It’s Time To Welcome The Next Joy Boy in One Piece

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

The anime and manga series One Piece is now exploring the Elbaf arc, which is part of the story’s final stretch. Because of this, fans can expect many important details about the series’ history to be revealed. We’ve already seen the Ancient Mural carved into the Adam Tree, and the Loki flashback provided significant information about characters like Imu, as well as legendary figures like Joy Boy and Davy Jones. Although Davy Jones is currently a major focus, it’s important to remember that Joy Boy remains a central figure in the overall story.

The recent events surrounding the God Valley Incident and the Elbaf flashback are heavily connected to both Joy Boy and Davy Jones. Oda has shared new details about the Will of Davy, which seems linked to the older, established Will of Joy Boy and his lineage. We know Luffy is destined to become the next Joy Boy, as indicated by the Inherited Will, and he’s demonstrated the power of Nika, earning the title from characters like Zunesha and Momonosuke. However, the actual bloodline of Joy Boy likely flows through someone else – Shanks.

Luffy Has Inherited The Power Of Joy Boy

Luffy Is The Joy Boy Of The New Era

  • Joy Boy had the power of Nika
  • Luffy is the current Nika

Oda, the creator of One Piece, has several possibilities for how the legend of Joy Boy will unfold. However, all signs point to Luffy being the one to carry out Joy Boy’s will. The Egghead arc confirmed Luffy possesses the same abilities as Joy Boy, and Imu even directly identified him as Joy Boy. Essentially, Luffy is the new Joy Boy for this generation.

Listen! The Drums of Liberation are sounding! After eight centuries, Joy Boy is back! – Zunesha, One Piece Chapter 1044

Nika, also known as the Warrior of Liberation, keeps freeing people and places he visits. Ultimately, Luffy will likely fight the World Government and be instrumental in overthrowing Imu. As we’ve discussed, Luffy is poised to fulfill the ancient promise and embody the spirit of Joy Boy. However, the author, Oda, could have just as easily developed Shanks into a figure similar to Joy Boy as well.

Shanks Could Be Descendant Of Joy Boy

He Might Carry The Blood Of Joy Boy

Luffy possesses the inherited will of Joy Boy, but there’s a possibility Shanks is actually related to him by blood. This connection isn’t immediately obvious, but Shanks was born on God Valley – the same place where Imu declared that figures like Davy and Joy Boy would never reappear.

Davy and Joy Boy are gone forever, and I will ensure the same fate befalls you. — Imu to Rocks

Luckily, the bloodlines of both Rocks and a mysterious red-haired woman – someone fans don’t yet know – were preserved here. God Valley has ties to the Davy Clan, who once lived there and called it the Island of Fate. Shanks is believed to be the Child of Destiny.

Imu’s desire to eliminate all traces of Davy and Joy Boy coincided with Shanks and Blackbeard escaping God Valley. These two characters share striking similarities and are likely related to important figures from the long-lost Void Century. The resemblance between Shanks and the Joy Boy depicted on Fishman Island is noticeable, and Oda has even explicitly compared their Haki. While Shanks isn’t destined to be the next Joy Boy or a world savior, he may still be a descendant and could be crucial in the fight against the World Government.

One Piece Chapter 1165 is scheduled for release this week, as usual on Sundays. While it will be available in Japan at midnight on Monday, most international fans can expect to read it on November 9, 2025. The official release date is November 9th, and it will be available to read for free on Manga Plus.

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2025-11-06 02:35