One Piece is currently in the climax of the Elbaf arc, with Chapter 1189 releasing on July 26, 2026, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #35. With the Elbaf arc nearing its end, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the series, reveals to us one powerful Haki user after another. So far in Elbaf, quite a few powerful characters, such as the Cursed Prince Loki and even Monkey D. Luffy, have made their presence known with their strong Haki. However, none of them are among the strongest Haki users.
Eiichiro Oda, the series creator, has also pretty clearly shown the three absolute strongest Haki users of all time and confirmed them in this arc. In the last stretch, pull all the way up to One Piece Chapter 1188, released on July 12, 2026, Oda has now officially confirmed the three absolute strongest Haki users in the One Piece world up to this point, and they are none other than Nerona Imu, Joy Boy, and Red-Haired Shanks.
One Piece Chapters 1179-1188 officially confirms Imu as the strongest Haki user alive
When it comes to the absolute strongest Haki user alive, we know that title goes to the King of the World, Nerona Imu. Imu's Haki was first teased for us during the midpoint of the Elbaf arc in One Piece Chapter 1149, which was officially released on May 26, 2025, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #26. In this chapter, Nerona Imu took over Gunko's body and then unleashed a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki. This Haki, despite being incredibly strong, was still limited by Gunko's body. Even then, Loki and everyone else present in Elbaf's underworld called it absurd.
We got another glimpse of this Haki in One Piece Chapter 1162 on October 13, 2025, where Nerona Imu took over the body of Saint Saturn, one of the Five Elders of the God Valley. There, Imu unleashed a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki, which caught even the likes of Rocks and Roger by surprise. Imu's Haki at that time was such that the combined Conqueror's Haki of five top tiers in Rocks, Roger, Big Mom, Whitebeard, and Garp couldn't even put a dent in him. However, when Imu descended on Elbaf in One Piece Chapter 1179 on April 5, 2026, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #19, the Haki he unleashed surpassed any other previously seen in the series.
“What's going on? Even in the God Valley, I never felt Haki like this!” — Scopper Gaban confirms that Imus Haki is the strongest, One Piece Chapter #1180
On April 20, 2026, in One Piece Chapter 1180, Scopper Gaban, the Pirate King's left hand, officially confirmed to us that Nerona Imus' Haki was nothing like he knew, even when he was face to face with it in the God Valley. In other words, Imus Haki surpasses Roger, Rocks, Harald and every other character shown in the world of One Piece so far. The strength of Imu's Haki is also quite clear to see when looking at his incredibly powerful attacks. For example, Sword of Hatred: Stigma, when charged with Conqueror's Haki, was able to momentarily knock Loki out and cause him to bleed profusely. Likewise, Luffy's own Conqueror's Haki proved ineffective against Imu due to his inferiority in comparison. This is just a glimpse of Imus Haki as he is still in a weakened state and has been nerfed by the author so far, which is confirmed in One Piece Chapter 1182. When he is at his absolute best, Imus Haki will be even stronger.
“I wonder, who is the source of this absurd Haki?” — Loki confirms Imus' Haki Power, One Piece Chapter #1179
Why Joy Boys Haki reigns supreme in one piece
Overall, One Piece history has made it pretty clear that the strongest Haki in the entire series belongs to none other than Joy Boy. Known to be the first pirate in the One Piece world that existed around 900 to 800 years ago, Joy Boy was incredibly powerful. He also wielded the power of Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika. This Devil Fruit enhanced his powers immensely and allowed him to channel Haki at the absolute highest level.
Joy Boy's Conqueror's Haki was shown to us in One Piece chapter 1122, which was officially released in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #36-37 on August 5, 2024, at the end of the Egghead arc. When he unleashed his Haki through Emeth, the sky split open, and the abilities of the five elders were completely nullified. Even the vice admirals of the navy began to faint, and above all, Nerona Imu, the king of the world, felt pain and fell to her knees for the very first time in the story. Without a doubt, Joy Boy's Conqueror's Haki was significantly stronger overall than Nerona Imu, and it was clear for us to see. This makes Joy Boy the overall strongest Haki user in One Piece, without any peers at the moment. Even Imu, whose Haki is the strongest in the current timeline of One Piece, can't compare to Joy Boy overall when it comes to manipulation of this power.
“I have sampled a knot of the greatest Haki and locked it into your body. You will live on long after I am dead. There will come a day when I can no longer help you.” — Joy Boy seals Haki in Emeth, One Piece Chapter #1122
Shanks is the third strongest Haki user in one piece
Among the mortals in One Piece world, excluding Nerona Imu, Shanks is clearly the strongest Haki user. Shanks has no Devil Fruit ability, but his Haki is of the absolute highest level. He has proven to be the most versatile with the Color of the Supreme King, reaching an incredibly high level of power that has allowed him to defeat even Loki, who was confirmed to be stronger than Luffy in One Piece Chapter 1188, which was released on July 12, 2026. Shanks can also knock out Vice Admirals as well as with his Haki, individual, guys and killers. with a single blow from the blade.
Marco: He has amazing Haki, as always!
Shanks: You must excuse me. I have trouble keeping calm on an enemy ship. I'm not here to fight.
Whitebeard: And yet you bare your Haki without compulsion, you fool!
— Exchange proves Shank's powerful Haki, One Piece Chapter #434
Meanwhile, Shanks Conaquerors Haki is so strong that he can paralyze the Admirals of the Navy from miles away, and he simply rules the seas as the ultimate Haki user at this point. Despite that, One Piece Chapter 1123 indicated that Shank's Haki might just be inferior to the Joy Boys. At the same time, we know that Shank's Haki will not be on the same level as Nerona Imu, which is clear when looking at the strength that the latter wields. This makes Shanks the #3 strongest Haki user in One Piece at the moment, but one that is incredibly impressive, especially among mortals. As Elbaf's conclusion approaches, Eiichiro Oda will expand on these powerful Haki users even further, and we absolutely cannot wait to see it.
All the new chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
