Eiichiro Oda Confirms A Next Generation Pirate Stronger Than Gol D. Roger

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

Among the most powerful characters in One Piece, Gol D. Roger is widely considered the strongest pirate of his time. Though he began his career around 50 years ago as a rising star, recent flashbacks have shown glimpses of his early adventures. Throughout his journey, Roger was consistently a formidable force. However, it was after the battle at God Valley, in the following ten years, that Roger truly cemented his power, becoming one of the greatest and most influential figures the One Piece world has ever known.

Even Whitebeard, considered the strongest man in the world, wasn’t seen as better than Roger – he was simply compared to him. One of Whitebeard’s greatest feats was being able to fight Roger on equal footing, even when Roger was ill, which highlights just how powerful Roger was. At his peak, Roger was stronger than almost anyone we’ve seen in the story. Up until recently, only Imu and Joy Boy from the ancient Void Century were potentially stronger. But now, the author, Oda, has officially revealed a pirate who surpasses even Roger in strength.

Gol D. Roger Reached The Pinnacle Of Strength In One Piece

  • Roger Utilized High Level Conqueror’s Haki
  • Roger Was The Strongest In His Prime Years

Gol D. Roger was driven to achieve great things from the very start of his pirate career. Although we didn’t see how his journey began, a flashback revealed that he quickly sought out Rayleigh, asking him to join an adventure with the goal of completely changing the world. Even early on, Roger was a powerful fighter, and he only grew stronger over time.

It’s interesting that Roger, despite being a powerful pirate, never ate a Devil Fruit. He and most of his crew avoided these fruits, meaning none of the Roger Pirates appeared to have any Devil Fruit powers. Instead, Roger focused entirely on mastering Haki. He became incredibly skilled with this ability, proficient in all three types – Observation, Armament, and Conqueror’s – and his Conqueror’s Haki was exceptionally strong.

Roger possessed incredibly powerful Conqueror’s Haki, enough to overpower even an Admiral. Ultimately, he achieved the highest level of strength and became the Pirate King.

Roger was overwhelmingly powerful at sea. No pirate could easily beat him, and most accounts only show the Kuja Pirates ever succeeding. Even his greatest rival, Rocks D. Xebec, didn’t defeat Roger – instead, Roger defeated Rocks at God Valley, with assistance from Garp, and he hadn’t even reached his peak strength yet. It’s clear Roger possessed incredible power, and aside from stories of the Void Century, no one else ever came close to matching him.

Roger Has Been Surpassed By Red-Haired Shanks

  • Shanks Is Stronger Than Harald And Rocks D. Xebec
  • His Haki Is Comparable To Joy Boy’s

While several pirates had the potential to be stronger than Roger, none of them ever quite reached his level. Whitebeard and Garp were both considered equals to Roger, but they never surpassed him. However, in the final arc of One Piece, the author, Oda, has confirmed that Red-Haired Shanks – Roger’s former apprentice – has now become even more powerful than his mentor.

To figure out why some fans believe Shanks is more powerful than Roger, it’s important to consider what we’ve learned in the Elbaf arc. This arc finally gave us a detailed look at Rocks D. Xebec, including flashbacks of the Roger Pirates and Harald. Understanding Rocks’ strength is crucial. He was one of the most formidable pirates of his time and a major rival to Roger. In fact, Rocks was even stronger than Roger at a certain point, but that was before Roger reached the peak of his pirating career.

Oda confirmed that Harald was just as strong as Rocks D. Xebec, describing them as both friends and rivals with comparable power. Their first battle was devastating, completely destroying everything within a five-kilometer area. Despite some fans disagreeing, Harald was incredibly powerful, matching Rocks D. Xebec in strength. He later became even stronger after receiving the Deep Sea Covenant from Imu, which not only increased his power but also granted him immortality. This means Harald ultimately surpassed Rocks, and was therefore more powerful than Roger as he was during the God Valley incident 38 years ago.

Loki Was Stronger Than Harald And Rocks

Image by Viz Media

Fourteen years ago in the One Piece story, a significant battle occurred in Elbaf. Harald, manipulated by Imu, was wreaking havoc until his son, Loki, intervened and defeated him decisively. Notably, Loki completely overpowered Harald, despite the fact that Harald at that time was more powerful than even Rocks D. Xebec.

I am the Sun God, a legendary figure in this land. Mortal, you must not address me without my consent. I am the strongest being in the Lands. This is Warland, the Kingdom of Violence, belonging to Elbaf. It was once the world’s most formidable nation, built on warfare. And I, Loki, am the Sun God destined to bring about the world’s end! — Loki’s introduction in the Elbaf Arc.

Loki needed Harald to let his guard down before he could even attempt an attack, but he still proved to be a formidable opponent, surpassing anyone else in a fight. It’s been said that Loki, at his peak, has the power to obliterate the world, demonstrating his immense strength. However, Shanks is even more powerful than Loki. To put it simply, Shanks exceeds the strength of Harald, Rocks, and even the legendary Roger.

Shanks Defeated Loki By Himself 6 Years Ago

Six years before the current events in the One Piece world, Loki was sailing the seas, causing trouble as usual. During his travels, he clashed with Red-haired Shanks. The battle between these two incredibly powerful figures was legendary and ultimately led to Shanks becoming a Yonko. Surprisingly, Shanks won against Loki, which shouldn’t have been possible considering Loki’s immense strength. Loki is a monster on the level of a Yonko and possesses a famous Devil Fruit ability that could even defeat Harald. Furthermore, he’s accompanied by Ragnir, another exceptionally powerful warrior.

Look, I get it, you have a point, sailor. But seriously, hitting those fresh, new leaves – the ones that really changed everything for pirates? Isn’t that going a bit far? Is that what this is about? Are you scared of what’s coming next?

Even with all of his incredible abilities, Shanks managed to defeat him. This shows Shanks is far more powerful than figures like King Harald of Elbaf and even Rocks D. Xebec. Essentially, Shanks has become stronger than Roger, Rocks, and Harald, establishing himself as the strongest pirate in the world of One Piece.

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, which is 11:00 AM Eastern Time or 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, and doing so helps support the creator.

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2026-01-02 01:35