One Piece's The Elbaph Arc is currently at its climax, with the final battle against Saint Nerona Imu, which descended on Elbaph in Chapter 1179, and the Holy Knights have officially begun. As presented by Eiichiro Oda's editor himself in Chapter 1181, the battle to save Elbaph has now officially begun, and this battle has pitted the Straw Hat Pirates against the greatest force in the world, led by the King himself. This fight will not be easy for the Straw Hat Pirates and will require them to be significantly strengthened.
Eiichiro Oda has specifically craft a few select members of the Straw Hat Pirates for Haki power-ups in the Elbaph Arcand they will receive them in the coming chapters as this Warland arc rushes towards its final conclusion. With new Haki abilities, the Straw Hat Pirates will officially become one of the most powerful threats on the seas, rivaling the likes of the Red Hair Pirates, led by Shanks, and the Blackbeard Pirates, led by Marshall D. Teech.
One Piece Chapters 1152 and 1180 Officially Set Up Major Haki Power Ups for Two Straw Hats
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Pieceofficially set up major power-ups for two main fighters within the Straw Hat Pirates, they are the “Pirate King's wings”. This came with the introduction of the Holy Knights in the expanding storyline of One Piece. In One Piece chapter 1152, which was officially released in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 30 on June 23, 2025, Eiichiro Oda officially confirmed through the character Scopper Gaban that the only way to completely get rid of the Holy Knights is to coat their weapons in the color of the Supreme King, also known as Ha Conquerors.
Gaban specifically went on to state that the Holy Knights are not immortal and can only be truly defeated with Conqueror's Haki. He then pointed out that, of Zoro and Sanji, the former has used Conqueror's Haki but has no control over it, which he needs to fix. Meanwhile, Sanji's disposition to the Conqueror's Haki was left a secret by Eiichiro Oda in the same chapter.
“Looks like there's more than one of you with Supreme King Haki. You there, swordsman…you seem pretty comfortable with it!” — Scopper Gaban, One Piece Chapter 1152
One Piece Chapter 1181 once again set up major Haki power-ups for the Straw Hat Pirates after the resurgence of both Sommers and Killingham, two of the main enemies of Zoro and Sanji in the Elbaph Arc. This happened after the descent of Nerona Imu in Chapter 1179, which was officially released in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 19 on April 6, 2026. Both Sommers and Killingham were granted the power omen directly by the King of the World. This greatly strengthened them and allowed them to pursue their goals of kidnapping the children and bringing them back to the Holy Land again. As established by Oda himself, Zoro and Sanji will need control of the Supreme King's suit to defeat them, which is why major power-ups have already been set up for them.
One Piece's Elbaph Arc officially shows the power difference between Luffy and his wings
Luffy's Wings, Zoro and Sanji, are very powerful. They still pale in comparison to Luffy in strength.
Eiichiro Oda has set up Zoro and Sanji for the Haki Buffs to defeat Sommers and Killingham
Roronoa Zoro and Sanji are next in line within the Straw Hat Pirates to get big power-ups. With the Elbaph arc at its climax, the battle against Nerona Imu and his minions won't take too long. The group has already made their wish to end the mission quickly in Chapter 1180, and as such the Giant children will be targeted soon enough. It's up to Zoro and Sanji to stop them from wreaking havoc on the warland.
Together, Zoro and Sanji are known as the Pirate King's Wings, and they mirror the Pirate King's former wings: Silvers Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban. Both Rayleigh and Gaban have access to Conqueror's Haki. To be the Pirate King's sword and shield, both of them are required to have this ability. It is only with the Conqueror's Haki that they can go to fight and defeat the Holy Knights. As such, both Zoro and Sanji will get these power-ups in this arc, given that they have to beat their enemies.
“Haki is a power that is only useful when you consciously control it. How do you expect to support your captain, a Sea Emperor, without knowing it?” — Scopper Gaban about Zoro's unflowered Haki, One Piece Chapter 1152
As for Zoro, the power-up comes in the form of Conqueror's Haki control, which he is severely lacking at the moment. As for Sanji, this power-up will see him upgrade his skills by adding Conqueror's Haki and covering his legs in those flames.
Why Usopp, Robin and Nami might be next in line to get Haki in Elbaph
Besides Zoro and Sanji, other members of the Straw Hat Pirates can also continue to receive Haki power-ups in the Elbaph Arc. While Somers and Killingham are the main threats in the arc aside from Imu, MMA hasn't been taken care of yet. With Killingham now resurrected, the threat of MMA could return stronger than ever before, giving the likes of Usopp, Robin, Nami, Franky and Brook huge roles to fill.
If you want to rule them, at least have the pride to fight them head on, you coward! — Usopp to Imu, One Piece Chapter 1177
The non-Devil Fruit users, such as Nami and Usopp, require Haki to be able to combat the threats of MMA. Elbaph has been specifically labeled as Usopp's bow by many, and even Eiichiro Oda recognizes this. By giving Usopp a major Haki power-up and helping him stop MMAs, Usopp's character arc can be raised to a whole new level. Meanwhile, Nami's arsenal needs to be upgraded if she is to fight against the elite of the One Piece world, and she would also greatly benefit from a Haki boost, just like Nico Robin.
Franky's status as an Armament Haki user in Elbaph
Curiously, Franky could have already subconsciously awakened Haki in the Egghead arc when he fought against Mars alongside Luffy, Bonney and Sanji in Chapter 1119, which was officially released on Manga Plus on July 1, 2024. In this chapter, when Franky met Luffy, the latter openly called out to him that the group used Haki so incredibly pain.
Of course it will hurt when you use Haki! — Luffy after being hit by Franky, Sanji and Bonney in One Piece Chapter 1119
The implication is that Franky unwittingly tapped into Haki, which is something that many other characters in the One Piece world, including the likes of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, have done in the past. In that case, the fight against the MMAs would be the perfect opportunity for Franky to bring out his Haki again, and this time learn to properly control it. Only by doing so will the Straw Hat Pirates reach the next level of strength in the upcoming chapters of the Elbaph arc as it nears its end.
All the latest manga chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece can be read on Manga Plus.
