New One Piece Episode Is So Good, It Single-Handedly Raised The Bar For The Series' Finale

Jun 07, 2026 - 07:12

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New One Piece Episode Is So Good, It Single-Handedly Raised The Bar For The Series' Finale

Published Jun 6, 2026, 11:01 PM EDT

Merlyn De Souza is a freelance writer and anime enthusiast based in Goa, India, with a Bachelor's in English Literature. When she isn't writing, she can be found exploring various realms of entertainment, including, but not limited to, K-dramas, novels, and even the occasional manhwa. She also enjoys all things creative, like sewing and makeup.

After years of only hearing about the legendary island, One Piece's Elbaph Arc is finally in full swing in the manga and the anime alike, and it's already more than living up to expectations. In a recent trailer that's already amassed tens of millions of views, One Piece's anime is building up to the Holy Knights' big debut.

One Piece's Elbaph Arc Has Already Crowned Its Most Emotional Episode

Nearly twenty years after her tragic past was first revealed, Episode #1163 of One Piece recently finally saw Robin reunited with Saul on Elbaph. This reunion felt like the last bit of closure to Robin's story, and served as yet another reminder that her choosing to live was not in vain after all.

One Piece's Next Big Break Is Almost Here, And It's Hinting At A Truly Massive Cliffhanger

As One Piece prepares for a long break, the series is nearing an epic moment that would make for an excellent season finale for Elbaph's first cour.

As One Piece's anime has done before with the Egghead Arc and specifically Kuma's flashback, the series went above and beyond yet again to make this reunion a memorable highlight. Episode #1163 truly elevated this moment beyond the manga with original sequences and added snippets of Robin's old flashback that were perfectly timed to break viewers down. And, perhaps the crowning jewel of this episode was its special credits sequence, featuring a new song from Maki Otsuki, titled "Never Was Alone in This World."

While the Elbaph Arc has many highly awaited moments such as the God Valley flashback, Loki's flashback, Harald's death, and more in store, it's hard to think of a single moment that could possibly eclipse Robin and Saul's big reunion, at least as far as emotional weight goes. That said, One Piece's manga has been exploring Brook's past lately, though even if this flashback culminates in another comparable tearjerker, the anime likely won't get to adapting it until 2028 under the new production schedule.

One Piece Already Has the Winning Formula For Its Finale

Roger laughing after arriving at Laugh Tale and seeing the treasure Joyboy left on the island.

That said, Episode #1163 of One Piece has proved that the series may have already found the secret to nailing its grand finale when that time inevitably comes. Episode #1163 curiously has one thing in common with another one of One Piece's best episodes so far, Episode #968, which sees Roger arrive at Laugh Tale. In a scene that is burned into fans' minds to this day, Roger laughs after finding the vast, mysterious treasure left behind by Joyboy, all as "Memories," One Piece's first-ever ending theme by Maki Otsuki, plays in the background.

The Ultimate · Straw Hat Challenge Set Sail for Trivia “I’m gonna be King of the Pirates!”

⚕CrewNakama!

🌊SeasEast Blue

🍋Devil FruitsGomu Gomu!

☠VillainsFear the sea

🏆DreamsOne Piece!

SET SAIL →

Monkey D. Luffy accidentally ate a Devil Fruit as a child, giving him rubber-like abilities. What is the name of that fruit?

AFlame-Flame Fruit BChop-Chop Fruit CGum-Gum Fruit DSmoke-Smoke Fruit

✓ Correct! The Gum-Gum Fruit (Gomu Gomu no Mi) turned Luffy’s body into rubber. He ate it from Shanks’ treasure chest as a kid, gaining stretchy powers but losing the ability to swim forever.

✗ Overboard! The answer is the Gum-Gum Fruit. The Chop-Chop Fruit belongs to Buggy, the Flame-Flame Fruit to Ace, and the Smoke-Smoke Fruit to Captain Smoker — but Luffy’s rubber powers come from the Gomu Gomu no Mi.

Luffy’s iconic straw hat was given to him as a child by a famous pirate who inspired his dream. Who gave Luffy the hat?

AGold Roger BMonkey D. Garp CDracule Mihawk DRed-Haired Shanks

✓ Correct! Red-Haired Shanks entrusted his straw hat to young Luffy in Foosha Village, telling him to return it when he becomes a great pirate. That promise drives Luffy’s entire journey.

✗ Overboard! The answer is Red-Haired Shanks. While Gold Roger originally wore the hat, it was Shanks who passed it down to Luffy after saving his life from a Sea King — a defining moment in the series.

Before joining the Straw Hats, Sanji works as a sous chef at a floating restaurant on the ocean. What is the name of this restaurant?

AThe Galley-La BThe Baratie CThe Sea Rat DMakino’s Tavern

✓ Correct! The Baratie is the ocean-going restaurant run by Chef Zeff, Sanji’s mentor. In the live-action series, it’s one of the most stunning sets — a fully realized ship-restaurant on the open sea.

✗ Overboard! The answer is The Baratie. Run by the legendary pirate-turned-chef “Red Leg” Zeff, this floating restaurant is where Luffy recruits Sanji as the Straw Hats’ cook.

Roronoa Zoro is famous for his unique sword-fighting technique. How many swords does he wield in his signature style?

AOne BTwo CThree DFour

✓ Correct! Zoro uses Three-Sword Style (Santoryu), wielding one sword in each hand and a third in his mouth. His dream is to become the world’s greatest swordsman by defeating Dracule Mihawk.

✗ Overboard! The answer is three. Zoro’s iconic Three-Sword Style places one blade in each hand and a third clenched between his teeth — a fighting technique unique to him in the One Piece world.

Each Straw Hat crew member has a personal dream. What is Nami’s ultimate goal that drives her journey?

ATo find the One Piece treasure BTo become the greatest navigator CTo draw a complete map of the world DTo defeat every pirate on the Grand Line

✓ Correct! Nami’s dream is to draw a map of the entire world. Her cartography skills and navigation talent make her indispensable to the crew, and her passion for mapmaking was nurtured by her adoptive mother Bell-mère.

✗ Overboard! The answer is to draw a complete map of the world. Nami is a gifted cartographer whose dream goes beyond just sailing — she wants to chart every sea and island so no one is ever lost again.

A powerful Marine Vice Admiral is revealed to have a surprising family connection to Luffy. Who is this high-ranking Marine?

ACaptain Smoker BAdmiral Akainu CCaptain Morgan DVice Admiral Garp

✓ Correct! Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather. Known as “Garp the Fist,” he’s a Marine hero who wanted Luffy to become a Marine — not a pirate. Their family dynamic is a major subplot in the live-action series.

✗ Overboard! The answer is Vice Admiral Garp. Monkey D. Garp is Luffy’s grandfather and one of the most legendary Marines alive. Despite being on opposite sides of the law, their bond runs deep.

Usopp is recruited into the Straw Hat crew after the pirates help defend his home village from Captain Kuro’s Black Cat Pirates. What is the name of Usopp’s village?

AFoosha Village BShells Town CSyrup Village DCoco Village

✓ Correct! Syrup Village is Usopp’s peaceful hometown where he was known for telling tall tales. It’s also where Kaya lives, and where the crew acquires the Going Merry from her estate.

✗ Overboard! The answer is Syrup Village. Foosha Village is Luffy’s hometown, Shells Town is where Zoro was held captive, and Coco Village (Cocoyasi) is Nami’s home — but Usopp hails from Syrup Village.

The Netflix live-action adaptation was praised for its casting. Which actor plays Monkey D. Luffy?

AMackenyu BTaz Skylar CIñaki Godoy DJacob Romero Gibson

✓ Correct! Mexican actor Iñaki Godoy won fans over with his infectious energy and earnest portrayal of Luffy. Mackenyu plays Zoro, Taz Skylar is Sanji, and Jacob Romero Gibson plays Usopp.

✗ Overboard! The answer is Iñaki Godoy. The young Mexican actor perfectly captured Luffy’s boundless enthusiasm. The other actors all play Straw Hat crew members — but Luffy is all Iñaki.

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↻ SET SAIL AGAIN

Now, this wouldn't be the first time someone has suggested "Memories" should make a comeback for One Piece's grand finale. However, Episode #1163 proves that maybe even a new song with the same spirit could do the job, of course, with Maki Otsuki's instant, nostalgia-evoking vocals. All that said, One Piece's big finale is still quite a long ways away, though with the recent innovations in Toei's production, direction, and animation, fans surely have nothing to worry about.

Release Date October 20, 1999

Network Fuji TV

Directors Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou

Writers Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda