Each saga or arc in One Piece's story has a handful of the most important and plot-relevant characters. The likes of Kaido, Yamato, and Kurozumi Orochi ranked among the biggest hitters in the Wano Saga, and the Egghead Island Arc was all about Jewelry Bonney, Dr. Vegapunk, and Jaygarcia Saturn. Now, One Piece's manga is deep into the Elbaph Island Arc, and it's easy to see which characters are carrying the plot on their shoulders.
As usual, it's a blend of heroes, villains, and third parties who keep the story moving as One Piece's Elbaph Arc rages on. In both flashbacks and the present day, a select few characters have arisen as the most important, and they all have amazing things to say or do. Given how One Piece is drawing ever closer to the final war, the most important characters have a bigger impact than ever to lay the foundation for the long-awaited climax.
Imu Has Stepped Onto the Battlefield as a Devilish Fiend
Imu is Turning the Giants Against the Straw Hats
For a while now, One Piece fans have dreaded the shadowy being known as Imu, the one who sits at the apex of the Navy's chain of command. This strange entity tantalized viewers and readers in previous arcs with tense dialogue, but now it's time for the World Government's true king to walk the walk. For the first time in the present day, Imu is fighting the Straw Hats in person. That is, Imu saw fit to possess Gunko and use techniques like Domi Reversi through her body.
It's Official: One Piece Confirms The New Strongest Character In The World
One Piece has a new strongest character, as confirmed by Oda in the latest chapter.
Just by being a physical obstacle to the Straw Hats at Elbaph, Imu has become one of One Piece's most essential characters at the moment. That's what happens to cast members like Big Mom, Doflamingo, and Jaygarcia Saturn as they rise to block the Straw Hats from accomplishing their goals. In the process, Imu is revealing the bizarre true nature of the World Government's top brass, using devilish powers to prove once again that the World Government is an entity of evil, not the benevolent world order it claims to be. Imu also played a role in Elbaph's recent history, by attempting to use King Harald to take command of the entire island and its famously strong warriors.
Gunko is Hosting Imu as a Loyal Servant
Gunko is Also Forcing the Giant Kids to Keep Moving
Being a member of the God Knights, or Holy Knights, Manmayer Gunko is quite important to One Piece's manga right now. She and her allies, from Shamrock to Killingham and Sommers, are the primary antagonists who will give anything to slaughter the Straw Hats. So long as Gunko and her compatriots are standing, the Straw Hats won't just waltz out of Elbaph with the Harley's information and Loki's aid. Even by herself, Gunko is a dire threat to Luffy's crew via both her Arrow-Arrow Fruit and Imu's possession.
The latter is the biggest reason why Gunko is one of the Elbaph Arc's most critical characters at the moment, even more so than Sommers or Killingham. It's not yet clear whether Gunko is the only person who can host Imu like that, but she's doing exactly that, and it makes her enormously dangerous. Until Gunko/Imu is defeated or at least driven off, the Straw Hats will not succeed, and that's not a problem the heroes can ignore.
Scopper Gaban Knows How to Fight the God Knights
It's No Wonder Scopper Was Roger's Left Hand
Most story arcs in One Piece introduce or bring back a surprise ally to the Straw Hats to mix things up and reinvigorate everyone's hopes when all seems lost. Law did that in Marineford, and Sabo did the same in Dressrosa while Yamato had the same role in Wano's later chapters. Now, it's Scopper Gaban's turn to hop into the fray on the Straw Hats' behalf, and he's making it look easy. To start with, it's delightful to meet Silvers Rayleigh's counterpart as Gol D. Roger's left hand from the former Roger Pirates crew.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
Aside from his historical importance as Roger's former crewmate, Scopper has a vital contribution to make on the battlefield: his anti-immortality attacks. The God Knights can outlast the Straw Hats and giants with their immortal bodies, but Scopper can deal more permanent blows to warriors like St. Sommers, which will make all the difference as the battle reaches its crescendo. What is more, Scopper may be the right man to teach Roronoa Zoro how to refine this technique and give the Straw Hats a much-needed angle against the God Knights.
Prince Loki is the Misunderstood Hero of Elbaph
Loki Might Join the Straw Hats at This Rate
Prince Loki, son of King Harald and half-brother to Hajrudin, has arisen as the most surprising example of a new ally siding with the Straw Hats. Given Loki's real-life inspiration and the fact he was chained in the Underworld as a despised monster, it seemed unlikely that Loki could be trusted to aid Luffy's crew. However, the typically reckless Luffy secured Loki's freedom anyway, and now, this horned giant is wreaking havoc on the Straw Hats' behalf.
One Piece: It's Time To Say Goodbye To The Monster Trio Forever
The Monster Trio's time is about to come to an end.
In the present day, Loki is a vital ally of Luffy's, wielding his hammer Ragnir to take the fight to Killingham's MMAs when no one else can. Loki just might join the Straw Hats after this, or at least join the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, and even if he doesn't, Luffy definitely needs Loki's aid during the battle against the God Knights. On top of that, Loki played a central role in the flashback sequence of Harald's, being the one who reluctantly slew his immortal father while refusing to become king himself.
King Harald is the Reason Everyone is Fighting on Elbaph
Harald Left Behind a Messy Legacy
King Harald was already dead for some years by the time the Straw Hat crew arrived at Elbaph's shores, but Harald's outsized impact on the island's history cannot be understated. In his flashbacks, King Harald made all the difference in Elbaph's chronology, first as an idealistic young king who sought peace and unity, then as an unwitting pawn of Imu's. Tragically, Harald was tricked and nearly handed Elbaph to Imu as a recruiting ground for giant minions to strengthen the Navy.
Harald shaped history in a big way right up to his death, including the fact he inspired the current generation of giants to pursue peace, much to Loki's disgust. Harald also changed Loki's fate when he blundered into Imu's trap and needed Loki to kill him in the Castle Aurust throne room. Because of Harald's mistakes, Loki is now feared and mistrusted for his regicide, and that in turn influenced how Loki has interacted with many of One Piece's heroes.
Rocks D. Xebec Inspired His Son to Fight the World Government
The Father's Mission is Now the Son's Destiny
The infamous Rocks D. Xebec, just like his sort-of friend King Harald, is important in One Piece's current arc even if he's been dead for years now. In his heyday, Rocks was the terror of the entire world as a nigh-unstoppable pirate who commanded a fearsome crew. Most importantly, as a bearer of the Will of D., Rocks aimed to destroy the World Government and take down Imu in particular. Rocks even broke into Imu's private chambers to that end, though he was forced to flee.
Rocks also played a major role in the God Valley Incident, which helped Garp rise to prominence as the hero of the Marines. Above all, Rocks' life mission inspired his son, Captain Blackbeard, to also stand against the World Government while turning the world upside down. Now One Piece fans know why Blackbeard is trying to bring everything crashing down aside from being a destructive pirate for the sake of it. This also vaguely suggests that Blackbeard has some noble ideals and intentions behind his undeniably wicked methods.
