One piece will officially line up two new Yonko level pirates in Elbaf

In the world of piracy, the Yonks are the cream of the crop and stand at the very top, ruling the New World with an iron fist. Yonko officially introduced Monkey D. Luffy after the events of Annie's Lobby v One piece Chapter 432 of October 30, 2006. Garp stated that the Yonks are known as a powerful force that the World Government requires the Shichibukai to balance the influence. They rule the New World like kings and have powerful territories of their own, and even marines think twice before engaging them in battle. Yonko are some of the most powerful individuals in the entire One Piece universe, and thus only a select few characters have monstrous strength comparable to theirs.

However, One Piece is now in its final saga, with the recent chapter 1184 taking us deep into the climax of the Elbaf Arc. Right now, there are already several powerful Yonko level characters, and the next few chapters set up the rise of two more powerful individuals to Yonko level. These characters are none other than the Wings of the Pirate King — Zoro and Sanji.

Roronoa Zoro and Pirate Straw Hat Sanji are at the top of the Yonko level in Elbaf

Roronoa Zoro and Sanji are two of the most powerful characters in One Piece. As far as Yonko or Pirate commanders that are just below Yonko level, Zoro and Sanji are some of the strongest, if not the strongest. Both of these characters showed off their immense power in the Wano Country Arc, where they fought the All Stars King and Queen respectively, and completely dismantled them in battle. Since then, both Zoro and Sanji have grown in significant ways and attained immense abilities.

In Egghead, Zoro fought and defeated Lucci in Chapter 1111 on March 25, 2024, raising his overall power to a new level. Sanji was able to perform immense feats such as injuring Nusjur, one of the Five Elders, in Chapter 1113 and even destroying Kizaru's Existence Laser 1107 on February 19, 2024 – a feat so shocking that it surprised Kizaru himself for the first time. It's clear that both Zoro and Sanji have enormous potential, and Elbaf is ready to fully unlock it.

In One Piece Chapter 1152, which was officially released in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #30 on June 23, 2025, Eiichiro Oda had Scopper Gaban, the former left hand of the Pirate King, confirm that Zoro and Sanji have immense potential. Specifically, Gaban mentioned that there is more than one person with Conqueror's Haki within the Straw Hat Pirates. According to Gaban, Zoro has already used this power but has no control over it. One Piece chapter 1152 also set up the power of Conqueror's Haki for Sanji and with that both Wings of the Pirate King have tremendous abilities to gain as Elbaf heads towards his conclusion.

“There is more than one of you who has the power to use Supreme King Haki. There you are, swordsmen. You seem to be content with it already.” — Scopper Gaban Zoro and Sanji, One Piece Chapter #1152

Fast forwarding many months, One piece Chapter 1182 officially lined up Zoro and Sanji's Elbaf battles. Zoro prepares to fight Super Sommers, who has been empowered by Nero Imu's Omen, as seen in One Piece Chapter 1180 of April 20, 2026, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump #21. Similarly, Sanji is about to fight Super Killingham, who was also powered by Nero's Imu's Omen, as seen in the same chapter. These two Saint Knights are incredibly powerful, especially after being boosted by Imu's ability, and defeating them would require Zoro and Sanji to reach an even higher level of power. Right now, they are both slightly above Yonko Commander level, and the battle against Sommers and Killingham will bring them up to Yonko level by giving them full control over High King Hakim.

New Power Ups Supreme King Haki will make Zoro and Sanji Yonko level

Zoro and Sanji fully mastering Conqueror's Haki is officially introduced into the story by Eiichiro Oda himself. In Roronoa's case, Zoro already knows that he possesses Conqueror's Haki. In his case, he just needs to learn how to control it. Zoro was reprimanded by Scopper Gaban for not being able to use Haki properly in One Piece Chapter 1152 on June 23, 2025.

“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 scolds Zoro, One Piece chapter #1152

Since then, Zoro has used this power on many occasions, but has not learned how to properly channel it at will. Zoro's fight against St. The Sommers pit him against a very powerful foe and give him the opportunity to wield that power.

In Sanji's case, he must awaken this power in the battle against St. Killingham, and this is very clearly seen because Eiichiro Oda himself stated in One Piece Chapter 1170 January 5, 2026 that those who possess Conqueror's Haki are the only ones who can defeat Saint Knights or those with immortal bodies.

“Give him enough hits and we can put him out of commission. If these guys have any weakness, it's against those of us who can infuse our attacks with the color of the Supreme King!” – Scopper Gaban in One Piece, Chapter #1170

So if Sanji has to stand any chance against Killingham, awakening the Conqueror's Haki is the bare minimum, which means that getting this power is a guarantee for him. Unlocking Conqueror's Haki will increase Sanji's overall power to the next level. Since he is already above the likes of Yonko First Commanders, Sanji will rise to the Yonko level just like Roronoa Zoro.

Why are Zoro and Sanji destined to go beyond Yonko level in the Final Saga

While Zoro and Sanji are set to ascend to Yonko level in the climax of One Piece's Elbaf Arc, Eiichiro Oda has prepared them to become even stronger in the future. Luffy's wings, Zoro and Sanji, are the official parallels to Silvers Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban from Roger Pirates. Both Gaban and Rayleigh are incredibly powerful, and both are known to be even above the level of some Yonks such as Kaido and Big Mom. Their mastery of Haki is absolutely immense, and they are considered to be in the same league as Roger and Garp, as officially confirmed in One Piece Chapter 1139, published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #11 on February 10, 2025.

At the same time, One piece Chapter 968, which was released on January 20, 2020, officially confirmed to us that the Straw Pirates will defeat the Roger Pirates. If Luffy and crew are going to do what Roger Pirates couldn't, they need to get even stronger.

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

Luffy is on his way to surpass Gol D. Roger's legacy and go even further in terms of power. Similarly, Zoro and Sanji will have to go beyond the powers of Silvers Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban. This puts both Zoro and Sanji past Yonko Level and becoming legendary pirates in their own right. Elbaf has already set them up for great upgrades, but the upcoming Great War will see them reach even greater heights and claim great legacies for themselves as One Piece races to its end.

All the latest chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga series can be read through Manga Plus and Viz Media.