One Piece: Luffy’s Incurable Future Sickness And Death, Explained

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This article contains spoilers from the One Piece manga.

The final arc of One Piece will really test the Straw Hat Pirates. While their main goal is to help Luffy become King of the Pirates, each crew member also has personal dreams they want to achieve. The story will especially focus on Luffy and the obstacles he faces on his journey.

Everyone knows Luffy’s dream is to become the Pirate King, but he has an even bigger goal in mind. He’ll face many challenges from powerful pirates and Marines, but the biggest obstacle in the final part of the story probably won’t be another person. It seems very likely that Luffy will develop a serious, incurable illness, similar to what happened to Roger. The author has hinted at this several times, and after years of pushing his body to the limit, Luffy will likely suffer the same fate as Roger.

Luffy Could Contract Roger’s Sickness In One Piece

Image by Toei Animation

Fans of One Piece recognize Gol D. Roger as a hugely important person in the world. He’s considered the most influential figure in recent history, and his death marked the beginning of the age of pirates. Shortly before he died, Roger actually surrendered to the Marines, though he was already very ill at the time.

As we learned more about Roger’s story, it became apparent that he had a serious, untreatable illness. This disease was slowly taking his life, and it’s a key reason why he wasn’t able to become Nika.

Gol D. Roger was diagnosed with a fatal illness four years before his death, one that no doctor could cure. Though he suffered greatly, Crocus, the lighthouse keeper and a remarkably skilled doctor, managed to ease his pain. Three years after the diagnosis, while fighting to stay alive, we accomplished what everyone thought impossible: we successfully navigated the Grand Line. — Silvers Rayleigh about Gol D. Roger

I remember a time when even the best doctors were helpless against what Roger was facing, and despite his incredible strength, he couldn’t overcome it. That’s why he spent his final days setting the stage for a new era of pirates, determined to leave a lasting impact through those who came after him. Now, I see that same terrible illness potentially threatening Luffy, and it’s a chilling thought.

Some fans might find this surprising, but the story has already suggested it several times. For example, during the Enies Lobby arc, Lucci directly warned Luffy that pushing his body to the extreme with Gear Second and Third would eventually be fatal. Similarly, in Thriller Bark, when Luffy used both Gear Second and Third simultaneously, the Straw Hats pointed out that he was harming himself with each use.

During the Dressrosa arc, Luffy pushed himself to the brink of death by using Haki excessively. Later, in Wano, Kaido pointed out that Luffy’s reliance on Haki and Gear 5 would eventually kill him, but Luffy dismissed this, stating he’d eventually die anyway. These moments strongly suggest a developing, potentially fatal condition for Luffy.

Roger And Luffy’s Disease Could Come From Haki Overuse

Many fans have questioned what illness Roger was suffering from, but Oda hasn’t revealed the answer. What is known is that it was a fatal disease that significantly shortened his life. Even a talented doctor like Crocus was unable to cure him.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Roger’s illness, and even though Oda hasn’t said anything official, it really seems like he pushed his body way too hard, just like Luffy does! Roger was the strongest pirate of his time, and he achieved everything using Haki. It all clicks when you remember what Kaido told Luffy – raw power only gets you so far. Ultimately, it’s Haki that truly decides everything!

Luffy, Haki is a power that everyone possesses, though it lies hidden within. It’s the ability to sense a person’s spirit and overpower opponents, and everyone has it to some extent. However, most people never unlock it. True strength comes from unwavering confidence. Now, pay attention! Haki generally manifests in two different forms. — Silvers Rayleigh to Luffy in Ruskaina

Roger relied heavily on his Haki because he didn’t have a Devil Fruit power. This constant use of Haki made it exceptionally strong, placing him at the peak of his generation. However, his body probably suffered from the continuous and immense strain of wielding such powerful Haki.

Roger likely became sick because his body weakened over time, and there was no way to treat it. Now, Luffy seems to be following a similar path by constantly using very strong Haki, especially with his Gear 5 transformation.

Chopper Will Save Luffy From Death

Luffy becoming seriously ill is crucial to the story’s direction. It would both advance a storyline hinted at since the Enies Lobby arc and finally allow Chopper to achieve a long-held ambition.

Chopper dreams of becoming a doctor who can heal any illness, even those currently considered impossible to cure. Though he couldn’t save Hiriluk, he’s determined to save Luffy. It’s likely that when the Straw Hat crew completes their journey around the world and returns to Reverse Mountain, Chopper and Crocus will team up to save Luffy’s life.

Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, One Piece, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, on their adventure to find the legendary treasure, the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. A new chapter, number 1168, will be released in this week’s issue of Weekly Shonen Jump on December 7, 2025. In Japan, it will be available at midnight on Monday, which is 11:00 AM Eastern Time or 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, and by doing so, they directly support the creator.

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2025-12-05 00:35