One Piece: Why The Great War Will Begin After Elbaf

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The following article contains spoilers for One Piece.

The story of One Piece is building to an incredible climax! Recent chapters strongly suggest we’re moving towards the final saga, focusing on the Elbaf arc. Some fans wondered why the character Imu was introduced so early, but chapters 1178 and 1179 now reveal why the author, Eiichiro Oda, needed to show him to readers sooner rather than later.

After the story moves past Elbaf, what’s next? Is Oda hinting at a major war? Although Elbaf is expected to conclude this year, there’s still room for him to develop the story further. However, it increasingly looks like the next part of the series will finally be the long-anticipated Final War.

Oda Has Been Preparing One Piece’s Ending for Years

For over ten years, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the series, has mentioned wanting to end it “soon.” He’s repeatedly said he’d like to finish “in a few years,” but fans have become skeptical as the story continues. However, things felt different when the Egghead arc began, as Oda announced it was the start of the Final Saga. Because Egghead served as a bridge to future events, fans are now eagerly anticipating what will happen in the upcoming Elbaf arc.

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Many fans anticipated Elbaf to be a significant story arc, but still expected several more arcs afterward, possibly leading to Laugh Tale – the final island on the Grand Line. Laugh Tale is crucial because it’s the only place Roger’s crew and Joy Boy have reached, and holds the key to understanding the Poneglyphs. However, Lodestar, the island before the last one, will also likely play a major role in the story’s conclusion. So, even if the next arc isn’t the massive final battle, the stakes will be incredibly high, and everything is building towards the end of the series.

Stakes Keep Getting in the Manga

The Elbaf arc is unique because it didn’t immediately introduce a clear enemy. While characters like Fingarland Shamrock and Mankamayer Gunko appeared and revealed information about the World Nobles and the Holy Knights, it wasn’t obvious if they would be the arc’s main villains. However, recently (in Chapter 1178), the author, Oda, made a surprising decision: he brought Saint Imu Nerona, who is the true ruler of the World Government and widely believed to be the series’ biggest villain, to Elbaf.

I will be leaving… the Holy Land for a time.

— Saint Imu Nerona in Chapter 1178

While Imu probably won’t be directly challenged in Elbaf, his presence there will likely cause significant trouble. As the Straw Hats move forward, a major war seems likely to start soon after the Elbaf arc ends – it’s even possible the arc’s conclusion will begin the war. This conflict could center around the final Road Poneglyph, potentially located in Lodestar, and set up the large-scale war Oda has been hinting at for years. It might make more sense for the war to take place in Lodestar, with the Straw Hats then heading to Laugh Tale to find Joy Boy’s treasure. Oda could even combine the Lodestar and Laugh Tale storylines into a single, extended arc.

The Final Arc Will Feature the Greatest War Ever

It’s now difficult to see Imu appearing on Elbaf without it leading to a large-scale conflict. Although Imu was introduced a while ago, no one predicted this action. This suggests Elbaf could be the second-to-last major story arc, setting the stage for a final, worldwide war. Considering this, it makes sense that a clear villain wasn’t introduced during this arc – it seems to have been building up to reveal the Straw Hats’ ultimate enemy: the World Government.

Oda has promised the upcoming Final War will be much larger in scale than the Summit War of Marineford. Considering how long fans have anticipated this conflict, the stakes are expected to be incredibly high. It wouldn’t make sense for the story to end with a battle less impactful than Marineford, especially with all the new power increases we’ve seen. There’s also still a possibility that characters like Nami will learn Haki before the war begins.

Could There Still Be Another Arc Before the War?

The next story arc could serve as a bridge between the events on Elbaf and a larger war, potentially involving the Straw Hats and the World Government teaming up, or Luffy concentrating solely on finding the One Piece. However, with the recent escalation of conflict – especially Imu’s appearance on Elbaf – that seems pretty improbable.

The story isn’t over yet, even though the author, Oda, has said it will conclude this year. It could still take several months to reach the ending. Just like the recent chapter had unexpected twists, future events could also surprise readers and lead the story in a completely different direction.

The Elbaf Arc is Now Streaming On Netflix and Crunchyroll

The anime is starting to adapt the Elbaf arc just as the manga reaches its peak. New episodes will be released on Netflix and Crunchyroll between April and June, but initially only with subtitles. More episodes, including a dubbed version, are expected to become available later in the year, probably around September or October.

The current story arc began with chapter 1126 of One Piece in 2024. This arc, focused on Elbaf, has already spanned over 50 chapters. While that seems like a lot, the anime often packs many events into each episode to maintain a fast-paced and exciting story. Because of this, and the shift to releasing seasons instead of weekly episodes, adapting this arc will likely take several years.

You can read One Piece on MANGA Plus in multiple languages, including English. However, a subscription is needed to unlock the entire series.

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2026-04-05 13:05