One Piece is heading into uncharted territory. The Elbaf Arc — the legendary giant homeland fans waited nearly three decades to see — has delivered on world-building, lore, and emotional gut-punches. But Eiichiro Oda isn’t slowing down. In fact, he’s just getting started.
According to multiple reports and structural analysis of the current manga storyline, Oda has two massive arcs lined up immediately after Elbaf — and one of them is being described as the biggest arc since Marineford. For a series that has already given us Enies Lobby, Marineford, and Wano, that is not a claim to take lightly.
Here’s everything we know so far, the theories behind what’s coming, and why the endgame of One Piece is shaping up to be the most ambitious conclusion in shonen manga history.
What We Know About the Post-Elbaf Roadmap
The Elbaf Arc has been running since mid-2024 and has already stretched across four-plus volumes. The story has introduced the Holy Knights — a previously unknown force that makes CP0 look like amateurs — explored the Esperia Kingdom through Brook’s haunting flashback, and set up what appears to be an epic confrontation involving Loki, Imu, and the fate of the giants themselves.
But according to recent reporting, Elbaf is merely the launching pad for the Final Saga’s real crescendo. Oda has structured the post-Elbaf story into two distinct arcs, each serving a critical purpose in the path toward the One Piece treasure itself.
Arc 1: The Marineford-Scale Event — What Could It Be?
When analysts describe the next arc as the “biggest since Marineford,” they’re talking about scope, stakes, and emotional weight — not just fight choreography. Here are the leading theories on what this arc could entail:
Theory 1: The Final War Begins — World Government vs. The Alliance
The most widely discussed theory is that the arc immediately following Elbaf will mark the official beginning of the Final War. We’ve already seen the World Government’s hand getting heavier — the Holy Knights mobilizing, the Buster Call threat looming, and Imu’s shadow growing longer with every chapter. After Elbaf, the Straw Hat Grand Fleet may finally be activated in full, triggering the global conflict Oda has been hinting at since Fish-Man Island.
What makes this Marineford-scale is the sheer number of moving pieces: the Revolutionary Army (led by Dragon), the reformed Marines (potentially with defecting admirals), the allied pirate crews, and the World Government’s combined military might. Marineford had two factions. This will have at least five.
Theory 2: Laugh Tale and the Void Century Truth
Another compelling theory suggests that the immediate post-Elbaf arc will be the arrival at Laugh Tale. Oda has been dropping breadcrumb after breadcrumb about the Void Century, the Ancient Weapons, and what the “One Piece” actually is. With the Esperia flashback potentially revealing critical Void Century information, the Straw Hats may finally have everything they need to reach the final island.
Imagine an entire arc devoted to uncovering the truth of Joy Boy, the Ancient Kingdom, and why the World Government has spent 800 years covering it up. That would easily rival Marineford in emotional impact — just in a very different way.
Arc 2: The Aftermath — Cleaning Up the World
Regardless of which theory proves correct for the first post-Elbaf arc, a second arc seems inevitable to deal with the consequences. Oda has never been one to rush an ending. If the Final War breaks out during Arc 1, Arc 2 would resolve it. If Laugh Tale is reached in Arc 1, Arc 2 would deal with the revelation’s global impact.
This mirrors the Marineford → Post-War arc structure, but on a much grander scale. Instead of just dealing with the aftermath of a single battle, this arc would reshape the entire world of One Piece.
The Gear 5 Endgame Upgrade
Here’s where things get really exciting for power-scaling fans. Reports indicate that Luffy’s Gear 5 is set to receive its final upgrade during the climax of these post-Elbaf events. We’ve already seen Gear 5 evolve through Wano and Elbaf, but the “final upgrade” suggests a transformation that goes beyond what we’ve seen — potentially unlocking the true nature of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.
Combined with the possibility of new Haki abilities and the Straw Hats’ own growth, this final form could be what tips the scales in the battle against Imu and the World Government’s strongest forces.
Monkey D. Dragon’s Moment
One of the most underdeveloped threads in One Piece is Dragon and the Revolutionary Army. We know Dragon possesses the fourth legendary Devil Fruit (widely theorized to be connected to weather and storms), but he has barely appeared in the story. The post-Elbaf arcs are almost certainly where Dragon gets his spotlight — leading the charge against the World Government while Luffy handles the pirate side of the Final War.
A father-son dynamic playing out across the biggest conflict in the series? That’s peak Oda storytelling, and it would absolutely shatter Marineford’s emotional ceiling.
Why This Matters for One Piece’s Ending
Let’s be real: One Piece has been running for nearly 30 years. The end is coming, and these two arcs represent Oda’s final statement on everything he’s built. Every character introduced since East Blue, every mystery seeded in the early chapters, every Devil Fruit power and Haki technique — it all converges here.
The fact that Oda is structuring the ending across multiple arcs (rather than rushing to a single climactic battle) suggests he’s giving every major storyline the resolution it deserves. The giants get their Elbaf closure. Brook finally confronts his past in Esperia. Dragon leads the revolution. Luffy reaches his dream. And somewhere in the middle of all that, the truth about the Void Century changes everything we thought we knew.
Our Take
If the post-Elbaf arcs truly deliver on what’s being set up, One Piece won’t just have the best final arc in shonen history — it will have the best final saga. Marineford was a tragedy that changed the world. What comes after Elbaf could be a revolution that rebuilds it.
The question isn’t whether these arcs will be epic. The question is whether Oda can stick the landing after 30 years of storytelling. And if the Esperia flashback is any indication, he absolutely can.
What do you think the post-Elbaf arcs will be about? Are we heading straight to Laugh Tale, or does the Final War hit first? Drop your theories in the comments — the best ones might just come true.
