Ever since the Elbaph arc started in One Piece, fans have been catching on to the hints about Luffy and his crew getting a power-up that would potentially get them ready for the final antagonist of the series. In the case of the Straw Hat Captain, Monkey D. Luffy, his next power-up is extremely important as he has the most amount of responsibilities on his shoulders.
Ideally, the next power-up that compliments Luffy’s character development in One Piece should be his Haki abilities. His Devil Fruit has already reached the Nika form, which was considered the epitome, and all that is left now are the Haki powers that seriously need growth if he wishes to face villains like Imu and Blackbeard.
As of now, the strongest Haki user in One Piece is Shanks. This was revealed by Eiichiro Oda during the Egghead Island arc, and it might also be a hint by the manga creator towards Luffy’s next power-up, as Luffy needs to surpass Shanks to liberate the One Piece world.
Shanks is The Strongest Haki User in One Piece
In the previous One Piece arc, fans got to witness the true might of Joy Boy through a surge of Haki that he stored within Emet, the Iron Giant. Joy Boy’s Haki was so strong that it split the skies and knocked out all the Vice Admirals that were present on the sea. Not only that, the Haki’s strength was so intense that it reverted the Five Elders back to Mary Geoise, and it also knocked them out of their yokai forms.
This proved that Joy Boy’s Haki was the strongest in One Piece. However, a hint by Oda in One Piece chapter 1123 might have pointed out that after Joy Boy, the character who had the strongest Haki is Shanks. In One Piece chapter 1123, when the Straw Hat Pirates and the Giant leave the island, they discuss the huge Haki emission that saved their lives.
While talking about it, both Dorry and Brogy compared it to Shanks’ Haki and wondered whether Joy Boy’s Haki abilities were stronger than Shanks’. This in a way hinted that Shanks might have the strongest Haki after Joy Boy in One Piece.
Luffy’s Next Power-up Needs to be Haki
Ever since One Piece started, Eiichiro Oda has focused on the fact that Luffy is trying to follow in the footsteps of Shanks as a pirate. Not only that, he has also been trying to surpass him, form a crew that’s better than his, and ultimately find the One Piece treasure. But in order to do that, Luffy needs to become stronger than Shanks in every aspect.
However, as of right now, Luffy is nowhere near Shanks’ strength in terms of Haki. As the One Piece is in its final phase and Shanks has a profound connection with Elbaph, there is a big possibility that Luffy might unlock a new level of Haki in Elbaph that could at least bring him to the level of Shanks, if not Joy Boy.
Luffy’s potential enemies in the future are more dangerous than he can imagine. Therefore, he has to reach the level of Haki that can undo their demonic forms just like Joy Boy. Once he does, he will be the strongest character in One Piece who will not only achieve his dream of becoming Pirate King but will also liberate the world.
One Piece is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
