One piece officially makes Straw Hats stronger than Yonko Crews

One piece Officially released on June 20, 2022, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #29, Chapter 1053 introduced us to the new Emperors of the Sea for the first time ever. These new Yonko included Monkey D. Luffy, Red-Haired Shanks, Blackbeard, and Buggy.

With the advent of a new era in the world One pieceeach Yonko has made significant progress in terms of strength. The protagonist of the story, Monkey D. Luffy, is currently in Elbaf, where he is supposed to fight against Nero Ima, the king of the world, and reach a whole new level of power in the process. With the climax of the Elbaf arc now fast approaching, Eiichiro Oda finally ensures that the straw pirates will surpass all other Yonko crews. Oda prepares a series of upgrades for them to see them take on and crush the power of the World Government.

One Piece's Elbaf Arc sets up 3 users of Haki Conquerors for The Slam Hat Pirates

The biggest upgrade for the Straw Hat Pirates that has been officially established across the various chapters of the Elbaf Arc is the Conqueror's Haki. Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the crew, is already known for his great use of the Conqueror's Haki as he used it in his fight against Kaido, Kizaru, and the other top tiers he faced. IN One piece Chapter 1152, published on June 23, 2025, in WSJ Issue #30, Eiichiro Oda officially prepared another upgrade for Monkey D. Luffy in terms of Conqueror's Haki. By having Scopper Gaban specifically highlight his unique applications to Luffy, Oda set him up for a major upgrade and set his ascension to a much higher overall level.

Listen, straw man! Engrave in your mind how you use your Conqueror's Haki. These guys aren't immortal. — Scopper Gaban, One Piece Chapter 1152

This means that the Straw Hat Pirates are not solely dependent on Luffy for power. Eiichiro Oda also ensures that the other members of the Straw Hat Pirates grow equally, and among them, Wings of the Pirate King is tipped to be the first. The Elbaf arc, specifically Chapter 1152, lined up significant Conqueror Haki upgrades for both Zoro and Sanji. Roronoa Zoro has already used Conqueror's Haki, but he doesn't know how to use it. When Scopper Gaban chastises him in chapter 1152, Zoro is now adamant about gaining conscious control over his Haki and improving his overall power level.

“Absurd…Haki is a power that must be mastered to be used properly. Your captain is one of the four emperors. How are you going to help him if you don't know?” — Scopper Gaban, One Piece Chapter 1152

As for Sanji, Chapter 1152 of the Elbaf Arc also set up a major Haki Conqueror upgrade for him. Sanji had yet to harness the power of his Conqueror's Haki, but he could already feel it within him, as the aforementioned chapter confirms. At the same time, Sanji is paralleled by none other than Scopper Gaban, himself a user of Conqueror's Haki. His nemesis, his main adversary to take on in this arc, is Saint Killingham, and as such it is absolutely necessary for him to gain this power in the final saga of the story.

With Zoro and Sanji getting a significant boost in Conqueror's Haki, the Monster Trio are set to become top level pirates in the same league as the Yonko world of the One Piece, making the Straw Hat Pirates much stronger overall and leaving all other Emperors in the dust.

One Piece Chapter 968 already set the straw hat to surpass Roger Pirates

Eiichiro Oda, who gives the Straw Hats a significant performance boost in Elbaf, comes from absolutely nowhere. One Piece Chapter 968, which was published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #8 on January 20, 2020, officially marked the disbandment of the Roger Pirates. In this particular chapter, it was clear that Roger believed that the new pirate crew would come in due time and surpass him and all of his crew members. This pirate crew, as we all know, is none other than the straw pirates, which means that Eiichiro Oda has always tipped them to surpass even the legacy of the crew that conquered the world, the Roger Pirates, about five years ago.

“The voices spoke the truth. Someone will eventually come and surpass us all. We were just too early.” — Gol D. Roger, One Piece Chapter #968

Now it's time for Luffy and the Straw Hats to step up and fulfill that role in spectacular fashion by facing Nero Imu and the Holy Knights once the Esperia Kingdom flashback ends at the climax of the Elbaf arc.

Why the Great War requires the Straw Hat Pirates to become the strongest Yonko crew

One piece Chapter 1146, published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #21 on April 21, 2025, officially labeled the Battle of Elbaf as a “prelude to the Great War”. This means that after the end of the battle of Elbaf, the Great War will definitely follow. This war requires Luffy and the Straw Hats to be at a much higher power level, and in a way, the Elbaf War is simply a training arc for Luffy and the Straw Hats to see them reach the very top.

“Monkey D. Luffy, Loki! It's clear neither of you will submit to slaves. So Mu will wipe you out, just like Douzana!” — Nero Imu in One Piece Chapter 1183.

In this segment of the story, not only the Monster Trio will grow, but also the other members of the Straw Hat crew. For example, Franky, the Straw Hats' shipwright, already gained access to the Super Vega Cola in One Piece Chapter 1176, which was officially released on March 9, 2026, in WSJ Issue #15, in Weekly Shonen Jump, Issue 14. Similarly, it was hinted that Chopper could awaken his Remi Devil' Touch of his Domi Devil' Fruit. palm on all affected by this power.

It's quite evident that all the other Straw Hats are growing in their own way, and that with each passing arc they'll be getting closer to surpassing the levels of all the other Imperial Garrisons that exist in the One Piece world. It's only a matter of time before they reach their true potential and surpass the legacy left behind by a pirate king named Roger, and we couldn't be more excited.

You can read the latest One Piece manga chapters by author Eiichiro Oda via Viz Media and Manga Plus.