one piece The Elbaf arc is currently reaching its peak, and much attention is being paid to the Straw Hat Pirates' battle against Nero or Imu and his Holy Knights. The Arc of Elbaf also officially marks the prelude to World War I. one piece Chapter 1146 With the dawn of the end, one piece Creator Eiichiro Oda is preparing to complete the crew by adding one final member to the mix and further strengthening Luffy's group.
There are currently three potential candidates for the final member of Luffy's group, and Eiichiro Oda has given a good reason for each of them to join. Originally, Eiichiro Oda already had Vivi join his crew, but with her, new candidates appear: the cursed prince Loki, and now Princess Shuri. Once Elbaf is over, we'll officially find out which of the three will join the crew.
One Piece Episode 216 Episode 1130 Luffy and Vivi's Reunion
Vivi is one of the most important characters in the overall storyline. one piece And this is the character that Eiichiro Oda officially set up to rejoin the Straw Hat Pirates. one piece Chapter 216 was officially published in WSJ Issue #9, January 28, 2002. In this chapter, it is officially confirmed that Vivi wants to travel with the Straw Hat Pirates once again, and that if that happens, Luffy and the crew will not hesitate to call her a comrade once again. In the final story of One Piece, the situation involving Vivi is greatly expanded. In Reverie, her father, the Cobra King of Aravasta, died. With CP0 looking for her, Imu wants to procure Vivi herself. She has no safe place to turn to and is currently in hiding with Wapol and the Big News Morgans.
“I plan to stay here. But if we meet again, will you call me comrade?” – Nefertari Vivi later revealed that she would like to rejoin Luffy. One Piece Episode 216
In Episode 1130 of One Piece, Issue 47 of Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump, which was officially released on October 21, 2024, Vivi sent a message to Monkey D. Luffy, preparing for the two's reunion and strongly insisting that she become the last Straw Hat. However, it is unclear whether Vivi will rejoin the Straw Hats before Imu gets to her. The second option, while not lighter, would leave the door open for other potential candidates to join the Straw Hat crew instead.
One Piece officially introduces a 3,000-year-old mythical creature
The mythical animal Devil Fruit class is being prepared to receive a new divine addition depicted in Harley's mural in Chapter 1138 of One Piece.
How Elbaf Arc Lines Up Loki and Shuri as Potential Straw Hats
Along with Princess Vivi, Eiichiro Oda also joins the ranks of other Elbaf characters, one of whom is Loki, the cursed prince of Elbaf. Initially set up as a villain with the potential to destroy the world, one piece In episode 1130, Loki has already developed friendships with Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, and is fighting with them to protect Elbaf. In fact, Monkey D. Luffy also personally asked Loki to join his colleagues. one piece Episode 1152 was officially released in the 30th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump on June 23, 2025.
“Loki, join my team! If he joins me, he can't complain if I let him go, right, Hairuddin?” – Luffy asks Loki to join the Straw Hat Pirates. One Piece Episode 1152
That means the only obstacle to Loki joining the crew is the fact that if Elbaf leaves, there will be no one left to protect them. Loki received this responsibility directly from his father, King Harald, before his death, so he had to leave Elbaf to his fate to join the Straw Hat Pirates. Nevertheless, if Luffy and company are completely successful in defending Elbaf, Loki will be able to join Luffy and company at will.
In addition to Loki, there is also Princess Shuri, who was recently formed to become a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. Shuri was a princess of the Kingdom of Esperia, born as an individual with a Celestial bloodline originating from the Manmaier family, as confirmed in One Piece Chapter 1186 on June 28, 2026 in Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 31. Shuri was eventually taken to the Marijoa Shrine under the control of Nero and Imu, where he was completely brainwashed and eventually became a Holy Knight.
In the Elbaf arc, Shuri is the main princess that Luffy and his crew need to save, and they try to save her in some way. Once Shuri is saved from the clutches of Nero or Imu, she will have no one to turn to. Because Esperia is officially destroyed, as Brook confirmed in One Piece Chapter #1183. With no one to rely on and the world's governments turning against her, Shuri was potentially left with no choice but to travel with the Straw Hat Pirates and Brook. In fact, in the most recent flashback to the Kingdom of Esperia, Shuri revealed that she wants to sail as a sea pirate with Brook in One Piece Chapter 1185 on June 15, 2026. Whether or not this will happen depends on whether Luffy can save her from a cruel fate at the climax of the Elbaf Arc.
Shuri: I thought you wanted to be a pirate, Brook?
Brooke: My responsibilities come first. Dreams are a secondary matter.
Shuri: Oh, okay. Then, when you leave, I will go with you.
Brooke: You can't!
Shuri: You can do it!
— In One Piece Chapter 1185, there is a scene exchange between Shuri and Brook about wanting to become pirates.
Why is there only one character who can permanently join the Straw Hats after Elbaf?
There are three candidates for the final straw hat position, but only one can actually join the crew. This is because Eiichiro Oda has already prepared 10 of his subordinates for Luffy to fight against other emperors. For example, the Blackbeard Pirates already have 10 Titanic Captains, and for the final clash between the Straw Hat Pirates and the Blackbeard Pirates, Luffy will need 10 powerful minions to face the Titanic Captains. Likewise, Shanks has 10 powerful minions who follow him into battle. Luffy currently only has nine members, and only one more can join the crew.
So this person could be one of the three, but the most likely one is Princess Bibi, followed by Shuri. Even though Loki is the strongest of the group, he is the least likely to join the crew overall, as he must protect Elbaf. Elbaf is already reaching its climax, and it will soon be revealed who will join the Straw Hat Pirates. We can't wait to see who Oda ultimately chooses for the Straw Hat Pirates.
All new One Piece manga chapters by Eiichiro Oda can be read via MANGA Plus and Viz Media.
