Eiichiro Oda has laid out the groundwork for these three important One Piece characters to become the surprise final villain. Who are they?
One Piece is no stranger to plot twists and making fans think twice about a character’s motivations. Eiichiro Oda has presented several characters as red herrings, such as Nico Robin and Franky, who were initially antagonists but joined the Straw Hat Pirates. Now, it’s time to analyze the characters that have the potential to be the final villain.
These three characters may not outwardly show any evil intentions towards Luffy, but their arcs could eventually lead them to become antagonists in One Piece. While Imu and Blackbeard are heavily debated to be the final villain, the three we will list out are wild cards, whose circumstances, motivations, and stories can change or be revealed at any moment.
3. Red-Haired Shanks
Chapter 887 caused chaos across the One Piece fanbase as we see Shanks, presumably, talk to the Five Elders. Later, it’s revealed that he has a twin brother, Figarland Shamrock, and that he is of Celestial Dragon lineage. However, he chose not to stay in Mary Geoise and became an Emperor instead.
To this day, we aren’t sure if it was Shanks or Shamrock who spoke to the Five Elders. It makes his character far more suspicious. Although the latest chapters suggest he’s a morally good person, it would be a great plot twist if Shanks turned out to be the final villain. He could’ve orchestrated Luffy getting the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, for his benefit to get the One Piece.
2. Nefertari Vivi
This theory is rather far-fetched, but it became popular among One Piece fans. Vivi is an honorary Straw Hat who sailed with them throughout the Alabasta Saga. While she chose to fulfill her duty towards her country, she never forgot the Straw Hats and what they had done for her. There is one way, however, that she could become the final villain.
Imu, the overarching antagonist of One Piece, seems obsessed with Vivi’s ancestor, Nefertari D. Lili. They have a portrait of her in Pangea Castle, as seen in Chapter 1116, but more curiously, they also carried Vivi’s picture in Chapter 908.
In the Wano Arc, Vivi was captured by CP0 to erase her. However, what if Imu wanted to keep her? Vivi could become another Gunko, whose fragmented memories don’t seem to match up with her God’s Knight persona. She could become a final villain through brainwashing, making it an emotional moment for Luffy and the Straw Hats.
1. Buggy the Star Clown
Buggy is the definition of a wild card. He started as a villain in the early days of One Piece during the East Blue Saga and then reappeared in the Summit War Saga as Luffy’s reluctant ally. What surprised us the most was how he rallied so many people to his side through sheer luck, as they mistook him for being powerful and a genius.
It’s this luck that landed him the title of Emperor. Buggy wasn’t supposed to be the figurehead of the Cross Guild, despite the masterminds being Crocodile and Mihawk, but the World Government gave him credit. Now, he’s in the race for the One Piece. If we take the popular theory of him being the secret son of Rocks D. Xebec, Buggy could become a final villain.
Overall, these three characters aren’t guaranteed to become final villains, not like Blackbeard or Imu (or even Akainu). Shanks has the most potential to be a final villain, but with the way Eiichiro Oda is writing him in the latest chapters, Luffy is safe from disappointment.
Which character do you think could be the secret final villain? Let us know in the comments below!
