One Piece: 5 Characters Luffy Will Beat Before Becoming Pirate King

Monkey D. Luffy is our protagonist, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, and one of the four Emperors of the Sea.

He has soared to unthinkable heights in just a few years, facing some of the strongest people in the Grand Line/

However, there are still some people he needs to defeat before he can become the Pirate King!

Monkey D. Luffy is our protagonist, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, and one of the four Emperors of the Sea.

He has soared to unthinkable heights in just a few years, facing some of the strongest people in the Grand Line.

However, there are still some people he needs to defeat before he can become the Pirate King! 

5) Akainu

Akainu serves as the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, a position he attained after a grueling battle against Aokiji on Punk Hazard. 

As leader of the Marines, Akainu commands unquestioned authority, though this confines him to headquarters. 

His antagonistic relationship with Luffy is immutable; during the Marineford arc, Akainu killed Ace and severely wounded Luffy, cementing their enmity.

Luffy’s determination to become Pirate King poses a direct challenge to the Marines’ reputation, prompting Akainu to employ every means to thwart Luffy’s ambitions. 

Akainu’s Logia-type Devil Fruit allows him to manipulate magma, offering formidable offensive capabilities that can penetrate nearly any defense.

4) Blackbeard

Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard, is a formidable force capable of defeating nearly every character in the series. 

His immense strength comes from possessing two Devil Fruits. He wields the Yami Yami no Mi, which he stole from Thatch, allowing him to manipulate darkness and consume almost anything. 

This Devil Fruit’s greatest advantage is its ability to nullify other abilities, as seen in Blackbeard’s battles with Luffy, Ace, and Whitebeard.

However, its drawback is that Blackbeard cannot let attacks phase through him.

Blackbeard obtained his second Devil Fruit, the Gura Gura no Mi, from Whitebeard through an unknown method. 

This fruit grants him the power to create quakes at will, capable of generating tsunamis that can engulf entire islands. 

He can also use this power to repel incoming attacks. With these two abilities, Blackbeard holds a significant advantage over his opponents.

As he aims to claim the One Piece, a confrontation with Luffy is inevitable.

3) Shanks

Shanks inspired Luffy to become a pirate, with his compassion for his crew and friends helping Luffy decide his path. Although there is no malice between Shanks and Luffy, they are destined to face each other eventually. 

For Shanks, this fight may serve as a test to see if his long-ago gamble has paid off. Regardless, the battle will be filled with action and emotion.

When Shanks and Luffy fight, neither will hold back. Shanks will use all three types of Haki.

He has already shown that his Advanced Conqueror’s Haki is powerful enough to defeat Eustass Kid, a Supernova with a 3 billion berries bounty. 

Additionally, Shanks can prevent his opponent from using Future Sight, giving him a significant advantage.

2) The Five Elders

The Five Elders are Imu’s most trusted and devoted allies, having likely served the king of the world for decades.

Their primary mission is to ensure Imu’s satisfaction at any expense. Referred to as the Godheads, each Elder oversees a specific domain of authority.

At first glance, the Five Elders may appear old and ineffective, but in reality, they are fierce combatants with mythical powers. Additionally, their mastery of Haki makes them even more formidable.

Currently, the Five Elders are battling Luffy and his friends on Egghead Island. They aim to end the young pirate’s journey and prevent him from becoming the second Pirate King.

1) Imu

Imu rules over the world as its sovereign, seated upon the Empty Throne, issuing commands to the Five Elders who execute them.

While unconfirmed, there is a strong likelihood that Imu existed during the Void Century, likely leading the charge against the Ancient Kingdom’s extermination.

Imu has recognized Luffy as a significant adversary to the World Government, indicating that they will not tolerate his actions unchecked.

Should the Five Elders fail to halt Luffy on Egghead Island, it may only be a matter of time before Imu intervenes directly to prevent Luffy from attaining the title of Pirate King.