One Piece is currently in the Elbaf arc, which Oda is crafting as possibly his most ambitious storyline yet. This arc brings together everything a One Piece fan could hope for, from exciting plot revelations to epic battles already set in motion, plus a captivating flashback to events before the Pirate Era began.
There’s no doubt Oda is succeeding here. He is still illustrating Loki’s incredible flashback, but much more is coming. Once the flashback ends, fans will surely witness intense clashes involving Luffy and the Straw Hat crew, and that’s when most of them, including Luffy, will need to grow stronger. In fact, Oda has already laid the groundwork for a new, powerful ability for Luffy, and it’s only a matter of time before it’s fully revealed.
Luffy’s Next Step Is Mastering Better Haki
Gear 5 represents the peak of Luffy’s Devil Fruit power, but mastering Haki is what he truly needs to become stronger. If there’s one aspect of the One Piece power system that Elbaf emphasizes, it’s Conqueror’s Haki. Fans know this is the key factor that makes the biggest difference in major battles. Conqueror’s Haki can cover the body, boosting both offense and defense. Although Luffy can use it, his power hasn’t reached the expected level yet.
Recently, Scopper Gaban observed Luffy’s use of Haki and realized that while powerful, Luffy isn’t using it correctly. Even when he uses it, he can’t harm immortal beings like the Five Elders. In other words, Luffy needs to learn a specific way to wield Haki to land critical damage on them, and that’s the next power boost he will receive.
Luffy Must Learn to Harm the Holy Knights
At Egghead, Luffy couldn’t even scratch the Five Elders. Meanwhile, Joy Boy’s Haki attacks were strong enough to neutralize their transformations and push them back. Luffy must improve his Conqueror’s Haki if he wants to fight and defeat foes like the Holy Knights, and more importantly, Imu, the world’s ruler.
After the Elbaf arc concludes, Luffy will be stronger than ever, potentially rivaling Red-Haired Shanks and even surpassing Kaido. At that point, he will truly deserve the title of Pirate King, making his upcoming battle with Imu incredibly significant.
With Haki at its peak and his Devil Fruit powers stronger than ever, Luffy will become nearly invincible by the end of the Elbaf arc. From there, the only thing left to refine is Gear 5, which will need to become much more effective for future battles. Luffy’s growth is certain, but it may take longer than some fans expect.