One Piece Episode 1172 Review: Elbaf’s Darkest Nightmare Begins

After ending last week’s episode with Loki finally standing once again, I expected One Piece Episode 1172 to jump straight into another big fight. Instead, the episode takes a different path. It slows things down and focuses on fear, mystery, and suspense, giving the Elbaf Arc one of its darkest and creepiest episodes so far.

What I liked the most is that the episode never rushes anything. Every scene has a purpose, whether it is introducing the Holy Knights’ terrifying powers or showing that Loki is still one of the biggest mysteries in Elbaf. It proves once again that One Piece does not always need action-packed battles to keep viewers completely hooked.

The Holy Knights Turn Elbaf Into a Living Nightmare

The best part of One Piece Episode 1172 is easily its atmosphere. One Piece has always mixed adventure, comedy, and emotional moments, but this time it leans heavily into horror. From the moment the giant snake appears at Walrus School, the episode feels completely different.

I really enjoyed how the opening scenes played out. Principal Kiba wastes no time jumping into battle, while Jaguar D. Saul quickly joins him to protect the children. It is a short fight, but it reminds us that even the teachers in Elbaf are powerful warriors who are ready to protect the next generation.

Things become much more interesting when the children suddenly start sleepwalking toward the beach. They are not running away or crying for help. Instead, they quietly follow one of Gunko’s arrows as if they have completely lost control of themselves. That simple image is surprisingly creepy and creates tension without needing loud music or flashy animation.

The mystery grows even bigger when more giant monsters begin appearing across the forest. At first, nobody understands where they came from. Then the episode delivers one of its smartest reveals.

Earlier that day, Ange had asked the children to draw the things they feared the most. It seemed like a normal classroom activity, but those drawings have somehow come to life. Watching those nightmares appear in front of everyone is both shocking and unsettling.

I thought this was a brilliant twist. Instead of introducing another villain with incredible physical strength, the story gives the Holy Knights something much more frightening. Killingham’s ability turns children’s fears into real monsters, making him feel dangerous in a completely different way.

The Holy Knights themselves also leave a strong impression. While the people of Elbaf struggle to protect the children, Killingham, Gunko, and Sommers calmly watch everything from above. They treat the whole situation like a game, which makes them even more unsettling. Their calm attitude says more than any dramatic speech could.

The episode also deserves credit for its pacing. It never rushes the horror scenes. Instead, it lets the tension slowly build until the danger feels impossible to ignore. That slower approach makes every reveal land much better.

Loki Proves He’s Still Elbaf’s Biggest Wild Card

While the school scenes focus on horror, the Underworld reminds us why Loki continues to be one of the most unpredictable characters in the story. After Episode 1171, I thought the remaining Seastone shackle would leave Loki almost powerless. Episode 1172 quickly proves that idea wrong.

Loki from One Piece Episode 1172. | Credit: Toei Animation

Even with one shackle still attached, Loki shows that he has enough strength to threaten the entire island. The biggest moment comes when Loki swings Ragnir and calls down a massive lightning strike that starts a fire near the Treasure Tree Adam. The scene looks fantastic, but what really stood out to me was what it says about Loki’s character. He is still strong enough to change the situation with a single attack.

I also liked how everyone reacts differently to him. Luffy continues to trust his instincts, while Hajrudin still believes freeing Loki was a terrible mistake. Both viewpoints make sense, and that keeps the conflict interesting because there is no clear right answer yet.

Another nice detail is how the fire near the Treasure Tree Adam connects with Franky’s discovery from the previous One Piece episode. We already learned that the legendary tree is not completely immune to fire and lightning, so seeing it threatened now makes that earlier scene feel much more important.

One Piece Episode 1172 Final Verdict

I honestly enjoyed One Piece Episode 1172 more than I expected. It could have easily focused on another big battle after last week’s cliffhanger, but instead it chose to build suspense, and I think that decision paid off.

Monkey D Luffy from One Piece. | Credit: Toei Animation

The Walrus School storyline introduces one of the creepiest ideas One Piece has explored in a long time, while the Holy Knights finally start living up to the fear surrounding them. On the other side, Loki continues to become one of the most fascinating characters in the Elbaf Arc because it is still impossible to know what his true intentions are.

What impressed me the most is how confident the episode feels. It never rushes the story or forces action just to keep viewers entertained. Instead, it trusts its characters, its mystery, and its atmosphere to carry the episode from beginning to end.

Overall, I think One Piece Episode 1172 is another excellent episode in the Elbaf Arc. It mixes horror, mystery, world-building, and strong character moments beautifully while setting up even bigger events for the episodes ahead. If this is the direction the arc is heading, I cannot wait to see what comes next.

One Piece anime is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.

One Piece Episode 1172 Review: Elbaf’s Darkest Nightmare Begins