One Piece Creator Eiichiro Oda sets up a new God ally for Luffy

IN One piece Chapter 561, which was officially released in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #48 on October 29, 2009, Eiichiro Oda brought up Luffy's most powerful ability through Dracula Mihawk, which is to draw everyone around him closer and make them his allies. Now, almost 17 years later, this very ability of Luffy's has officially earned him his greatest ally in the Final Saga to date, as confirmed in One piece Chapter 1182 May 10, 2026 Revealing the Rain God Zaza.

Monkey D. Luffy now has a great ally on the way, ready to help him at some point later down the Final Saga line and help him in the upcoming Great War that is set to begin sometime after Elbaf.

One Piece's Elbaf Climax Sets Rain God Zaza as Sky Dragon's Ultimate Enemy and Sun God's Ally

Elbaf Arch One piece played a significant role in building towards the Great War to come at the climax of the Final Saga. This Great War is something that Eiichiro Oda has touted on several occasions, and he believes it to be even bigger than Marineford in the grand scheme of things. For this war, Monkey D. Luffy needs many powerful allies, and One Piece Chapter 1182, which was officially released on May 10, 2026, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24, officially brought him one of the greatest allies in the form of Rain God Zaza.

“One thing that motivates me to continue drawing One Piece is that I want to draw the Final Saga. The final saga will be so amazing that it will make the Marineford arc look like nothing. The Marineford arc was just a side trip for me. I didn't expect it to be so popular.” — Ode, 2012

In the Elbaf arc, the Rain God Zaza was born using Killingham's power Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Kirin, which has the ability to turn dreams into reality. Killingham turned his own worst nightmare into MMA to create Rain God Zaza. So far in Elbaf, the rain god Zaza has been working under Killingham's control, but this god's inherent personality is to oppose the sky dragons. This was confirmed by both Saint Killingham and Sommers in One Piece Chapter 1182. Killingham made it very clear that all the sky dragons fear the rain god Zaza in the same way that they fear the sun god Nika and the people of D. This inherently links the rain god Zaza to the people of D as well as the sun god and makes him an enemy of the sky dragons.

“We were born in a place so high up, it's above all the rain clouds. Water pouring down from the sky? It's a mysterious terror! After the people of D and Nik, it was the most common scarecrow they warned us about…that in the lower world there is a monster called the Rain God that pours water on your head!” — Saint Killingham Explains Sky Dragons' Fear of Zaza, Chapter #1182 of One Piece

Furthermore, Killingham's comments about the sky dragons fearing the Rain God as a kind of boogeyman further emphasizes that he stood as an enemy to them long ago during the Void Century period. As such, Rain God Zaza is set to play a significant role in the Final Saga of One Piece as an enemy of the World Government.

Why Zaza and Nika are destined to fight Nerona Imu

Image via Toei Animation

The MMA version of Rain God Zaza serves as a setup for the real Zaza to later appear in One Piece's Final Saga. For now, the MMA version of Zaza may be working with the World Government, but it's only a matter of time before this rain god goes completely out of control and takes on the World Government as well. More importantly, the Final Saga of One Piece will officially introduce the actual user of the rain god Zaza Devil Fruit and bring him into the fold by teaming up with Monkey D. Luffy. The identity of the rain god Zaza remains unclear. It is also unknown if anyone has already consumed this Devil Fruit, or if it is still waiting for the right one to eat it.

In both cases, only the person truly embodying the spirit of the rain god Zaza will consume it, as Mythical Zoan Fruits have a will of their own, especially those bearing the name of God, as confirmed by Five Elders in One Piece Chapter 1044 March 28, 2022 in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #17. Just like Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika went to Luffy, Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Zaza will go to someone who embodies the true role of the Rain God. In our opinion, the most likely consumer of this devil fruit will be none other than Nefertari Vivi, whose kingdom of Alabasta has long craved the rains and has historical ties to world government as well.

“It's as if the Devil Fruit is trying to escape our grasp, and it very well could be. Zoan Fruits contain a will of their own, and this particular fruit has the name of God.” — The Five Elders Explain Why They Couldn't Get the Nika Fruit, One Piece Chapter #1044

As such, Vivi and Luffy could potentially join hands against Nero Ima in the final saga and work together to destroy the world government monopoly once and for all. Even if it isn't Vivi and someone else, this individual will undoubtedly align with the Sun God Nika, as he is inherently an enemy of the World Government as confirmed by Chapter 1182.

Killingham's MMA Zaza could potentially betray the World Government in Elbaf

Regarding the events of the Elbaf Arc, One piece Chapter 1182 officially paved the way for Zaza MMA to break free from Killingham's control and merge with the Straw Hat Pirates. This was confirmed by Killingham's own comment, where he stated that he was not entirely sure if he would be able to control his worst fear of the rain god Zaza. Since Zaza's inherent personality is to stand up to the World Government and the Sky Dragons, it's likely that at some point he'll get out of control and side with the Straw Hat Pirates instead.

Sommers: You idiot! Now you're scaring us!! But you can still control it, right?

Killingham: I don't know. It's still sleeping so I think YES.

Sommers: What's done is done.

— An exchange between Sommers and Killingham that proves Killingham does not have full control over Rain God Zaza, One Piece Chapter #1182

The chances of that happening are even higher, especially considering the fact that Sanji is around Zaza and could woo the female goddess with his own magic. The Elbaf finale could potentially see rain god Zaza, sun god Niku, warrior god Loki and Ratatoskr team up against Nero Ima to finish this arc and save Elbaf once and for all, and that's something we absolutely can't wait for.

The latest chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga will be available to read through Viz Media and Manga Plus.