One Piece’s Newest Pirate Is Now Officially Stronger Than Yonko Monkey D. Luffy

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

The anime and manga series One Piece is now in the Elbaf arc, kicking off the epic final battles of the story. This part introduces Luffy and his crew to Imu and the World Government, making it a particularly thrilling chapter created by author Eiichiro Oda.

Fans have been eagerly anticipating a major turning point in One Piece for years, and it’s finally happening as the most powerful characters begin to take action. This is the climax creator Eiichiro Oda envisioned from the story’s beginning, and he’s now showcasing the strength of these characters. Recently, Oda introduced Loki, a legendary figure even more powerful than Yonko Monkey D. Luffy, known as the Accursed Prince of Elbaf.

Luffy Became One Of The Yonko After The Wano Arc of One Piece

  • Luffy Awakened His Devil Fruit In Wano
  • He Gained Advanced Haki Vs Kaido

When One Piece fans discuss the strongest characters, the Yonko are almost always at the top of the list. These four pirates rule the New World with immense power, acting like kings. Their influence is so great that even the World Government avoids directly confronting them unless absolutely necessary. The Yonko aren’t just powerful themselves; they command strong crews and have extensive alliances, making them a truly formidable force.

Throughout the series, the title of Yonko – the most powerful pirates – has changed hands several times. Recently, Monkey D. Luffy joined their ranks. After the Wano arc concluded, both Kaido and Big Mom were defeated, losing their positions as Emperors. Luffy and Buggy then took their place. Luffy earned this title through his incredible strength, particularly after mastering his Devil Fruit powers and all three forms of advanced Haki.

As a long-time One Piece fan, I wasn’t shocked to see Luffy rise to become a powerhouse, able to battle the Emperors of the sea! But it’s become clear to me that being a Yonko doesn’t automatically make you the absolute strongest character. We already know Imu is on a whole other level of power compared to any of them. And honestly, it looks like Loki is joining that exclusive club – someone whose abilities might actually surpass even the Yonko themselves. It’s incredibly exciting to think about where the story is going!

Although Shanks defeated Loki six years ago, Loki currently appears more powerful than most of the Yonko, and significantly stronger than Luffy.

Loki Has Surpassed Luffy In Terms of Power Already

  • Loki is above the level of Rocks D. Xebec
  • Loki singlehandedly overwhelmed Harald 14 years ago

Over the years, fans have watched Luffy become a stronger fighter with each battle, so they have a good understanding of his current abilities. He unlocked Gear 5 and awakened Advanced Conqueror’s Haki during the Wano arc, making him incredibly powerful. However, he still faced difficulties against Kaido. More recently, in the Egghead arc, Luffy easily handled Kizaru, even while holding back, but it was clear he wasn’t fighting at his absolute peak. This shows Luffy still has potential to grow, and opponents like Shanks and Blackbeard likely remain significantly stronger.

I’m the strongest warrior alive, and this is Warland, the violent kingdom of Elbaf. It was once the most powerful nation on Earth, built on the art of war. I am Loki, the Sun God, and I’m here to bring destruction! — Loki, as he introduces himself in the Elbaf Arc.

Okay, so as a huge One Piece fan, I’ve been thinking a lot about how Luffy stacks up against Loki, and honestly, Loki is on a whole other level right now. That flashback to Elbaf really showed us just how powerful he is! He managed to kill King Harald, who was literally immortal – that’s never been done before in the series! In fact, he’s the only one we’ve seen even challenge someone as powerful as Imu. Taking everything into account, it’s pretty clear: right now, Loki is definitely stronger than Luffy.

Loki Had A Brief Stint As A Pirate

Image by Viz Media

Some fans question whether Loki can truly be called a pirate, but evidence suggests he absolutely was. After King Harald’s death 14 years ago in Elbaf, Loki began sailing the seas with a crew composed of the late king’s loyal guards. Driven by revenge, he wreaked havoc as a pirate for many years, eventually earning a massive bounty of 2.6 billion berries – a bounty so high it was considered unique. Because of his actions, the World Government undoubtedly recognized him as a pirate, despite any differing fan opinions.

Luffy Needs A Big Power Up To Match Loki

  • Luffy will master his Haki in Elbaf
  • Loki and Luffy should be close in power come the end of the arc

Comparing Luffy to Loki, most fans agree a fight right now wouldn’t be much of a contest. Loki is significantly more powerful than Luffy, even though Luffy is a Yonko, because Loki defeated someone even stronger than Rocks D. Xebec. For Luffy to have a chance against Loki, he needs to fully control his Haki and remove the time limit on his Gear 5 transformation. If he can do that, he’ll be strong enough to compete.

It’s obvious Luffy still needs to become much stronger to reach the level of powerful characters like Shanks and Loki. The upcoming Elbaf arc is designed to help him do just that. For now, fans can enjoy watching Luffy develop his abilities as he battles Imu and the Demon Army in the Warland of Elbaf. This arc promises to be a major turning point for Luffy, significantly boosting both his strength and personal growth.

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, number 1171, will be released in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump. It will be available on January 18, 2026, at 12 AM Japan Standard Time (11:00 AM Eastern Time / 8:00 AM Pacific Time). Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app, which helps support the creator.

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2026-01-17 23:35