Summary
From the early days of theOne Piecefranchise, Elbaf has been built up as the most hyped arc of the entire story. It was first alluded to in Little Garden as the land of the Giants where Dorry and Brogy hailed from, and has since been integral to both Luffy and Usopp’s arcs. At the current moment, the Straw Hats have finally reached this mythical land, and the story is picking up like crazy.
Despite this, many think that Oda may have subtly hinted at how this arc could end and, more importantly, how it could bleed into the inevitable Final War ofOne Piece. Admittedly, many of the connections and hints to be made here do seem far-fetched, but when looked at together, all of them make sense. So in this article, let’s go overhow Elbaf will likely endand why Shanks will have a way bigger role in this arc than previously thought.
Debut Date
June 27, 2025
The Elbaf arc started in late 2024, and, at the moment of writing, many believe it’s still in its infancy since it’s currently only around 20 chapters in. Despite this, many massive developments and reveals have already been made, chief among them being the true history of the First and Second Worlds,the revelation of Loki and his Devil Fruit, and Shamrock’s appearance confirming one of the greatest theories regarding Shanks.
Many fans believed that the Gods' Knights were going to be the main villains of Elbaf before the arc even began, and the way things are going seems to confirm this belief. However, what’s odd is the fact that, despite being such an important arc and featuring so many of the world’s biggest players, the final battle against the foes seems to be going by rather quickly, with only 3 of the Gods Knights being present on the island and Scopper seemingly already making short work of St. Sommers.
However, it’s likely that this is just a Red Herring from Oda, as the true finality of the Elbaf arc will likely see an invasionfrom the remaining Gods' Knights, leading to a full-scale battle. The reason for this is that the plan of the Gods' Knight was to recruit the Giants of Elbaf to be the foot soldiers of the World Government in the Final War and, in doing this, they would bring the island itself into their fold. This is integral when it comes to safeguarding the knowledge of the Void Century due to the wealth of information available on Elbaf.
While the World Government believed that sending a few Gods' Knights would be enough, they didn’t account for the Straw Hats or Scopper being there, so seeing how important the island is to their overall plan for the Final War, they would likely do whatever it takes to finish the job. Thematically, this also makes sense since considering how much more powerful the heroes are than the villains at the current moment.
Long time no see.
This is because Scopper has already incapacitated St. Sommers with a previously unknown power that negated his regeneration.As strong as Sommers, Gunko, and Kilinghammay be, they stand no chance against the united forces of the Monster Trio, Scopper, Loki, the Giants, and the remaining Straw Hats. As such, the only way for them to compete is to have the remaining 6 Gods' Knights also appear here, since then the heroes would be in for much more of a fight.
The Egghead arc essentially served as a way for Oda to showcase the strength and abilities of the 5 Elders, the Admirals, and the Pacifistas so that their powers wouldn’t feel contrived in the Final War. Similarly, Elbaf could act as the perfect opportunity to show the Gods Knights and their powers, cementing exactly why they are considered to be the premier fighting force of the World Government.
How Shanks Will Likely Also Make His Appearance On Elbaf
How He Fits Into The Equation
If the remaining Gods Knights eventually do make their appearance on the island, then the Straw Hats would actually be in trouble. To counter this,Shanks' long-awaited reunion with Luffycould happen on Elbaf, as the mentor and student could finally join forces to defeat Shamrock and the other Gods' Knights, which would provide an incredible narrative impact as well.
There is a prevalent theory among the fandom that has existed for years at this point, which states that Shanks will fight against Luffy at some point, either in the race to be the Pirate King or, more likely, as a final test for Luffy to see if he’s ready to inherit Roger’s title. Everyone knows how strong Shanks is, and the most likely thing that will happen if he appears on Elbaf ishis battle against Shamrock, which will be one of the series' most important. However, there is a chance that the arc may end in a battle with his protegé.
