a piece Currently at the climax of the Elbaf arc, chapter 1189 is set for release on July 26, 2026 in Shuisha's Weekly Shonen Jump issue #35. As the Elbaf arc nears its end, series creator Ichiro Oda has been unveiling to us one powerful Haki user after another. So far in Elbaf, many powerful characters, such as the cursed prince Loki and even Monkey D. Luffy has managed to make his presence known through his strong Haki. However, none of them are among the strongest hockey users.
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the series, also revealed the three absolute strongest hockey users of all time and confirmed them in this arc. On the last stretch, pull all the way up a piece Chapter 1188, which was released on July 12, 2026, Oda has now officially confirmed the 3 strongest Haki users in the world of One Piece up to this point, and they are none other than Nerona Emu, Joy Boy and Red-Haired Shanks.
One Piece chapters 1179-1188 officially confirm Imu as the strongest Haki user alive
When it comes to the absolute strongest Haki user alive, we know that title goes to the king of the world, Nerona Emu. Emu's Haki was first teased to us at the midpoint of the Elbaf arc in One Piece chapter 1149, which was officially released on May 26, 2025 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump issue #26. In this chapter, Nerona Emu takes Gunko's body and then unleashes a powerful wave of victorious Haki. This Haki, although incredibly strong, was still limited by Gunko's body. Even then, Loki and everyone present in the underworld of Elbaf country labeled it baseless.
Another glimpse of this Haki was given to us on October 13, 2025 in a fragment chapter 1162, where Nerona Emu took the body of Saint Shani, one of the Five Elders of God Valley. There, Emu unleashed a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki, which surprised even Rocks and Rogers. Emu's hockey at the time was such that the hockey of the five top tier combined winners in Rocks, Roger, Big Mom, Whitebeard and Garp couldn't even put a dent in him. However, when Emu landed on Elbaf in One Piece Chapter 1179 in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump Issue #19 on April 5, 2026, the Haki he released surpassed anything seen before in the series.
“What's going on? Even in God Valley, I've never felt like this Hawkeye!” – Scooper Gaban confirms that Emu's Haki is the strongest, one piece chapter #1180
On April 20, 2026 a piece Chapter 1180, Scoper Gaban, the Pirate King's left hand, officially confirmed to us that Nerona Emu's Haki was unlike anything he'd ever felt when he came face to face in God Valley. In other words, Emu's Haki surpasses Roger, Rox, Harald, and every other character that has ever appeared in the world of One Piece. The power of Emu's Haki is also evident when looking at his incredibly powerful attacks. For example, the Sword of Hate: Stigma, when charged with Conqueror's Haki, was able to momentarily knock Loki out and cause him to bleed profusely. Similarly, Luffy's own Conqueror's Haki proved to be ineffective against Emu due to its relative inferiority. This is only a glimpse of Emu's Haki as he is still in a weak state and has not yet returned by the author, as confirmed in One Piece Chapter 1182. In his full form, Emu's Haki is going to get even stronger.
“I wonder, who is the source of this baseless haki?” — Loki Confirms Emu's Haki Power, One Piece Chapter #1179
Why Joy Boy's Haki reigns supreme in a piece overall
Overall, the one piece story makes it clear that the strongest hockey player in the entire series is not Joy Boy. Known as the first pirate in the world of One Piece who existed around 900 to 800 years ago, Joy Boy was incredibly powerful. He also wields the power of Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika. This devil fruit greatly increased his power and allowed him to channel Haki to an absolute high level.
Joy Boy's Conqueror's Haki was shown to us in One Piece chapter 1122, which was officially released in Shuisha's Weekly Shonen Jump issues #36-37 on August 5, 2024 at the end of the Egghead arc. When he unleashed his Haki through Ameth, the sky split, and the abilities of the five elders were completely nullified. Even the vice admirals of the navy began to drop out, and most importantly, Nerona Emu, the king of the world, felt pain for the first time in the story and fell to her knees. Of course, Joy Boy's Conqueror's Haki was much stronger than Nerona Emu's overall, and it was obvious to us. This makes Joy Boy the strongest Haki user in one piece, now without any peers. Even Emu, whose Haki is the strongest in One Piece's current timeline, doesn't compare to Joy Boy overall when it comes to manipulating this power.
“I have found the largest haki knot and sealed it in your body. You will live on even after I die. There will come a day when I can no longer help you.” — Joy Boy seals Haki into Emeth, One Piece Chapter #1122
Shanks is the third strongest Haki user in all of One Piece
Of the mortals a piece World, which besides Nerona Emu, Shanks is a very strong hockey user. Shanks doesn't have Devil Fruit abilities, but his hockey is of the absolute highest level. He has shown to be the most versatile with the color of the Supreme King and has reached incredibly high levels of power that have allowed him to defeat even Loki, who was confirmed to be stronger than Luffy in One Piece Chapter 1188, released on July 12, 2026. Shanks can also knock out Vice Admirals, as well as being stronger in person, like Haatkis and the kids. The assassin, with one blow from his blade.
Marco: He has awesome hockey as always!
Shanks: You'll have to excuse me. I have trouble staying calm on enemy ships. I'm not here to fight.
Whitebeard: And yet you bare your haki without hindrance, fool!
— Proving Shanks' powerful Haki, One Piece Chapter #434
At the same time, Shanks has Konakrar's Haki so strong that he can paralyze naval admirals from miles away, and he currently reigns supreme over the seas as the ultimate Haki user. Despite this, a piece Chapter 1123 hinted that Shanks' hockey might be inferior to Joy Boy's. At the same time, we know that Shanks' Haki will not be at Nerona Emu's level, which is evident when looking at the power the latter wields. This makes Shanks the number 3 strongest Haki user in one piece at the moment, but one that is incredibly impressive, especially among mortals. As Elbaf draws to a close, Eiichiro Oda is set to expand even further on these powerful Haki users, and we can't wait to see that.
All new chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga are available to read through Manga Plus and Viz Media.
