Say Hello To The New Legendary Character Coming To One Piece In 2026

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This article contains spoilers for the One Piece series.

2025 is drawing to a close, and it’s been a huge year for One Piece fans. While the Elbaf arc began in 2024, most of the action happened this year. We finally met the Holy Knights and even got a glimpse of Saint Imu. Plus, fans experienced the most captivating flashback in the series so far. Though the flashback will continue, 2025 revealed a significant portion of Harald’s past, the story of Rocks D. Xebec, and the complete events of God Valley.

This year brought a lot of exciting new information about the world of One Piece. However, 2026 could be even more significant for fans, particularly after a recent announcement from creator Eiichiro Oda. Oda revealed that a mysterious character known as the Man with the Burn Scar will soon play a major role in the story. This character’s involvement could potentially lead to the Straw Hats finally reaching Laugh Tale, and his identity and secrets could dramatically change the course of the entire series.

Burn Scar Could Appear In One Piece’s Manga in 2026

Image by Toei Animation
  • Burn Scar Is A Legendary Man Oda Has Been Hinting At For A While
  • Burn Scar Will Officially Appear After Elbaf

As a huge One Piece fan, it’s become obvious to me that Oda is holding back a ton of characters for the Final Saga! We know Shanks and Monkey D. Dragon are going to be huge players, but it’s not just them – Oda’s been keeping so many interesting characters under wraps, and I can’t wait to see what they all bring to the table when things really heat up.

In One Piece chapter 1056, which concluded the Wano arc, Eustass Kid and Killer introduced a new character named Burn Scar. Burn Scar is quickly becoming known as the most enigmatic figure in the series. Currently, fans only know that he has a burn scar and travels on a black ship, creating whirlpools to sink enemy vessels.

Burn Scar might be a character we’ve already heard about, perhaps someone mentioned but not yet shown. Or, Burn Scar could be a completely new character Eiichiro Oda intends to reveal as the story nears its end.

We’ll understand more about Burn Scar after the events on Elbaf conclude. Eiichiro Oda shared an annual message at Jump Festa 2026, and in it, he announced that Burn Scar will be a key part of the story moving forward, starting in 2026.

This doesn’t guarantee he’ll show up in 2026 – Oda often underestimates how long story arcs will take – but it’s certainly a possibility. Fans will have to wait and see what happens after the Elbaf arc concludes.

Hello to all attending Jump Festa! I’m O-Myaku-Da Myaku-Ichiro, and I’m working towards a brighter future for everyone!

I asked my editor for a quick overview of our plans for next year, and it turns out we have a lot going on! But they immediately listed a bunch of things I’m not allowed to mention yet. It feels like there’s very little I can actually talk about right now!

The projects on the list are largely designed for viewers around the world, including Japan. Production on the new anime, The One Piece, which is also intended for a global audience, is moving forward as planned.

Get ready! Season 2 of the live-action One Piece is coming March 10th of next year, and it’s going to be adorable! We’ll finally meet Chopper, and trust me, you’ll be saying “So cute!” just like I do every time I see a new clip. Mark your calendars!

Don’t miss out on the fun and unique energy of the Straw Hat crew and the rest of the amazing cast, including Iñaki! Great news: they’ve already started filming season 3, which will finally finish the Arabasta storyline. We can’t wait for you to see it!

I’m not supposed to say anything about the anime movie yet, and things aren’t really coming together as planned. Hopefully, mentioning that will encourage everyone to speed things up! (laughs)

I think many of you will find this exciting, so please bear with me for just a moment.

Now then, since it’s Jump Festa, let’s talk about the original Jump manga!

We finally return to the present after a lengthy and detailed look into the past. Just as you begin to see Elbaf in a new light, the story reaches a dramatic climax. From this point forward, the action becomes incredibly gripping.

Could it be… the island only the Pirate King has ever found? A mysterious, flame-marked man makes his entrance! Two people destined to meet finally cross paths, and another unexpected meeting occurs! Will next year be filled with incredible encounters?

One Piece is moving incredibly fast, and while I’m prioritizing my health, I plan to keep up with the story at this quick pace next year! I’m really looking forward to what happens next – it feels like a big event is coming up!

Please look forward to it!!!” — Eiichiro Oda

After Burn Scar’s Appearance, The Last Poneglyph Will Be In Reach

Burn Scar plays a crucial role in the story; he’s essential for Luffy – and anyone else hoping – to achieve their dream of becoming Pirate King and finding the One Piece.

Burn Scar holds the final Road Poneglyph, which he reportedly obtained during the events on Fish-Man Island and is currently safeguarding. His location is currently unknown, making him a person of great interest.

I’ve been following the story closely, and it’s become clear that Burn Scar is a hugely important figure. Kid even directly said he believes Burn Scar will be central to the upcoming war for the One Piece treasure – a really strong statement considering the stakes.

With All Four Road Poneglyphs, Laugh Tale Can Finally Be Reached

In the world of One Piece, Road Poneglyphs are unique and rare. They’re different from regular Poneglyphs because they’re red, and there are only four of them in existence.

Road Poneglyphs are hidden in various locations across the globe. The first one the Straw Hat Pirates discovered was in Zou, concealed on the back of the giant elephant, Zunesha. They found it with the help of a clue within the Whale Tree.

The Straw Hats obtained the second Road Poneglyph while infiltrating Whole Cake Island. Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, originally possessed it, but Brook managed to copy it for the crew.

The latest one was found in Wano, inside the Mt. Fuji Cavern. Because it was guarded by the powerful Yonko Kaido, obtaining it was a significant challenge.

Now, the Straw Hat Pirates have collected three of the crucial Road Poneglyphs. Other powerful pirate crews, like the Red Hair Pirates and the Blackbeard Pirates, are also nearing the goal of obtaining all four.

The only remaining Road Poneglyph, belonging to Burn Scar, hasn’t been found yet. Once it is, the location of Laugh Tale – the final island in the One Piece world – will be known. This will begin the search for the legendary treasure, the One Piece, and could potentially trigger a massive final conflict.

Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, One Piece, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the legendary treasure, the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. The latest chapter, 1170, will be released in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump on January 4, 2026. In Japan, it will be available at midnight on Monday (11:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM PT). Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, which helps support the author.

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2025-12-27 02:36