Luffy’s Exponential Growth in the New World.
Luffy has skyrocketed to fame in the pirate world, rising faster than any other rookie and amassing an astounding bounty of 1.5 billion berries in just a couple of years. Known for throwing caution to the wind with daring feats of bravado, he plunges into danger to get what he wants.
His adventurous spirit took root early on in his hometown of Foosha Village, where none other than the infamous Yonko Red-Haired Shanks took a liking to him.
Captivated by Shanks’ free-wheeling pirate lifestyle, Luffy vowed he too would gather a mighty crew and find the world’s ultimate treasure – the One Piece.
To seal this promise, Shanks gave Luffy his precious straw hat, a crown once worn by the previous King of Pirates.
Luffy aims to surpass even his legendary idol, Shanks, in strength and renown. Bolstered by unwavering tenacity, Luffy heads his eclectic Straw Hatband of pirates on perilous seas towards ever-greater infamy.
Though his methods may seem reckless, few can match this rising phenom’s sheer audacity and will to overcome any odds in fulfilling his ultimate destiny – becoming the next King of the Pirates.
15 Strongest One Piece Characters Luffy Can Defeat Now
Luffy’s exponential improvement throughout the New World has been jaw-dropping, rapidly transforming him from Warlord-level to legitimately rivaling Kaido evenly one-on-one.
This dramatic rise signals the strides necessary for Luffy to achieve his Pirate King dream.
However, Luffy still can’t fully overpower the most formidable top-tier threats like Kaido or Big Mom. While increasingly mighty, certain enemies remain beyond his current reach.
One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Conversely, many once-dangerous foes no longer pose any challenge whatsoever to Luffy any more thanks to his tremendous gains. Past villains who once overwhelmed Luffy would now stand absolutely no chance against his tremendously enhanced speed, power, and haki mastery.
While still developing, Luffy has crossed the threshold where he would effortlessly decimate most of his earlier opponents.
So Luffy stands at an exciting point – continuing to push limits and test himself against the mightiest adversaries in the seas while having clearly surpassed the levels of most threats outside the pinnacle echelon of pirates and the navy’s finest. His path toward arriving at the apex of strength remains ongoing but undeniable at this stage.
Here are 15 of the strongest and craziest characters of the series that the future King of the Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy, can beat right now.
15. Rob Lucci
The rising star pirate Luffy was destined to collide with Rob Lucci, the ruthless government assassin zealously devoted to crushing enemies of the World Government.
As Luffy’s defiant acts escalated, a final confrontation loomed between his Straw Hat crew and Lucci’s covert Cipher Pol unit on the judicial stronghold of Enies Lobby.
Fans witnessed one of the most epic battles in One Piece as Luffy dueled the formidable leopard-man, Lucci.
Rob Lucci | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
With destruction mounting from the Navy’s impending Buster Call, they struggled to end the intense duel quickly.
At the climax, Luffy tapped his last reserves of strength for his Gum-Gum Jet Gatling, a relentless flurry of blazing-fast punches. This final blow floored the nearly unstoppable Lucci.
Barely victorious, Luffy’s bold raid on Enies Lobby cemented his status as a top contender on the seas while leaving the unflinching Lucci determined to settle the score someday.
Their destinies shall intertwine again as Luffy continues rising to claim the crown of the Pirate King.
14. Gecko Moria
Before his two-year training period, Luffy had a fateful showdown with the Warlord Gecko Moria amidst the ghoulish Thriller Bark. This master of shadows stole Luffy’s shadow, leaving him severely weakened.
To regain strength, Luffy implanted shadows donated by his crew, morphing into “Nightmare Luffy” – a bulked-up powerhouse.
Gecko Moria | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Moria responded by using his ultimate Shadow Asgard move, becoming a towering titan. But this giant form proved cumbersome, making Moria an easy target for Nightmare Luffy’s blows.
Luffy exploited this advantage to topple the Warlord finally.
Since then, Luffy has grown exponentially stronger while adventuring on the high seas. Were Moria to cross his path now, the far outclassed Warlord would surely flee rather than face Luffy’s mighty current form.
Their first battle showed Luffy’s endless ingenuity in overcoming any challenge or trickery, even from a Warlord. And he will only continue surpassing more formidable foes on his unrelenting quest to be the Pirate King.
13. Doflamgingo
Luffy and the tyrannical Warlord Doflamingo seemed unlikely foes if not for Luffy’s fateful alliance with rival Warlord Law, setting them on a collision course in Dressrosa.
Their explosive clash represents an ancient grudge – the righteous D clan versus the cruel Celestial Dragons who extort the world.
Doflamgingo | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
As a man yearning to be the freest pirate alive, Luffy cannot abide anyone who would deny freedom to others.
So when Doflamingo entrapped Dressrosa in his birdcage strings, he sealed his own doom against the defiant Luffy.
Trapped and increasingly furious, Luffy shattered his limits in Gear Fourth, pulverizing the smug Warlord with blistering blows.
Though their personal feud was short-lived, Luffy’s ideals directly oppose Doflamingo’s malign rule.
By toppling this profiteering Warlord, Luffy inches closer to his destiny as Pirate King and loosens the Celestial Dragons’ tyrannical grip, strangling the world.
None who curtail freedom will fare well against this rising scourge of the sea.
12. Crocodile
The ruthless Warlord Crocodile nearly conquered Alabasta Kingdom but reckoned without Luffy’s defiant interference to save the people and land he loved.
Usually calm and collected, Crocodile was rattled by Luffy’s relentless drive to protect his friends, no matter the beating taken.
Crocodile | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Crocodile unleashed his arsenal of sun-draining, dehydrating attacks, but Luffy always revived with indomitable spirit for another bout.
Blindsided by such tenacity, the Warlord slowly lost control of the fight’s tempo as Luffy turned the tide. By the time Crocodile recognized he had become ensnared in Luffy’s unrelenting pace, it was too late to counter the fearless young pirate.
In the aftermath of his first crushing defeat, the now-composed Crocodile seems to have rediscovered his viciousness. However, Luffy has also grown exponentially stronger during his adventures.
Though the bad blood remains between them, Luffy has already proved his grit can overwhelm even a Warlord’s best-laid plans. He emerged the victor once through sheer force of will and has only become more formidable since.
11. Enel
The overbearing self-proclaimed God Enel met his worst nightmare in Luffy – an unassuming pirate bent on ultimate freedom.
Enel sought to rule Skypeia with an iron fist, smiting all with his Rumble-Rumble lightning fruit power. By contrast, Luffy aimed to sail freely as the Pirate King, liberated from authoritarian chains.
Their fruits were natural adversaries – Luffy’s rubber body rendered him immune to electrical attacks. With his advantage, Luffy fearlessly weathered Enel’s wrathful blows before unleashing his own offensive.
Enel | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Though overwhelmed by Luffy’s tenacity and rare insulation from his volts, the megalomaniac Enel remained convinced of his own divine superiority.
In the end, Luffy’s gutsy defiance toppled Enel’s tyranny over Skypeia. Since then, Enel has departed for the moon while Luffy’s fame has rocketed after bold confrontations with even greater foes.
Should their paths cross again, Enel would surely seek to smite the insolent rubber man who ruptured his god complex.
But Luffy has realized his dream inch by inch by defeating would-be oppressors – he remains poised to overcome self-declared deities and advance onward to be the freest ruler of them all.
10. Kizaru
The formidable light logia Admiral Kizaru was poised as a pivotal antagonist for the Egghead Arc as one of the Navy’s most formidable fighters, who previously decimated the Straw Hats before the time skip.
His overwhelming might seemed to foreshadow an extensive clash with series protagonist Luffy as the arc’s climactic battle.
Kizaru | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
After Luffy spent years honing his skills and Haki to emperor-tier heights that enabled him to 1v1 Kaido, fans watched the Sentomaru face-off with bated breath, wondering if he could truly hold his own against an Admiral’s Logia intangibility.
Having bested the seemingly invincible Kaido, they expected Luffy would still struggle against the crafty Kizaru.
Yet when the confrontation finally occurred, Luffy stunned everyone by instantly flooring the Admiral with a single uncontrolled emission of his Conqueror’s Haki in Chapter 1091.
This anti-climatic blitz revealed how exponentially Luffy has grown since nearly being killed by Kizaru before—no longer the wide-eyed rookie, but a rising phenomenon bazookas towards the empty throne atop the seas.
9. Katakuri
After several minor scuffles amidst the chaos of Sanji’s ruined wedding ceremony, Luffy and Katakuri’s momentous duel ignited following the Straw Hats’ desperate aerial escape from Totto Land.
Seeking vengeance for his fallen comrade Pedro’s sacrifice, an enraged Katakuri infiltrated the Thousand Sunny using his sister Brûlée’s mirror powers, lying in wait to ambush the fleeing crew.
Sensing killing intent within the mirrors, Luffy tackled Katakuri into the alternate dimension of the Mirro-World just as his crew desperately prepared their getaway coup de burst.
Katakuri | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Now isolated in this parallel realm, Luffy shattered the gateway mirror to ensure his friends’ clean escape, stranding himself alone against the ruthless Sweet Commander.
No longer distracted by his crew’s predicament, Luffy could finally unleash on this formidable foe one-on-one.
And so, within the splintered mirrors of the Mirro-World, two titans collided in a battle destined to shake the very foundations of Totto Land. Their first major showdown would push both warriors to uncover new depths of strength and possibility.
8. Perospero
Perospero is one of Big Mom’s top officers and oldest sons, so he wields considerable power and authority in the crew.
As Minister of Candy, he oversees operations on Candy Island, where he implements his mother’s policies. His high standing allows him to command many subordinates, including his younger siblings, who carry out missions on his orders without question.
Perospero | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Even Sweet Commanders with superior fighting strength, like Smoothie, obey his directives during missions. Perospero’s trusted role in directing islands, leading squadrons on attacks, and coordinating his powerful siblings demonstrates his formidable influence second only to Big Mom herself.
7. King
Despite King’s formidable Ancient Zoan fruit and rare Lunarian lineage granting impressive durability and flames, he would likely struggle against Luffy’s current level of strength.
Like Zoro, Luffy has awakened the supremely powerful Ryuo emission technique of Advanced Conqueror’s Haki, a key factor in Zoro finally overwhelming King after an extended bout.
Luffy can now imbue his rapid-fire blows with this destructive Haki, concentrating its full force on internal damage.
King | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Additionally, Luffy’s Snakeman form and Gear Second mode offer blinding attack speeds perfectly suited to exploiting King’s brief vulnerabilities when his defensive flames dissipate to enable his swift offensive Mode Shift.
Though King’s quickened state also enhances his speed, Luffy has proven adept at adapting to and ultimately outmaneuvering even the fastest foes when the stakes are high.
With both dominant attack power from his mastered haki and the latest techniques providing blistering speed, Luffy has cultivated the perfect counters to King’s formerly near-impregnable defenses.
Though by no means a guaranteed win, Luffy now boasts the toolbox to decisively overwhelm even Kaido’s right-hand rampart.
So, should they battle, King would need to unleash the full extent of his ancient Zoan and genetic gifts just to survive against this rising emperor-class foe for more than a few phases.
6. Jack
As one of Kaido’s three Disasters, Jack holds tremendous clout in the Beasts Pirates, commanding many subordinates as he oversees operations in Kuri.
Though outranked by the Governor-General, Jack’s authority exceeds the Shinuchi, and his fearsome reputation earns him the respect of most crewmates, including fellow All-Stars, King, and Queen. His epithet references the ruin he leaves behind when terrorizing islands.
Jack | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
The Marines also recognize Jack’s caliber, assigning a billion bounty and classifying him as a global threat. Despite facing legendary figures like Sengoku, Jack withstood a punishing onslaught from several vice admirals and admirals combined.
During the attack on Zou, it took the Sulong forms of Inuarashi and Nekomamushi, the two strongest minks, working in tandem to finally overpower him after he had dominated other Sulong minks prior.
So, while less powerful than some All-Stars, Jack remains dangerous thanks to his prowess, reputation, and clout within the crew.
5. Queen
Despite being enemies, Queen genuinely respects Luffy’s strength and infamy as one of the most dangerous Supernovas.
He repeatedly attempted to recruit Luffy into the Beasts Pirates, even offering to personally request that Kaido pardon Luffy’s defiant opposition to their crew if he joined them.
Queen was one of the few who recognized Luffy’s ability to wield Conqueror’s Haki, further acknowledging his impressive potential.
Queen | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
However, while holding Luffy in high regard compared to most pirates, the Queen still viewed him as subordinate while he was a prisoner in Udon.
He mocked Luffy’s hopeless situation and exploited his concern for Kid’s well-being to manipulate Luffy into losing their sumo match, relentlessly torturing Kid anytime Luffy failed.
So, while Queen rated Luffy more highly than typical pirates and tried recruiting him, he still leveraged his prisoner status to demean and control him to a degree.
Queen’s perspective balanced genuine respect for Luffy’s skill with conceit in his own superior position in Udon.
4. Koby
Though noble Marine Koby aims to one day stand amongst the Admirals, fate may mirror his mentor Garp’s inability to ever definitively best the Pirate King himself.
For dynamic literary purposes, Luffy is destined to edge out his childhood friend turned rival.
Koby’s prodigious growth in combat skill speaks to his immense potential, one-day surpassing veteran giants like Garp through sheer grit alone. But Luffy, too, has awakened dizzying new heights of strength on his quest to claim the crown, harnessing mythical Zoan-like properties of his Devil Fruit and mastering the supreme grade of Haki emission.
Koby | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Were Koby to gain a Devil Fruit granting freakish abilities like Luffy’s rubber body, he may gain an edge necessary to achieve victory finally.
Yet, as a framing device, their bond as enlightened rivals chasing intertwined dreams suggests Koby is fated to fall just short each time he faces the future King of the Pirates.
Still, those fleeting moments when Koby’s spirit eclipses Luffy’s may be enough to shift the very world before he inevitably succumbs to his friend’s unrelenting will. Not all legends require definitive triumph when their true quest lies in bringing light to the world.
3. Buggy
The bombastic Buggy stands as one of One Piece’s most entertaining comic reliefs, yet the clown pirate pales mightily against his old foe, Luffy, in earnest combat.
Even their first meeting saw spry upstart Luffy outmaneuver the Chop-Chop fruit-powered Buggy with ease.
In the years since, Luffy has skyrocketed from rookie status to toppling entire Emperors with awe-inspiring new techniques, awakening his Devil Fruit and Haki to unprecedented levels.
Buggy | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Meanwhile, little suggests Buggy has significantly improved since his serendipitous rise to Warlord status.
Rather than dedicating himself to honing fighting prowess, Buggy has doubled down on misfortune and trickery to weasel his way up the pirate ranks, relying on luck and stronger crewmates to survive the most perilous situations.
Such slippery antics may preserve his skin but offer no counter to Luffy’s overwhelming speed, power, and mastery of all battle forms.
So should these two former foes and one-time Impel Down escapees reunite, Buggy would likely seek to flee rather than face the human cannonball now capable of splitting the very skies with his fiery fists.
For all his notoriety, the hapless clown remains but a sideshow spectacle compared to the Phenomenon barrelling toward his destined throne.
2. Jinbe
While the stalwart Jinbe stands among the most formidable fighters in One Piece, his skills still fall just short of matching his new captain, Luffy.
Jinbe proved his mettle by defeating the formidable CP0 agent Who’s Who in Wano. However, this victory pales in comparison to Luffy’s unprecedented feat of defeating Kaido in a lengthy 1v1 battle after already enduring a gauntlet of fierce opponents.
Jinbe | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Whereas Jinbe relies on fish-man karate and fish-man jiu-jitsu techniques to overwhelm most foes, Luffy has awakened the pinnacle stage of all three Haki abilities – a level of mastery exceedingly rare even amongst the world’s strongest warriors.
He has also revealed awakened Zoan-like properties of his rubber Devil Fruit that push his physique beyond natural human limits.
While Jinbe fought valiantly alongside Luffy against Big Mom and her crew, he was unable to significantly damage her iron skin with his attacks.
By contrast, Luffy cracked through her exterior in their showdown and acquired Armament Haki strong enough to clash with Kaido himself later.
So, while the dutiful Jinbe continues to hold his own against top-tier threats, Luffy has surged onwards to overcome emperors that even Jinbe cannot expect to defeat in solo fights.
Though amongst the cream of the crop now, Jinbe’s limits land firmly beneath the soaring heights his captain shall soon reach.
1. Sanji
While the cunning Sanji did manage to land a surprise kick on Luffy when his guard was down, this minor scuffle hardly reflects how an earnest match between the two Straw Hats would unfold.
Whereas Luffy has awakened and refined his grasp over all three types of Haki to an advanced degree, Sanji has yet to exhibit any Conqueror’s Haki that might rival his captain’s own domineering spirit.
Lacking this crucial power that Luffy channels into his dynamic techniques, Sanji cannot counter or restrain Luffy’s imposing will.
Sanji | One Piece (Credits: Eiichiro Oda)
Additionally, Luffy has revealed explosive new Gear Fifth transformations that manipulate his rubber physique in a Zoan fruit-like fashion, granting monstrous strength and agility to overwhelm even the mightiest Emperors.
By contrast, Sanji has shown no bodily mutations or Haki masteries on this intimidating scale.
Unless the cunning chef manifests Conqueror’s Haki or some equivalent power leap, he has minimal chance of overcoming a serious Luffy, who has continuously surpassed his own limits.
Their momentary scuffle aside over a trivial matter, Luffy remains firmly above his crew in combat caliber, standing at the precipice of becoming the King of the Pirates himself.
