One Piece: 7 Yonko Level Characters In Elbaf

This article contains spoilers for One Piece’s Elbaf arc.

In the world of One Piece, the most powerful pirates are called the Yonko, meaning the Four Emperors. The original Yonko were Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks. However, things have changed a lot since the time skip. Whitebeard passed away during the Summit War, and Big Mom and Kaido were defeated in the Onigashima Raid. This has led to a new generation of Yonko: Blackbeard, Luffy, and Buggy. Shanks remains the only original member still holding the title.

The story is currently in the Elbaf arc, which has introduced several incredibly strong fighters. Some of these characters appear to be as powerful as the Emperors of the Sea (Yonko), and a few might even surpass their level of strength.

Monkey D. Luffy

Position: Yonko
Affiliation: Straw Hat Pirates

Currently in the Elbaf arc, Monkey D. Luffy is clearly established as one of the most powerful characters, solidifying his position as one of the Four Emperors. Since defeating Kaido in the Wano arc and awakening his Devil Fruit – becoming the Sun God Nika – Luffy’s abilities have dramatically increased. He now possesses incredible powers fueled by imagination, and while he’s still growing stronger, his Haki and Devil Fruit make him a truly formidable force.

The Elbaf arc seems designed to help Luffy grow even more powerful. He needs to significantly improve his Conqueror’s Haki, potentially to the point of overcoming even immortal beings. Luffy’s goal isn’t just to be as strong as the current Emperors (like Kaido and Big Mom), but to become a force capable of challenging the World Government and figures like Imu.

Scopper Gaban

image by Viz Media

Position: Former Left Hand of The Pirate King
Affiliation: Roger Pirates (Formerly), Elbaf

One Piece fans have been eagerly anticipating the appearance of Scopper Gaban. He was once a member of Gol D. Roger’s crew, sailing with them to conquer the Grand Line, uncover the world’s secrets, and ultimately find the One Piece. Gaban was essential to Roger’s success; Roger couldn’t have achieved it all without him.

Even now, despite his age, Gaban demonstrates incredible strength. In his prime, he effortlessly defeated a Holy Knight and even overpowered both Luffy and Zoro simultaneously. Before Imu arrived, Gaban was capable of single-handedly defending the entire island of Elbaf. His Conqueror’s Haki is among the most impressive seen in the series recently, and fans are eager to see what he does next in the current storyline.

Loki

Position: Prince of Elbaf
Affiliation: Elbaf

Loki, also known as the Accursed Prince of Elbaf, was always expected to be a powerful character, but fans were surprised by how much emphasis Oda placed on his strength. He’s incredibly strong because he’s descended from the Ancient Giants, but he’s also demonstrated abilities that put him far beyond most others.

During the flashback to Elbaf, Loki achieved something no one else had before: he was the first person to defeat someone who benefited from Imu’s power of immortality – a feat even legendary figures like Gaban, Roger, and Garp couldn’t accomplish. Loki’s combination of Haki, a powerful Devil Fruit, and the ship Ragnir makes him stronger than most of the Yonko.

Shamrock Figarland

Position: Holy Knight Commander
Affiliation: World Government

Shamrock briefly showed up in Elbaf, finally allowing fans to meet Shanks’ twin brother. While his strength is still unknown, he demonstrated a hint of his power when he fought Loki with his Cerberus sword, almost defeating him.

Shamrock is at least as powerful as one of the Four Emperors, likely because of his relationship with Shanks. As Shanks’ twin brother, Shamrock’s strength should be comparable.

Gunko

Position: Holy Knight
Affiliation: World Government

Manmayer Gunko is a Holy Knight who was first seen with Shamrock. Initially, many fans didn’t realize how strong she was, but she’s since become a very powerful character, potentially one of the most powerful within the World Government. Currently, she is under the control of Imu, but she was already a formidable fighter before that.

Shamrock claimed Gunko is strong enough to beat Loki when he’s not restrained, which is a significant statement considering how powerful Loki is – he was beyond the control of everyone except Shanks. This suggests Gunko is at least as strong as a Yonko, and possibly even more powerful due to the abilities she’s gained from Imu.

Imu

Position: Sovereign of the World
Affiliation: World Government

Imu Nerona is widely considered the most powerful character in One Piece right now. They secretly rule the world from behind the scenes, sitting on the enigmatic Empty Throne. For nearly ten years, Imu was a huge mystery, and their actual strength has proven to be far greater than anyone anticipated.

Imu took direct action on Elbaf, using Gunko as a vessel to enslave the giants and demonstrate their magical and Haki abilities. Flashbacks revealed Imu’s power far exceeded that of even the strongest pirate captains (Yonko); they easily overpowered six incredibly powerful individuals, including three who would later become Yonko and others who would surpass even that rank.

Dorry and Brogy (Together)

Position: Co-Captains of the Giant Pirates
Affiliation: Giant Pirates, Elbaf

Dorry and Brogy first appeared in One Piece during the Little Garden arc, and they made a strong impression on viewers. However, many fans didn’t expect them to become as powerful as they did after the two-year timeskip.

Initially, Dorry and Brogy were believed to have relatively small bounties. However, after adjusting for inflation, it became clear that their combined bounty as co-captains of the Giant Pirates is equal to that of a Yonko – one of the most powerful groups in the world. When fighting together, they’re undoubtedly at the Yonko level, and are among the strongest fighters around. Now, having been transformed into demonic slaves, Dorry and Brogy are likely even stronger than the Yonko.

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 newest chapter, 1172, will be released in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump on February 1, 2026. In Japan, it will become available at midnight on Monday, which is 11:00 AM Eastern Time and 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, and reading through these official platforms helps support the creator.

2026-01-27 14:36