One Piece is currently at the climax of the Elbaf arc, where the battle for the gods is officially taking place. With One Piece chapter 1187, which was officially released on July 5, 2026, dealing with an exciting clash between the gods between the sun god Nika and the devil god Nerona Imu, the story finds itself in a position where existing divine entities no longer come as a surprise to fans.
In the same final segment of the story, One Piece is now set to officially add two more gods to the Straw Hat Pirates after years of setup. These two gods are none other than Luffy's sword and shield, Zoro and Sanji, also known as the Pirate King's wings. Zoro is set to reach the same heights as his ancestor, the “Sword God” Ryuma – a divine title already earmarked by Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. Meanwhile, Sanji has harnessed the power of the “Demon God” Ifrit, which will only grow further in the climax of the Elbaf arc as he battles Saint Killingham and awakens his Conqueror's Haki.
One Piece is set to add two gods to the Straw Hats through Sword God and Ifrit
The Straw Hat Pirates are an incredibly powerful crew, and their strength continues to grow in the final stretch of the One Piece. IN One Piece Chapter 1044, officially released on March 28, 2022, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #17, Eiichiro Oda officially gave the Straw Hat Pirates their first God in the form of Sun God Nika by Luffy Awakening the power of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika Myth Devil Devil Fruit. With it, Luffy transformed into the warrior of liberation, a strong deity standing in opposition to oppression and slavery.
“Possessing a body with the powers of rubber and fighting in any way he wants, bringing smiles to people, the warrior of liberation…also known as the sun god, Nika!” — Elder explains Sun God Nika, One Piece Chapter #1044
Since then, the concept of gods has only expanded in One Piece. Right in Elbaf itself, One Piece has introduced the warrior god, whose powers are currently wielded by Loki, in One Piece Chapter 1175, and then in chapter 1179, Nerona Imu, the devil god of the world. While Luffy was the first God addition to the Straw Hat Pirates, Zoro and Sanji will soon follow, and the set up has been made pretty clear by the writer, Eiichiro Oda.
“After his death, he was awarded the title of Sword God and was buried together with his beloved sword Shusui. These two are the country's national treasures!” — Onimaru explains the title Sword God, One Piece Chapter 937
In the case of Zoro, Eiichiro Oda has adapted him to surpass not only Dracule Mihawk but also his ancestor Ryuma. As explained in One Piece Chapter 937, which was officially released on March 25, 2019, Ryuma was officially called the Sword God. As such, in terms of all the swordsmen in existence, Ryuma was considered to be so strong that he was on the level of the gods. Zoro, who is directly descended from Ryuma, fights just like him, which was confirmed in One Piece Chapter 1023, titled “Like two peas in a pod.” This chapter likened Zoro to the Sword God and highlighted his potential to not only reach the level of the Sword God, but surpass it. When Zoro surpasses the level of Sword God Ryuma, he will embody the power of a God.
“Ushimaru was a great swordsman and a direct descendant of the sword god, Shimotsuki Ryuma. And this man was the one who finally returned Shusui to Wano. It must be fate, as Ryuma was also a one-eyed samurai.” — Kawamatsu explains Zoro's connection to Ryuma, One Piece Chapter #1023
In the same light, Sanji is set to gain a godly power as well. In his case, his powers have been more demonic in nature. Sanji's first power-up of Diable Jambe ties directly to Devil's Leg, and his second power-up, known as Ifrit Jambe, which he officially tapped in One Piece Chapter 1034, ties him directly to the “Demon God” of the One Piece world.
Ifrit is a demon god in various Arabic folklore and Islamic scriptures, whose powers relate to smoke and fire and are simply demonic in nature. Sanji has already harnessed this demon's powers, but the stronger he becomes, the stronger his demonic power becomes as well. At the end of One Piece, he will stand as one of the strongest divine figures in the world.
Why Zoro and Sanji's connection to gods is important to their rise to power
Zoro and Sanji's connection to gods is extremely important to their overall character growth. For Zoro, the connection to the Sword God Ryuma means that he can officially go on to surpass him and establish himself as the greatest swordsman in the world.
For Sanji, the direct connection with Ifrit brings out his true hidden powers and allows him to further develop his abilities. Once Sanji taps into the powers of Conqueror's Haki and upgrades his Ifrit Jambe, he will unleash his divine power even further, making himself an even stronger fighter and ally to Monkey D. Luffy.
Sanji: Hey, Gramps! Can I use Supreme King too?
Gaban: You should have the potential for that. But in your case, for some reason I feel a very strong self-loathing. You also have to be a king if you really want Luffy to become the pirate king.
— Scopper Gaban confirms Sanji's Conqueror's Haki, One Piece Chapter #1187
Why the Straw Hat Pirates will have 5 gods at the end of a paragraph
Although Zoro and Sanji are two god additions to the Straw Hat Pirates, they are not the only ones with the title or power of a god. Usopp was given the title of God as a gag in the Dressrosa arc, specifically One Piece Chapter 743, along with Zoro and Sanji. That alone puts the Straw Hat Pirates at four gods, but then there's the potential for Vivi to rejoin the crew. If she continues to consume the power of the Hito Hito no Mi Model: Zaza, which is the Rain God Devil Fruit that was officially introduced in One Piece Chapter 1182 on May 10, 2026, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24, then the Straw Hats could potentially end up with five gods on board.
With five gods, the Straw Hat Pirates will officially become the strongest crew in the whole One Piece. It would also then fulfill the setup by Eiichiro Oda in One Piece Chapter 968, where Roger Pirates stated that someone in the future would come and surpass them. Luffy and the Straw Hats will then do what Roger couldn't, and at the same time surpass Joy Boy and his allies as well, freeing the world from the tyranny of the World Government.
All the latest chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
