Why Doflamingo’s Return After Elbaf Is Imminent

Among One Piece’s many villains, Doflamingo stands to be the flashiest and most evil. The dude was vile enough to commit patricide as a young child, and he was cruel enough to turn his territory’s denizens into soulless toys. Since the Celestial Dragons didn’t want to restore his World Noble status even after what he had done, Doffy then started wanting to watch the world burn.

Unfortunately for the former Warlord, Luffy wasn’t one to be afraid of danger. The rubber man willingly joined hands with Law to bring him down, leading to his arrest and present detention at Impel Down. But with the looming final battle for the legendary treasure, the fan-favorite flamboyant villain is sure to make his return.

When is Doflamingo Returning?

After the Wano Saga ended, One Piece has officially entered its final saga. Both the Egghead and Elbaf Arcs have done a great deal to expand the series’ lore, as well as assembling the cast for the final battle. Even characters from earlier arcs like Wapol, Vivi, Crocodile, and the Giants have made a reappearance. As the competition for the One Piece and the grudges between factions deepen, more characters are sure to be reintroduced. Certainly, Doflamingo is one of them.

Doflamingo is too important of a character to ignore, especially with his background. Not only does he come from a Celestial Dragon lineage, but he has also built an extensive network in the underbelly of society. Given that he still seems to be raring to go, it’s safe to assume that Doffy is just biding his time waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

How is Doflamingo Escaping Impel Down?

Impel Down prides itself on being impregnable, but its reputation has become quite shaky. It has already been breached twice. The first one was by Shiki the Golden Lion, and the second one was by Luffy and company. With the world descending into total chaos, a third breakout feels inevitable. After all, the prison still holds important characters like Doflamingo, Bon Clay, and, supposedly, Weevil.

Those three alone would be formidable enough to spearhead another breakout. Doflamingo has heaps of experience in leading a team, and he is cunning enough to sacrifice others in order to achieve his goal. However, they may not even need to stage another breakout themselves.

The Cross Guild has been announced as the fourth Emperor crew in New World, and they continue to expand their sphere of influence. They even started a bounty system for the Marines and recruited whoever turned one in. With Buggy declaring the crew’s intent to join the race for One Piece, they would need more power to match the other Emperors and the World Government. Where’s the best place to do that? Impel Down!

What Role Will Doflamingo Play?

Luffy may have dismantled Doflamingo’s business and liberated his territory, but he is far from defeated. He is still motivated by the same dream. He wants to witness the total destruction of the world that the Celestial Dragons built. To achieve that, he can join a number of factions.

The first one is obviously the Cross Guild. With two former Shichibukai already in the group, Doflamingo would fit right into their mission of hunting Marines. His underground connections would provide the Cross Guild even further reach, and he might even be granted the autonomy to run his own operations. The only catch would be Doffy’s ego. After all, he might not be a fan of being under someone. The Blackbeard Pirates is another viable option. With Teech’s belief that pirates only needed a common goal to band together, Doflamingo would fit just right in. Since Blackbeard values power and cunning above all else, he would likely welcome a strategist of Doffy’s caliber with open arms.

He may even ally with the Straw Hat Pirates in order to fight the World Government. Luffy has done so with Crocodile during the Marineford Saga, so it’s not unlikely he would agree to the same setup again. He is a bit simple-minded after all. Regardless of which faction Doffy chooses to join, the World Nobles would need to fortify their defenses.