One Piece Is Officially Set To Welcome 3 New Straw Hat Transformations

One Piece is currently in the climax of the Elbaf arc, where a lot of focus is being thrown on the Straw Hat Pirates. They are currently up against a dangerous force within the World Government: the Holy Knights, who are powered up by the presence of the King of the World, Nerona Imu.

With One Piece Chapter 1188 marking the defeat of Monkey D. Luffy in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #33, it may feel like all hope is lost in Elbaf, but Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the series, is actually lining up three new transformations for the Straw Hat Pirates. As expected, these transformations are set to come through the Monster Trio, who will most certainly go on to win their fights in one way or another and, in the process, save the country of Elbaf.

One Piece Chapters 1187 and 1188 Officially Set Up New Transformations For Luffy, Zoro, And Sanji

When it comes to the Straw Hat Pirates, it goes without saying that the Monster Trio is the crew's main combat unit. Composed of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, the Monster Trio is incredibly strong, and right now they are powerful enough to face off against the absolute elites of the world. One Piece Chapter 1187, which was officially released on July 5, 2026, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #32, confirmed a power-up for two of the Monster Trio, those being Roronoa Zoro, and Sanji. In the case of Zoro and Sanji, a new transformation is being lined up through the power of Supreme King Haki. One Piece Chapter 1152 set up Supreme King Haki for both Zoro and Sanji, thanks to comments from Scopper Gaban. Gaban officially stated that both Zoro and Sanji had it in them to utilize the power of Conqueror's Haki, and it is in their battle against the Holy Knights Sommers and Killingham that they are going to fully tap into this power.

"There is more than one of you with the power to use Supreme King Haki. You there, swordsman. You seem already at ease with it." — Scopper Gaban confirms Zoro and Sanji’s Haki, One Piece Chapter #1152

While Zoro has already utilized Conqueror's Haki before, he possesses no control over it. In the case of Sanji, he has never utilized Supreme King Haki before and will go on to learn and master it in this very same arc. Through this new power, both of them are set to awaken and gain new transformations. Zoro’s ultimate transformation is the King of Hell mode, where he channels the maximum level of Conqueror's and Armament Haki at the same time. However, the King of Hell form that we have seen so far had a very short time limit. Upon fully mastering his Conqueror's Haki, it is highly likely that Zoro's King of Hell form will be taken to a whole new level and upgraded in terms of overall power.

Similarly, Sanji's Conqueror's Haki will give him an upgraded version of Ifrit Jambe and thus grant him a new transformation as well. In the case of Luffy, things are a bit more complicated since he already faced a crushing defeat in chapter 1188 on July 12, 2026. That said, Luffy is not out yet and will most likely continue fighting sooner or later. If this defeat solidified anything, it is the fact that Luffy will grow even stronger here in the battle against Imu.

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 has Color of that Supreme King, One Piece Chapter #1187

Why Luffy's New Transformation Will Take Gear 5 To The Next Level

Right now, Monkey D. Luffy's Gear 5 is the peak of his Devil Fruit abilities of Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika, which he awakened first in One Piece Chapter 1044 on March 28, 2022, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #17. At the time, Luffy called this transformation the peak of his abilities, but it is highly likely that he has not fully mastered this Devil Fruit awakening just yet. There is more to Gear 5 that we have not seen.

Once Luffy fully taps into the power of the Awakening of Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika, then this new form is what he could go on to call Gear 6. Based on Luffy's display against Nerona Imu in One Piece Chapter 1188, it is quite clear that Gear 5 is not going to cut it against the King of the World. Furthermore, it must be remembered that the version of Imu that Luffy is fighting currently is nerfed. If Luffy can't even scratch nerfed Imu in battle, then beating a full-powered Imu is out of the question.

"Of course I know that thou art not Joy Boy! Joy Boy was not this weak!!" — Nerona Imu shows his superiority over Luffy, One Piece Chapter #1188

All these things taken into consideration only lead us to one outcome, which is that Luffy must gain a new power-up at some point in this arc. The best way for Luffy to power up further is through fully realizing the potential of his Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. This Devil Fruit is inherently connected to the imagination of the user, and for Luffy, this fact has not clicked in his brain just yet. At the same time, it must also be noted that the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, is a God Devil Fruit. So far, all God Devil Fruits that we have seen grant a ring behind the user's back. Nerona Imu, the Devil God, has a ring of black flames behind his back in One Piece Chapter 1179, and Rain God Zaza was shown with a similar ring in One Piece 1182 on May 10, 2026. Perhaps Luffy can gain a Sun Ring of his own behind his back, which would then channel his powers to the very next level, granting him a new transformation as well.

Zoro And Sanji Are Set To Upgrade King of Hell and Ifrit Jambe Forms Respectively In Elbaf Climax

With Luffy awakening a new transformation, we can finally see him push back against the King of the World, Nerona Imu, in the climax of the Elbaf Arc. That said, even with this new transformation, Luffy is highly unlikely to defeat Imu. The most he can do is hold out until Imu's time runs out and he has to return to the Holy Land of Marijoa. In the case of Zoro and Sanji, however, things are different. Both Zoro and Sanji can greatly aid Luffy in battle by taking down Sommers and Killingham. In One Piece Chapter 1171, Nerona Imu officially stated that each Holy Light life has a price that he has to pay himself. This means that with the deaths of Sommers and Killingham, Imu himself will get severely weakened, allowing Luffy to push him back for good.

Imu: Those monstrous traits made Harald a true monster? Yet he was taken down? What exactly is lurking in Elbaf?

Five Elders: We shall have the Abyss Pentagram carved by Harald in Elbaf inspected.

Imu: That shall not be necessary. It'll result in the death of another Knight. Every Covenant comes at a high price to pay for Mu.

— Exchange between Imu and Five Elders showing Holy Knight deaths weaken him, One Piece Chapter #1171

As such, both Zoro and Sanji must fully master Conqueror's Haki to the point where they crush Killingham and Sommers and, at the same time, take their powers to the next level. In that sense, Elbaf is going to be absolutely brilliant moving forward, as we will finally see new transformations for all the Monster Trio of the Straw Hat Crew.

All the new One Piece manga chapters by Eiichiro Oda are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.