One Piece: 5 Reasons Why It’s Hard to Defend the Story Today

One Piece remains one of the biggest manga and anime franchises ever, but reaching the Final Saga has made some long-running complaints harder to ignore. Egghead and Elbaph have delivered major reveals, including Imu’s growing role, deeper world history, and new conflicts involving the Straw Hats and Giants.

At the same time, the story is carrying more characters, mysteries, and simultaneous battles than ever. These issues do not erase its strengths, but they can make the story harder to defend today – which brings us to the five points that we feel are the main issues.

1 The Final Saga Keeps Adding Mysteries Instead of Giving Answers

Sommers from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

The Final Saga has reached a point where answers are often followed by even more questions. Elbaph alone is juggling Imu, Loki, the Knights of God, the Straw Hats, and the Giants. One Piece Chapter 1193 moves between Luffy’s battle with Imu, Zoro’s fight with Sommers, Sanji’s clash with Killingham, and a mystery involving Biblo’s Owl Library. There is plenty happening, but following so many threads at once can become exhausting when readers simply want one storyline to receive enough attention.

2 Gear 5 Changed What Made Luffy’s Devil Fruit So Special Today

Gear 5 Luffy from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

For years, Luffy’s Devil Fruit was one of the simplest ideas in One Piece: he ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi and gained a rubber body. Chapter 1044 changed that by revealing its true identity as the Mythical Zoan Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, with Gear 5 being its awakened form. The revelation connected Luffy to Joy Boy and the world’s ancient history. For some longtime readers, however, it made one of the series’ simplest ideas considerably more complicated.

3 Imu’s Big Reveal Has Become a Storyline Instead of One Moment

Imu from One Piece | Credits: Shueisha

Imu began as one of One Piece‘s biggest mysteries, first appearing in the Empty Throne room before the story gradually revealed more about the character. By the Elbaph arc, Imu had become an active part of the central conflict rather than a distant mystery. Chapter 1193 continues Luffy’s confrontation with Imu, while Luffy eventually runs out of energy. Episode 1179 also shows Imu taking control of Gunko. After years of buildup, the payoff has therefore unfolded as an extended storyline rather than one concentrated reveal.

4 Elbaph Has Too Many Major Characters Fighting for Attention

Imu takes over Gunko in One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

Elbaph has reached a point where several major characters have their own battles or story threads. Chapter 1193 features Luffy and Loki’s conflict with Imu, Zoro fighting Sommers, Sanji facing Killingham, and Robin and Chopper becoming involved in Biblo’s discovery at the Owl Library. Episode 1179 adds another major development through Gaban’s battle with the Knights of God, Colon’s predicament, and Imu’s takeover of Gunko. The scale is exciting, but it also makes the story increasingly crowded.

5 Major Emotional Moments Keep Getting Buried Under New Reveals

Scopper Gaban from One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation

The Final Saga often moves quickly from one major development to another. Episode 1179 gives Scopper Gaban an emotional choice involving Colon before ending with Imu taking control of Gunko. Chapter 1193 then shifts between Luffy’s exhaustion, Loki’s next move, Zoro’s dangerous confrontation with Sommers, Sanji’s battle with Killingham, and the mystery surrounding Biblo’s inherited items. Each moment can be significant on its own, but putting so many developments together can make individual emotional beats harder to sit with.

What are your thoughts on the One Piece issues we addressed? We’d love to know your opinions in the comments below.

All episodes of the One Piece anime are available to watch on Crunchyroll, and you can read the manga chapters on Viz Media and MANGA Plus.