⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1177 and recent Elbaf arc chapters. Read at your own risk.
Chapter 1177 “Anger” — Luffy & Loki Finally Face Im!
One Piece Chapter 1177, titled “Anger,” delivers some of the most electrifying moments of the Elbaf arc so far. From Dorry unleashing a technique we’ve only seen from Big Mom, to Chopper potentially awakening his Devil Fruit in the most unexpected way — this chapter is packed with lore-breaking implications. Japanese fan analysts have been dissecting every panel, and the theories coming out of it are seriously compelling.
The cover page features Robin using her Hana Hana no Mi ability to help plant flowers in a mole’s garden — a lighthearted contrast to the chaos unfolding in the main story.
Dorry’s “Ikoku” — A Technique Big Mom Learned by Watching Giants
The chapter opens with Dorry and Brogy putting their brutal theory to the test: that dealing a near-fatal blow can reverse Im’s demonization on victims. While Brogy is clearly just venting personal rage, Dorry unleashes “Ikoku” — a technique most fans associate with Big Mom.
- Back in Chapter 874, when Luffy saw Big Mom use Ikoku, he was shocked: “That technique looks like something the Giant Tribe uses!?”
- The answer is now clear — Big Mom didn’t invent Ikoku. She saw it in Elbaf during her childhood and copied it.
- This mirrors what Oda revealed in a Q&A: Shanks learned his “Kamusari” technique by watching Roger’s back. None of the Roger Pirates could even imitate it — only Shanks had the talent to pull it off. Big Mom doing the same with Ikoku feels very similar.
- The full Giant Tribe hierarchy of techniques appears to be: Ikoku (solo) → Hakoku (two warriors, the ultimate version) → and the New Giant Warrior Pirates’ original variation, Gokoku, which combines multiple Ikoku strikes.
- Gokoku scales with the number of users: “Two-General Gokoku,” “Three-General Gokoku,” and so on — but still falls short of the true Hakoku’s power.
- As for how Kaido was able to use Ikoku — the leading theory is that Big Mom taught him during their Rocks Pirates days. Their combined “Hakai” technique was likely their own original creation, not something rooted in Elbaf tradition.
Chopper’s Attack Reverses Demonization — Is His Devil Fruit Awakening?
This is the chapter’s most jaw-dropping development. The manga cuts back and forth between Dorry/Brogy’s brutal, clearly lethal strikes and Chopper’s comparatively gentle attacks — and the contrast is entirely intentional. Dorry and Brogy are delivering killing blows. Chopper is not. And yet, Chopper’s attack is the one that reverses the demonization.
So how does that work? A key clue may have been hiding in plain sight since Volume 20’s SBS corner:
Fan Question: “What happens if a human eats the Hito Hito no Mi?”
Oda’s Answer: “There’s a phrase, ‘to become a person’ — it means to come of age, or to return to one’s senses. A human becoming human. In other words, living as a human being truly should. Something like that. Or maybe not. Basically, maybe not. Goodbye.” (He fled.)
- The phrase “to return to one’s senses” is the critical detail here. Chopper’s Hito Hito no Mi may carry an innate ability to restore demonized victims to their true selves — to make them “human” again in a deeper sense.
- The effect reads almost like the “demon” possessing the victim is being forcibly torn away by the fruit’s power.
- Crucially, Rocks himself once said to Im: “Don’t underestimate humans, monster…!!” (Chapter 1164). The entity that stands opposite Im — the monster — is humanity itself.
- Chopper’s fruit is literally the power to become human. And that may be precisely what makes it uniquely effective against Im’s demonization.
- This strongly suggests that Chopper’s Devil Fruit is beginning to awaken — with an awakening effect that influences others around him rather than just himself.
It’s also worth noting: Luffy also ate a Hito Hito no Mi (the Mythical Zoan Model: Nika). Would Luffy’s punches also reverse demonization? The theory here is no — Chopper and Luffy’s fruits are fundamentally different expressions of the “human” concept, and their effects on demonized victims would likely differ as well.
Sanji Takes Down Holy Knight Kirringham — But Leaves Fans Wanting More
Following Sanji’s “Diable Jambe: Soso-sai” from last chapter, Kirringham is subdued by splitting him into thirds and preventing reassembly — the same strategy used against Buggy (Bara Bara no Mi) and Caribou (Numa Numa no Mi).
- The chapter makes it clear: Kirringham doesn’t show any pain from Sanji’s attack, which strongly implies Sanji has not yet infused his strikes with Conqueror’s Haki.
- Sanji himself notes disappointment at how weak the Holy Knights felt. Frankie chips in: “We’ve just gotten too strong.”
- But Kirringham’s parting word — “Naméte-ro” (“Underestimate us”) — hints that the Holy Knights as a whole are not to be written off yet.
- Jimbe mentions “one more” remaining. The theory: Shamrock Holy Knight is likely another massive power spike — and then there’s the matter of Gunko (Im’s vessel) possessing a body, which should represent a threat on an entirely different level.
Elbaf and the Sun God Nika — What the Giants Don’t Know
In a fascinating scene, Loki (Nidhogg) breathes lightning at Luffy — and is completely baffled when it has zero effect. Elbaf worships the Sun God Nika, and Nika has a rubber body. Rubber is an insulator. So why don’t Elbaf’s warriors know lightning wouldn’t work?
- The theory: Elbaf knows Nika has a stretching body, but doesn’t know it’s made of rubber — and therefore doesn’t understand its insulating properties.
- The murals in Elbaf depict Nika’s arms stretching, which the Giants interpret as a miraculous divine trait rather than a physical property of rubber.
- This matters because Nika is not originally an Elbaf deity. The Sun God Nika is not Elbaf-native lore.
- Bartholomew Kuma (a Buccaneer) knew Nika’s body was made of rubber, but didn’t know what Nika looked like — so the Buccaneers didn’t originate the legend either.
- Elbaf’s sacred text, the “Hārei,” states: “The enslaved prayed, and the Sun God appeared.” Fūz Fū described it as “a legendary warrior ancient slaves believed would one day save them” (Chapter 1018).
- The leading conclusion: The Sun God Nika was born from the collective imagination of ancient enslaved peoples — possibly the Fish-Men — and was then somehow made real through the Devil Fruit.
Luffy and Loki Stand Before Im — The Final Battle Begins
The chapter’s climax delivers what fans have been waiting for: Luffy and Loki finally come face to face with Im (Gunko). Luffy is furious — Usopp and Brook have been caught in Im’s crossfire, and the threat of them being demonized by “Domi Reversi” feels very, very real.
- Usopp being demonized would be narratively loaded — this is the man who has always admired the pride of Elbaf’s warriors. Dorry and Brogy broke their own demonization through sheer warrior’s pride. Would Usopp find his own version of that resolve?
- Brook and the unresolved Shuri Princess subplot also hangs in the air. This thread needs to be closed before the arc ends.
- There’s a cruel dilemma being set up: the method to cure demonization requires delivering serious damage to the afflicted person. Can Luffy bring himself to hurt his own crewmates? Loki probably wouldn’t hesitate — but that’s exactly the kind of thing that would push Luffy’s “anger” (the chapter’s title) to its absolute limit.
- Im reportedly doesn’t fight with any sense of honor or fair play — a stark contrast to the Elbaf warrior ethos running through this entire arc.
What Comes Next?
With Im now directly on the battlefield, the Elbaf arc is entering its final phase. The unresolved threads — Brook and Shuri Princess, Usopp’s potential demonization, Chopper’s awakening, and the full scope of Gunko’s power — all point to several more explosive chapters before we reach a resolution. Sanji’s Conqueror’s Haki, hinted at but not yet activated, could still be a game-changer. And if Chopper’s Hito Hito no Mi truly is awakening, the crew’s most overlooked member might just become the key to saving everyone.
Chapter 1177 is a masterclass in Oda layering quiet lore payoffs — a 20-year-old SBS answer suddenly becoming plot-critical — alongside genuine emotional stakes. The title “Anger” doesn’t just describe Luffy’s mood. It feels like the entire arc is about to explode.
Chapter 1178 continues on March 30th. What do you think — is Chopper’s Devil Fruit awakening? Let us know in the comments!