This article contains spoilers from One Piece's Elbaf Arc.
One piece is currently in the Elbaf arc that started about a year ago. This arc continues to deliver some of the most exciting action, as well as big reveals for fans, and it's only going to get hotter going forward. Elbaf has been absolutely phenomenal so far, but as usual One piecewhat comes next will be even more chaotic and exciting. Right now, One piece focuses on the Holy Knights and Ima, but soon after the focus shifts to more important characters, some of which are fan favorites such as the most powerful Haki user, Shanks.
When Elbaf first started, most fans One piece he expected Oda to give Shanks center stageand that is because he is strongly associated with this country. However, as is now abundantly clear, Shanks will only take center stage after the arc is complete. Fans have been waiting for this for years red shanks true power and his Haki, as well as getting a major plot reveal about him. But until now, Oda has not given them much. That's exactly it One Piece post-Elbaf will be and fans absolutely cannot wait.
Shanks has the strongest Haki and will be the next focus
Oda, the author of the story, made it clear a long time ago that the next focus of One Piece in the Final Saga will be the new Emperors. After Wano, the order of emperors changed forever, and those who currently hold the positions are the biggest players of all. Luffy is there, of course, and so is Buggy, and fans already know that Blackbeard will not stop rising. Finally, there's Shanks, who is the only old Yonk left before the timeskip.
I won't say it's not fair, sailor. But attacking the worn new green leaves that changed the era of piracy forever? Don't you think you're doing too much? Are you afraid of the new age? — Shanks
He revealed so much with Elbaf Red ShanksIt's time for Oda to target him, and it looks like that's exactly what's going to happen. Loki already knows where Shanks is headed next, and Luffy wants to know. After Loki is freed and the threat of Imu is dealt with, it will be time for Luffy to follow Shanks and seek him out. All accumulation can only lead to ka meeting between Luffy and Shanks.
This also ties into Luffy's current abilities. Fans are well aware that Luffy needs to upgrade his Haki in Elbaf and this would be perfect for him before he meets the the strongest Haki, Shanks. Even after that, Oda will finally get a chance to show fans what the true power of Haki is when Shanks comes on the scene, revealing abilities like the Conqueror's Haki Infusion, Observation Killing, and even his long-range Haki, among others.
The meeting between Luffy and Shanks is coming
Luffy and Shanks absolutely have to meet in One Piece. This reunion is going to happen, regardless, and it's quite easily the biggest of them all. It didn't happen in Elbaf, but it can definitely happen after the arc ends. Luffy seeks out Shanks and when they meet, fans are sure to see them fight. It is here that Oda reveals the true power of Shanks' Haki and shows everyone why Shanks is the strongest Haki user in One Piece. immense control over Conqueror's Haki.
Shanks, Blackbeard and Buggy will be the other main players
In the grand scheme of things, Elbaf is only a stepping stone for straw pirates. It's a gateway to bigger things and fans will see that once the arc wraps up. This is the time for the Four Emperors to establish themselves as the strongest representatives in the world, and fans are sure to see Shanks, Blackbeard, and even Buggy make big strides.
Oda will use these characters in exciting ways, and of all of them, Shanks will be the one he'll have the most fun writing. It's no secret that Oda loves Shanks and even thinks he's the coolest of them all.
It's been a long wait, but it's time for Oda to give fans what they really want, and that's a solid showcase of what Shanks can really do with his formidable Hakim, as well as some significant lore to reveal about him.
Eiichiro Oda's One Piece will be on hiatus this week. One Piece Chapter 1166 will be released next week. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1166 is November 23, 2025. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus.
- Release date
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October 20, 1999
- Network
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Fuji TV
- directors
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Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imayomura, Yashiôhiro Mayuū Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
- Writers
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Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
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Mayumi Tanaka
Monkey D. Luffy (voice)
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Kazuya Nakai
Roronoa Zoro (voice)
