One Piece Is Officially Making The Straw Hats Stronger Than Yonko Crews

one piece In the 29th issue of Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump, a new Emperor of the Sea was introduced for the first time in episode 1053, which was officially released on June 20, 2022. These new Yonko included Monkey D. Luffy, Red-Haired Shanks, Blackbeard, and Buggy.

As a new era dawns in the world one pieceEach Yonko has made significant progress in terms of strength. The story's main character, Monkey D. Luffy, is currently in Elbaf, where he battles the king of the world, Nerona Imu, and reaches a whole new level of power in the process. With the climax of the Elbaf arc now fast approaching, Eiichiro Oda is finally ensuring that the Straw Hat Pirates surpass all other Yonko crew members. Oda is setting up a number of power-ups for them to see them take on and crush the armies of the world government.

One Piece's Elbaf Arc, Straw Hat Pirates' Conqueror Haki 3 users set

Officially set across several chapters of the Elbaf Arc, the Straw Hat Pirates' biggest power-up is the Conqueror's Haki. The crew's captain, Monkey D. Luffy, was already known as an accomplished user of the Conqueror's Haki, having used it in his fights against Kaido, Kizaru, and other upper echelons he had faced. in one piece In Chapter 1152, published in WSJ Issue #30 on June 23, 2025, Eiichiro Oda officially announced another upgrade to Monkey D. Luffy's Conqueror's Haki. By specifically highlighting Scoper Gaban's unique application to Luffy, Oda is setting up a significant upgrade for Luffy that will take his overall level even higher.

Listen, Straw Hat! Keep in mind how to use Conqueror's Haki. These people are not immortal. — Scoper Gavan, One Piece Episode 1152

This means that the Straw Hat Pirates' strength does not depend solely on Luffy. Eiichiro Oda is making sure that the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates grow equally, and it is expected that the Pirate King's Wings will be the first among them. The Elbaf arc, especially Chapter 1152, featured the important Conqueror's Haki power-up for both Zoro and Sanji. Roronoa Zoro has already used Conqueror's Haki, but he doesn't know how to use it. With Scoper Gaban reprimanding him in Chapter 1152, Zoro is now determinedly working to gain conscious control over his Haki and improve his overall power level.

“This is ridiculous…Haki is a force that must be controlled to use properly. Your captain is one of the Four Heavenly Kings. How are you going to help him without knowing that?” — Scoper Gavan, One Piece Episode 1152

For Sanji, Chapter 1152 of the Elbaf Arc also sets up an important Conqueror's Haki upgrade for him. Sanji has yet to harness the power of Conqueror Haki, but he has already felt its power, as confirmed in the aforementioned chapter. At the same time, Sanji is similar to none other than Scopper Gaban, who was a user of the Conqueror's Haki. His nemesis, his main opponent in this arc is Saint Killingham, so it is absolutely necessary for him to gain this power in the final arc of the story.

With Zoro and Sanji both gaining the Conqueror's Haki upgrade, the Monster Trio are expected to become top pirates in the same league as the Yonko of the One Piece universe. This will make the Straw Hat Pirates much stronger overall and leave all other Emperors behind.

One Piece Episode 968 The Straw Hat Pirates are already ready to surpass the Roger Pirates.

Eiichiro Oda, who gives Straw Hats a significant power upgrade in Elbaf, doesn't come out of nowhere at all. One Piece Episode 968, released in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 8 on January 20, 2020, officially announced the disbandment of the Roger Pirates. In this particular chapter, it was clear that Roger believed that a new pirate crew would come at the right time and surpass him and his entire crew. As we all know, this group of pirates is none other than the Straw Hat Pirates. That means Eiichiro Oda has always tipped them to surpass even the legacy of the Roger Pirates, a gang that conquered the world about five years ago.

“The voice was speaking the truth. Eventually, someone will come and surpass us all. We are too soon.” — Gol D. Roger, One Piece Episode 968

Now, as soon as the Esperia Kingdom flashback ends with the climax of the Elbaf arc, it is time for Luffy and the Straw Hats to step forward and confront Nero, Imu, and the Holy Knights and fulfill this role in spectacular fashion.

Why the Straw Hats need to become the strongest Yonko in the Great War

one piece In episode 1146, published in the 21st issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump on April 21, 2025, the Battle of Elbaf was officially defined as the 'prelude to the Great War'. This means that after the Battle of Elbaf, a great war will surely follow. This war requires Luffy and the Straw Hats to a much higher level of power, and in some ways, the Elbaf War is simply a training arc to see Luffy and the Straw Hats rise to the top.

“Monkey D. Luffy, Loki! It's clear that neither of you will become slave soldiers, so Mu will erase you like Dozan!” – Nerona Imu from One Piece Chapter 1183.

Not only will the monster trio grow in this part of the story, but so will the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates. For example, the Straw Hat Pirates' shipwright Franky already had access to Super Vega Cola in One Piece Chapter 1176, which was officially released in Issue 15 of WSJ and Issue 14 of Weekly Shonen Jump on March 9, 2026. Likewise, Chopper is implied to have awakened his Devil Fruit, as he can cancel Imu's Domi Reversi by simply touching it with his palm. strength.

It is very clear that all the other Straw Hats are growing in their own way, and with each arc they will get closer to surpassing the level of every other Emperor's group that exists in the One Piece universe. It's only a matter of time before they reach their true potential and surpass the legacy left by the Pirate King named Roger, and we couldn't be more excited to see it.

The latest One Piece manga chapters by author Eiichiro Oda can be read through Viz Media and MANGA Plus.