6 Years After Enma, Zoro’s Next Power Up Is Officially Coming In One Piece

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This article contains spoilers from the One Piece manga.

Roronoa Zoro is a key character in One Piece, considered one of the future leaders of Luffy’s crew. His dream of becoming the world’s greatest swordsman is just as important as Luffy’s goal of becoming Pirate King. To reach his potential, Zoro constantly trains and pushes his limits, which has made him incredibly powerful over time. Fans understand that he must continue to grow stronger to achieve his ambition.

While Zoro has become incredibly strong, he still needs to improve to surpass Mihawk, the world’s greatest swordsman. His most significant recent power boost came from Enma, a legendary sword once wielded by Kozuki Oden. Enma has the unique ability to maximize a user’s Haki, allowing Zoro to unlock his Conqueror’s Haki and even injure Kaido, ultimately helping him defeat King. Now, Zoro needs another significant upgrade, and it looks like the author, Oda, is setting that up in the upcoming Elbaf Arc.

After Enma, Zoro Will Gain Conqueror’s Haki Mastery

Image by Toei Animation

Oda has indicated that Zoro will significantly develop his abilities during the Elbaf arc, and has hinted at how he’ll do it: mastering Conqueror’s Haki. Zoro didn’t even realize he possessed this powerful ability, making it difficult for him to control. Currently, it’s his sword, Enma, that’s been primarily responsible for unleashing his Haki and harming opponents.

If I can’t even safeguard Luffy’s dream, then my own goals are meaningless! Luffy is destined to be the Pirate King!” – Roronoa Zoro from One Piece

Oda brought in the character Scopper Gaban during the Elbaf Arc specifically to teach Zoro about mastering Haki. Gaban pointed out that Haki’s full potential is unlocked through complete control, and Zoro acknowledged he hadn’t lived up to Gaban’s expectations, even admitting his role as Luffy’s protector had held him back. Now, Zoro needs to significantly improve his control over Conqueror’s Haki, and this is likely to be his next major power boost in the arc – something fans are eagerly anticipating.

Zoro Will Finally Become an Admiral-level Level After Elbaf

Image by Viz Media

Being able to use Conqueror’s Haki whenever he wants will increase the overall power of Zoro’s Haki. This will let him inflict serious injuries on opponents, and eventually, potentially overcome the immortality of powerful figures like the Holy Knights and the Five Elders.

So, you claim to be aiming for the top? Real strength with Haki comes from mastering it, not just having it. — Scopper Gaban to Roronoa Zoro, Elbaf Arc

It won’t be easy, but the Elbaf Arc is designed to push Zoro to his limits. He’ll likely face a tough battle against either one of the Holy Knights or Dorry, a powerful warrior from the Giant Pirate crew who’s been altered by Imu. If Zoro can win, he’ll become significantly stronger, putting him closer than ever to being on the same level as the Yonko.

Honestly, after this part of the story, I think Zoro will finally be truly ready to take on Mihawk. It’s like, he’s pushing the limits of what he can learn, especially now that he’s mastered Conqueror’s Haki. There’s just not a ton more he needs to develop before that final showdown, in my opinion!

Zoro Vs Mihawk Is Coming In The Final Saga

Image by Toei Animation

Once Zoro fully masters Conqueror’s Haki, he’ll be incredibly powerful, leaving him with little room for further improvement in the world of One Piece. This makes it the ideal time for him to challenge Mihawk again. A fight between Zoro and Mihawk would be a massive event in One Piece, and it seems to be on the horizon.

Considering what happened in the Elbaf Arc, it’s very probable that Oda will focus on setting up this battle before the larger war starts.

Driven by the memory of Kuina, Zoro vowed to push himself to become incredibly powerful. He declared he would train until his strength was legendary, aiming to become the world’s greatest swordsman.

How Zoro Will Defeat Mihawk

Image by Toei Animation

Many fans believe Zoro will beat Mihawk by mastering his Haki, bringing him closer to Mihawk’s strength. He’s also expected to learn to coat his swords in black, and he has the powerful Ashura abilities he can use as well.

Considering everything, Zoro is likely to gain the advantage in his fight and ultimately become stronger than the current world’s best swordsman, Mihawk. It’s possible that in the final battle of One Piece, Zoro will prove himself to be the greatest swordsman of all time, which would be an amazing moment for fans to witness.

I noticed that a new chapter of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is coming out in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump. Chapter 1168 is officially scheduled for release on December 7, 2025. For those in Japan, it will be available at midnight on Monday. That translates to 11:00 AM Eastern Time or 8:00 AM Pacific Time for those of us in the US. Good news is, you can read it for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps!

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2025-12-04 15:35