One Piece: Dragon’s Enemy In The Final War Is Stronger Than You Think

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In the realm of Shonen anime, a recurring pattern can be noticed where the most formidable characters are often introduced later in the storyline. This strategy seems logical given that characters tend to grow and become stronger as their journey unfolds. Notably, even in the world of One Piece, many of its strongest characters have only recently emerged on the scene. (As an observer, I’ve noticed this trend.)

Given the current circumstances, there’s widespread consensus among fans that Monkey D. Dragon is destined to be one of the strongest characters, as he hasn’t yet engaged in combat and Oda seems to be holding him back for the grand Final War. This suggests that his adversary in this showdown will equally match his power, so let’s explore the most plausible opponent Dragon may encounter in One Piece’s Final War.

St. Marcus Mars Is Clearly Being Set Up As One Of The Strongest Villains

The Warrior God of Environment

First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 233, “The World’s Greatest Power”
Story Arc Jaya
  • Mars will probably be Dragon’s Final War opponent.

It’s quite evident that One Piece’s Final War will feature some epic battles between the series’ strongest characters. Given their power levels, fights involving the Gorosei promise to be crucial after Luffy’s climactic showdown against Imu. This is because the Gorosei are among the most powerful figures aligned with the World Government.

For many elders, their upcoming battles are fairly apparent, such as Zoro facing off against V or Shanks battling Garling. In this context, St. Marcus Mars appears to lack a clear opponent at present, but it seems Dragon is the likely choice given their striking similarities. Most notably, they share a stoic and logical demeanor, with Dragon leading the Revolutionary Army, which holds significant influence worldwide.

Despite the Elders not adhering to a traditional hierarchy, as they appear equally significant in terms of importance and authority, Saint Marcus Mars has consistently distinguished himself among his peers. He often serves as a voice of reason, maintaining composure, and assuming a more prominent leadership position within their group. Notably, he is usually the first to speak up and gives an impression of being the most rational, such as when he traversed Egghead Island, inquiring from various individuals about the source of Vegapunk’s transmission.

Many people notice similarities between his behavior and appearance to those of Dragon, leading them to think that Oda might have been hinting at a future showdown between the two characters for quite some time. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Mars’ Yokai transformation, the Itsumade, is a dragon-like creature from Japanese folklore known for breathing fire, which fans have linked as another potential clue. However, this theory relies heavily on speculation.

Is it so hard to single out a single insect when you’re exterminating the hive!

Among all characters in the world, the Dragon, as the head of the Revolutionary Army, is renowned for his power and influence. It seems fitting then, given his stature, to have an adversary who matches his strength and significance. None seem to fit this description better than one of the Gorosei, since the roles of the other World Government-allied parties have already been established to a great extent. Given the might of these villains, it appears that Oda has planned their encounters with Luffy’s strongest allies.

Absolutely, these predictions might change with the unpredictable Final War, which is typical of Oda’s style. Throughout the series, many fan theories have proven accurate, and this one appears likely too due to its logical fit. Only the passage of time will reveal if fans are correct about Dragon vs. Mars. At present, it seems like a fight that fits perfectly with the storyline.

There Is Another Gorosei Who Fans Think Could Fight Dragon In The Final War

The Father of Shanks

  • Some think Dragon vs. Garling could be a potential match-up.

On the flip side, some fans imagine that Dragon and Garloff might engage in a fierce battle during the Great War. The idea is more based on theme rather than fact, as it would be thrilling to witness the fathers of Luffy and Shanks going head-to-head in this final conflict, considering they are adversaries despite their sons having a mentor-student relationship.

A notable observation among fans is that they share a common link as distant fathers in their respective sons’ lives, namely Shanks and St. Marcus Mars. In reality, a confrontation between them is extremely unlikely due to a lack of compelling reasons for conflict. Instead, it’s more probable that Garling’s final match-up will be with his son, Shanks. However, for the sake of a captivating narrative, it would be more engaging if Dragon faced off against St. Marcus Mars in the fight.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-08-21 18:34