It’s not an exaggeration, the manga spells it out when they were introduced. The big mom pirates weren’t creating counter measures for raid suits, they had to develop counter measures for the exoskeleton. The Exo was always portrayed much more durable than a raid suit. Especially since Sanji was able to smash the raid suit with his foot no problem.
1. The raid suit was never a power up, hell it was never even treated as one. It was always just a tool to be discarded.
2. Exoskeleton was sanjis first main power up in the new world. Just like Enma was to Zoro. These two power ups were then a catalyst to allow the two to develop their fighting styles into much more powerful versions KOH 3 sword style and Ifrit Jambe
And yeah Exo was a power up that allowed Sanji to create and control his main one. But the way you’re framing Raid Suit as a power up when it was never treated as such is where you’re wrong.
Sanji has two power ups:
Exoskeleton and IJ
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Again not saying Exo isn’t a power up, it’s just less of one than IJ is. As Exo merely enhanced Sanji, IJ completely leveled up his fighting style.
It’s like CoC coating for Luffy wasn’t as much of a power up as Awakening was.
I see. Maybe this is the difference in how we see WCI & Wano :
- BMP creating countermeasure for Exo because they will attack the Vinsmokes during the wedding, when they didn't wear the RS. They planned the attack, and only attack when they're RS-less. That's why they didn't need to develop countermeasure for it.
- For me, RS tanking King's attack, which Luffy comment as nasty, is relative to Sanji's Exo tanking S-Shark. Not much difference until Oda shows more.
- Sanji destroyed the RS because it is in canister form & the narrative required it to be destroyed.
- Just like the other guy said, any increase in abilities count as PU. Sanji's leg cracked against Vergo (I know it's the explosion that actually damage him). A few weeks later, Sanji's body receive zero damage at all from an Ancient Zoan (near Vergo level).
This increase for having mediocre defense to top tier defense is already a PU to me.
This is why Sanji didn't "get" a PU in WCI, Oda showcase it in Page One's fight. It acts as substitute.
- You may think that RS will always meant to be discarded, but I think most readers didn't think so. Because he receives & uses RS, and in the same timeframe, Zoro receives & uses Enma. It's a normal thinking that both receives the same treatment. Zoro will use Enma, Sanji will use RS. Reasonable train of thought.
- I have 2 different context for the last point, RS as Powerup.
First, just like the other guy said & imply, any new abilities a character gain is considered a powerup. If you don't agree with this, it's fine, but at least you know why we think so.
PreWano Sanji :
- Can't go invisible
- Doesn't have top tier defense
Raid Suit Sanji can do/have both. It's increase in ability(ies), thus I consider RS as Sanji's Powerup. Because RS Sanji is better than No-RS Sanji.
Secondly, my initial discussion about this (RS) is actually unrelated/doesn't care whether you consider it as Sanji's Powerup or not.
RS Sanji is stronger than WCI Sanji.
Exo Sanji is also stronger than WCI Sanji, or RS Sanji.
So it is canon that RS+Exo Sanji is stronger than any Sanji.
So, there is a possibility that Exo + RS Sanji exists. These two things aren't mutually exclusive. Hell, even all Vinsmokes are literally Exo people wearing Raid Suit.
With both, Sanji will be much stronger, than just Exo Sanji.
In the end, it's not about what is Sanji's Wano PU, but about the existence of Exo Sanji wearing RS.