One Piece Chapter 1171 may have revealed the strategy to defeat Imu

To say that the wait to start seeing answers in One Piece has been long is an understatement. The series has concluded its longest flashback to date, centered on the history of Elbaph, King Harald, and the legendary Rocks D. Xebec. However, the biggest takeaway from Chapter 1171 is the first concrete hint at how the Straw Hats might actually defeat the seemingly invincible final villain, Imu.

The climax of the flashback saw Loki finally claim the realm’s most sacred weapon: the hammer Ragnir, along with a legendary Devil Fruit reserved only for those Ragnir deems worthy. Loki used these new powers to strike down his father, King Harald. This wasn’t just a family tragedy; Harald was bound to Imu through a “Depths Covenant” seal. However, Harald’s death caused Imu to feel physical pain and exhaustion in the distant throne room, proving that the King of the World is not as untouchable as once thought.

A New Strategy for the Final War

Up until now, Imu appeared to be an unstoppable force, capable of negating attacks from powerful fighters. We now know that the Depths Covenant—which bestows servants with immortality, regeneration, and the teleporting power of the Abyss—creates a literal link between Imu and their subordinates. While Imu can revoke these powers at will without consequence, as seen with Saint Saturn at the end of the Egghead Arc, a servant killed by an outside force sends the damage back to the source. This suggests that the final battle won’t just be a direct assault on the Empty Throne. Instead, the Straw Hats and their allies may need to systematically defeat the God’s Knights and other “Devoted Blades” to weaken Imu through this reverse hivemind connection.

This grounds the final conflict in a strategy that feels earned rather than relying on a sudden power-up. It also adds significant weight to the upcoming battles against Imu’s high-ranking servants, as every victory will directly contribute to bringing the ultimate tyrant down. With the confirmation that Elbaph somehow carries the “D.” initial and is fundamentally incompatible with the World Government, the stage is now set for the most personal and tactical war in the series’ history.

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