It’s Time To Welcome Not 1 But 2 New Straw Hats In The Elbaf Arc

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This article contains spoilers from the One Piece series.

The popular series One Piece is now in its final story arc, and fans are anticipating some epic battles. This means the Straw Hat Pirates need to be prepared for even bigger challenges than before. Currently, several crew members, including Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, are already powerful enough to handle significant threats.

While some members of the Straw Hat Pirates still need to grow stronger, the crew as a whole isn’t reaching its full potential. Luckily, fans expect new, powerful members to join during the Final Saga. Recently, there’s been talk about Loki potentially joining, which would be great. However, many fans don’t realize that the Elbaf arc will actually introduce two new members to the Straw Hat crew, and that’s something to be really excited about!

The Straw Hat Crew Isn’t Complete Yet

  • Luffy Wanted At Least 10 Crewmates
  • More Straw Hats Will Appear In The Final Saga

The Straw Hat Pirates are currently a formidable force, with Monkey D. Luffy at the helm. The crew includes skilled fighters like Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Nico Robin, Franky, and Brook. They were joined by Jinbe as they navigated the New World, and the crew is expected to grow even larger. Although some fans believe the Straw Hats are already complete, the author, Oda, originally planned for a crew of ten members. Luffy himself has stated he wants at least ten people – not including himself – to be part of his team.

The fact that Luffy will have at least ten crew members is key – there could be many more, which is a big part of what makes the story’s ending so thrilling. It’s safe to say the Straw Hat crew isn’t finished growing, and we’ll likely see new members join, perhaps even during the Elbaf arc.

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

Currently, Loki is set to be the first new character joining the Final Saga. He was first shown during the Elbaf arc and has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to his well-developed personality and impressive power.

The Final Two Straw Hats Will Be Loki And Ragnir

  • Ragnir Has Tremendous Powers
  • The Straw Hats Will Gain Another Pet

It wouldn’t be shocking to see Loki join the Straw Hat Pirates. Loki is disliked by everyone in Elbaf, but Luffy actually seems to enjoy his company. Despite the widespread negativity towards Loki in Elbaf, Luffy quickly trusted him and spent time with him without hesitation, even in the country’s dangerous underworld.

More than anything, Luffy could sense that Loki was a good person at heart. Luffy’s Observation Haki allows him to understand people’s true feelings better than most, as Rayleigh pointed out in One Piece Chapter 895. Interestingly, fans will recall that Luffy actually asked Loki to join his crew before the story shifted to the Elbaf flashback.

I am the Sun God, a legendary figure in this land. Mortal, you must not address me without my consent. I am the strongest being in the Lands. This is Warland, the kingdom of Elbaf – a nation built on conflict and once the most powerful in the world. And I, Loki, am the Sun God destined to bring about its end! — Loki’s introduction in the Elbaf Arc.

I’ve been thinking about Loki and the Straw Hats, and honestly, there’s already a pretty good reason for him to join the crew. It’s true he said no to Luffy before, but that was before Luffy revealed himself as Nika. Loki’s been searching for the Sun God, and knowing Luffy is Nika could totally change his mind once this current storyline wraps up. In fact, I have a strong feeling Loki will be the very first new member to join the Straw Hats in the Final Saga.

Fans have been wondering who the second Straw Hat crew member will be, after Loki’s reveal. The answer is Ragnir! Previously known only as Loki’s weapon, Ragnir has now been confirmed in chapter 1170 of One Piece to be a living, breathing hammer – it actually ate a Devil Fruit! Ragnir is a powerful fighter in its own right, strong enough to battle opponents exceeding Yonko Commanders, and potentially even protect against the Yonko and Admirals themselves.

Despite being an ally who fights alongside Loki, Ragnir should be considered a separate member of the Straw Hat crew, much like Karoo is distinct from Vivi even though they’re always together. Adding Ragnir to the crew would significantly increase their strength – something they really need right now – and also provide a fun, engaging animal companion for lighter moments during their travels between islands.

Ragnir Would Serve As The Next Straw Hat Mascot

As a One Piece fan, I’m seriously hyped about the possibility of Ragnir joining Luffy’s crew as the eleventh member! It would be amazing, and it makes so much sense considering Ragnir’s been protecting the Devil Fruit from Elbaf for ages. That fruit has to be linked to the Sun God Nika somehow, right? Imagine the awesome interactions we’d get to see once Ragnir actually meets Nika – it could be a game-changer!

Beyond just being a cool character, Ragnir has the potential to become a mascot for the Straw Hat Pirates, much like Chopper already is for One Piece. Having two adorable mascots would be fantastic for fans and could also boost merchandise sales – something Oda would likely appreciate. Fans are really excited about the possibility of Ragnir joining the crew!

I’m really hoping we see Ragnir join the Straw Hats, and it feels pretty likely! But honestly, a part of me worries Loki might just decide he’d rather do his own thing and not team up with Luffy. Still, right now, I think Loki and Ragnir are the most probable candidates to become the newest members of the crew by the end of this arc. It’s so exciting to think about!

I’m so excited for the next chapter of One Piece! For those who don’t know, One Piece 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 huge! Chapter 1170 is coming out this week, officially on January 4, 2026. If you’re in Japan, it’ll be available at midnight on Monday. For us in the US, that translates to 11:00 AM Eastern Time or 8:00 AM Pacific. 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 – which is awesome!

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2026-01-01 00:35