Zoro and Sanji Are Finally Getting To Luffy's Level

Published Sep 17, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT

Since graduating from The Los Angeles Film School, Jason has worked as an editor for the local news, as well as a producer of several short films and podcasts. His extensive knowledge of film production and narrative storytelling has enabled him to travel the world, writing about the projects he is passionate about in the realms of film, anime, and gaming.
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WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ONE PIECE MANGA CHAPTER #1193

At one point in One Piece's long epic, the Straw Hats' Monster Trio was made up of the crew's strongest fighters, but as the crew evolved, so did the abilities of each of its members. Now, as the series' final saga continues to escalate to unimaginable levels, both Zoro and Sanji are finally unlocking power-ups that will put their strength far above the other crew members, and closer to that of their captain, Pirate Emperor Monkey D. Luffy.

Author Eiichiro Oda stuffs his chapters with so much content that it can feel like he is often undercutting exciting moments, possibly because he trusts Toei's anime to heighten the story in almost every way. Thanks to a huge shift in the anime's production, the Elbaph arc has been a consistent treat with extended scenes and expanded lore. This also includes greatly expanded battles, which have helped make even the weakest Straw Hats seem like complete monsters at this point in the story.

By the time the Elbaph arc is over, the original monster trio will once again be so strong that characters like Nami and Usopp may not need to fight as much. While Luffy has his hands full fighting a god, Zoro and Sanji have the tough task of stopping the immortal Knights of God, who are pushing the two Straw Hats to master Conqueror's Haki. If they succeed, they'd join Luffy as one of the few characters capable of wielding one of the One Piece world's most powerful abilities.

The One Thing That Can Stop The Unstoppable Knights Of God

The two immortal and immensely powerful God Knights facing Zoro and Sanji on Elbaph each have frightening Devil Fruit abilities and unkillable bodies that have been supercharged by their demonic leader, Saint Nerona Imu. Their regeneration powers would put X-Men's Wolverine to shame, but the one weakness that could put them down for good is attacks infused with Conqueror's Haki. A very special power that only a handful of One Piece characters have ever mastered.

Unlike Armament and Observation Haki, Conqueror's Haki can not be learned by everyone. It's an ability that can weaponize its user's willpower to create attacks that can knock out weaker-willed opponents and even harm seemingly untouchable foes. Many of the series' most powerful characters have manifested it and learned to control it, and it seems likely that two of the strongest Straw Hats are about to be part of that list.

Zoro And Sanji's Willpower Need A Kingly Upgrade

A couple of One Piece's toughest battles have seen Zoro demonstrating brief and accidental showcases of Color of the Supreme King Haki, aka Conqueror's Haki. But chapter #1193 has finally placed the fan-favorite anime swordsman in a situation where he will need to figure out how to control it and use it at will. If he doesn't, Zoro will be letting his fellow Straw Hat crewmates down, and even give Sanji the opportunity to surpass him.

The Knights of God are currently attempting to kidnap the giant children of Elbaph, with Saint Sommer's working to procure a ship to leave the island and Saint Killingham in charge of securing the children. Zoro is facing Sommer's, while Sanji battles Killingham, and even though the swordsman has shown more progress in using the rarest Haki, the Straw Hat's cook is finally working through his own personal demons. The chapter did not include much of Sanji's current battle, but it proved that Sanji is beginning to think more like a conqueror than a desperate prince.

Sanji has found new ways to increase his strength throughout the series, but he has yet to demonstrate any feats using Conqueror's Haki, leaving some fans wondering if he ever would. But now that he's facing a foe whose only weakness seems to be Conqueror's Haki, he either needs to come up with a creative way to win without it or start thinking like a king. And judging from the smile on Sanji’s face after delivering a fiery kick to Killingham, he's figured out what he needs to beat the unkillable enemy.

Luffy's command of Conqueror's Haki was the result of years of training with the former Pirate King's right-hand man, but he'd shown signs of being able to use it to knock out surrounding enemies since he was a child. Luffy’s become one of the world's strongest Haki users, but as the former Pirate King's left-hand man explained, Zoro and Sanji would also need to upgrade their willpower to a level of kings if they want to help Luffy become the King of the Pirates. Once they do, they'll be ready for almost anything in One Piece's upcoming final arc.