One Piece Chapter 1187 Adds Two New “God” Allies to the Straw Hats
Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is in the thick of its Elbaf Arc finale, where the “battle of the Gods” is no longer just a concept—it’s actively being fought. In One Piece chapter 1187, released on July 5, 2026, the spotlight lands on a direct showdown between the Sun God Nika and the Devil God Nerona Imu. For long-time readers, it’s also part of a broader shift: divine figures in the story world are becoming an expected feature rather than a rare surprise.
That momentum is setting up something even more personal for the Straw Hat Pirates. As the final stretch continues, the series is preparing to formally add two additional “God” titles to the crew—roles that have been quietly primed for years. These new entries are tied to Luffy’s right-hand “Wings of the Pirate King”: Zoro and Sanji. Zoro is positioned to rise toward the same legendary status as his ancestor, the “Sword God” Ryuma. Sanji, meanwhile, is moving deeper into the power of “Demon God” Ifrit. Both arcs of growth are expected to accelerate during the Elbaf climax, with Sanji facing Saint Killingham and pushing into Conqueror’s Haki awakening.
One Piece Prepares Zoro As Sword God, Sanji As Ifrit—Completing Two More “God” Steps For the Straw Hats
The Straw Hats already have a track record of becoming stronger in ways that feel tied to destiny rather than just training. The clearest precedent came back in One Piece Chapter 1044, which officially released on March 28, 2022, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #17. In that chapter, Oda formally granted the crew their first God-level power through Luffy’s awakening of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika—described as a powerful Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit. From there, Luffy wasn’t just empowered; he was framed as the Warrior of Liberation, a deity-like force opposing oppression and the institutions built on slavery.
“Possessing a body with the powers of rubber, and fighting in whatever way he fancies, bringing smiles to the faces of people, the Warrior of Liberation…also known as the Sun God, Nika!” — Elders explaining Sun God Nika, One Piece Chapter #1044
Since that moment, the “God” theme has kept expanding. Even within Elbaf, the story adds more divine labels: the Warrior God appears, with Loki currently carrying those abilities in One Piece Chapter 1175. Then, in Chapter 1179, Nerona Imu is introduced as the Devil God of the world. With Luffy already established as the first God addition for the crew, the next phase is Zoro and Sanji—both tied to long-running setup that Oda has been placing carefully across the series.
“After his death, he was bestowed the title of Sword God and buried alongside his beloved sword Shusui. Those two are the national treasures of the country!” — Onimaru explains the Sword God title, One Piece Chapter 937
Zoro’s path is written to push past even the greatest modern swordsman in the setting—Dracule Mihawk—and reach the bar set by his ancestor, Ryuma. In One Piece Chapter 937, released on March 25, 2019, Ryuma is directly labeled the Sword God. That framing places him in a different category altogether: among all swordsmen, Ryuma’s strength is treated as being on par with beings already considered “Godly.” Zoro’s bloodline and fighting style are then emphasized as a continuation of that legend. His role in One Piece Chapter 1023, titled “Like Two Peas in a Pod,” explicitly compares Zoro to the Sword God and underscores that his potential isn’t limited to matching Ryuma—it’s built to exceed him. If Zoro truly surpasses Sword God Ryuma, the story’s logic suggests he’ll take on the “God” power and identity that Ryuma represented.
“Ushimaru was a fantastic swordsman and a direct descendant of the Sword God, Shimotsuki Ryuma. And this man was the one to finally return Shusui to Wano. It must be fate, as Ryuma was also a one-eyed Samurai.” — Kawamatsu explains Zoro’s connection to Ryuma, One Piece Chapter #1023
Sanji’s God-level progression runs on a different track—more demonic than sacred. His first major upgrade, Diable Jambe, is directly linked to the “Devil’s Leg.” His second evolution, Ifrit Jambe, is the one that makes the connection to the world’s “Demon God” explicit. He taps into Ifrit Jambe in One Piece Chapter 1034, and the implication is that as the Elbaf climax intensifies, his demon power won’t stay static. Instead, it should keep growing as he clashes with Saint Killingham and awakens Conqueror’s Haki.
Ifrit itself draws from older myth traditions—recognized as a Demon God figure across various Arabian folklore and Islamic texts. Its abilities are associated with smoke and fire, which is why Sanji’s transformation feels less like a clean, holy upgrade and more like something darker taking control. Sanji has already begun to draw from this Demon God, and the story suggests the more he strengthens, the more that demonic force expands with him. By the end of One Piece, he’s positioned to become one of the most dangerous “Godly” figures in the entire world.
And while Sun God Nika is undeniably powerful, Elbaf’s climax introduces a competing threat: the Devil God. The implication is that this side of the divine scale may be even stronger than what the Straw Hats have already faced.
Why These “God” Connections Matter for Zoro and Sanji’s Growth
These God connections aren’t just labels slapped onto the crew—they’re framed as engines for character development. For Zoro, being tied to Sword God Ryuma creates a direct narrative route to surpass him and define himself as the greatest swordsman the world has ever known. It’s a legacy he’s meant to inherit, then outgrow.
For Sanji, Ifrit doesn’t function only as an external power boost; it’s tied to unlocking deeper, hidden potential. As soon as Sanji properly taps into Conqueror’s Haki and upgrades Ifrit Jambe, his “Godly” strength is expected to rise again—turning him into an even more lethal fighter and a more powerful ally for Monkey D. Luffy.
Sanji: Hey, Gramps! Can I use the Supreme King too?
Gaban: You should have the potential for it. However, in your case, for some reason, I sense a very strong self-deprecation. You must be a King too if you truly want Luffy to become the Pirate King.
— Scopper Gaban confirms Sanji’s Conqueror’s Haki, One Piece Chapter #1187
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How the Straw Hats Could End Up With Five “Gods” by the End of One Piece
Zoro and Sanji are set to be two major God additions, but they aren’t the only ones in the story already connected to “God” status or power. Usopp has previously received the title of God as a gag during the Dressrosa arc, specifically in One Piece Chapter 743, alongside Zoro and Sanji. That means, at minimum, the Straw Hats can be counted as having four God-linked presences in some form. The bigger twist is the possibility of Vivi returning to the crew. If Vivi were to consume the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Zaza—the Rain God Devil Fruit introduced officially in One Piece Chapter 1182 on May 10, 2026, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24—then the Straw Hats could plausibly finish the story with five Gods on board.
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With five Gods, the Straw Hats would be positioned as the strongest crew in all of One Piece. It would also align with an earlier promise from Oda’s setup in One Piece Chapter 968, when the Roger Pirates stated that someone in the future would arrive and surpass them. Under that logic, Luffy and the Straw Hats would do what Roger’s crew couldn’t—while also exceeding Joy Boy and his allies. The endgame goal remains the same: freeing the world from the control and oppression of the World Government.
All the latest chapters of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
