Here’s a rundown of when how and why Zoro got stronger through the series
1. Was a Protege before the story starts able to compete with adults in his village
2. Fought and lost to Kuina 2000 times trying to develop multiple sword techniques that failed on her. He also starts training with weight lifting and muscle training. (This persists until the end of the series)
3. Fought Kuina one more time and lost and developed his ambition to compete with her for the title of WSS (this persists until the end of the series)
4. Kuina died and he got a 21 Grade Sword, Wado Ichimonji in her memory and trained with it (this persists until the end of series)
5. He was taught the concepts of Haki for Swordsmen via the Breath of all things. Failed to master it.
6. Developed the three sword style and acquired two more long swords and went out to sea as a pirate hunter.
7. Joined the Strawhat pirates and got into harder and harder fights. (this persists until the end of the series)
8. Fought Mihawk, the Strongest Swordsman and lost. Tried to execute the Three sword style secret technique and failed
9. Acquired a “Cursed” grade sword, Sandai Kitetsu and a “light” 50 Skillful grade sword Yubashiri and soon mastered both of them.
10. Mastered the concepts of Haki from his childhood and used the breath of All things to cut Steel.
11. Developed projectile attacks and used the breath of all things to cut steel with projectile attacks.
12. Developed the 9 sword style Ashura (somehow)
13. Acquired a “heavy” Black blade, Shusui, a 21 Great grade sword and later mastered it.
14. Performed the three sword style secret technique successfully.
15. Learned the General concepts and applications of Haki.
16. Developed Stronger Three sword style techniques with Haki.
17. Performed More three sword style secret techniques and improved others.
18. Acquired a 21 Great grade sword Enma with difficulty.
That’s about it. The rest is speculation
19. Will master Enma because of his mastery of Enma’s sister sword, Wado Ichimonji.
20. Will Train and Master the Advanced applications of Armaments Haki for Swordsmen (because of Enma’s Haki draining side effect)
21. Will develop and perform stronger 9 sword style Ashura techniques with Haki
22. Will acquire and master the “cursed” 21 Great grade sword, Nidai Kitetsu.
23. Will master the Firefox style technique
24. Will master the advanced applications of Observation Haki (from fighting invisible Shiryu)
25. Will Turn the Wado Ichimonji into a black blade and rise it’s Rank to the 13 Supreme grade swords
26. Will turn Enma into a black blade and rise it’s rank to the 14 Supreme grade swords
27. Will turn the Nidai Kitetsu into a black blade and rise it’s rank to the 16 Supreme grade swords
28. Will Fight and Defeat Hawkeyes Mihawk and become the Greatest Swordsman in the world.
BONUS: If training flashbacks are considered “power progression” then along the way Zoro WILL have his flashback explaining what happened to his missing eye and he’ll probably get “flashback power ups” from it
1. Was a Protege before the story starts able to compete with adults in his village
2. Fought and lost to Kuina 2000 times trying to develop multiple sword techniques that failed on her. He also starts training with weight lifting and muscle training. (This persists until the end of the series)
3. Fought Kuina one more time and lost and developed his ambition to compete with her for the title of WSS (this persists until the end of the series)
4. Kuina died and he got a 21 Grade Sword, Wado Ichimonji in her memory and trained with it (this persists until the end of series)
5. He was taught the concepts of Haki for Swordsmen via the Breath of all things. Failed to master it.
6. Developed the three sword style and acquired two more long swords and went out to sea as a pirate hunter.
7. Joined the Strawhat pirates and got into harder and harder fights. (this persists until the end of the series)
8. Fought Mihawk, the Strongest Swordsman and lost. Tried to execute the Three sword style secret technique and failed
9. Acquired a “Cursed” grade sword, Sandai Kitetsu and a “light” 50 Skillful grade sword Yubashiri and soon mastered both of them.
10. Mastered the concepts of Haki from his childhood and used the breath of All things to cut Steel.
11. Developed projectile attacks and used the breath of all things to cut steel with projectile attacks.
12. Developed the 9 sword style Ashura (somehow)
13. Acquired a “heavy” Black blade, Shusui, a 21 Great grade sword and later mastered it.
14. Performed the three sword style secret technique successfully.
15. Learned the General concepts and applications of Haki.
16. Developed Stronger Three sword style techniques with Haki.
17. Performed More three sword style secret techniques and improved others.
18. Acquired a 21 Great grade sword Enma with difficulty.
That’s about it. The rest is speculation
19. Will master Enma because of his mastery of Enma’s sister sword, Wado Ichimonji.
20. Will Train and Master the Advanced applications of Armaments Haki for Swordsmen (because of Enma’s Haki draining side effect)
21. Will develop and perform stronger 9 sword style Ashura techniques with Haki
22. Will acquire and master the “cursed” 21 Great grade sword, Nidai Kitetsu.
23. Will master the Firefox style technique
24. Will master the advanced applications of Observation Haki (from fighting invisible Shiryu)
25. Will Turn the Wado Ichimonji into a black blade and rise it’s Rank to the 13 Supreme grade swords
26. Will turn Enma into a black blade and rise it’s rank to the 14 Supreme grade swords
27. Will turn the Nidai Kitetsu into a black blade and rise it’s rank to the 16 Supreme grade swords
28. Will Fight and Defeat Hawkeyes Mihawk and become the Greatest Swordsman in the world.
BONUS: If training flashbacks are considered “power progression” then along the way Zoro WILL have his flashback explaining what happened to his missing eye and he’ll probably get “flashback power ups” from it
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