One Piece: Eiichiro Oda Permanently Removes Yonko [Update 2026]

One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda is permanently retiring the legendary Four Emperors or Yonko power structure during the manga's Final Saga, fundamentally reshaping the global geopolitical hierarchy of the Grand Line as pirate crews collide directly with the World Government. According to verified reports from Game Rant, the Yonko system—first established in Chapter 432 back in October 2006—has dominated maritime balance for two decades through powerhouses like Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks. However, recent developments including the downfalls of Kaido and Big Mom in Wano, alongside Monkey D. Luffy and Buggy rising to Emperor status, proved to be merely transitional stepping stones. Oda's overarching narrative trajectory aims to completely wipe out the old maritime stalemate in favor of a chaotic twelve-party race for the ancient throne and the titular treasure. Paralleling major franchise shakeups like [Naruto Nerfed Characters in Boruto: Top 5 Ranked [Full Guide]](/news/naruto-characters-permanently-nerfed-boruto), Oda is stripping away legacy safety nets to force direct confrontations among the Revolutionary Army, the Gorosei, and Blackbeard, ensuring that the title of Emperor ceases to exist.