10 One Piece Characters Who Could Help Imu Defeat Luffy

We’re deep into the final arc of the story now, so it won’t be long before the biggest bad guys start making their moves. I remember when Imu was first shown during the Levely Arc, even before the Wano saga, but honestly, we still know very little about them. They remain at the very top of the World Government, clearly in charge of even the Five Elders and the Admirals.

Watching Luffy’s journey, it’s clear he’s heading straight for Imu, and knowing Imu’s connection to Joy Boy, a confrontation feels unavoidable. Right now, though, I’m not sure even Luffy’s Gear 5 form is powerful enough to beat someone who can wipe out an Elder with such ease. But honestly, that’s pretty typical for stories like this – the hero usually faces a bunch of smaller challenges before taking on the biggest bad.

Fleet Admiral Akainu Represents the Vilest Extent of Absolute Justice

Akainu is considered by many fans to be one of Luffy’s biggest enemies. His killing of Ace at Marineford made him incredibly unpopular, though Luffy himself hasn’t shown any particular animosity towards him. Still, Akainu’s unwavering commitment to his strict idea of justice almost guarantees a future confrontation with Luffy.

The Fleet Admiral is beginning to suspect Imu is real, and his high rank hints at a future confrontation – and maybe even a deal – with the series’ main villain. Given Akainu’s powerful Lava-Lava Fruit abilities, Luffy would likely need to use Gear 5 to stand a chance against him. However, many fans believe Sabo, who now possesses Ace’s Flame-Flame Fruit, is the perfect character to ultimately defeat the Fleet Admiral, creating a fitting parallel to Ace’s story.

Rob Lucci’s Personal Vendetta Might Align with Imu’s Goals

During the Enies Lobby arc, Rob Lucci was a major challenge for Luffy, proving to be much stronger than him at the time. Luffy struggled significantly to defeat Lucci, establishing him as one of the Straw Hat pirates’ most formidable opponents. However, things have changed. Even after awakening his Devil Fruit powers, Lucci couldn’t compete with Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation during the events on Egghead.

Even though Lucci appeared to be as strong as Roronoa Zoro, he still has the potential to become even more powerful. The story hints that Lucci might find redemption, but in One Piece, anything is possible. Whether he wants to or not, Rob Lucci could end up working with Imu to eliminate the perceived danger of Joy Boy’s return – either to help Imu, or simply to satisfy his own pride.

Blackbeard Thrives at the Confluence of Chaos and Ambition

Recently, One Piece revealed surprising depth to the villain Blackbeard, suggesting he might eventually become an ally to Luffy. Now possessing both the Darkness-Darkness Fruit and Whitebeard’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Blackbeard is becoming incredibly powerful. However, his selfish nature makes him a perfect pawn for the mysterious Imu.

Many fans believe a fight between Blackbeard and Luffy is inevitable. Some think Blackbeard will team up with Imu to get stronger before facing Luffy. However, given Blackbeard’s lifelong ambition to rule the world, any agreement between him and Imu would probably be short-lived. It’s likely he’d turn on Imu after defeating Luffy.

Figarland Garling Has Become One of the Five Elders

Garling recently joined the Five Elders after Imu completely destroyed Jaygarcia Saturn. He also fought in the God Valley Incident, where he led the Knights of God against pirates, but was consistently defeated by Xebec. However, Imu’s special power kept Garling alive each time, making him nearly unbeatable in battle.

I’ve observed that Garling, much like his sons Shanks and Shamrock, is incredibly powerful even without a Devil Fruit. While he can use Haki – even the advanced Conqueror’s Haki – he mostly depends on his amazing skill with a sword. Plus, he’s already made an agreement with Imu, so there’s no convincing needed when it comes to fighting Luffy; he’s already on board.

Magellan Remains a Nightmare That Luffy Never Conquered

Magellan is one of the few characters who has ever truly defeated Luffy, and remains the only one to hold that distinction. While others like Crocodile, Enel, and Kaido were eventually beaten by Luffy, the Straw Hat captain actively avoided a rematch with Magellan. Magellan’s powerful Venom-Venom Fruit ability pushed Luffy to his absolute limit, nearly killing him in the process.

I have a feeling we might see Magellan again before One Piece ends, likely still working for the World Government and Imu. What’s interesting is that he didn’t come across as purely evil like some of the Marines, which makes me wonder where his true loyalties lie. If he continues to do his job, I think a rematch between him and Luffy is definitely possible – and Luffy would probably finally get his revenge.

Admiral Ryokugyu Gleefully Imposes a Tyrannical World Order

Ryokugyu became an admiral after Akainu was appointed Fleet Admiral. His Devil Fruit, the Woods-Woods Fruit, allows him to control plants. Some fans believe this incredibly powerful fruit means Ryokugyu is actually the Forest God mentioned in the legends of Elbaph’s Harley, who subdued dangerous beings. However, a past injury significantly weakened him, proving he isn’t as strong as the Emperors.

Ryokugyu fought incredibly well against the Wano heroes and villains, impressively defeating both King and Queen on his own. He then immediately challenged a large group – Kawamatsu, Shinobu, Raizo, Denjiro, Nekomamushi, Momonusuke, and Inuarashi – all at once. Ryokugyu has openly stated his intention to follow Akainu’s example, suggesting he’s unlikely to become a hero. Imu would likely be very pleased with this admiral’s loyalty.

Manmayer Gunko Is a Tragic Character Weaponized by Imu

We don’t know much about Gunko, who was first introduced during the Elbaph arc. Although she participated in the God Valley Incident, she’s currently having a much bigger effect on events. Her Devil Fruit, the Arrow-Arrow Fruit, might not seem very powerful, but she uses it with incredible skill and in so many different ways that it’s hard to imagine anyone being able to beat her.

Fans are fascinated by Gunko’s history with Brock and are now hoping she might eventually be redeemed. However, Imu took control of her body, forcing her to fight and turning many giants into demons. Because King Harald demonstrated how difficult it is to break Imu’s Covenants, Gunko may be destined to battle Luffy.

Figarland Shamrock Mirrors Shanks’ Power Without His Mercy

Figarland Shamrock, who appears to be a twin of Prince Loki – a fact that confused Loki when they met – grew up among the Celestial Nobles in Marie Geoise. This upbringing has made him proud and strict about following the rules set by Imu and the Five Elders. While he hasn’t been tested in battle yet, Garling believes Shamrock is as strong as Shanks.

Shamrock even managed to hurt Loki, which is significant even though Loki was tied up – flashbacks showed he’s incredibly tough. What’s really frightening is that Shamrock wields a weapon with the powers of a rare and legendary Devil Fruit called Cerberus. Loki’s worry about Cerberus is enough to prove Shamrock needs to face off against Luffy.

The Seraphim Are Proof That Power Can Be Manufactured

Bartholomew Kuma was the initial test subject for the Pacifista project, which eventually led to the creation of the Seraphim. These cyborgs were built using the blueprints of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and were further improved with a special genetic trait. We saw some of the Seraphim in action during the Egghead Incident, and it showed just how powerful they are.

We’ve seen all seven Seraphim, but only four have official names: S-Snake, S-Shark, S-Bear, and S-Hawk. These Seraphim are modeled after Boa Hancock, Jinbe, Kuma, and Dracule Mihawk, and gain their abilities from them. While Jinbe and Mihawk don’t have Devil Fruit powers themselves, their Seraphim versions have been given unique powers to make them stronger. The Five Elders are still in charge of the Seraphim, and Imu might decide to use them all against Luffy.

Monkey D. Garp Would Be the Most Devastating Enemy for Luffy

Monkey D. Garp always hoped his grandson would join the Marines, which has led some fans to criticize him for not stopping the World Government’s cruel actions. A recent manga chapter showed his strong desire to shield his soldiers from the indifference of their superiors. However, it seems Garp still wants the same thing for his grandson, potentially setting up a future clash with Luffy.

Man, I’ve been thinking about Garp and Luffy potentially clashing again, and it’s intense! Remember Marineford? Garp basically just told Luffy not to try and save Ace, but then let Luffy punch him! It was wild. But I don’t think that’s what’s going to happen next time. It feels like something much bigger is brewing. Honestly, I think Garp is the perfect pawn for Imu. Turning him into a demon… it wouldn’t just be about raw power, like those Galaxy Impacts, it’d crush Luffy emotionally. It’s a terrifying thought, but it makes a lot of sense!

2026-01-27 06:40