One Piece: Oda Which Admirals Can Match Yonko-Level Power

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Oda Finally Settles the Admiral vs Yonko Debate

Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers from the One Piece manga series.

The power scaling debate between Admirals and Yonko has raged in the One Piece community for years. Now, series creator Eiichiro Oda has officially confirmed which Admirals can actually stand toe-to-toe with the Four Emperors—and the answer might surprise some fans.

According to Oda’s recent revelations, only two Admirals in One Piece history have achieved true Yonko-level strength: Fleet Admiral Sakazuki (Akainu) in the current era, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku in the previous generation.

Fleet Admiral Akainu: The Current Yonko-Level Admiral

Why Akainu Stands Above Other Admirals

Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, better known as Akainu, is currently the most powerful Marine in the One Piece world. Here’s what makes him a genuine Yonko-level threat:

Combat Prowess:

Fought Whitebeard at Marineford and survived
Wields the devastating Magu Magu no Mi (Magma-Magma Fruit)
Capable of large-scale destruction with magma attacks
Possesses incredibly strong Haki (likely including Conqueror’s Haki)

Cross Guild Bounty: 5 Crowns (equivalent to 5 Billion Berries)

Only Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard have higher bounties
This bounty reflects his true threat level

Leadership Impact: Under Akainu’s command, the Navy has become more aggressive than ever, even pursuing the Four Emperors directly in the New World—something previous Fleet Admirals avoided.

Akainu’s Strength Post-Timeskip

Fans witnessed Akainu’s power at Marineford, but he’s only grown stronger since then. As Nico Robin once explained in Chapter 319:

“Even at the Navy Headquarters, there are only three who hold the rank of Admiral. Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru. The only one above them is the Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the Commander of the Navy. The World Government calls these three the ‘Ultimate Military Force.'”

The key detail: Oda has deliberately kept Akainu out of major battles in the current story. When he finally enters the fray during the Final Saga, expect his showing to be absolutely monstrous—potentially matching or exceeding what we’ve seen from established Yonko.

Admiral Sengoku: The Previous Era’s Yonko-Level Marine

Roger’s Worthy Opponent

Before Akainu, Admiral Sengoku (who later became Fleet Admiral) was the Yonko-level Marine of his generation. The proof lies in how the legends of that era viewed him:

Gol D. Roger’s Respect: The Pirate King himself considered Sengoku a worthy opponent. If Roger—who fought equals like Whitebeard and Rocks—believed Sengoku could stand against him, that speaks volumes.

Whitebeard’s Rivalry: Even Edward Newgate, the World’s Strongest Man, had a personal rivalry with Sengoku, further cementing his status among the top tiers.

Sengoku’s Legendary Credentials

Conqueror’s Haki user: Only the second Marine confirmed to possess this (after Garp)
Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit: Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu (Human-Human Fruit, Buddha Model)
The Buddha title reflected his overwhelming strength and tactical brilliance

Sengoku wasn’t just administratively powerful—he was an absolute combat monster who earned his place through strength, not politics.

Why Other Admirals Don’t Measure Up

The Power Gap Between Fleet Admirals and Regular Admirals

While current and former Admirals like Kizaru, Aokiji (Kuzan), Fujitora, and Ryokugyu (Green Bull) are undeniably powerful, recent story events have proven they can’t match true Yonko-level threats:

Admiral Kuzan (Aokiji):

Admitted he couldn’t defeat an old, weakened Garp without help from Blackbeard’s commanders
Lost his leg in a duel with Akainu for the Fleet Admiral position

Admiral Ryokugyu (Green Bull):

Completely intimidated and forced to retreat by Shanks’ Conqueror’s Haki alone
Didn’t even face Shanks directly—just felt his presence

Admiral Kizaru:

Failed to defeat Luffy during the Egghead Arc
Was paralyzed by Gear 5 Luffy, who hasn’t even peaked as a Yonko yet
Required assistance from Saturn and the other Gorosei

Admiral Fujitora:

Hasn’t shown feats comparable to Sengoku or Akainu
More focused on reforming the Marines than pure combat dominance

As Akainu himself stated in Chapter 574:

“You’re the only two I’m after. You’re my target, Firefist and Straw Hat. Move, Jinbe. You’re a former warlord. You know exactly how strong I am. It’s futile.”

This confidence—and his ability to back it up—separates Akainu from his fellow Admirals.

The Pattern: Each Era Has One Yonko-Level Admiral

Oda has established an interesting pattern in One Piece:

Previous Era (Pre-Great Pirate Age):

Admiral/Fleet Admiral Sengoku = Yonko level
Fought alongside Garp against Roger and the Rocks Pirates
Commanded respect from the era’s strongest pirates

Current Era (Post-Timeskip):

Fleet Admiral Akainu = Yonko level
Leading the Navy’s most aggressive campaign against pirates
5 billion berry bounty equivalent

The Common Thread: Both achieved the rank of Fleet Admiral, suggesting that to lead the Marines effectively, you need Yonko-level strength—not just tactical ability.

What This Means for the Final Saga

Akainu’s Inevitable Showdown

Oda has been deliberately saving Akainu for a major confrontation. When it happens, expect:

A battle showcasing why he deserves the 5 billion bounty
Confirmation of Conqueror’s Haki usage
Potential advanced Haki techniques (like Kaido’s Future Sight or Big Mom’s soul manipulation)
A fight that rivals or exceeds Marineford’s intensity

Potential Opponents

Who could face Akainu in the Final Saga?

Most Likely: Luffy (to avenge Ace) Possible: Sabo (Revolutionary Army vs Navy) Dark Horse: Dragon (the Revolutionary Army leader)

Regardless of opponent, Akainu’s battle will be one of the series’ defining moments.

Why This Revelation Matters

Settling the Power Scaling Debate

For years, fans have argued whether Admirals could match Yonko. Oda’s confirmation provides clarity:

✅ Regular Admirals < Yonko (Kizaru, Fujitora, Green Bull, pre-promotion Aokiji) ✅ Fleet Admirals ≈ Yonko (Sengoku, Akainu) ✅ The gap between Fleet Admiral and Admiral is substantial

This explains why the Marines need multiple Admirals to counter a single Yonko crew—only the Fleet Admiral can truly match an Emperor one-on-one.

The Importance of Leadership Strength

The Fleet Admiral isn’t just an administrative position—it requires the raw power to command respect from the world’s strongest forces. This is why:

Sengoku could coordinate with Roger and Garp against Rocks
Akainu can aggressively pursue Yonko without fear
The position requires both tactical genius AND overwhelming personal strength

One Piece Chapter 1169: What to Expect

Official Release Date: December 21, 2025

Release Times:

Japan: 12:00 AM JST (Monday)
USA (East Coast): 11:00 AM EST (Sunday)
USA (West Coast): 8:00 AM PST (Sunday)

Where to Read:

Manga Plus (free)
Shonen Jump app (free)

Reading officially supports Eiichiro Oda and ensures the series continues through its Final Saga.

The Admiral Tier List (Updated)

Based on Oda’s confirmation and recent story events:

Yonko-Level Tier:

Fleet Admiral Akainu (Sakazuki)
Former Fleet Admiral Sengoku

Top Admiral Tier (Below Yonko): 3. Former Admiral Aokiji (Kuzan) 4. Admiral Kizaru (Borsalino)

High Admiral Tier: 5. Admiral Fujitora (Issho) 6. Admiral Ryokugyu (Aramaki/Green Bull)

Special Mention: Vice Admiral Garp (Yonko-level in his prime, confirmed Conqueror’s Haki user)

Final Thoughts

Oda’s confirmation that only Sengoku and Akainu have achieved true Yonko-level strength among the Admirals makes perfect sense narratively. It explains why:

The Marines couldn’t simply eliminate the Yonko system earlier
Multiple Admirals are needed to counter a single Yonko crew
The Fleet Admiral position carries such weight and respect
Akainu has been held back from major battles (he’s being saved for something huge)

As One Piece enters its Final Saga, expect Fleet Admiral Akainu to finally showcase the full extent of his power—and prove once and for all why he stands alongside the world’s strongest pirates.

The stage is set for an epic confrontation between the Navy’s strongest and the Pirate King’s successor.

Other News Pieces:

One Piece: Oda Confirms Which Admirals Can Match Yonko-Level Power

Oda Finally Settles the Admiral vs Yonko Debate