A New Straw Hat Is Coming, And He Will Finally Dethrone Zoro In One Piece

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

The Straw Hat Pirates are the central heroes of One Piece. Captained by Luffy, they’ve journeyed from the East Blue and become a major force in the New World, even earning a spot among the Yonko. While the Straw Hats are exceptionally strong, they’re still growing. Luffy originally aimed to gather a crew of at least ten members, and currently, he has nine. This suggests there’s likely room for at least one more person to join his team.

With the way the Elbaf arc in One Piece is unfolding, many fans believe the final member of the Straw Hat Pirates will be Loki, the feared Prince of Elbaf. If he joins, his immense power and even the World Government’s fear of him suggest he’d likely surpass Zoro to become the crew’s second strongest fighter.

Loki Could Join The Straw Hat Pirates In Elbaf

The idea of Loki joining the Straw Hat Pirates isn’t just fan speculation – it’s something Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the series, has hinted at. Right after Loki appeared in the Elbaf arc, Luffy immediately sensed that he wasn’t a bad person.

I’ve always noticed how good Luffy is at quickly understanding what people are really like. His immediate friendliness towards Loki actually tipped a lot of fans off that Loki wasn’t a bad person at heart. However, even that isn’t quite enough to make Loki a member of the Straw Hat crew, in my opinion.

Listen closely. I am the Sun God, a figure from this land’s legends. You must not address me without my consent. I believe I am the strongest being in these Lands. This is Warland, the Kingdom of Violence belonging to Elbaf – once the most fearsome and warlike nation on Earth. And I, Loki, am the one who will bring this world to its end! — Loki’s introduction during the Elbaf Arc.

Loki will likely join Luffy’s crew for a straightforward reason: Luffy wants him, and Loki doesn’t have many other options. He was rejected by the people of Elbaph from the moment he was born, and the only person who ever accepted him, Ida, is probably no longer alive.

Regardless, the people of Elbaf don’t want him, but Luffy is eager to watch him fight and even wants him to join the crew. While Loki was still chained, Luffy formally invited him to become a member. Hajrudin would have allowed him to leave as well, as long as he faced the consequences for his past actions.

Loki initially refused an offer, but that was before he knew Luffy was actually the legendary Sun God destined to bring about the world’s end. Loki had already expressed his desire to follow this Sun God to Rocks, so once he discovers Luffy is Nika, he’ll likely want to join him. This would also fulfill Luffy’s wish of having Loki as a crewmate. Meanwhile, the people of Elbaf, who despise Loki, will ultimately be saved by him – though not before he’s finally rid of him.

Loki Will Dethrone Zoro As The #2

Image by Viz Media

If Loki were to join the Straw Hat Pirates, he’d likely become the second strongest member, surpassing Zoro. While Zoro is a powerful fighter, Loki is even stronger – he already had a bounty of 2.6 billion berries six years ago, which puts him at the level of the Yonko, the most powerful pirates in the world.

I need to assemble my own pirate crew – about ten members should do the trick. And, of course, a pirate flag is essential! The world better watch out, because I, Monkey D. Luffy, am setting sail to become the King of the Pirates!

Loki genuinely believes he’s powerful enough to destroy the world, and the people of Elbaf agree. His strength is so immense that Gaban specifically claimed only red-haired Shanks could defeat him.

Loki is extremely self-assured and boldly told Luffy that he could easily defeat any pirate crew as a thank you for being released. This demonstrates that Loki is currently much more powerful than Zoro. If Loki were to join Luffy’s crew, Zoro would no longer be the second strongest member; he’d be surpassed and would compete with Sanji for that position.

Loki Is One Of One Piece’s Strongest Characters

Image by Viz Media

With Loki being so powerful, it’ll be amazing to see him become a member of the Straw Hat Pirates. He already has an interesting connection with Luffy, and it’s easy to imagine him becoming close friends with Zoro and Sanji as well.

Furthermore, Loki plays a crucial role in the story’s final arc. He aims to serve the Sun God Nika and obliterate the world, and he’ll accomplish this alongside Luffy. Together, they will dismantle the existing world order controlled by the World Government and usher in a new age.

I’m so excited for the next chapter of One Piece! For those who don’t know, it follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece. We’re currently in the Final Saga, which is incredible! Chapter 1168 is coming out this week, on December 7, 2025. If you’re in Japan, it’ll be available at midnight on Monday. For us in the US, that translates to 11:00 AM EST or 8:00 AM PST. The best part is you can read it for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app – and by doing so, you’re directly supporting Eiichiro Oda and the whole team. Let’s all make sure we read it officially!

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2025-12-08 00:38