One Piece’s New Training Arc Has Begun, And Oda Confirms Major Straw Hat Power Ups

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This article contains spoilers from the Elbaf arc of One Piece.

I’m watching as One Piece heads into what’s being called the Final Saga. Everyone’s expecting the Straw Hat Pirates to finally achieve their lifelong dreams and reach the legendary Final Island – the place where the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, is hidden.

The Straw Hat Pirates have a tough road ahead if they want to achieve their dreams. They’ll need to defeat every enemy they encounter, and that won’t be easy in the New World, where opponents are incredibly powerful.

Although some Straw Hat Pirates, like Luffy, are already powerful enough to fight the strongest opponents, most of the crew still needs to improve their abilities. It looks like the journey to Elbaf will serve as a dedicated training period, helping the Straw Hats become stronger so they can achieve their goals.

The Straw Hat Pirates Need To Get Stronger In One Piece

  • Luffy is A Yonko Right Now
  • His Underlings Need To Get Stronger

It’s expected that the Straw Hat Pirates will need to become even more powerful as the story of One Piece reaches its climax. While they’ve earned their status as one of the Four Emperors (Yonko), that strength isn’t necessarily shared by the entire crew. Luffy, however, is undoubtedly a worthy Emperor – he defeated Kaido and managed to fight Kizaru to a standstill on Egghead. He’s clearly still growing, and most fans believe he has the potential to become incredibly strong.

The same reasoning applies to Zoro and Sanji. Both are exceptionally strong and managed to defeat two of Kaido’s top officers, Queen and King. This proves they’re already at the level of a Yonko commander, and with their continued growth, fans anticipate even greater things from them in the future.

Jinbei is a strong member of the Straw Hat Pirates, but his most challenging opponent so far, Who’s Who, isn’t considered a major threat in the New World. He also suffered a quick and decisive defeat against Gunko on Elbaf, highlighting his need to become even more powerful.

Nico Robin and Franky, despite winning battles against the Tobi Roppo during the Wano arc, aren’t powerful enough to handle major threats like the Holy Knights or the crews of the Yonko in the world of One Piece. The rest of the Straw Hat crew is also relatively weak and frequently needs to be protected. This makes the current training arc in Elbaf crucial, as Oda needs to find ways to significantly increase their strength and abilities.

Elbaf’s Second Part Is The New Training Arc For The Straw Hat Pirates

  • Zoro and Sanji Will Gain Major Power Ups
  • Usopp Is In Contention For A Power Up As Well

The beginning of the Elbaf Arc really delivered, giving us a huge amount of backstory, especially about Loki. We learned so much about the world’s history, stretching back over a century! Now, though, the arc has moved into its second phase, and I think it’s going to be even more thrilling. It looks like we’re finally going to see some massive battles begin, and the Straw Hats are poised to become even more powerful. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

The latest One Piece chapter strongly suggests that the Straw Hat Pirates will begin getting stronger during the second half of their journey to Elbaf.

Haki is a hidden power that everyone possesses – the potential to sense spiritual energy and dominate opponents. However, most people never unlock this ability within themselves. – Silvers Rayleigh

Right now, half of the Straw Hat Pirates are out of action. Nico Robin is caught in Sommers’s power, and Jinbe, Usopp, Nami, and Brook have been captured by Gunko. Chopper is with Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro deep within Elbaf’s Underworld, while Franky is currently with Ripley. Everyone will have a chance to contribute, but first, the crew members held by Gunko need to be rescued so they can help with the challenges in Elbaf. The remaining members are likely heading to the Sun World to face the Holy Knights and Imu’s demon army.

Haki Manipulation Is The Biggest Power Up The Straw Hats Will Gain

The main focus of this training arc seems to be improving Haki. Gaban recently gave Luffy advice on how to strengthen his Haki, specifically how to use Conqueror’s Haki effectively to defeat the Immortals. Gaban explained that the key is to control and increase the mass of Haki to completely overcome their immortality, something Luffy hasn’t yet mastered despite being able to infuse it. Gaban also revealed to Zoro that he also possesses Conqueror’s Haki, pointing out that Zoro’s unawareness of this is a significant oversight.

Gaban questioned Zoro, pointing out that Haki’s power can only be accessed if you know it exists, and challenged his ability to protect his captain without that understanding.

Gaban advised Zoro that mastering Haki requires being able to activate it whenever he chooses. This suggests Zoro will become significantly more powerful during the events in Elbaf. In Chapter 1171, Gaban was shown traveling with Sanji, and the two are expected to be crucial in rescuing the Straw Hat Pirates. Importantly, this journey will likely be where Sanji finally awakens his Conqueror’s Haki, as the author, Oda, has been building towards this development.

Fans should also consider the other Straw Hat Pirates, and Usopp is a strong candidate for a significant power increase in this story arc. Reaching Elbaf has always been his dream, so it’s likely he’ll become much stronger here. Whatever form that power boost takes, fans can expect Usopp to emerge from this arc more powerful than ever before.

Fans are hoping to see Robin, Franky, and Jinbe develop powerful new abilities. Specifically, they’d like to see Robin and Franky unlock new forms of Haki, and Jinbe master advanced Haki techniques.

Eiichiro Oda’s popular manga, One Piece, follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the legendary treasure, the One Piece. The story is currently in its final arc. A new chapter will appear in this week’s issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, with Chapter 1171 officially releasing on January 18, 2026. In Japan, it will be available at midnight on Monday, which translates to 11:00 AM Eastern Time or 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read the chapter for free on the Manga Plus and Shonen Jump apps, and doing so helps support the creator.

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2026-01-16 23:39