One Piece: Oda Has Already Set Up Zoro’s Replacement In The Straw Hat Pirates

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

I think the One Piece Elbaf Arc is shaping up to be one of Eiichiro Oda’s best arcs since the timeskip – maybe even the best so far. It’s already given us everything fans love about the series: deep world-building, interesting new characters, and a truly fantastic flashback. Plus, it feels like this arc is building towards what could be the biggest fight in all of One Piece, and honestly, everyone’s buzzing about it.

However, many fans don’t realize that amidst all the current events, Oda might also be bringing the Straw Hat Pirates’ crew to its completion. For years, people have speculated about the final Straw Hat member to join Luffy’s team, and the answer could have already been shown in Elbaf. Surprisingly, this new member, who Luffy wants to be Loki, might actually become stronger than Roronoa Zoro. If Loki does join the crew, Zoro would be surpassed by him in terms of overall strength.

Loki Will Officially Become The Second Strongest In The Crew If He Joins

Luffy Wants Loki To Join The Straw Hat Pirates

  • Loki is the Accursed Prince
  • His bounty is 2.6 billion berries

Currently, the strength ranking within the Straw Hat Pirates of One Piece is a bit unusual. Luffy is the strongest as Captain, followed by Zoro, who acts as his right-hand man, and Sanji, his left-hand man. The power gap between Zoro and Sanji is minimal, and the author, Oda, has essentially positioned them as equals. However, Oda considers Zoro the unofficial second-in-command. That position could change if Loki joins the crew, though. While Zoro is undoubtedly powerful, claiming he’s stronger than Loki right now would be absurd.

I am the Sun God who will destroy this world! — Loki

Loki is incredibly dangerous and powerful enough to obliterate the world of One Piece. People believe he could easily wipe out Elbaf, and even the entire One Piece world. The World Government recognizes his threat, as shown by his bounty of 2.6 billion berries – a Yonko-level reward. If Loki were to join Luffy’s crew, he would immediately surpass Zoro and Sanji, becoming Luffy’s most powerful fighter.

Only Shanks Could Beat Loki

Zoro Is No Match for Loki Right Now

Loki is incredibly powerful in the One Piece world, having only been defeated by a single opponent: Shanks. This really highlights just how strong he is. Anyone less powerful than Shanks simply doesn’t stand a chance against him, and currently, Zoro isn’t on his level. Of course, Zoro is still getting stronger. Fans understand that Zoro hasn’t reached his full potential yet. By the end of the series, Zoro is expected to become a top-tier pirate and will likely be strong enough to defeat Loki, but as of now, he’s nowhere near the level of the Accursed Prince of Elbaf.

Chapter 1162 of One Piece will be released this week, following the usual schedule. The new chapter typically comes out on Sundays, with the Japanese release happening at midnight JST on Monday. However, most fans around the world will be able to read it on October 5. The official release date for One Piece Chapter 1162 is October 5, 2025. You can read the chapter legally and for free on Manga Plus.

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2025-10-04 00:12