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One Piece’slore just keeps getting deeper with every passing chapter.The Elbaf arc especially has proven to be quite a spectacular ride so far, with Oda having revealed only the tip of the iceberg so far. Chaos finally erupts in the land of the Giants, starting with Imu’s direct involvement in the story.
There’s a lot to look forward to inOne Piece, but most of all, the final villain Luffy and the crew will have to fight is what many are waiting for. Oda has some staggering plans for the Final Saga, and it’s possible that the final enemy will be a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, crazy as that may sound.
The Many Major Antagonists of One Piece
Imu and Blackbeard Stand Out The Most
With a story as long asOne Piece, spanning almost 30 years now, it’s no surprise that it has seen its fair share of compelling villains, some of whom definitely stand out more memorable than others.
The most memorable antagonist in the first saga of the story, East Blue, was definitely Arlong, whose defeat marked the end of the Arlong Park arc.
The first Shichibukai the crew foughtwas Sir Crocodile, as he played the main antagonist in the Arabasta arc. His Baroque Works remain one of the most iconic groups in this series.
There were a bunch of other memorable villains before the timeskip as well, such as Enel, Rob Lucci, Kizaru, and many more.
After the timeskip, Oda has written many more interesting antagonists, such as Doflamingo, who is hailed as the best-written one so far, and of course, one can’t forget Katakuri in Whole Cake Island.
The most iconic villain after the timeskip so far is undoubtedly, Kaido. The battle against Kaido is what awakened Gear 5, Luffy’s most iconic form.
All these antagonists are definitely great, but they’re not the Straw Hat Pirates’ endgame, and there are more making their entrance into the story.
Blackbeard’s Looming Presence Is A Threat
Blackbeard is a major antagonist inOne Piece, especially since he is the reason for the death of Ace. He was introduced before the timeskip but has yet to come face to face with the Straw Hat Pirates. He is quite the wild card, and Oda has huge plans for him.
For a long time, Blackbeard was thought to be the endgame villain, which is still a possibility, but the main villain everyone nowhas their eyes on is Saint Imu Nerona, the secret ruler of the world. Imu and Blackbeard will definitely be the two most compelling villains in One Piece once their time comes in the story.
The Final Villain of One Piece Could Very Well Be A Straw Hat
With all that in mind, the final antagonist of One Piece could be someone no fan really expected. Imu is the main threat right now, but to achieve their goals, Imu has set their eyes ona Straw Hat member, Nefertari Vivi.
While Vivi isn’t with the crew right now, she is an honorary member. As the princess of Arabasta, Vivi descends from a long line of royalty that dates back to the Void Century. Her ancestor was the brother of the Queen of Arabasta, Nefertari Lili. Lili went missing, and many believe it’s because of Imu.
As seen in the most recentOne Piecechapter 1149, Imu can take over some people’s bodies. It’s possible that Imu took over Lili’s body back then, but since he is hunting down Vivi, it seems he wants her body to take over now. The reason why it has to be Vivi is unclear. But, it is likely that Lily’s body is deteriorating, and Imu cannot use it properly anymore. In other words, Imu could be looking for a new vessel, and Vivi could be just that.
This means that the final villain of the series could be Vivi controlled by Saint Imu. This would definitely be a jaw-dropping twist and a very hard fight for the Straw Hat Pirates, but one they would have to win to ensure Vivi’s safety.
With Vivi in Imu’s possession, their powers can finally be fully revealed. Not having Vivi is probably the only thing holding Imu back right now in the story.Vivi’s importance can’t be understated in the Final Saga.
Available on Manga Plus
One Piece Chapter 1150 will be out in a week. As usual, One Piece is going to drop on Sunday. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday. However, the vast majority of international readers will see the chapter available on May 11. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1150 is June 20, 2025. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus.
