Predicting Unlikely Allies: Villains Joining Straw Hats in One Piece’s Final War

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Summary

  • Cross Guild may join the Straw Hats due to a positive history with Luffy and the common desire to defeat Imu.
  • Some Marines aligned with SWORD could defect and join the Straw Hats in the Final War against Imu and the forces of the Celestial Dragons.
  • Aokiji’s sense of justice may lead him to join Straw Hats, as he has shown resistance to the World Government before, as well as him sticking out from the Blackbeard Pirates.

Characters from the One Piece series, renowned across the anime world, feature some of the most memorable villains. Ranging from Marines with a distorted notion of justice to pirates aiming for global conquest, this show boasts an array of antagonists that not only serve as major hurdles in storylines but also embody key traits that starkly contrast the heroic characters, underscoring their roles as foils.

As we edge closer to One Piece’s epic Final War, a momentous event that Oda himself has promised will rock the very core of this beloved franchise, an intriguing debate arises: Who among our Straw Hat allies might prove indispensable in the impending showdown against Imu and the World Government? With numerous iconic villains from our past battles potentially stepping into the fray, let’s explore who these candidates could be and delve into why their allegiance to Luffy seems inevitable.

The Cross Guild Will Likely Join The Straw Hats

Likelihood Of Joining: Mid-High

First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 1056, “Cross Guild”
Story Arc Wano
  • The Cross Guild aren’t as directly antagonistic to the heroes as other pirate crews.

It’s not entirely unforeseeable that the Cross Guild might join forces with the Straw Hats during the Final War. This could potentially occur because two key members, Buggy and Crocodile, have previously aided Luffy, even though they are rivals in the pursuit of the One Piece treasure. Their past actions suggest a somewhat friendly dynamic with Luffy at this point in the story.

As intended, the public’s recognition of Cross Guild is gradually increasing. It seems that the Navy is becoming more cognizant of the danger we present.

In this scenario, Mihawk is distinct from others, notably because he and Zoro are predicted to vie for the position of the World’s Strongest Swordsman in the upcoming chapters of the series. Yet, it’s worth noting that Mihawk has previously trained Zoro, demonstrating his commitment to their anticipated duel and desire to bolster Zoro’s abilities as much as feasible. Following their initial encounter, Mihawk encouraged Zoro to surpass him and even tutored the Pirate Hunter to achieve this goal. Consequently, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to speculate that Mihawk or his Cross Guild might form an alliance with the Straw Hats against Imu.

Miscellaneous Forces Of The Marines Will Join The Straw Hats

Likelihood Of Joining: Very High

Notable Members Garp, Sengoku, Koby, Smoker, Fujitora, Kizaru
Most Likely To Defect Garp, Koby, Fujitora
  • Many Marines quit and joined SWORD since they align more with their own sense of justice instead of the Absolute Justice that the World Government preaches.

The heart of the Final War involves a confrontation between the Straw Hats and their allies against the troops of Imu, primarily made up of Navy foot soldiers, as they form the primary offensive forces of the World Government. However, it’s important to note that there are many characters within the World Government who share the values of the heroes and oppose the authoritarian rule of the Celestial Dragons. As a result, some prominent figures have resigned and established SWORD, indicating a division within the World Government.

The sailors who comprise the unit known as SWORD have tendered their resignations. As a result, they are now free to engage in conflict with the Four Emperors without seeking approval first. They also have the liberty to act independently and ignore commands if they so choose.

Among this select group, there’s a growing conviction that Admiral Fujitora and Kizaru might join their side. These two are significant characters in the whole One Piece universe, occupying the second-highest positions in the World Government hierarchy. Unlike many other Marines, Fujitora was promoted later and has shown a strong commitment to justice, believing that anyone can be good regardless of whether they’re a Marine or a pirate. On the contrary, it’s rumored that Kizaru might be questioning the World Government following the incident at Egghead, where he was compelled to kill his close friend due to reviving Luffy’s Gear 5 power.

Aokiji Will Likely Join The Straw Hats

Likelihood Of Joining: High

First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 303, “Rich Pirates”
Story Arc Long Ring Long Land
  • Aokiji may have hidden motives, and him joining the Blackbeard Pirates over the World Government may have hinted at his second betrayal.

Similar to Admirals Fujitora and Kizaru, Aokiji stands out as a significant and powerful figure within the narrative. Unlike the other two, however, Aokiji’s potential alliance with the Straw Hats seems more plausible due to his strong personal sense of justice that often overshadows any allegiances he might hold toward the World Government. This internal code has driven him to distance himself from the World Government in the past because he recognized that there were certain actions or orders he could not abide by, such as those given by Akainu.

The thing called “Justice” changes its shape… Depending on where you stand.

People were taken aback when it was revealed that he had joined the Blackbeard Pirates, considering his previous beliefs. Many fans speculate that this is merely a decoy, and in reality, Aokiji is secretly working for SWORD, an organization that may ultimately side with the Straw Hats. Even if this isn’t true, Aokiji’s commitment to justice and honor conflicts with the Blackbeard Pirates, suggesting he might eventually turn against them and support Luffy instead.

Big Mom And Kaido Could Also Join The Straw Hats

Likelihood Of Joining: Low

Big Mom First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 651, “A Voice From the New World”
Kaido First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 795, “Suicide”
  • The fates of both former Yonko remains vague, so it’s possible that they may return to the series in slightly more heroic roles!

In the grand scheme of things, Big Mom and Kaido are two powerful figures known for their strength as pirates throughout history. Initially, they posed significant challenges and served key antagonistic roles in the narrative. However, it was a combined effort by the crews led by Luffy, Law, and Kid, along with the armies of Wano that brought about their defeat. The most recent sighting of these once unbeatable Yonko leaders was them being shot down to the foot of Mt. Fuji, leaving viewers under the impression that they may have perished.

Joyboy is the man who will be able to beat me one day!

Many devoted fans speculate that certain characters are still alive because Oda rarely kills off characters and often leaves their fates uncertain. If these characters are indeed alive, they might reappear during the Final War. Their roles could vary: either facing Luffy in combat or joining him against the World Government on Pluton, a theory much favored by fans. Kaido stands out among them, as he has always believed in Joyboy and, following his fight with Luffy, learned about Luffy’s power.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-05-01 16:45