as was first demonstrated when Zoro used Shusui against Oars; after using Hyaku Hachi Pound Ho, it created a larger flying slash attack by absorbing the flying slash of the two other swords (Wado Ichimonji and Sandai Kitetsu), thereby increasing its already great destructive power tremendously.

When used by zombie Ryuma and combined with the fencing style (Gentle Blade) of Brook using his shadow and modifications made to his already strong body, Shusui can create a strong blade version of his fencing style, making it far stronger and destructive than the original. Zoro noted that had his battle with Ryuma continued, Shusui would have broken both Sandai Kitetsu and even Wado Ichimonji, another Great Grade sword.^[11]

After receiving Shusui, Zoro commented that its greatest attribute is its durability, claiming that if a dinosaur were to step on it, the blade wouldn’t bend a millimeter. He demonstrated it firsthand by deflecting Oars’ punch when the blade was wielded horizontally,^[12][13] defending against Neptune’s gigantic Trident, and the frenzied assaults of an Energy Steroid overdosed Hyouzou.

Though it is capable of dealing extremely heavy blows, Shusui has some major problems. Among them is that it turned to be a “problem child” like Sandai Kitetsu having what Zoro described as a “temper”, making it difficult to wield, as well as being significantly heavier than Yubashiri, which contributes to the decreased control Zoro has over some of his attacks.^[13] As time passed, Zoro began to master Shusui’s negative attributes.

After training with Dracule Mihawk for two years, Shusui has become Zoro’s favored blade and has overcome its negative attributes. In conjuncture with his improved strength and skill, Shusui significantly enhances the power of Zoro’s Ittoryuu techniques to a greater extent than what Wado Ichimonji was capable of before his training. As a testament of his mastery over Shusui after the timeskip, Zoro used it to cut a massive galleon ship in half before reuniting with his crew,^[14] decapitate an enormous dragon in one slash, and with Sandai Kitetsu and Wado Ichimonji, cleanly sliced apart Pica’s mountain-sized golem with immensely powerful flying slash attacks.

History

Past

The sword originally belonged to Shimotsuki Ryuma, and was buried with its original master in Wano Country upon his death, where it was prized as a national treasure.^[3] It was said that Shusui was not always a “black blade”, and it became one after many battles alongside its master.^[15]

23 years ago, Gecko Moria stole both the sword and Ryuma’s body, and Wano Country was brought to its knees in shock.^[4][5]

Thriller Bark Arc

Ryuma wielded Shusui once again when he was revived as a zombie, and later bequeathed it to Zoro upon his defeat.^[6]

Punk Hazard Arc

Upon seeing it, Tashigi was awed.^[16]

Dressrosa Arc

After he saw it, Kin’emon became determined to challenge Zoro so the sword could be returned to Wano Country. While at a restaurant in Acacia, Shusui was stolen by a dwarf named Wicca.^[3] Zoro caught the dwarf and reclaimed his sword.

Wano Country Arc

Due to his possession of the sword, Zoro was accused of being behind a series of attacks and was sentenced to commit seppuku, while Toyama Tsujigiro, a corrupt magistrate, took Shusui for himself. Zoro managed to identify the magistrate as the real culprit and struck him down, regaining Shusui.^[17]

Shusui was later stolen by Gyukimaru, who returned it to Ryuma’s grave.^[18]

In order to have Shusui remain in Wano Country, Kozuki Hiyori offered her own Great Grade sword, Enma, to Zoro as a replacement for Shusui,^[19] a proposal that Zoro accepted.^[20][21]

Trivia

• In SBS Volume 92, Oda drew Zoro’s swords personified as humans. Shusui took the form of a man with a long face and a prominent chin, with neck-length light hair and a thin dark mustache.^[22]
• In Chapter 599, Zoro’s Shusui was shown with a different sheath strongly resembling that of Trafalgar Law’s nodachi, Kikoku. Although Oda did not write anything about it, it could be taken as a mistake as Zoro is then seen holding Shusui with its traditional sheath with no comments about the change. This error is fixed in the anime episode that adapts this scene from the manga.
• In Chapter 937, Gyukimaru states that Shusui “became” a black blade in the hands of Ryuma. In Chapter 955, Tenguyama Hitetsu states that by becoming a black blade, Enma could raise in rank into a Saijo O Wazamono, which means that before becoming a black blade, Shusui could have been a Ryō Wazamono.

References

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