It’s Time To Welcome Sanji’s Newest Haki Upgrade in One Piece

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This article contains spoilers from the Final Saga of One Piece.

Sanji is a key character in the One Piece world and a vital part of the Straw Hat Pirates, considered one of Luffy’s most powerful fighters alongside Zoro. He’s incredibly strong, especially after unlocking more of his potential during the Wano arc thanks to his unique genetic enhancements. However, even with his impressive power, Sanji is still developing and hasn’t reached his full potential yet.

Sanji has a lot of room to grow, and the upcoming Elbaf arc seems designed to help him reach his full potential. While Luffy is incredibly powerful, most of the Straw Hat crew, including Sanji, still need to get stronger. The Elbaf arc will likely focus heavily on Sanji’s development, and he’s expected to emerge significantly more powerful, eventually becoming a worthy successor to the legendary Scopper Gaban.

Sanji Needs To Learn All Haki Types To Become A Top-Tier Fighter

  • Sanji Knows Only Two Types Of Haki Right Now
  • Sanji Is Heavily Implied To Have Supreme King Haki

Looking ahead to how Sanji’s powers might develop, the most important thing to consider is his potential with Supreme King Haki. This is the strongest form of Haki, and it’s incredibly rare – only those with a natural regal quality can inherit it. It’s also linked to royal bloodlines, meaning people born with kingly traits have a chance of possessing it. Sanji comes from the Germa Kingdom, a powerful nation with a history of conquest – they once controlled the entire North Blue and were feared worldwide.

It’s not surprising that Sanji possesses Conqueror’s Haki, as he’s descended from a lineage with that power. Beyond that, Sanji has the strong ambition needed to unlock even greater abilities. His dream of finding the All Blue is incredibly difficult – comparable to finding the One Piece, which hasn’t been achieved in centuries. Sanji clearly has the ambition, determination, and royal heritage required for Supreme King Haki, making him a perfect candidate for this powerful ability.

Sanji is already skilled in two forms of Haki: Observation Haki and Armament Haki. Many fans believe he’ll soon master the Conqueror’s Haki, which would mean he possesses all three types – a feat shared by someone connected to his past, Scopper Gaban, who was associated with the legendary pirate Gol D. Roger.

Sanji’s Conqueror’s Haki Upgrade Is Just Around The Corner

There’s growing evidence that Sanji will awaken the power of Supreme King Haki during the Elbaf arc. Oda has subtly suggested this through the character of Gaban, revealing the Roger Pirates had three individuals with this ability. Currently, only Luffy and Zoro among the Straw Hats possess it, though Zoro is unaware of his own. It’s likely Elbaf will be the arc where Zoro fully masters his Conqueror’s Haki, and Sanji will unlock his for the first time.

Conqueror’s Haki, sometimes called the Color of the Supreme King, is a powerful ability shared by many influential people. Unlike other types of Haki, you can’t directly train it to become stronger. It reflects the user’s own inner strength and will only grow as the user themselves becomes more powerful. — Silvers Rayleigh explaining Conqueror’s Haki to Luffy

It’s also important to remember that Sanji believes he possesses Conqueror’s Haki. He told Scopper Gaban this, and Oda intentionally ended the conversation when Gaban responded, suggesting a significant truth was deliberately concealed. This strongly hints that Sanji will soon awaken his Conqueror’s Haki.

Elbaf Needs Conqueror’s Haki Users

The upcoming Elbaf arc will likely see Zoro awaken Conqueror’s Haki, adding him to the limited number of powerful Haki users needed to face the arc’s main threats: the Holy Knights, Imu’s Demon Army, and Imu themselves. This is because the only known weakness of these enemies is Conqueror’s Haki. Currently, only four users are known – Scopper Gaban, Luffy, Loki, and potentially Zoro – and a fifth is crucial given the scale of the conflict. Sanji is already facing significant challenges with opponents like the Holy Knights, Dorry, and Brogy, making it highly probable that he will soon unlock his own Conqueror’s Haki.

Sanji Is The Next Scopper Gaban of One Piece

image by Viz Media
  • Sanji Is Luffy’s Left Arm
  • Gaban Was Roger’s Left Arm

The main reason Sanji should have Conqueror’s Haki is his role mirrors that of Silvers Rayleigh’s first mate, Scopper Gaban, in the previous generation. Just as Gaban and Rayleigh were Roger’s powerful right and left hands, Sanji and Zoro are meant to be Luffy’s. Since Roger’s two top crewmates were similarly strong, it makes sense for Luffy’s closest allies to be at a comparable power level as well.

I know the Color of the Supreme King is in me. I can feel it! — Sanji to Scopper Gaban

Currently, Luffy is significantly stronger than Zoro and Sanji, and they both need to improve to reach his level. Zoro will likely achieve this by fully mastering his Conqueror’s Haki. Sanji’s path to growth involves awakening his own Conqueror’s Haki, potentially during the events in Elbaf, and then consistently using it to become more powerful. Luffy has even suggested Sanji will become as strong as Scopper Gaban, a powerful warrior, and the author, Oda, seems to be reinforcing this idea. Just like Gaban expertly used Conqueror’s Haki, Sanji needs to fully unlock and utilize its potential.

Sanji Will Likely Fight Brogy In Elbaf

Regarding Sanji’s upcoming major battle in Elbaf, there are only two likely outcomes, and both will depend on him fully mastering Conqueror’s Haki.

Initially, Zoro will face Saint Killingham, one of the Holy Knights. Since Zoro typically battles swordsmen, Sommers is the likely opponent in this situation, leaving Sanji to fight Killingham. Regardless of who Sanji fights, he’ll need to use Supreme King Haki.

Fans should remember that Zoro and Sanji have similarities to Dorry and Brogy, respectively. It would be great if the author arranged fights between Zoro and Dorry, and Sanji and Brogy. To win either fight, Sanji will need to fully develop his Conqueror’s Haki to overcome his opponent’s ability to regenerate and their immortality.

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 called the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. A new chapter, number 1171, will be released in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump. It will be available on January 18, 2026, at midnight in Japan (11:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM PT). Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, which directly supports the creator.

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2026-01-16 00:40