After Elbaf, It's Time To Admit Oda Has Ruined Usopp Forever

The Elbaf arc of One Piece has already proven to be one of the most exciting parts of the story, and fans absolutely cannot get enough of the new characters that Oda has introduced, such as Loki Gunko and, of course, the added characterization that he has added to the likes of Imu and even some members of the Straw Hat Pirates. Be it the plot of the arc or the lore that it has revealed about the world of One Piece, Elbaf has hardly put a foot wrong.

There is one element of the arc that the story has refused to address over the course of the last year, however, and that is the character of Usopp. Whenever one speaks of Elbaf in One Piece, Usopp always comes up, and this is because his entire character is directly tied to Elbaf. When the arc was officially announced by Oda, most fans were excited to see how Usopp would go on to grow here, especially since his character has somewhat stagnated over the course of the last few years. Fans saw Elbaf as a great opportunity for Usopp to grow in One Piece, and this was something he needed, especially since he isn't ready for the threats that are to come in the final saga. Unfortunately, Elbaf hasn't proven to be a successful arc for Usopp so far, and if the pattern continues, this might just be it for his entire character arc.

Usopp's Dream Is To Get To Elbaf And Become A Brave Warrior Of The Sea

Usopp’s Dream Is Inherently Tied To Elbaf

Usopp's connection to Elbaf runs quite deep. Ever since the Straw Hat Pirates visited Little Garden and met Dorry and Brogy for the first time, Usopp was fascinated by the culture of the country and wanted to become just like the Giants themselves. This was quite ironic because the giants are the strongest race in the world of One Piece, and Usopp represents weakness in the Straw Hat Pirates. Yet, that is what made it a compelling plot point for the story, because it would allow Usopp to progress from being a weakling into a true Brave Warrior of the Sea.

When Usopp met Dorry and Brogy, he was moved by their incredible pride and the fearlessness they showed in the face of death itself. Quite clearly, Usopp wanted to visit Elbaf and become a Brave Warrior of the Sea. This was directly tied to his overarching goal, and fans were fascinated by the prospect of the growth that he would show in the Elbaf arc of the story.

Unfortunately, Elbaf has proven to be anything but exciting for Usopp's character. So far, Oda has spent about a year in the land of Elbaf, and it goes without saying that Usopp has been one of the most underwhelming characters in the Straw Hat Pirates. Despite being deeply moved by the culture of the country and wanting to fulfill a portion of his dream here, Usopp has hardly had to do anything so far. Even taking him out of significant parts of the arc wouldn't change much, which goes to show how underwhelming he has been.

Usopp Has Been Disappointing In Elbaf So Far

Usopp's Character Has Stagnated In Elbaf

When Elbaf began, Usopp was seen engaging in combat with some of the creatures inside Rodo’s Diorama Castle. Since then, he has only partied with the giants of Elbaf and gotten captured by the Holy Knight Gunko. Usopp has not added anything else to the story in about a year's run. Granted, a big portion of that run was the Loki flashback, which took the fans all the way back to 109 years ago in the world of One Piece, but that aside, all the other Straw Hats have done something significant in one way or another.

Luffy, being the main character, has received most of the spotlight, and fans have seen Sanji and Zoro do bits as well. Of course, then there is Nami, who once again went to Aurust Castle with Zoro. Even Chopper has been relevant, as he saved Scopper Gaban in Elbaf, and fans know that Nico Robin's plotline with Saul has already received quite a lot of attention.

Brook has his own connection going on with Gunko that Oda is carefully exploring more as the story goes deeper, and Franky had a whole storyline revolving around the lore of the One Piece world, which eventually led the fans to Harley.

Out of all the Straw Hats, Usopp is certainly the most underwhelming one in Elbaf so far, and that has disappointed the fans to a great extent, given that this was supposed to be his most important arc in the entire series. If he doesn't get the characterization that his character needs here, it is safe to say that Usopp will be ruined forever.

Usopp Has Only Been Involved In Gags

So far, Oda has limited Usopp to gags in the Elbaf arc. The only time he actually added anything to the story was when he commented on pulling out the Excalibur from the head of Lord Jarul. This could be some sort of foreshadowing by Oda, but at the moment, it was simply a gag scene.

Later down the line, when Jarul announced the counterattack of Elbaf against Imu's demon army, Usopp was seen cheering with joy, with heart-shaped eyes. This deeply irritated all the fans, because this is unlike Usopp, and more than that, he was simply acting as a spectator when fans expect great things from him.

To be clear, the blame doesn't lie with the character itself, but with the author, Eiichiro Oda, who refuses to give characterization to Usopp at the moment. Then again, Oda could go on to do something great for his character later down the line. Based on how things have been over the course of the last few years for this particular individual, fans don't have much hope. If Usopp does not get the characterization he needs in Elbaf, then fans will probably not expect much from him in the remainder of the story as well.

After Elbaf, There Is No Coming Back For Usopp

Elbaf Will Make Or Break Usopp

Elbaf is the most significant arc for the character of Usopp, so if Oda fumbles this part of the story for him, then whatever comes next will never be able to match up to the expectations that he set up. That's not to say that Usopp can't get great moments in the story in the future; it just means that the arc that is thematically connected to his actual dream of becoming the Great Warrior of the Sea will end up being the biggest disappointment for him.

So far, Oda has not failed a single Straw Hat in One Piece, but with Usopp, fans are slowly growing closer to accepting the reality that he will never be as important as the likes of the Monster Trio, or even some other members, such as Nami or Nico Robin. Usopp is certainly neglected, especially in the post-timeskip of One Piece, and while Dressrosa offers some hope to the fans, Elbaf could go on to crush it once and for all. This arc is going to be make or break for his character, and fans can only hope that Oda pulls a rabbit out of the hat and gives him the importance that he deserves.