This article contains spoilers for One Piece’s Elbaf arc.
The Straw Hat Pirates are the main cast that fans follow in One Piece. Having been introduced at the beginning of One Piece, fans have followed their journey for decades and seen them forge a familial bond with each other, and at the same time, go from strength to strength.
The Straw Hat Pirates have come a long way, especially after the time skip. They are currently regarded as one of the Yonko crews of One Piece, which just goes to show how skilled they truly are. While the Straw Hat crew is, undoubtedly, one of the four strongest on the seas right now, Oda has already revealed to the fans a crew that still stands above them, and in many ways, this crew is actually the goal of the Straw Hats.
The Straw Hat Pirates Are A Yonko Crew
Luffy Beating Kaido Made Him A Yonko
The Straw Hats Are Now Emperor Level Pirates
The events of the Wano Country arc changed the power balance of the seas forever. While Kaido and Big Mom ruled parts of the New World with an iron fist up until this point, a new era was ushered in this arc. Luffy managed to take down Yonko Kaido, and his crew, the Beast Pirates, were all dealt with by the Straw Hats as well. Meanwhile, Big Mom also fell here, thanks to the collaborative effort of Kid and Law. This arc was absolutely significant in the grand scheme of things, and the repercussions it had were absolutely massive.
They’re the Straw Hat Pirates. They were recently named a Yonko crew. Make no mistake, their strongest cut you down in a second from that range. — Shaka to Lilith about the Straw Hats
Following the Wano Country arc, the new Emperors arose. Luffy was now an Emperor of the Sea, as was Buggy, alongside Shanks and Blackbeard. This is what essentially created the four most powerful crews on the ocean.
Only The Red Hair Pirates Can Beat The Straw Hats Right Now
The Red Hair Pirates Are All Beasts
When it comes to powerful pirate crews, One Piece fans know very well that Luffy and the Straw Hats aren’t the strongest. They certainly aren’t the weakest either, as that title would go to the Cross Guild. The Blackbeard Pirates are also very strong, but they’re not at their peak yet, just like the Straw Hat Pirates.
They’re the most balanced crew out there with no holes to exploit. With high bounties across the board, they’re the Red Hair Pirates. — Shanks
The only Yonko crew that stands on top among the four is the Red Hair Pirate Crew. As put forward by Brannew, this crew consists of some very powerful fighters, and their overall level of strength is very high. Out of all the old Emperor crews, the Red Hair Pirates are said to be the most balanced of all, meaning the differences in power levels aren’t too drastic. They are also known to possess a very high bounty average compared to other Yonko crews. All things considered, the Red Hair Pirates are the strongest Yonko crew right now.
Luffy’s Goal Is To Surpass Shanks And The Red Hair Pirates
If that wasn’t reason enough, then fans need to remember what Luffy’s initial goal was. Luffy promised Shanks that he would surpass him, create a better crew, and find the One Piece. Luffy specifically put surpassing the Red Hair Pirates with his crew as one of his goals. He hasn’t fulfilled his promise to Shanks yet. Until Luffy doesn’t fight Shanks, the latter will be stronger.
One Piece Chapter 1161 will be out this week. As usual, One Piece is going to drop on Sunday. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday. However, the vast majority of international readers will see the chapter available on September 28. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1161 is September 28, 2025. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus.
