One Piece Chapter 1187 Guide: Zoro vs Sanji Haki (PS5)

Zoro and Sanji have long been framed as the “Wings” of Monkey D. Luffy’s Straw Hat Pirates—but a new development in One Piece Chapter 1187 (released July 5, 2026) officially puts their power ceiling on the same footing. With Sanji finally awakening to Supreme King Haki, the ongoing argument over who is stronger has effectively been locked in.

One Piece Chapter 1187 confirms Sanji matches Zoro in “King” power

One Piece Chapter 1187 launched officially on July 5, 2026, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #32. The chapter is especially important for Sanji because Eiichiro Oda uses it to confirm that Sanji possesses the traits of a King—making him a parallel to Zoro’s established role in that category.

For a long time, fans debated who inside the Straw Hats would ultimately awaken Conqueror’s Haki. Luffy had already demonstrated the power before the timeskip, but the rest of the crew weren’t clearly confirmed to wield it until later arcs. During the Wano Country storyline—specifically in One Piece Chapter 1010—Oda confirmed that Zoro had latent Conqueror’s Haki.

“Boy, don’t tell me, you can also use the Color of the Supreme King?” — Kaido reacts to Zoro’s Conqueror’s Haki potential, One Piece Chapter #1010

Zoro then fully revealed this capability in One Piece Chapter 1033 on November 29, 2021. Around that period, many players and readers felt Zoro would consistently stay one step ahead of Sanji. The reasoning was straightforward: Zoro had been confirmed as a Conqueror and was shown to use an ability tied to being among the absolute strongest, using Kaido’s statements in Chapter 1010 as the basis. Meanwhile, Sanji was still moving along a different upgrade path through the Lineage Factor Manipulation angle, without the same “King” confirmation.

Luffy: You can infuse your attacks with the Color of the Supreme King, can’t you?

Kaido: Only a handful of the strongest can. Not a dead man walking!

— Kaido clarifies that only the strongest can use Conqueror’s Haki Infusion, One Piece Chapter #1010

That long-standing gap shifted during the Elbaf arc. The story introduced Scopper Gaban in One Piece Chapter 1139 on February 10, 2025. From there, the dynamic changed again: Oda set up an equality between Rayleigh and Gaban, and—most crucially—Sanji gained Supreme King power himself. In One Piece Chapter 1152, released officially on June 23, 2025 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #30, Oda teased Sanji’s Conqueror Haki for the first time. However, the power’s real manifestation didn’t land until Chapter 1187 on July 5, 2026.

Sanji: Hey, Gramps! Can I use the Color of 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 Supreme King Haki, One Piece Chapter #1187

In Chapter 1187, Oda officially confirms that Sanji has the same “King” qualities as Zoro. The difference is how that power behaves: Sanji’s instinct to sacrifice himself and constantly put himself down often suppresses his Conqueror’s Haki. Zoro, by contrast, is shown exuding Conqueror’s Haki without the same level of suppression—highlighting a “balance” between the two Wings. With Sanji now awakening to Conqueror’s Haki, the story positions Zoro and Sanji as consistently relative in power, and neck-and-neck in combat strength.

Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece, has also been presented as having “lined up” the ideal Devil Fruit for Roronoa Zoro.

Why the “Wings of the Pirate King” framing forces equality

Zoro and Sanji have often been treated as comparable in strength, but readers sometimes assumed Zoro was the stronger one. Oda directly addressed that idea multiple times, including in SBS Volume 73, where he described Zoro and Sanji as Luffy’s two most trusted Wings. That framing was echoed again in One Piece Chapter 1020, when Nico Robin referred to Zoro and Sanji as Luffy’s Wings. Later during the Onigashima period, Marco added to the symbolism by describing them as the ‘Stars who took the stage’—also called ‘Hanagata.’

“I have trouble picturing Zoro calling him ‘Sanji’ by name. Not once, huh? Anyway—maybe they don’t get along, but they’re both vital as Luffy’s most trusted Wings. They’ve got Luffy’s back. So let’s forgive their squabbles (laughs).” — Eiichiro Oda, One Piece Volume 73 SBS

Because Zoro and Sanji are meant to be Luffy’s Wings, they can’t be unequal if Luffy is going to reach Pirate King-level. With Oda giving Zoro Conqueror’s Haki as his biggest power-up to date, and then granting Sanji the same kind of enhancement, the gap is meant to close. Some fans will argue Zoro is ahead; others will make the case for Sanji. But the key point is that Zoro and Sanji are—and will remain—around the same power tier.

That concept is reinforced again in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece Mini Magazine Special Feature: Legends and Next, officially released on December 22, 2025. In that feature, Sanji is explicitly stated to have combat capability equal to Roronoa Zoro. With the Wings dynamic portrayed as especially crucial in the final saga, the message is clear: readers are meant to accept Zoro and Sanji as equal, with ambitions that match each other in scale.

“He’s a top-tier chef who handles the crew’s meals, and at the same time he’s a fighter with amazing footwork. Even though his bounty is lower than Zoro’s, THEIR strength is evenly matched—worthy of being called Wings.” — Eiichiro Oda, One Piece Mini Magazine

Scopper Gaban and Silvers Rayleigh add extra weight to the “neck-and-neck” idea

Oda didn’t stop at the personal dynamic between Zoro and Sanji. He went further by introducing Scopper Gaban in Elbaf. In that arc—specifically One Piece Chapter 1139—Gaban is officially confirmed to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Gol D. Roger and Silvers Rayleigh. He’s also presented as a direct rival to Rayleigh in the chapter, and later, in One Piece Chapter 1152, Gaban himself states that he believes he’s stronger than Rayleigh.

“He’s a living legend who stood shoulder to shoulder with Roger and Rayleigh. The man named Scopper Gaban!” — Oimo and Kashi confirm Gaban’s power level, One Piece Chapter #1139

Whether Gaban is truly stronger than Rayleigh is ultimately beside the point. The story emphasizes how close they are—close enough that you could argue either side. That becomes another piece of Oda’s explanation for why Zoro and Sanji are always meant to be neck-and-neck. Some people will interpret Zoro as the stronger combatant, while others will favor Sanji. But the important takeaway is that the two of them stay relative at all times, with the same “equal” status regardless of who improves more.

For the first time in 27 years, that debate has officially been settled.