One Piece's Elbaf arc is shaping up to be one of the series most memorable. While fans hold iconic arcs like Marineford, Enies Lobby, and Sabaody Archipelago in high regard, Elbaf looks like it might join the conversation soon enough.
The arc has been filled with great character interactions, reveals, and revelations that should have every One Piece fan excited to see what else Oda has cooking for the rest of 2026. Like in every arc, some characters will shine more than others. This group has a chance to really stand out during the rest of the Elbaf Arc.
It's Time To Say Hello To One Piece's 2 New God Devil Fruits
After Nika, there are two new God Devil Fruits in One Piece.
Usopp
Usopp is often portrayed as a comic-relief character. As one of the weaker Straw Hats, he doesn't get many individual moments to shine when the crew is faced with various challenges, instead contributing as a part of the group. But we might see some big things from Usopp in Elbaf.
Fans have long anticipated that Usopp will have his big moment in Elbaf, having shown interest in and admiration for the island's warrior culture. With all that's currently going on, the Straw Hats will continue to rely on big-hitters like Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and now Loki to fend off the World Government's aggression. But while he might not be able to directly take on Imu or any of the Knights of God, there's a good chance we'll get to see Usopp shed his usual cowardly routine and step up in a big way before the Elbaf Arc is over.
Luffy
This one is a given. As the series protagonist, you can bet that Luffy will stand out in Elbaf the same way he has in every other arc in One Piece. Whether it's his tenacious spirit or ability to adapt to any situation, Luffy always makes the biggest impact. Elbaf shouldn't be any different.
With Imu and some of the Knights of God terrorizing the island, fending them off will be no easy task. Sanji and Zoro will surely get opportunities to make an impact, as will Loki. The deciding factor in all of this will be Luffy, though. With the possessed Gunko already doing a number on the island, and the inhabitants of Elbaf in a panic over the kidnapped children and assault on the country, the only one who can turn things around for the better is going to be Luffy, with the Drums of Liberation playing as he challenges Imu.
Robin
Like Usopp, Robin also has a connection to Elbaf. Hers is a more personal one, though, with it being where she finally reunited with Saul. It was a great emotional moment, but that shouldn't be the most significant thing we see from Robin on Elbaf.
Elbaf will be critical in understanding One Piece's history. We've already seen a glimpse of this with Franky encountering the mural on the Treasure Tree Adam, and we know that Robin is one of the few people able to read Elbaf's Harley, giving her insight most don't have. With the Owl Library currently burning, we don't know if the Harley will be lost for good. Robin, having already interacted with it, will undoubtedly play a big role going forward if the library and the rest of its contents do end up going up in smoke.
Zoro
No matter the arc, Zoro will always be right beside Luffy, ready to put it all on the line for his captain. While he's always played an important role, Luffy is going to need Zoro now more than he ever has.
As the only other Straw Hat crew member capable of using Supreme King Haki, Zoro is going to play a big role in the conflict with the Knights of God. Loki joining the battle will definitely help out in a big way, but if the Straw Hats have any chance of succeeding, they'll need their Swordsman to be in top form.
Loki
Speaking of Loki, it looks like Elbaf's 'Accursed Prince' is finally ready to hit the battlefield. After keeping fans waiting so long and giving us a better understanding of his character through the Elbaf Arc's extensive flashback, One Piece fans will finally see Loki and Luffy fight side by side soon enough.
The little bit we've seen from Loki so far shows us that he absolutely has the potential to help turn things around, especially when paired with Luffy and Zoro. We still need to see more of his Devil Fruit, but the little glimpse we've seen is promising. Loki has been a key player in the Elbaf Arc so far, and now that he's gotten his fair share of development, we should expect him to play an even bigger role as things really start to heat up.
Gunko (Imu)
Currently possessed by Imu and wreaking havoc on Elbaf, Gunko is one of the most interesting characters from the current arc. Cold and arrogant, we've seen how dangerous Gunko and her Aro Aro no Mi can be. Outside of that, we also got a quick look at her past, which in some way involves Brook. With her being such a mysterious character, fans are eager to learn more about her.
We might not get all the answers in this arc, but expect Oda to drop some more info as it goes on. Right now, Imu's possession makes Gunko the biggest threat on Elbaf. It's hard to say where the arc will go from here, but expect Gunko to be a key player throughout.
One Piece
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 20, 1999
- Network
- Fuji TV
Cast
-
Mayumi TanakaMonkey D. Luffy (voice) -
Kazuya NakaiRoronoa Zoro (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga's popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
- Franchise(s)
- One Piece
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- MyAnimeList Score
- 8.72
- Creator(s)
- Eiichiro Oda
- Based On
- Manga
- Number of Episodes
- 1122
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, Pluto TV
