Following the introduction of Nerona Imu during the peak of the Elbaph arc in Chapter 1179, and his powerful display in Chapter 1182 (released in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24 on May 10th, 2026), One Piece is rapidly approaching the end of this current story arc. Eiichiro Oda announced at Jump Festa 2026 that he plans to conclude Elbaph this year, leading directly into a new arc filled with major battles. This upcoming arc will center on the Four Emperors, the Revolutionary Army, and the World Government—the core of the overarching conflict. Oda has also teased that this new arc will finally reveal the strongest Devil Fruit Awakening in One Piece.
Many fans think this Devil Fruit belongs to Nerona Imu, but it’s actually the Yami Yami no Mi – officially considered the most powerful of all Devil Fruits. This fruit is wielded by Marshall D. Teech, better known as Blackbeard.
One Piece Chapter 441 Officially Confirmed Logia Type Yami Yami no Mi As The Strongest Devil Fruit
Chapter 1179 of the One Piece manga, part of the Elbaph arc and released on April 6, 2026, revealed the incredible powers of Nerona Imu’s Devil Fruit. This fruit allows Imu to transform into a powerful Devil God and wield a force called God’s Domination. Imu also possesses black flames, known as Omen or Maki, which are exceptionally strong. These abilities make Imu one of the most powerful characters in the One Piece world, and potentially the strongest in terms of raw power and destruction.
My strength comes from a hidden power that exists within everything! — Nerona Imu, One Piece Chapter 1180
Imu’s power shown at the end of the Elbaph arc was incredible. It was shocking to see him easily defeat Loki, who was previously established as a world-destroying threat in chapter 1130. This really heightened the anticipation for the upcoming war. According to Scopper Gaban in chapter 1180 (released April 20, 2026, in WSJ Issue #21), Imu’s Haki surpasses even that of legendary figures like Roger, Garp, and Rocks D. Xebec, making him the strongest character in the One Piece world currently.
“What is this power? I’ve never sensed Haki this strong, even at God Valley!” – Scopper Gaban, One Piece Chapter 1180
Even with everything Imu accomplished in the Elbaph arc, many fans, including myself, believe Blackbeard is actually the strongest Devil Fruit user in One Piece. Blackbeard’s powers were officially revealed in chapter 441 of the manga, which came out on January 22, 2008, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #8. In that chapter, he fought Portgas D. Ace, a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates and Luffy’s brother, and revealed some important details that some fans have since overlooked.
During the battle, Blackbeard demonstrated the immense power of his Devil Fruit, the Yami Yami no Mi. Interestingly, the author, Eiichiro Oda, revealed years ago that this fruit is the strongest in the One Piece world. Blackbeard even declared to Ace that this new ability made him the strongest man alive. Watching the recent events with Imu reminded me that Blackbeard’s power uniquely opposes the very essence of Devil Fruits themselves.
When Blackbeard first used his Kurouzu ability against Ace, he explained it as creating infinite gravity – a force so strong it pulls in everything, even light. This ability also draws in the power of Devil Fruits themselves.
My Dark-Dark Fruit has another ability: it can absorb the powers of other Devil Fruits. — Blackbeard, One Piece Chapter 441
The most striking thing to me is how Blackbeard differentiates between a Devil Fruit and the actual Devil. He doesn’t just say his fruit negates other Devil Fruit powers; he emphasizes it cancels out the Devil’s abilities themselves. Considering the recent reveal in One Piece Chapter 1179 that Nerona Imu is the Devil of this world, it’s clear Blackbeard’s power is a direct counter to Imu’s, making it the strongest ability we’ve seen. Consequently, its awakening poses the greatest threat in the entire One Piece universe.
Why Blackbeard’s Devil Fruit Awakening Makes Him The Strongest In The One Piece World
The Yami-Yami no Mi is an incredibly strong Devil Fruit, classified as a Logia type. It grants Blackbeard the ability to transform into and control darkness, and even manipulate gravity. Blackbeard himself stated in Chapter 441 that its greatest power is nullifying the abilities of other Devil Fruit users, and the powers of the Devil Fruits themselves. While Blackbeard currently needs to physically touch someone to cancel their powers, the possibility of an awakened version of this fruit could change that.
Realizing your full potential happens when your mind and body are ready to handle it. And honestly, your abilities are incredibly powerful! — Kaido, One Piece Chapter #1046
After Blackbeard awakens his Devil Fruit, he won’t need to touch his opponents to negate their abilities. Instead, his awakened power will create an area of darkness where Devil Fruit powers simply don’t work, rendering abilities like Luffy’s Gear 5 or Imu’s fruit useless. He’d also potentially be able to create multiple black holes, crushing his enemies with overwhelming gravity. Considering these possibilities, it’s likely that Blackbeard’s awakened Devil Fruit would be the most powerful in the One Piece world.
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Blackbeard’s Potential Time Stop Ability Could Make Him Stronger Than Imu
Blackbeard’s power to negate Devil Fruit abilities is already frightening, especially considering he could potentially counter even the most powerful users like Nerona Imu. However, what makes his ability truly terrifying is the possibility that it might allow him to stop time completely once he fully awakens it. The idea behind this stems from his control over gravity. By concentrating immense gravitational force on a single point, Blackbeard could, according to the principles of relativity, create a localized distortion of time, essentially stopping it. His awakened Yami Yami no Mi could make this incredible feat a reality.
I’m invincible. They say this power is the most fearsome ability there is, and it’s made me the strongest there is! – Blackbeard, One Piece Chapter 441
For many fans, including myself, Eiichiro Oda seems to be building Blackbeard up to be the ultimate villain of One Piece. Giving him such a powerful ability and establishing him as both the heir to Rocks D. Xebec and a descendant of Davy Jones – a figure from the mysterious Void Century – strongly suggests this direction. I’m really excited to see how Blackbeard develops in future arcs, and it promises to be a thrilling ride.
You can now read the newest One Piece chapters, created by Eiichiro Oda, on Manga Plus and Viz Media.
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2026-05-23 04:35