One Piece Explains Two Big Powers Luffy Needs To Defeat Imu

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

The Elbaf arc of One Piece has taken fans by surprise by giving so much attention to Saint Imu Nerona, who is considered the series’ biggest villain. Many expected Imu to be a focus only at the very end of One Piece. However, with the story now in its Final Saga, it’s not entirely unexpected that Oda is starting to reveal important details about him.

The Elbaf arc of One Piece has established Imu as the primary antagonist, revealing their ability to inhabit other people’s bodies – first Gunko in Elbaf, and previously Saturn in God Valley. Chapter 1163 showcased Imu’s immense power, demonstrating that even an alliance of legendary figures like Roger, Garp, Rocks, Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom couldn’t defeat them. This has led fans to speculate on how to overcome such a powerful foe, but Eiichiro Oda has already hinted at the solution: Luffy must fully master the powers of the Nika fruit and achieve a level of Haki comparable to Joy Boy.

Luffy Needs Two Major Abilities To Defeat Imu

The Power Of Nika, And Joy Boy Level Haki

  • Joy Boy Countered Imu’s Demon Powers in Egghead
  • Nika Is A Hard Counter To Imu’s Powers

Imu is an incredibly powerful and immortal being, impossible to defeat through conventional methods – a fact most One Piece fans are likely aware of. Even the massive alliance seen in chapter 1163 wouldn’t be able to win against them. So, how can Imu be defeated? The answer lies in a power that directly opposes their own: the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

First, I need two Devil Fruits! I’ll have Harald eat one of them. — Rocks D. Xebec

Imu embodies darkness and malice, while Luffy represents goodness and hope. Imu enslaves people with a power called Domi Reversi. Luffy, known as the Warrior of Liberation, will free them using his Gear 5 ability. They are complete opposites, which gives Luffy a fighting chance. To overcome Imu’s control, Luffy will need to use his Devil Fruit powers to shift the advantage, and that’s what fans can expect to see in the upcoming battles.

Okay, so Gear 5 is amazing, but it’s not the whole story! Luffy’s going to need seriously powerful Haki to really deal with Imu and cleanse Elbaf, like, Joy Boy level Haki. We actually saw a glimpse of what that takes during the Egghead battle – Emeth had to unleash Joy Boy’s Haki to defeat the Five Elders, and Joy Boy himself said it was his strongest! That Haki was the only thing that could stop those demonic summons. Think back to God Valley, too – even with all the pirates combining their Haki, they couldn’t nullify Imu’s powers. That really shows you just how much stronger Joy Boy’s Haki must be!

That Haki? It’s Joy Boy! — Imu in the Egghead arc

Luffy Vs Imu Will Be The Biggest One Piece Battle

Blackbeard Could Also Fight Imu

The upcoming fight between Luffy and Imu is expected to be a massive battle in the world of One Piece. To win, Luffy needs to perfect Gear 5, becoming strong enough to counter Imu’s Domi Reversi with his own imagination-based powers. He also needs to develop his Haki to the same incredible level as Joy Boy, which will finally allow him to actually harm the ruler of the world.

The next chapter of One Piece 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 2nd. The chapter will be available to read for free on Manga Plus.

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2025-10-31 01:34