Why is Elbaph the Main 'One Piece' Arc for Luffy?

Monkey D. Luffy’s journey has always been marked by challenges in the universe of One Piece. On every island, the rubber-bodied man behind the famous Straw Hat faces stronger enemies and problems he can’t overcome without the help of his friends. However, whenever he takes on a new challenge, he ends up becoming stronger. And that has been true from Romance Dawn all the way to the current Elbaph arc.

Luffy’s evolution is evident not only in his appearance and personality, but of course in his strength as well. As in any action anime, it’s common for characters, especially the protagonists, to grow over time, and Luffy’s growth is reflected in his Gears, which go from Second to Fifth, with the First being his original form. In Fifth Gear, we see his Akuma no Mi in its awakened state, when he takes on the form of the Sun God Nika.

This power emerged so that he would be able to defeat Kaidou of the Beasts and become one of the new Emperors of the Sea alongside Shanks, Blackbeard, and Buggy. By taking on the position of Emperor, even reluctantly, all the world’s attention turned to the protagonist, who began facing increasingly powerful and important enemies, such as Admirals and the Five Elders themselves.

This new status as Straw Hat put him in an all-or-nothing position, where there are not many enemies left that he is not capable of defeating. Besides being a sign that the series is nearing its end, it also means that a definitive villain is very close to emerging, especially now in the Elbaph arc. Without spoiling what is happening in the manga, it’s fair to say that this is Luffy’s most important arc so far.

We’re all eager to be part of this journey, and you can make it unforgettable at CCXP26. This year’s badges will be themed around the Elbaph arc.