The long-running debate among One Piece fans about whether Roronoa Zoro and Sanji are truly equal fighters might finally get a clear answer in the current Elbaf arc. The manga’s latest chapters have shown both characters getting overpowered by the same enemy, pushing many readers to believe that Eiichiro Oda is setting up major power-ups for Luffy’s two strongest crew members. The Elbaf arc, which began in late 2024 and continues through 2026, has become the main stage for discussions about the future of the Monster Trio.
Why Recent Chapters Exposed a Power Gap
The story has made one thing very clear in chapters 1179 to 1181. The difference between Monkey D. Luffy and his two closest fighters is much bigger than most fans thought. The arrival of Imu in Elbaf changed everything. Imu defeated Zoro with just one hit, leaving the swordsman on the ground bleeding. Sanji managed to land a kick on the world’s ruler, but Imu blocked it right away and knocked him out with a counterattack using both Omen and Conqueror’s Haki. Chapter 1181 confirmed that Sanji stayed down after that fight.
These events shocked the fan community because Zoro and Sanji have always been presented as nearly equal in strength. The contrast became even more noticeable when Prince Loki, the cursed giant prince, took multiple heavy attacks from Imu and kept fighting. This showed that both Zoro and Sanji still need to grow a lot before they can fight the strongest enemies in the One Piece world.
The Holy Knights Arrive As Perfect Opponents
The current chaos in Elbaf involves the Holy Knights, especially Saint Sommers and Saint Killingham. Imu gave both of these warriors power-ups, making them serious threats that the Straw Hats must defeat. Many readers believe these two characters are the perfect matchups for Zoro and Sanji in the Elbaf arc.
The fan theory suggests that Sanji will fight Killingham. Killingham has the ability to turn fears and nightmares into real attacks. This kind of enemy would force Sanji to face his deepest personal struggles. Since Elbaf keeps focusing on identity and self-discovery, this battle could be the moment when Sanji finally awakens Conqueror’s Haki for the first time. Beating a nightmare-based opponent would require him to overcome his own limits in a way he never has before.
Other fans argue that Sanji should fight Sommers instead because Sommers has a twisted version of love. He believes in cruelty and control, while Sanji is defined by his selfless care for others. Either matchup would push the cook to grow beyond his current abilities.
Zoro Gets A Fight That Tests His Loyalty
If Sanji takes on Killingham, then Zoro would likely fight Sommers. The fight would be personal in a different way. Sommers uses love as a weapon. Since Sanji represents the purest form of love and protection on the crew, Zoro would be defending his rival’s ideals by beating Sommers. This setup could lead to a rare moment where Zoro openly shows respect for Sanji, breaking their usual pattern of insults and rivalry.
Some readers have also pointed out that Oda compared Zoro and Sanji to Rayleigh and Gaban in chapter 1151. Those two served as the wings of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and were both threats at the level of an Emperor. This means Oda wants Zoro and Sanji to reach that same tier by the end of the story. The fights against the Holy Knights in Elbaf could be the turning point where both of them evolve into true commanders of a future Pirate King.
Conqueror’s Haki: The Missing Piece For Sanji
The biggest question in the power debate comes down to Conqueror’s Haki. Confirmation surfaced during the Elbaf arc that Zoro officially has Conqueror’s Haki. The information came from Scopper Gaban, the former right-hand man of Gol D. Roger. This put Zoro in an elite category that includes only characters born with the will of a conqueror.
Sanji has not shown any sign of having Conqueror’s Haki so far. Many fans argue this means Zoro will always be stronger. Other readers believe that Oda is saving this power-up for the right moment. The Holy Knights have regeneration abilities that require advanced Haki to beat. If Sanji defeats one of them, he would need to unlock Conqueror’s Haki to do it. That would finally make him a true equal to Zoro in terms of combat potential.
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The Fan Debate Continues Across Social Media
Online discussions about Zoro and Sanji’s power levels have become very active since the Elbaf arc started. Many One Piece readers believe that Oda is building toward both fighters standing equally beside Luffy in the final battles. The manga creator has kept their rivalry alive for over 25 years, and resolving it by making them true equals would satisfy most fans.
One reader on social media wrote,
Zoro already became an elite swordsman. Now we just wait for his duel with Mihawk. Come on Sanji, time to upgrade.
The Elbaf arc is still ongoing as of June 2026, with new chapters releasing regularly. The next few months of the manga will likely show whether Sanji gets the power-up that fans have been waiting for or if Zoro moves ahead permanently. Either way, the battles against the Holy Knights will decide the future of the Monster Trio’s power balance.
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