One Piece: Oda Confirms The Strongest Character In The Elbaf Arc

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This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.

The Elbaf arc of *One Piece* has been amazing, revealing huge secrets and introducing incredibly powerful new characters. As the beginning of the series’ final saga, it’s setting the stage by showcasing many of the strongest and most dangerous characters we’ll encounter as the story concludes.

The Elbaf arc has shown the Straw Hat Pirates exploring the land of the Giants and introduced several incredibly strong new characters, including the Holy Knights, and even Shanks’ brother, Shamrock Figarland. While Oda has revealed many powerful figures, Gunko stands out as the strongest, especially when Imu channels their power. Their Haki, fighting skills, and Devil Fruit ability are all exceptionally powerful, and fans will see the full scope of their strength in the second half of the Elbaf arc.

Gunko Is The Strongest In Elbaf Right Now

Imu Is Controlling Gunko From Marijoa

  • Gunko serves as Imu’s vessel
  • Gunko’s power is greater than Rocks’s

Fans of *One Piece* recognize Gunko, also called God’s Blade, as a tremendously powerful character in the current Final Saga. As one of the Holy Knights, she’s an incredibly skilled fighter. Even before the introduction of Imu, Gunko was already established as a formidable combatant. Shamrock Figarland stated that she’s stronger than Loki, who had a bounty of 2.6 billion berries – a clear indication of her immense strength. Notably, she’s the only Holy Knight confirmed to be able to wield the Abyss, adding to her impressive power.

Allow Mu to show thee the dominance of a God! — Imu to the people of Elbaf

I witnessed something incredible when Imu started using Gunko as a vessel for their power. She instantly became a terrifying force. While in Elbaf, I saw Gunko, under Imu’s control, defeat both Dorry and Brogy almost instantly. Her Haki was unbelievably strong – even Loki thought it was absurd! The power reached all the way to the Underworld and honestly, it made even someone as strong as Luffy nervous.

Gunko was at God Valley, and even before Imu became the leader, she was a formidable fighter – strong enough to win in a one-on-one battle against opponents like Garling. She’s incredibly powerful, and considering Imu’s influence, it’s possible Gunko was the one who defeated Rocks D. Xebec. Currently, Gunko is likely the strongest person in Elbaf, and potentially the entire world of *One Piece*.

Mu shall grant you the power of evil. — Imu to Dorry and Brogy

Luffy Could Surpass Gunko After Elbaf

Luffy Will Fight Gunko

It’s highly likely Luffy will face Gunko during the Elbaf arc, and when he does, she’ll be at her strongest. For Luffy to win this huge battle, he’ll need to reach her level of power. This would make him an incredibly powerful fighter, capable of battling even the strongest opponents like Gunko-Imu, and potentially rivaling legends such as Shanks, Rocks, and Roger. The Elbaf arc will clearly push Luffy to a new level, promising even more thrilling fights after it concludes.

One Piece Chapter 1161 is scheduled for release this week, as usual on Sundays. While it becomes available in Japan at midnight on Monday (JST), most fans around the world will be able to read it on September 28, 2025. The chapter will be available for free on Manga Plus.

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2025-09-28 00:11