The latest arc of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece has reached its peak with the arrival of the world ruler, Saint Imu Nerona, in Elbaf. Surprisingly, Oda has revealed the full power of the strongest villain in the series – a character who battled Joy Boy and the Ancient Kingdom long ago during the Void Century. Currently, Imu possesses the greatest power in the One Piece world, exceeding even the strength of the Yonko. This is why Oda needs to showcase Imu’s overwhelming power in the Warland arc.
Evaluating The Difference In Strength Between Nerona Imu And The Yonko
The Yonko have consistently been among the most powerful figures in the world of One Piece, and that remains true today. They are still the four strongest pirates, effectively ruling the New World like kings – even the Marines can’t match their power. The Yonko control vast territories and wield influence comparable to the World Government. Ultimately, they all seek to find the One Piece, but only those with immense strength can earn and maintain the title of Yonko.
Despite their power, these individuals are no match for Saint Nerona Imu of the World Government. Chapter 1179 of One Piece revealed that Nerona Imu possesses a unique Devil Fruit, one that is more powerful and ancient than any other in the series. This fruit grants Imu the ability to transform into a demonic being, wielding incredible powers and casting spells from a magical book whose abilities surpass human understanding.
The difference in power between Nerona Imu and the Yonko is stark, and is best illustrated by what happened at the God Valley Incident 38 years ago. Even though Imu wasn’t physically present, he controlled Saturn from afar and effortlessly withstood attacks from six of the strongest pirates ever: Rocks, Roger, Garp, Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard. Not only did these attacks have no effect on him, but he decisively defeated Rocks D. Xebec, who was even more powerful than any of the Yonko. He accomplished all of this using only a small portion of his Devil Fruit abilities, demonstrating a level of strength that far surpasses the Yonko and puts him in a league of his own.
Breaking Down The Powers Of The Akuma no Mi
Imu’s Devil Fruit powers are still a mystery, but it’s clear he can completely recover from any injury. This ability allows him to shapeshift – into a devil, a devil-human hybrid, and more – and use powerful magic drawn from a spellbook. He can also effortlessly create weapons and even turn opponents into allies. Furthermore, Imu can control others, forcing them to obey his commands, like making two people harbor a lasting hatred for each other.
Imu can also give special abilities to his followers through agreements called Covenants. We’ve seen him grant three different types of Covenants so far.
- The Shallow Sea Covenant
- The Depths Covenant
- The Abyssal Covenant
These gifts grant Imu’s followers unique powers, but ultimately, those powers end up corrupting them.
Why The King Of The World Stands As The Strongest In The Story
Around 800 years ago, during a lost period of history called the Void Century, Imu defeated and killed Joy Boy, who was then the only one who could challenge his power. After Joy Boy’s death and the vanishing of Davy D. Jones, Imu became the unchallenged ruler of the One Piece world. He has maintained complete control ever since, shaping the world to his will, and remains the most powerful character and undisputed king in the series today.
Everything was decided long ago, before any of this happened. I entrust the Holy Land to you. — Imu, Chapter 1179
I noticed something interesting about Imu – he seemed significantly weakened right away, coughing up blood as soon as he went down to the lower level. It felt like a deliberate weakening. I get the sense this isn’t permanent, and Oda will eventually reveal Imu’s full power, explaining how he became the King and managed to defeat Joy Boy. It feels like we’re only seeing a fraction of his strength right now.
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The Pathway To Defeating Imu In The Final Saga
Right now, figuring out how to defeat Nerona Imu in the final battle is proving difficult. Neither Luffy nor Loki is strong enough to win against him. Luffy will need to become incredibly powerful to defeat the World King, which means mastering his Haki and reaching a level comparable to Joy Boy.
It’s also important to remember that Luffy is the Sun God Nika, essentially the opposite of Imu’s dark powers. While Luffy might eventually be able to defeat Imu once he’s reached his full strength and unlocked all his abilities, he doesn’t stand a chance against the World Government’s leader right now.
One Piece chapter 1180 will be available to read on Manga Plus on April 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST.
One Piece
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- 1999-10-20
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2026-04-11 01:38