Every One Piece Character Who Can Return in Elbaph Arc, Ranked

The Elbaph Arc already seems an important phase of One Piece‘s Final Saga. With the introduction of Prince Loki, ancient lore, giant politics, and all the tension with Imu, it is clear that Eiichiro Oda is using Elbaph as more than just another island – it seems to be a point where both unresolved storylines and major characters are expected to collide.

That is why fans keep asking one question – Who is going to show up next? Using what is already established by canon, and looking at unresolved storylines, character motivations, and storytelling styles that Oda has repeatedly used, here are the most likely characters that are going to return in the final saga of One Piece, ranked by their importance and narrative value.

1 The Ancient King of Freedom: Joy Boy

There is no character in Elbaph who is more important than Joy Boy. Through the use of flashbacks, the concept of an “inherited will,” ancient records, or through spiritual connections to Luffy, the fans can anticipate the return of Joy Boy.

In the previous few chapters of One Piece, Oda has spotlighted several significant lore involving Joy Boy, Nika, and Void Century. Even during the recent chapter (One Piece Chapter 1181), we saw Imu mentioning Joy Boy while fighting Loki, which hinted at their past association. All these things cannot be a mere coincidence.

Thus, it is highly likely that we will get to know more details about Joy Boy and his past association with Imu in the upcoming chapters of One Piece.

2  The Revolutionary Storm: Monkey D. Dragon

Dragon was officially introduced as the world’s most wanted criminal. For years, Dragon has been kept in the shadows most of the time. Thus, fans still know surprisingly very little about him and his abilities. However, in the Elbaph arc, Dragon is expected to enter into combat directly or indirectly.

Elbaph offers a setup where Dragon can act more openly. The giants of Elbaf opposing the World Government actually aligns really well with his ideology of the Revolution, making his return feel inevitable.

3 The Blade Waiting in Shadows: Dracule Mihawk

Mihawk’s comeback is long overdue. In the recent One Piece chapter 1181, we have seen Imu wielding a similar kind of black blade-type weapon, called Blade of Judgment: Nemesis. However, it looks quite similar to Mihawk’s Yoru, one of the 12 Supreme Grade Blades. Apart from that, Oda has used several visual parallels and symbolism multiple times, which made Imu and Mihawk’s link hard to ignore.

Also, a land tied to warrior pride and legendary combat would suit the world’s strongest swordsman perfectly. He also connects naturally to Zoro’s growth, Cross Guild, and final-era power scaling. Thus, if Oda wants to move the swordsman storylines forward, Elbaph is the right stage for the same.

4 The Holy Rival: Figarland Shamrock

Shamrock belongs to the Figarland family. However, we know very little about Shank’s identical twin brother and Garling’s son. But from whatever we have seen, his abilities look very strong, and he is most probably going to play a very important role as a major final saga villain.

He represents the World Government side and the Holy Knight authority. Thus, bringing him to the same battlefield as giants or pirates would greatly expand the political side of the Elbaph arc.

He is also expected to make his anime debut with Kenjiro Tsuda, who is confirmed to voice him. All of these things suggest that his narrative importance is going to increase as we approach the final phase of the story.

5 The Red-Haired Legend: Shanks

Elbaph would be a very fitting setting for Shanks due to his long history with both Dorry and Brogy (Giant Warriors). Also, his connection to the Figarland bloodline makes his comeback even more likely in the upcoming chapters.

Whether he reunites with Luffy now or later, Oda knows the emotional power of delaying that moment. Even a short Shanks scene in Elbaph would dominate the entire arc.

6 The Forgotten Supernova: Urouge

Urouge is an underutilized member of the Worst Generation with an off-screen Yonko crew feat and therefore has a lot of potential. He defeated a Sweet Commander before the Whole Cake events. Oda has held off on using him until now, which makes his return very likely, considering where we are in the Final Saga.

Given his references to sky islands, his monk-like status, and mysterious survival story, he is a strong candidate for lore-heavy arcs like this. Thus, Elbaf would be a perfect location to reveal any remaining mysteries he is associated with.

7 The Lucky Threat: Buggy

Although Buggy is a comedic character, the Cross Guild holds weight and should not be joked about. Buggy is currently one of the Yonko, and Eiichiro Oda frequently uses Buggy to stumble into major historical moments.

If Cross Guild begins hunting Marines, chasing Mihawk’s interests, or following treasure leads, Buggy reaching Elbaph is not impossible. Thus, his addition to the story would bring more chaos to the overall events that are going on in the final saga.

8 The Emperor of Chaos: Blackbeard

Blackbeard always has a motive for his actions. If the island of Elbaph has any information on Road Poneglyphs, ancient weapons, or giant power, then he will probably show up.

He is also the type of villain who likes to come after everything has already been assembled by the other players. A surprise Blackbeard move in Elbaph would be classic Oda misdirection and could instantly turn the arc darker.

9 The Fallen Hero: Monkey D. Garp

Garp’s fate after Hachinosu still hangs over the story. Oda intentionally left room for future movement, which usually means the character is not done yet. If rescue operations or anti-Government alliances begin, Elbaph could become part of that path.

Garp also has a history with giants through Marine influence and legendary status. He was declared the Hero of the Marines after God Valley. Thus, his return would add emotional weight, especially if it intersects with Monkey D. Luffy or Dragon.

10 The Navy Wildcards: Kizaru, Kuzan, and Other Marines

The importance of Elbaph to the Marines simply cannot be ignored. If the World Government notices an extremely large power move or sees some of the long-lost secrets of the world surfacing again, it seems logical for them to send a high-level admiral-type response.

Right now, Kizaru is still dealing with the recent Egghead fallout, and Kuzan is involved with Blackbeard, which makes them some of the endgame threats in One Piece. Even if either of these men shows up for just a moment, they would raise the stakes significantly.

Elbaph already feels like a collision point where pirates, gods, kings, Marines, and revolutionaries may all intersect. That usually means Oda is preparing multiple returns instead of just one.

If even half these names show up, Elbaph could become one of the greatest arcs in One Piece history.

Series Title	One Piece
Manga Author	Eiichiro Oda
Chapter 1182 Release Date (US)	May 10, 2026
Manga Rating (Mal) – as of April 30, 2026	9.21 / 10
Where to Read	Manga Plus by Shueisha, Viz Media

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So now the big question – Which surprise return would make Elbaph truly legendary for you? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

One Piece manga is currently available to read on Manga Plus by Shueisha.