It’s The End Of An Era For One Piece’s Straw Hat Pirates

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

Monkey D. Luffy formed the Straw Hat Pirates in the East Blue, the weakest of all the seas in the world of One Piece. Because of this, they weren’t seen as a serious threat early on. Starting with modest beginnings, the crew gradually became stronger and larger, and now they are one of the most powerful groups sailing the One Piece seas. The Straw Hat Pirates are incredibly strong, and they’re expected to become even more formidable in the future.

Now that One Piece is entering its final arc and the Straw Hats are closer than ever to achieving their dreams, significant changes are inevitable. For the first time, the Straw Hat Pirates are almost at full strength. They’re currently looking for one last crew member, and once they find them, the crew will be complete – Oda has indicated they won’t be adding anyone else after that. For years, the Straw Hats have been growing, but now they’re preparing to finish their adventure by sailing to the Final Island, a destination Oda hinted at in his message about the series’ future.

The Straw Hat Pirates Are A Yonko Crew Now

Image by Toei Animation
  • Luffy defeated Kaido and replaced him as Yonko in Wano
  • The Straw Hats are nearing completion in One Piece

The Straw Hat Pirates have become much stronger over time. They initially gained attention after the battle at Enies Lobby, but people didn’t truly recognize their power until after the two-year timeskip.

During the two-year timeskip, Luffy and his Straw Hat crew trained intensely, becoming strong enough to defeat powerful enemies like Doflamingo and even challenge the Yonko. Following the epic battle in Wano Country, they achieved an incredible victory by defeating both Big Mom and Kaido. This monumental feat established Luffy as one of the Four Emperors, the most powerful pirates on the sea.

Let’s see! I’d like at least 10 more crew members. That should be fine! — Monkey D. Luffy

Luffy is now one of the four most powerful pirates in the world, known as a Yonko, and his crew, the Straw Hats, are so strong that even the Marines hesitate to confront them without permission from their leaders. As one of the top pirate crews, Luffy and the Straw Hats are closer than ever to achieving their dreams.

One Piece is now in its final storyline, and the author, Eiichiro Oda, has hinted that the upcoming arcs will lead Luffy and his crew to the places where the previous Pirate King traveled. This suggests the series is nearing its conclusion, which will have significant consequences for the Straw Hat Pirates.

The Last Straw Hat Will Join In Elbaf

With One Piece nearing its conclusion in the Final Saga, it’s unlikely Luffy will add many more members to his crew. He originally aimed for a team of around ten, and currently has nine. This leaves space for just one final member. While anyone could potentially fill that spot, the story currently suggests it will be Prince Loki, introduced in the Elbaf arc.

Loki is driven by a desire to destroy the World Government and get revenge for his father’s death, and he’s determined to achieve this eventually. It would be ideal if he could team up with Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates to do so, as they’re likely to come into conflict with the Government themselves in the near future.

Say, Loki, join my crew! Nobody in Elbaf seems to want you anyway. — Luffy to Loki

Luffy is very intrigued by Loki and even asked him to join the Straw Hat Pirates. While Loki initially refused, anything could happen before this story arc ends, and fans are speculating he might become the crew’s newest member.

If Loki became part of the team, it would likely mean no one else could join, which is a shame.

A highlight of One Piece is watching Luffy build his crew and embark on adventures with them. As the series nears its conclusion and a major war looms, Luffy can only realistically add a limited number of members. This also fits with his original goal of having around ten crewmates. Considering everything, many fans believe Loki will be the final addition to the Straw Hats. His arrival will mark a significant moment for the crew – they’ll finally be complete, setting sail for their ultimate goal before eventually going their separate ways.

The Straw Hat Pirates Will Eventually Disband

  • The Roger Pirates disbanded after reaching Laugh Tale
  • The Straw Hats will disband after the events of the Great War

After Loki becomes a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, completing the crew, we’ll finally see each pirate achieve their lifelong goals. It’s expected this will happen before, or during, the massive war that’s coming up. By the end of that war, every member of the Straw Hats will have realized their dreams. However, this also hints at a bittersweet ending: the Straw Hat Pirates will likely separate and go their own ways, effectively disbanding the crew, which will be hard for fans to accept.

After Roger and his crew discovered the legendary Laugh Tale and became known as the greatest pirates ever, they eventually disbanded and each went their separate ways. Roger used his remaining time to kick off a new age of piracy, forever changing the world. What kind of world Luffy will create once he becomes Pirate King is a mystery, but one thing is certain: Luffy and his crew won’t continue sailing together after he achieves his dream.

The Straw Hat Pirates are all driven by a desire to return to places and people from their past. Zoro wants to revisit his dojo, Nami promised to return to Cocoyashi Village, and Usopp has Kaya waiting for him. Sanji hopes to return to Baratie, while Chopper wants to care for the people of Drum Kingdom. Robin will likely continue her quest for knowledge, and Franky wants to see Iceberg in Water 7 again. Brook remains devoted to Laboon, and Jinbe dreams of building a future for Fish-Man Island on the surface. Finally, Loki intends to return to Elbaf to be with his brother.

It’s becoming clear that after the Great War, each member of the Straw Hat crew will likely pursue their own path, effectively disbanding the Straw Hat Pirates. While this is a disheartening thought for many fans, Loki joining the crew will signal the beginning of the end of a beloved era in One Piece. However, this conclusion promises to be a profoundly moving part of the story.

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, 1172, will be released in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump on February 1, 2026. In Japan, it will be available at midnight on Monday, which translates to 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, directly supporting the creator.

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2026-01-25 02:35