One Piece: Oda Has Already Revealed A Crew Stronger Than The Straw Hat Pirates

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

The Straw Hat Pirates are the central characters in the anime and manga series, One Piece. Viewers have been following their adventures since the very beginning, witnessing their strong friendships develop and watching them grow more powerful over the years.

I’ve been following the Straw Hat Pirates for a while now, and they’ve grown incredibly strong, especially after their two-year training period. They’re now considered one of the four most powerful pirate crews in the world of *One Piece*, which is a huge accomplishment. But even though they’re definitely among the top four strongest groups sailing the seas, the author, Oda, has hinted at another crew that’s still a step above them. In a lot of ways, it seems like *that* crew is what the Straw Hats are ultimately aiming to surpass.

The Straw Hat Pirates Are A Yonko Crew

  • Luffy Beating Kaido Made Him A Yonko
  • The Straw Hats Are Now Emperor Level Pirates

The Wano Country arc dramatically shifted the balance of power in the world. Before this, Kaido and Big Mom were dominant forces in the New World, but this arc marked the beginning of a new age. Luffy defeated Kaido, and the Straw Hat Pirates dismantled his entire crew, the Beast Pirates. Simultaneously, Kid and Law successfully defeated Big Mom. This arc was incredibly important, with far-reaching consequences that will be felt throughout the world.

Shaka warned Lilith about the Straw Hat Pirates, recently recognized as one of the Four Emperors. He emphasized that their most powerful member could defeat anyone instantly from that distance.

After the events in Wano Country, a new generation of powerful pirate captains, known as Emperors, emerged. Luffy joined the ranks of these Emperors, alongside Buggy, Shanks, and Blackbeard, establishing the four strongest pirate crews in the world.

Only The Red Hair Pirates Can Beat The Straw Hats Right Now

The Red Hair Pirates Are All Beasts

One Piece fans understand that while Luffy and his Straw Hat crew are formidable, they aren’t the absolute strongest pirates. The Cross Guild is actually weaker than them, holding the title of the weakest powerful crew. Both the Straw Hats and the Blackbeard Pirates are strong, but haven’t reached their full potential just yet.

The Red Hair Pirates are incredibly well-rounded and don’t have any obvious weaknesses. Each member has a significant bounty, proving their strength and notoriety. – Shanks

Among the four Yonko crews, the Red Hair Pirates are considered the most formidable. Brannew notes that they boast incredibly powerful fighters and a consistently high level of strength throughout the crew. Compared to the other Emperors, the Red Hair Pirates are remarkably well-balanced, with minimal gaps in power between their members. They also have the highest average bounty of all the Yonko crews. Considering all these factors, the Red Hair Pirates are currently the strongest Yonko crew.

Luffy’s Goal Is To Surpass Shanks And The Red Hair Pirates

Beyond all of that, it’s important to remember Luffy’s original dream. He promised Shanks he would become even stronger, build an even better crew, and discover the One Piece. Becoming more powerful than the Red Hair Pirates with his own crew was a key part of that promise. Luffy hasn’t kept that promise to Shanks yet, and until he challenges and fights Shanks, Shanks will remain the stronger pirate.

One Piece Chapter 1161 is scheduled for release this week, as usual on Sundays. While it becomes available in Japan at midnight on Monday, most international fans will be able to read it on September 28th. The official release date is September 28, 2025, and the chapter will be available for free on Manga Plus.

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2025-09-25 00:04