This article contains spoilers from One Piece's Elbaf Arc.
The Straw Hat Pirates are the main protagonists of One Piece. Led by Luffy, this crew has come all the way from the East Blue and established itself in the New World as one of the Yonko crews. The Straw Hat Pirates are incredibly powerful, but fans also need to keep in mind that they are not yet complete. Not counting himself, when Luffy set out on his journey, he made it quite clear that he wanted at least 10 members under him. Right now, Luffy only has nine and that leaves room for the one new member, at the very least.
One Piece: Oda Might Just Have Confirmed Loki As The Final Straw Hat
Who the final Straw Hat has already been decided by Oda, and it's Loki in One Piece.
Given how the Elbaf Arc of One Piece has shaped up, fans know very well that this last member of the Straw Hat Pirates is most certainly going to be none other than the Accursed Prince of Elbaf, Loki. Given his incredible strength and the fear that even the World Government has of him, he will most certainly go on to dethrone Zoro as the second strongest in the crew if he were to join.
Loki Could Join The Straw Hat Pirates In Elbaf
Loki joining the Straw Hat Pirates is not something that fans have theorized without any basis. In fact, the biggest supporter of this idea is the author of the story, Oda himself. Immediately after Loki was introduced in Elbaf, Luffy was clearly able to tell that he was not an evil individual.
In fact, Luffy is a very good reader of the true nature of people, and his friendly behavior towards Loki was the first indication to the fans that he was a good-hearted individual. That said, that is not enough to make Loki a Straw Hat.
Hey, I'm talking to you. I am the Sun God enshrined in the legends of this land. You will not speak to me without permission, human. I consider myself the strongest alive in the Lands. This is the Warland, Elbaf's Kingdom of Violence. The most powerful nation in the world which once lived and breathed warfare. And I'm the Sun God who brings the world to an end, Loki! — Loki introducing himself in the Elbaf Arc.
The reason why Loki is going to become a Straw Hat is simple. Luffy wants him on the crew and it seems that Loki doesn't have anywhere else to go either. Loki is despised by the people of Elbaph and he was rejected by them right from his very birth. The only one who accepted Loki was Ida, and it is highly likely that she is dead.
Either way, the country of Elbaf does not want him, and Luffy wants to see him fight, as well as take him on board the crew. Luffy officially asked Loki to join the crew when he was chained, and even Hajrudin was okay with letting him leave, provided he answered for his crimes.
While Loki rejected the proposition, the fact is that he was not aware of the fact that Luffy is the Sun God who will destroy the world. Loki wants to follow the Sun God and he stated that clearly to Rocks. Putting two and two together, Loki will want to follow Luffy after he realizes that he is the Sun God Nika, at the same time, Luffy will get his wish of wanting Loki on the crew as well. Furthermore, Elbaf will finally get rid of Loki as well, but not before they are saved by the very same Accursed Prince whom they despise.
Loki Will Dethrone Zoro As The #2
When and if Loki joins the Straw Hat Pirates, he will most certainly go on to dethrone Zoro as the second strongest member. It goes without saying that Zoro is strong. However, he is not as strong as Loki. Around 6 years ago, Loki already had a special bounty on his head of 2.6 billion berries. This Bounty pushes him into the territory of a Yonko.
First things first, I've got to get a crew of my own. I think at least 10 members should be good. And I'll also need a pirate flag. Look out world, here I come! I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm the man who will be the King of the Pirates! — Monkey D. Luffy after seeing out on his journey in One Piece
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Loki himself, as well as the people of Elbaf, openly believe that he has the power to destroy the entire world. Loki's strength is such that even Gaban stated that the only person capable of stopping Loki was red-haired Shanks.
Loki is so confident in his abilities that he stated to Luffy that if he freed him, he would destroy any crew for him out on the seas to pay back the favor. Clearly, Loki is leagues above Zoro at the moment, and if he joins, Zoro will no longer be the second strongest but be pushed down to the third spot, where he would compete with Sanji.
Loki Is One Of One Piece's Strongest Characters
Given Loki's strength, it will be incredibly exciting to see him join the Straw Hat Pirates. His dynamic with Luffy is quite interesting, but at the same time, he would also form a very great relationship with the likes of Zoro and Sanji.
Beyond that, Loki also has great importance when it comes to the Final Saga. He wants to follow the Sun God Nika and destroy the world, and that is exactly what he will do with Luffy, who will shatter the current old order established by the World Government and bring about a new era.
Eiichiro Oda's One Piece focuses on the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they sail the seas to lay claim to the grand treasure known as the One Piece. The manga is currently in its Final Saga. One Piece will be featured in this week's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1168 is December 7, 2025. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday, which is 11:00 AM EST, or 8:00 AM PT. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps. Doing so will ensure that fans always support the author.