One Piece: Oda Officially Confirms A Swordsman That Can Defeat Mihawk, And It’s Not Zoro

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

When people think of skilled swordsmen in the world of *One Piece*, Mihawk is a name that always comes up. He was introduced early in the series and is currently known as the World’s Greatest Swordsman, a title he’s held for many years.

Mihawk is incredibly strong, and the author, Oda, has repeatedly shown him to be a formidable fighter. However, he’s not invincible. Many characters in *One Piece* are actually much stronger, and fans anticipate Zoro will eventually exceed his power. Recently, Oda introduced a new character who is even more powerful than Mihawk.

Mihawk Is The Current Strongest Swordsman In The World

  • Mihawk Debuted In Baratie
  • His Strength Is Incredible

For a long time in *One Piece*, Zoro has been striving to reach the level of Dracule Mihawk, who is widely considered one of the strongest swordsmen in the series. They first met in Baratie, where Mihawk easily defeated Zoro. However, instead of simply dismissing him, Mihawk recognized Zoro’s determination and encouraged him to improve and eventually become stronger than himself.

Rocks’s swordsmanship was incredibly destructive, like being hit by a cannonball or a massive hammer. It obliterated anything that stood in his way immediately, leaving nothing untouched. – Narrator on Rocks D. Xebec

We saw a little of Mihawk’s strength during the Marineford arc, but he hasn’t been a major focus since then. Eventually, the author, Oda, will really showcase Mihawk’s abilities, particularly when Zoro becomes stronger than him.

Growing up, I always dreamed of creating a manga with an unbelievably epic climax. I often wondered if I had what it took! Now, after 25 years, we’re nearing the end of the Wano arc and everything’s almost ready. Honestly, you could jump in right here if you wanted to, because from this point forward… it’s going to be the ONE PIECE! I’m finally going to reveal all the mysteries of this world through my art, and it’s going to be incredibly exciting. So buckle up, and please stick with me a little longer!

Rocks D. Xebec Could’ve Easily Beaten Mihawk

Rocks Was A Monster Far Stronger Than Mihawk

Eiichiro Oda recently revealed more about the character Rocks D. Xebec in *One Piece*, and fans were incredibly impressed. While everyone expected Rocks to be extremely powerful, he exceeded all expectations. He was so strong that he could effortlessly defeat even an Admiral.

Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, jokingly referred to this period as the ‘Era of Rocks,’ despite the presence of powerful sea monsters, because of the significant impact of the Rocks Pirates led by Rocks D. Xebec.

He swung a blade, but surprisingly, it didn’t actually cut anything. Instead, his attacks unleashed powerful, concussive force, like explosions, obliterating everything around him. He wasn’t a swordsman in the conventional sense, but that was irrelevant. He possessed strength far exceeding Mihawk’s, and could defeat him as effortlessly as he could an Admiral.

Mihawk Will Be Surpassed By Zoro

Currently, Mihawk is focused solely on a future fight with Zoro. Zoro is consistently improving, steadily closing the gap between them, and striving to become the world’s greatest swordsman.

With *One Piece* now in its final story arc, a showdown between Zoro and Mihawk is inevitable. While Mihawk will likely lose to someone else eventually, this battle will likely conclude Zoro’s character development. Fans anticipate Zoro will reach his full potential after the events on Elbaf, and are eagerly awaiting this moment.

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 to read for free on Manga Plus.

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2025-09-28 14:34