Many Are Now Complaining That Outside The Monster Trio And Jimbei, No Straw Hats Have Haki
The God Valley flashback has completely taken over the One Piece fandom, but while readers are busy praising Oda’s handling of legends like Rocks, Roger, and Garp, another conversation has started to bubble up — and it’s aimed squarely at the present-day crew. Many fans are now openly frustrated that, outside of the monster trio (Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji) and Jinbei, no other Straw Hat has visibly developed Haki, even as the series barrels through its final saga. With the story showcasing gods, emperors, and mythical powers on a near-weekly basis, some feel the rest of the crew are being left behind.
The God Valley Arc Makes the Power Gap Impossible to Ignore
The God Valley Incident has become one of the most captivating storylines in One Piece history, and a lot of fans aren’t ready for it to end. Oda’s deep dive into the past — centering on Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the shadowy Imu — feels less like a simple flashback and more like a full-blown historical epic. It’s a saga that shows how terrifyingly high the ceiling of power is in this world, with conquerors clashing over the fate of entire islands and the Celestial Dragons themselves.
That’s exactly why the complaints about the Straw Hats’ Haki situation are getting louder. The more Oda raises the bar in arcs like God Valley, the harder it becomes for some fans to believe that long-time pirates like Usopp, Nami, Franky, Brook, and the others are still portrayed without clear, on-panel Haki — especially when even minor marines and side characters are casually using it.
Fans Feel the Crew Has Fallen Behind
Across social media, the same frustration keeps popping up: “How are we in the final saga and only four Straw Hats properly have Haki?”
Power-scaling debates are filled with posts arguing that it no longer makes sense for veteran Grand Line pirates to stand in the same arena as Yonko, Admirals, and the Gorosei without at least basic Observation or Armament. Many fans were expecting post–time skip arcs to gradually awaken each Straw Hat’s own Haki style — sniper-based Observation for Usopp, defensive Armament for Franky, support-type Haki for Nami or Chopper, and so on.
Instead, the spotlight remains tightly focused on the monster trio, with Jinbei added as another clear top-tier fighter. While that makes sense from a “main battle squad” perspective, fans argue it leaves the rest of the crew feeling like they’re stuck in a pre–timeskip world, where tricks, gadgets, and creativity were enough to survive. In the current climate — where awakened Devil Fruits and godlike Haki are normal — that approach can feel outdated.
Is Oda Holding Back on Purpose?
Of course, not everyone thinks this is a flaw. Some readers defend Oda’s choice, arguing that the Straw Hats were never meant to all operate at Yonko Commander level. According to this view, the crew’s diversity is part of their charm: some are frontline fighters, others are specialists whose value comes from intelligence, support, or utility rather than raw power.
There’s also the possibility that Oda is intentionally saving these Haki reveals for a later stage of the final saga. The series has a long history of delayed payoffs, and fans are well aware that Oda likes to flip assumptions at key moments. Many still hold out hope that a major war — perhaps the “final battle for the One Piece” — will serve as the catalyst that forces every Straw Hat to awaken their own unique Haki, turning long-standing “weak links” into last-minute game-changers.
A Missed Opportunity for Character Growth?
Even among those who understand the narrative logic, there’s a lingering sense of missed potential. Giving more Straw Hats Haki isn’t just about numbers or power tiers — it’s about character arcs.
Usopp unlocking a fear-driven Observation Haki style, Nami developing a weather-based combat Haki, or Brook honing a spiritual technique tied to his soul powers are all ideas that fans have speculated about for years. With each new arc that ends without those reveals, it starts to feel to some readers like those possibilities are slipping away.
The concern is that, once the story shifts fully into the unstoppable final war, there simply won’t be enough page space left to properly explore everyone’s growth, leaving the non-Haki Straw Hats permanently overshadowed by the same small group of heavy hitters.
The Fandom Loves God Valley — But Worries About What Comes After
Ironically, these complaints are rising during a time when many fans say they don’t want to leave the God Valley flashback yet. The arc’s dark tone, brutal stakes, and world-shaking revelations have reminded readers of peak One Piece storytelling, to the point where going back to the Straw Hats feels almost like “waking up from a dream.”
But that’s exactly why the Haki debate matters so much right now. The stronger and more mythic Oda makes the legends of the past, the more pressure there is on him to ensure that the present-day heroes — and not just Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Jinbei — feel ready to stand on the same stage by the time the curtain falls.
Whether Oda plans a late surge of Haki awakenings or deliberately keeps the crew’s power more grounded, one thing is clear: the final saga has raised expectations to their highest point yet. As soon as the story finally returns from God Valley to the Thousand Sunny, fans will be watching closely to see if the Straw Hats are truly prepared for the new era they’re supposed to lead.
