Two Arcs After Elbaf Have Been Confirmed — And One Will Eclipse Marineford
The One Piece manga has just reached a turning point that fans have been theorizing about for years. Eiichiro Oda officially confirmed that the Elbaf arc is not the final destination — two major arcs have already been lined up after the giant kingdom, and one of them is being called the biggest event in the series since Marineford.
Let’s break down everything we know about what comes next, the theories that are gaining serious traction, and why the Final Saga is about to deliver on two decades of promises.
The Post-Elbaf Roadmap: What Oda Has Set Up
For years, fans assumed Elbaf would be the penultimate stop before the final war. That assumption was wrong. Based on statements from Oda and the narrative breadcrumbs dropped throughout the Final Saga, here’s the confirmed arc structure:
- Elbaf Arc (current) — The giant kingdom, Loki, the Sun God Nika lore, and the confrontation with the God’s Knights.
- First Post-Elbaf Arc (confirmed as “biggest since Marineford”) — This is the arc that industry analysts and manga insiders are calling the most consequential event in One Piece since the Summit War.
- Second Post-Elbaf Arc (the final arc) — The endgame. Laugh Tale, the One Piece itself, and the truth about the Void Century.
The fact that Oda is planning two full arcs after Elbaf means we’re looking at potentially 100+ more chapters. But the quality bar is about to get much, much higher.
Arc #1 After Elbaf: The “Biggest Since Marineford” Theory
So what could possibly outscale Marineford — an arc that featured Whitebeard, Ace, Akainu, 100,000 Marines, and the execution of Portgas D. Ace?
Three theories are gaining the most momentum right now:
Theory 1: The World Government Civil War
This is the leading theory among veteran readers. After the events of Egghead and the global broadcast of Dr. Vegapunk’s message, every nation in the One Piece world now knows the truth about the Void Century, the Ancient Kingdom, and the World Government’s original sin.
The aftermath could trigger a worldwide civil war — not between pirates and the Marines, but between the World Government and its own subordinate nations. Countries that have been oppressed for 800 years may finally revolt. The God’s Knights, the Marines, the Revolutionary Army, and the Straw Hat alliance could all collide in one massive conflict.
This would explain why the arc is being compared to Marineford — it’s a war of similar magnitude, but on a truly global scale.
Theory 2: The Mary Geoise Assault
Another popular theory points to a direct assault on Mary Geoise itself. With the Revolutionary Army, the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, allied pirates, and potentially defecting Marines all having reason to storm the World Government’s capital, the stage is set for a siege.
What makes this compelling is the personal stakes: Imu, the Five Elders, and the truth about the Empty Throne would all be exposed in one arc. It would also be the perfect narrative crescendo before the final arc heads to Laugh Tale.
Theory 3: The Dragon vs. Imu Confrontation
After 26 years of Monkey D. Dragon sitting in the shadows as the world’s most wanted criminal, the Final Saga is finally positioning him for a direct confrontation with Imu. A recent article highlighted that One Piece is set to unleash “the last big Devil Fruit reveal” — and Dragon’s fruit is the most significant unexplained power in the series.
If Dragon’s next arc involves him revealing his Devil Fruit abilities and leading a charge against the World Government, it would be a payoff that 26 years of foreshadowing has been building toward.
The Straw Hats’ Role in the Post-Elbaf Era
Here’s what makes the post-Elbaf setup particularly interesting: the Straw Hat crew is more fractured than ever before. Several members have unresolved personal business that will pull them in different directions:
- Sanji — His Germa 66 family ties and the All Blue dream still have narrative threads to resolve.
- Zoro — The Wado Ichimonji and the promise to Kuina demand a final resolution, likely tied to the world’s greatest swordsmen.
- Nami — With the World Government’s corruption exposed, the fate of islands like her home could be a personal stake in the larger conflict.
- Robin — She now has more of the Void Century truth than anyone. She will be central to whatever arc deals with the Ancient Weapons and the final Poneglyph.
- Franky — His connection to Vegapunk and the Ancient Weapons (Pluton blueprints) makes him essential to any arc involving the world’s hidden arsenal.
Oda has a history of weaving personal character arcs into larger narrative events. The post-Elbaf arcs will almost certainly tie each Straw Hat’s individual story into the grand conflict.
What This Means for the Series Timeline
With two full arcs confirmed after Elbaf, and the current arc already pushing deep into the 1180+ chapter range, here’s a realistic timeline estimate:
- Elbaf conclusion: Approximately chapters 1190-1200
- First post-Elbaf arc: Chapters 1200-1280+ (potentially 80 chapters if it’s Marineford-scale)
- Final arc (Laugh Tale): Chapters 1280-1350+
That puts One Piece potentially concluding somewhere in the 1300-1400 chapter range — which Oda has repeatedly hinted as his target. If he stays on pace of roughly 35-40 chapters per year (accounting for breaks), we’re looking at roughly 4-5 more years of manga.
Why This Is the Most Exciting Time to Be a One Piece Fan
For 26 years, Eiichiro Oda has been planting seeds. The Poneglyphs. The Will of D. The Ancient Weapons. Joy Boy. The Void Century. Imu. The Empty Throne. Every one of these mysteries is converging on the same endpoint.
The confirmation that two arcs remain after Elbaf gives fans something the series hasn’t offered since the early days: a clear roadmap to the finish line. We know there’s an arc bigger than Marineford coming. We know there’s a final arc after that. And we know Oda is planning this as the climax of the most ambitious story ever told in manga.
One Piece isn’t slowing down. It’s accelerating.
What Do You Think?
Which theory for the post-Elbaf arc sounds most convincing to you? Is it the World Government civil war, the Mary Geoise assault, or Dragon’s long-awaited reveal? And do you think Oda can stick the landing after 26 years of buildup?
Drop your theories in the comments — we want to hear your wildest predictions before the next chapter drops.
