One Piece is officially fielding two new Yonko level pirates in Elbaf

In the world of piracy, Yonko is the cream of the crop and stands at the top and rules with an iron fist in the new world. Yonko was officially introduced by Monkey D. Luffy after the events of Annie's Lobby i One Piece Chapter 432 on October 30, 2006. Garp said that the Yonko are known to be a powerful force that the World Government requires the Shichibukai to balance the influence of. They rule the New World as kings and have their own powerful territories, and even the Marines think twice before facing them in battle. Yonko are some of the strongest individuals in the entire One Piece world, which is why only a select few characters have monstrous strength comparable to theirs.

But One Piece is now in the final saga, with the latest chapter 1184 taking us deep into the climax of the Elbaf Arc. Right now, there are already quite a few powerful Yonko-level characters, and the upcoming chapters set up the ascension of two more powerful individuals to the level of a Yonko. These characters are none other than the Wings of the Pirate King – Zoro and Sanji.

Straw Hat Pirates' Roronoa Zoro and Sanji are on the verge of Yonko level in Elbaf

Roronoa Zoro and Sanji are two of the most powerful characters in One Piece. When it comes to Yonko Commanders or Pirates just below Yonko level, Zoro and Sanji are some of the very strongest, if not the strongest already. Both of these characters showcased their immense power in the Wano Country Arc, where they battled the King and Queen of All Stars respectively, absolutely dismantling them in battle. Since then, both Zoro and Sanji have grown in significant ways and have attained immense powers.

In Egghead, Zoro fought and overwhelmed Lucci in Chapter 1111 on March 25, 2024, taking his overall strength to a new level. Sanji was able to perform massive feats, such as injuring Nusjuro, one of the Five Elders, in Chapter 1113, and even destroying Kizaru's laser from existence in 1107 on February 19, 2024 – a feat so shocking that it surprised Kizaru himself for the very first time. Clearly, both Zoro and Sanji have enormous potential, and Elbaf is set on fully unlocking it.

In One Piece chapter 1152, which was officially released in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #30 on June 23, 2025, Eiichiro Oda had Scopper Gaban, the former left arm of the Pirate King, confirm that Zoro and Sanji have immense potential. Specifically, Gaban mentioned that within the Straw Hat Pirates, there is more than just one person with Conqueror's Haki. According to Gaban, Zoro has already used this power but lacks control over it. One Piece chapter 1152 also set up the Conqueror's Haki power for Sanji, and with that, both of the Pirate King's wings have immense powers to gain as Elbaf heads towards his end.

“There are more than one of you who have the power to use Supreme King Haki. You there, swordsman. You seem to be content with it already.” — Scopper Gaban to Zoro and Sanji, One Piece Chapter #1152

Fast forward for many months, One Piece Chapter 1182 officially lined up Zoro and Sanji's Elbaf battles. Zoro is set to fight Super Sommers, who has been enhanced by the powers of Nerona Imu's Omen, as seen in One Piece Chapter 1180 on April 20, 2026, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #21. Similarly, Sanji is set to fight Super Killingham, who has also been powered up by Nerona Imu's Omen, as seen in the same chapter. These two Holy Knights are incredibly powerful, especially after being enhanced by Imu's ability, and beating them would require Zoro and Sanji to reach an even higher strength. Right now, they are both slightly above Yonko Commander Level, and the battle against Sommers and Killingham will take them to Yonko level by giving them full control of Supreme King Haki.

New Supreme King Haki Power Ups will level Zoro and Sanji Yonko

Zoro and Sanji fully mastering Conqueror's Haki is officially recorded in the story by Eiichiro Oda himself. In the case of Roronoa Zoro, he already knows that he has Conqueror's Haki. In his case, he just needs to learn to control it. Scopper Gaban reprimanded Zoro for not being able to use Haki properly in One Piece Chapter 1152 on June 23, 2025.

“Absurd.. Haki is a power that must be controlled to be used properly. Your captain is one of the four emperors. How are you going to help him without knowing?” — Scopper Gaban scolds Zoro, One Piece Chapter #1152

Since then, Zoro has used this power on many occasions but has not learned how to properly channel it at will. Zoro's fight against St. Sommers will pit him against a very powerful enemy and give him the ability to control that power.

In Sanji's case, he has to awaken this power in the battle against St. Killingham, and this is very clear to see because Eiichiro Oda himself stated in One Piece Chapter 1170 on January 5, 2026, that those who possess Conqueror's Haki are the only ones who can defeat the Holy Knights or those with immortal bodies.

“Give him enough hits, and we may manage to put him out of commission. If these guys have any weakness, it's against those of us who can infuse our attacks with the Color of the Supreme King!” – Scopper Gaban in One Piece Chapter #1170

As such, if Sanji has to have any chance against Killingham, awakening the Conqueror's Haki is the bare minimum, which for him means gaining this power is a guarantee. By unlocking Conqueror's Haki, Sanji's total strength will be raised to the next level. Considering he's already above the likes of Yonko First Commanders, Sanji will rise to Yonko level just like Roronoa Zoro.

Why Zoro and Sanji are destined to go beyond Yonko level in the final saga

While Zoro and Sanji are set to ascend to Yonko Level at the climax of One Piece's Elbaf Arc, Eiichiro Oda has set them up to become even stronger in the future. Luffy's wings, Zoro and Sanji, are an official parallel to Silver's Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban from Roger Pirates. Both Gaban and Rayleigh are incredibly powerful, and both are known to be even above the level of some of the Yonko, such as Kaido and Big Mom. Their mastery of Haki is absolutely immense, and they are considered to be in the same league as Roger and Garp, which was officially confirmed in One Piece Chapter 1139, released in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #11 on February 10, 2025.

At the same time, One Piece Chapter 968, which was released on January 20, 2020, officially confirmed to us that the Straw Hat Pirates will continue to surpass the Roger Pirates. If Luffy and crew are to do what the Roger Pirates failed to do, they must become even stronger.

“Those voices spoke the truth. Someone will eventually come and surpass us all. We were way too early.” — Gol D. Roger predicts that the Straw Hats will surpass the Roger Pirates, One Piece Chapter #968

Luffy is about to surpass the legacy of Gol D. Roger, and go even further in terms of strength. Likewise, Zoro and Sanji will have to go beyond the powers of Silver's Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban. By doing so, both Zoro and Sanji will advance Yonko Level and become legendary pirates in their own right. Elbaf has already set them up for amazing power-ups, but the upcoming Great War will see them reach even greater heights and create great legacies for themselves as One Piece rushes to its end.

All the latest chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga series can be read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.