You’re grinding in the First Sea, dodging magma or ice, and suddenly some high-level player just... vanishes. They aren't hacking. They’re just using Instinct. In the Blox Fruits community, most people still call it Ken Haki, and honestly, if you don't have it by the time you hit the Second Sea, you're basically a sitting duck. It’s that simple.
Instinct is the literal difference between life and death in PvP. It lets you see players through walls, shows you their health bars, and—most importantly—lets you auto-dodge incoming attacks. But getting it isn't just about having the cash. You've got to prove you've actually played the game.
The Grind to Level 300 and the Saber Expert
Most beginners think they can just run to Upper Skylands and buy it. You can't. The very first barrier is Level 300. Don't even bother trying the quest before then because the NPC won't even look at you. Once you hit 300, the real work starts with the Saber Expert puzzle in the Jungle.
This puzzle is a rite of passage. You have to find five hidden buttons on the Jungle islands. They’re camouflaged against the trees and stone, and clicking them opens a secret hole in the floor of the middle house in the Jungle. Grab the torch. Go to the Desert. Burn the door in the house that's half-buried in sand. Take the cup. Go to the Frozen Village. Fill the cup with the dripping ice stalactite. Give it to the Sick Man.
It sounds like a grocery list for a madman. But it’s necessary.
After you help the Sick Man, you have to talk to the Rich Man in the Pirate Village. He’ll send you to kill the Mob Leader on a tiny nameless island nearby. Do that, go back to the Rich Man, and he gives you the Relic. This Relic is the key to the door in the Jungle where the Saber Expert (Shanks) lives. You have to kill him. He’s Level 200, so at Level 300, you should be fine, but he hits hard if you're careless.
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Finding the Lord of Destruction in Upper Skylands
Once the Saber Expert is dead, you've checked the "reputation" box. Now you need money. Specifically, 750,000 Beli. In the early game, that’s a lot of money. Most players spend their Beli on fruits or swords and then realize they’re broke when they finally reach the clouds.
Travel to the Skylands. You need to go way up—past the first area, past the mole-looking NPCs, into the "Upper" section. There’s a giant temple. Break the clouds with a heavy move (like a fruit ability or a cannon) to get to the very top where the Lord of Destruction lives.
The Lord of Destruction is actually Enel (or the Blox Fruits version of him). He’s chilling in a massive gold-accented temple area. When you talk to him, he’ll offer to teach you Instinct for that 750,000 Beli price tag. If you haven't killed the Saber Expert or you're under Level 300, he’ll just tell you that you aren't ready.
Why Your Instinct Feels Weak at First
You bought it. You pressed 'E'. You're dodging. But wait—why did it stop after two hits?
Here is the thing: Instinct has levels. Or rather, "Exp." When you first get it, you can only dodge maybe two or three times before the ability goes on cooldown. To get more dodges, you have to actually use it. A lot. You gain experience every time you dodge an attack while Instinct is active.
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- You start with 0 Exp and 2 dodges.
- By the time you hit 5,000 Exp, you can dodge 8 times.
- If you're a Human or a Rabbit (Mink) race, your Instinct might feel different because of your speed or unique buffs, but the core mechanic stays the same.
Pro tip: Go to an island with low-level NPCs that have fast attack speeds. Turn on Instinct, let them hit you until your dodges run out, then wait for the cooldown. Repeat. It’s boring. It’s tedious. But it’s the only way to max out your vision range and dodge count.
The Transition to Instinct V2
Eventually, the basic Instinct won't be enough. When you get to the Third Sea—specifically the Floating Turtle area—you’ll start hearing about Instinct V2. This is where things get complicated. You need to be Level 1800. You need to have maxed out your Instinct Exp (5,000). And you have to do the "Citizen's Quest."
The Citizen's Quest is a multi-part nightmare involving killing 50 Forest Pirates and finding a secret hat. Then you have to find three fruits: an Apple, a Banana, and a Pineapple. These fruits spawn in specific spots across the Third Sea, and they don't stay there forever. Players get genuinely frustrated because someone else might pick them up before you get there.
V2 is worth it, though. It doesn't just let you dodge; it tells you exactly what weapon, fruit, or fighting style your opponent is using. It also shows their level. In the high-stakes world of Third Sea PvP, knowing your enemy has a maxed-out Cursed Dual Katana before they even swing it is a massive advantage.
Common Misconceptions and Failures
I’ve seen so many players get frustrated because they have the money but Enel won't talk to them. Usually, it's because they "helped" a friend kill the Saber Expert but didn't actually deal the finishing blow or trigger the quest correctly. You must be the one to open that door with the Relic.
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Another big one: people think Instinct works on everything. It doesn't. Some moves are "Instinct Breaks." If someone hits you with a move that breaks Ken, your screen will shake, your character will be stunned for a second, and your Instinct will be forcefully turned off. You can't just spam dodge and expect to be invincible against a skilled player using Dragon or Dough.
Also, Elemental (Logia) fruits are not Instinct. If you have the Light fruit and a low-level NPC can't hit you, that’s just your fruit's passive. Instinct is a separate skill that works even if the enemy has an "Enhancement" (Buso Haki) active.
Practical Steps to Mastering Your Vision
If you are sitting at Level 299 right now, stop what you are doing and grind that last level. The moment you hit 300, head to the Jungle.
- Check the trees. The five buttons are in the Jungle (near the Blox Fruit Dealer) and on the smaller island with the Gorillas.
- Follow the chain. Desert -> Frozen Village -> Pirate Village. Don't skip the Sick Man.
- The Saber Fight. Use long-range moves if you're squishy. Shanks does a lot of damage if you get too close.
- Save your Beli. Don't roll for a fruit until you have that 750,000 banked.
- Train in the First Sea. It’s easier to farm Instinct Exp on NPCs that don't have Haki. If they have Haki, they’ll hit you anyway once your dodges run out, which can kill you quickly.
Once you have it, keep it on. Always. Even when you're just traveling. It increases your awareness and helps you spot those pesky fruit spawns under trees that you’d normally walk right past. Instinct isn't just a combat tool; it’s how you actually see the world of Blox Fruits for what it really is.