After Elbaf, it's time to meet One Piece's strongest Haki user

One Piece currently in the Elbaf arc, which started about a year ago. This arc has continued to deliver some of the most exciting action, as well as big reveals for fans, and it's only going to get hotter going forward. Elbaf has been absolutely phenomenal so far, but as is often the case with One Piecewhat comes next will be even more chaotic and exciting. right now, One Piece is focused on the Holy Knights and Imu, but soon after the focus will shift to more important characters, some of which are fan favorites, such as the strongest Haki user, Shanks.

When Elbaf first started, most fans of One Piece expected Oda to give Shanks in the centerand it is because he is strongly connected with this country. But, as is abundantly clear now, Shanks will only step into the spotlight after the arc is complete. Fans have been waiting years to see the true power of Red-haired Shanks and his Haki, as well as getting major plot revelations about him. But so far Oda hasn't given them much. That's exactly what One Piece post-Elbaf will be, and fans absolutely cannot wait.

Shanks has the strongest Haki, and he will be the next focus

Oda, the author of the story, made it quite clear a long time ago that the next focus of One Piece in the Final Saga will be the new emperors. After Wano, the order of emperors changed forever, and those who currently hold the positions are the biggest players of all. Luffy is there, of course, and so is Buggy, and fans already know that Blackbeard won't stop rising through the ranks. Finally, there is Shanks, who is the only old Yonko left from before the time jump.

With Elbaf revealing so much about Redhead Shanksit's time for Oda to put some focus on him, and that's exactly what it looks like will happen. Loki already knows where Shanks is going next, and Luffy wants to know. After Loki is freed and the threat of Imu is dealt with, it is time for Luffy to follow Shanks and seek him out. All build up can only lead to one Luffy and Shanks reunion.

This also connects to Luffy's current powers. Fans know that Luffy needs to upgrade his Haki in Elbaf, and this would be perfect for him before he hits it with the strongest Haki, Shanks. Even then, Oda will finally get the chance to show fans what true Haki power is when Shanks enters the picture, revealing abilities such as Conqueror's Haki Infusion, Observation Killing, and even his long-lasting Haki, among others.

Luffy and Shank's meeting is coming

Luffy and Shanks absolutely must meet in One Piece. This reunion is going to happen, no matter what, and it's quite easily the biggest of them all. It didn't happen in Elbaf, but it most certainly could come after the arc is over. Luffy will seek out Shanks, and when they meet, fans will definitely see them fight. It is here that Oda will reveal the true power of Shanks' Haki, and show everyone why Shanks is the strongest Haki user in One Piece, with his tremendous control over Conqueror's Haki.

Shanks, Blackbeard and Buggy will be the next big players

On the whole, Elbaf is just a stepping stone for the Straw Hat Pirates. It's a gateway to bigger things and fans will see just that as the arc ends. This is the time for the Four Emperors to establish themselves as the strongest presence in the world, and fans will definitely see Shanks, Blackbeard, and even Buggy making big moves.

Oda will use these characters in exciting ways, and of them all, Shanks will be the one he will enjoy writing the most. It's no secret that Oda loves Shanks, and even considers him the coolest of them all.

It's been a long wait, but it's time for Oda to give the fans what they really want, and it's a real display of what Shanks can really do with his amazing Haki, as well as some important revelations about him.

Eiichiro Oda's One Piece will be on hiatus this week. One Piece Chapter 1166 is out next week. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1166 is November 23, 2025. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus.

Release date

October 20, 1999

Network

Fuji TV

Directors

Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Ma Shihi Endo, Toshihiro Ma Shihi Endo, Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou

Author

Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda

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  Mayumi Tanaka

  Monkey D. Luffy (voice)

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  Kazuya Nakai

  Roronoa Zoro (voice)