The Elbaph arc of One Piece has revealed a lot more about the most powerful pirates in the series, and it’s now established Shanks, captain of the Red Hair Pirates, as the strongest currently active in the New World. With the appearance of Saint Nerona Imu in chapter 1179 and the details revealed throughout the arc, it’s clear that Shanks surpasses all others in terms of power and ability, solidifying his position as the most formidable pirate alive.
How Elbaph Arc Made Shanks The New Strongest Pirate In The Series
The recent Elbaph arc of One Piece has surprisingly highlighted Red Hair Shanks, even though he wasn’t directly involved in the story. This has largely been done to establish him as significantly more powerful than Luffy. Early in the arc, it was revealed that Shanks is the only person on Earth who could deal with the threat of Loki, immediately placing him in a league of his own and suggesting he’s capable of incredible feats.
Elbaph presented Shanks as incredibly powerful, a master of Haki far surpassing Luffy’s current abilities. Luffy was still learning to overcome opponents with seemingly unkillable powers, like the Holy Knights, the Five Elders, and Nerona Imu. Considering all of this, Elbaph positioned Shanks as being even stronger than the established Emperors of the Sea in the One Piece world.
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Breaking Down The Red Haired Emperor’s Biggest Haki Feats
As a huge One Piece fan, I’m constantly amazed by just how powerful Shanks is! It’s not just characters telling us he’s strong, Eiichiro Oda actually shows us, even though we’ve barely seen the full extent of his abilities. Take the Wano Country arc, for example – it was incredible! Shanks managed to completely overpower Admiral Aramaki, and he didn’t even need to be in the same location! From miles away, he unleashed a massive burst of Haki that instantly canceled Aramaki’s Devil Fruit powers, causing him serious pain and effectively paralyzing him. Aramaki was so overwhelmed by Shanks’ sheer power that he just… gave up and left! It was a truly defining moment, showcasing just how unbelievably strong Shanks really is.
During the Egghead Arc, Shanks swiftly defeated Eustass Kid and Killer with a single sword swing, a feat that highlights his immense power. This contrasts with Kaido, who struggled to significantly injure even members of the Worst Generation. More importantly, the arc directly compared Shanks’ Haki to that of Joy Boy, widely considered the strongest Haki ever. By making this comparison, the author, Oda, has firmly established Shanks as the most powerful pirate currently in the One Piece world.
The Implication Of Shanks Beating Loki 6 Years Ago
The Elbaf Arc of One Piece, up to chapter 1179, has effectively established Shanks as the most powerful pirate currently known. Meanwhile, Loki is considered one of the strongest characters in the One Piece universe, and it’s been explicitly stated he has the potential to obliterate the entire world.
Red-haired Shanks was the first person to ever restrain him! No one before Shanks could even slow him down. — Scopper Gaban, Chapter 1139
I witnessed Loki defeat King Harald – a truly powerful warrior, even stronger than the legendary Rocks, who was on par with the Pirate King himself. But incredibly, six years prior, Shanks managed to defeat Loki all by himself and bring him all the way back to Elbaph. That single act of strength is unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and it firmly places Shanks above every other pirate sailing today – possibly even surpassing legends like Roger and Rocks.
Gauging Shanks’s Overall Power Level In The Final Saga
Shanks’s true strength is still largely unknown, but he’s undeniably far more powerful than Luffy. Currently, he possesses the strongest Haki of any pirate in the One Piece world, and his overall skill is comparable to legendary figures like Joy Boy. This places him among the most powerful characters alive, second only to Saint Nerona Imu, who is considered the strongest overall. The author, Oda, will likely reveal more about Shanks and his incredible abilities in the future.
One Piece chapter 1180 will be available to read on Manga Plus on April 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. EST.
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2026-04-10 13:34