One Piece Databook Confirms Zoro vs Sanji Strength Debate

Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Final Saga of One Piece.

After decades of heated debate, Eiichiro Oda has finally settled one of One Piece’s most contentious questions: Who is stronger between Zoro and Sanji? According to the latest official databook released alongside One Piece Chapter 1169, the answer is neither—they’re exactly equal in strength.

Here’s everything you need to know about what Oda’s databook confirms, why the Zoro vs Sanji debate has been so intense, and what this means for the future of Luffy’s two wings.

One Piece Databook Confirms Zoro vs Sanji Strength Debate

Table of Contents

The Zoro vs Sanji Debate: A Decades-Long Rivalry

The rivalry between Roronoa Zoro and Vinsmoke Sanji is one of One Piece’s most enduring dynamics—and one of the fandom’s most passionate debates.

How the Rivalry Started

Arlong Park Arc – The Beginning: The first real argument between Zoro and Sanji happened during the Arlong Park arc over Nami’s true nature.

The conflict:

Zoro’s stance: Cut her down, don’t trust her
Sanji’s stance: Nami has deep trauma, there’s more to her story

This fundamental difference in how they viewed the situation sparked their ongoing competitive relationship.

Little Garden Arc – Solidifying the Rivalry: The Little Garden arc cemented Zoro and Sanji as a bickering duo who constantly compete with each other.

What makes their rivalry special:

They would die for each other without hesitation
They constantly try to one-up each other
They bicker over everything from strength to food to women
Oda uses their dynamic to diffuse tension and showcase strength

“Everyone has things they can and can’t do. You do what I can’t do, and I’ll do what you can’t do. Think outside the box. There must be something we can do to help Robin.” — Sanji, Enies Lobby

Despite the rivalry, they acknowledge each other’s strengths and complement each other perfectly.

The Pattern Throughout One Piece

Typical fight distribution:

Zoro usually fights the second strongest enemy
Sanji typically fights the third strongest enemy
Zoro’s fights tend to be harder and closer
Sanji often defeats his opponents more easily

This pattern has fueled the “Zoro is stronger” argument for years, but the reality is more nuanced.

The Bounty Argument

Bounties have long been cited as evidence in the Zoro vs Sanji debate, but they tell an interesting story.

Bounty History

Pre-Wano:

Sanji: 330 million berries
Zoro: 320 million berries
Sanji had the higher bounty

Post-Wano (Current):

Zoro: 1.111 billion berries
Sanji: 1.032 billion berries
Zoro now has the higher bounty

The bounty difference: Only 79 million berries—less than 8% difference

Why Bounties Don’t Tell the Full Story

Bounties reflect multiple factors:

Perceived threat to the World Government
Infamous actions and reputation
Alliance and crew associations
Strength (but not exclusively)

Examples of misleading bounties:

Chopper’s ridiculously low bounty despite his power
Usopp’s “God Usopp” inflation
Political motivations affecting certain bounties

As Oda himself has stated repeatedly: bounties have never been a true reflection of pure combat strength.

Oda’s Official Databook: The Final Verdict

The debate has now been officially settled by Oda himself.

What the Databook Says

Released alongside One Piece Chapter 1169, Oda’s latest guidebook includes:

Personal comments from Oda
Initial character sketches
Comparisons between the old generation and new generation

The crucial section: Comparing the Roger Pirates to the Straw Hat Pirates

Roger’s two wings:

Silvers Rayleigh (right hand)
Scopper Gaban (left hand)

Luffy’s two wings:

Roronoa Zoro
Vinsmoke Sanji

Oda’s Exact Statement on Sanji

In Sanji’s section, Oda clearly stated that even though his bounty is slightly lower than Zoro’s, his strength is exactly equal to that of the swordsman, and that he stands side by side with Zoro as one of the two wings.

The official verdict: Zoro and Sanji are equal in strength and always will be.

“If I can’t even protect my captain’s dream, then whatever ambition I have is nothing but talk! Luffy is the man who will become the Pirate King!” — Roronoa Zoro

Why Zoro and Sanji MUST Be Equal

Oda isn’t pushing this equality for no reason—there’s deep thematic significance.

The Wings Metaphor

Luffy as a bird: Oda is deliberately juxtaposing Luffy to a free bird soaring through the skies.

Why wings must be equal:

A bird with unequal wings cannot fly properly
Imbalanced wings lead to spiraling and crashing
Only with well-balanced wings can a bird soar freely

The symbolism: For Luffy to truly become Pirate King and achieve ultimate freedom, he needs both wings functioning at equal strength.

Equal Importance = Equal Strength

Thematic consistency:

Zoro and Sanji are equal in importance to Luffy’s dream
Therefore, they must be equal in strength
One cannot be significantly weaker without undermining the wings metaphor

Oda has been reiterating this throughout the story, but fans often overlook it in favor of the competitive aspects of their relationship.

How Zoro and Sanji Complement Each Other

Their equality doesn’t mean they’re identical—they excel in different areas.

Zoro’s Strengths

Combat specialization:

Pure swordsman focused on cutting power
Conqueror’s Haki user (advanced)
Incredible endurance and durability
Straightforward, overwhelming force

Fighting style:

Direct confrontation
Taking massive damage while pushing forward
Learning to master advanced Haki techniques

Sanji’s Strengths

Combat specialization:

Kick-based martial artist
Speed and agility focused
Genetic enhancements (Germa modifications)
Strategic and tactical thinking

Fighting style:

Hit-and-run tactics
Observation Haki specialist
Protecting others while fighting
Adapting to opponent weaknesses

Together They’re Complete

What they share:

Both can use Armament Haki
Both have incredible combat instincts
Both will do anything to protect the crew
Both push each other to improve

“Everyone has things they can and can’t do. You do what I can’t do, and I’ll do what you can’t do.”

This philosophy is the heart of their partnership.

Elbaf Arc: Power-Ups Coming for Both

The current Elbaf arc is setting up major developments for both characters.

Zoro’s Development

Expected power-up:

Mastering Conqueror’s Haki coating more efficiently
Learning advanced techniques from the giants
Potentially understanding more about his swords
Refining his attacks to Mihawk’s level

Current challenge: Zoro can use Conqueror’s Haki coating but hasn’t fully mastered controlling it for extended periods.

Sanji’s Development

Expected power-up:

Unlocking Conqueror’s Haki for the first time
Fully accepting and controlling his Germa modifications
Developing new Ifrit Jambe techniques
Potentially learning giant-inspired techniques

Why Conqueror’s Haki makes sense: Sanji has shown kingly qualities throughout the series—protecting those weaker, standing up to impossible odds, and refusing to compromise his ideals.

Why Both Need These Power-Ups

The endgame is approaching:

Only 2-3 major arcs remain after Elbaf
The final enemies will be Yonko-level or higher
Zoro and Sanji need to be ready for the ultimate challenges
They’ll face opponents comparable to Roger’s era

Zoro and Sanji Will Surpass Rayleigh and Gaban

The databook’s comparison between generations reveals Oda’s ultimate plan.

The Parallel Structure

Roger’s crew:

Roger (Pirate King)
Rayleigh (Dark King, right hand)
Gaban (left hand)

Luffy’s crew:

Luffy (Future Pirate King)
Zoro (Future greatest swordsman, right hand)
Sanji (Future culinary legend, left hand)

What We Know About Rayleigh and Gaban

Rayleigh’s strength:

Held off Admiral Kizaru during the timeskip
Considered Yonko-level in his prime
Still incredibly powerful even in old age
One of the most legendary pirates ever

Gaban’s strength:

Less showcased but implied to be comparable to Rayleigh
Roger’s third strongest member
Likely also Yonko-level or near it

The Next Generation Surpassing the Old

Roger himself believed someone would surpass him later—that someone is Luffy.

By extension:

Zoro will surpass Rayleigh
Sanji will surpass Gaban
Both will reach Yonko-level strength by series end

Why this matters: The final battles of One Piece will require this level of power from Luffy’s wings to succeed.

What This Means for the Final Saga

With their equality confirmed, what can we expect moving forward?

Major Battles Ahead

Potential matchups for Zoro:

One of the Five Elders
A top Admiral (potentially Fujitora or Green Bull)
A Blackbeard Pirates commander
Supporting Luffy against the final villain

Potential matchups for Sanji:

Another of the Five Elders
A top Admiral or CP0 leader
A Blackbeard Pirates commander
Critical rescue/protection missions

The key: Their opponents will be equal in threat level, even if their fighting styles differ.

Character Development

Beyond just strength:

Zoro’s journey toward becoming the world’s greatest swordsman
Sanji’s journey toward finding All Blue
Both proving themselves worthy of the Pirate King’s crew
Their rivalry evolving as they face ultimate challenges together

The Legends of the Current Era

By series end: “These two are monsters who will most certainly get some tremendous action in this last stretch of the story. They will once again push each other to higher heights, and at the end of the story, both will stand side by side with Luffy as the three strongest legends of the current era.”

Community Reactions: Mixed But Largely Accepting

The databook confirmation has generated varied responses.

Those Who Accept It

Many fans appreciate:

Official confirmation ending pointless debates
Recognition of the thematic importance
Understanding that their equality makes narrative sense
The wings metaphor being beautiful storytelling

Those Who Resist

Some fans argue:

Zoro’s feats seem more impressive
Bounty difference should mean something
Opponent difficulty suggests hierarchy
Personal preference for one character

The reality: Oda has spoken. The debate is officially over, even if some fans prefer to continue it.

One Piece Chapter 1170: Where to Read

The latest chapter continues the Elbaf arc and builds on these developments.

Release information:

Chapter: One Piece 1170
Official release date: January 4, 2026
Japan release: 12:00 AM JST (Monday)
International: 11:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM PT (Sunday)
Where to read: Manga Plus and Shonen Jump apps (free and legal)

Reading officially supports Oda and ensures the series continues thriving.

The Bottom Line

Eiichiro Oda’s official databook has definitively settled the Zoro vs Sanji debate: they are equal in strength and always will be.

Key takeaways:

Official confirmation: Oda explicitly states their strength is equal despite bounty difference
Thematic necessity: As Luffy’s wings, they must be balanced for him to soar
Roger parallel: Just as Rayleigh and Gaban were Roger’s equal wings, Zoro and Sanji are Luffy’s
Future power-ups: Both will likely gain major abilities in Elbaf (Zoro mastering CoC, Sanji unlocking CoC)
Surpassing legends: They’ll eventually surpass Rayleigh and Gaban to become Yonko-level fighters
Final Saga: Both will face equal-level threats in the remaining 2-3 arcs

The rivalry between Zoro and Sanji will continue—it’s part of what makes them great. But that rivalry exists between equals, not between superior and inferior.

They are both wings of the future Pirate King, and wings must be equal to fly.

Related One Piece News: