Summary

• The Elbaf arc's start date has been confirmed by One Piece's merchandise calendar for November 2024.
• The Egghead Arc's ongoing climax implies the Elbaf Arc may start before the release of the collectible figures.
• The manga may be deep in the Elbaf arc before November given Oda's schedule.

One Piece has finally revealed when the Straw Hats will arrive in Elbaf, and it may be much sooner than fans think. Elbaf, the home of the Giants, has been one of the most highly anticipated destinations ever since the introduction of Dorry and Brogy back in Little Garden, and according to Shonen Jump's official website, it may not be long until the Straw Hats finally make landfall.

According to Shōnen Jump's merchandise release calendar for One Piece, the Elbaf World Collectible Figures will be released in November 2024, which means that the Straw Hats will have arrived at Elbaf by then. Though no exact date has been specified just yet, these figurines are expected to be released in early to mid-November.

That said, fans should keep in mind that these figures are usually released a few months after the actual beginning of the arc, the Elbaf arc may begin a few months before November.

One Piece's Elbaf Arc Will Be Underway by November

The Egghead Arc is Finally Winding to an End

While November does seem quite far away, the Elbaf arc may begin before fans even realize it. Taking into consideration Oda's regular breaks, there may be less than 25 chapters until the Elbaf arc is well underway. The Egghead Arc is already quickly nearing its end with the Straw Hats all making their way to the Thousand Sunny to flee from the island.

While the Five Elders still pose an obstacle to their escape, it might not take more than ten to fifteen chapters at best for Luffy to find a way to subdue the Elders for the time being or for another well-timed diversion to present itself, perhaps in the form of the Iron Giant that has been making its move for quite some time.

More importantly, the release date for the figurines does not accurately represent the exact start date of the arc as seen from past releases. For example, the Egghead Arc first began around the beginning of January, but it wasn't until May that the first volume of Egghead World Collectible Figurines was released in Japan. The first figurine of Lilith, who appeared at the very beginning of the Egghead arc, was released only in April, three whole months after the arc had begun, which means that by the time November rolls around, One Piece's manga may already be deep into the Elbaf arc.

Overall, with the arrival of the Giants at Egghead and the implied connection between Nika and the Giants, the excitement surrounding the Elbaf Arc continues to grow. Elbaf potentially promises the answers to some of the biggest mysteries in One Piece, and fortunately, it may not be long before the Straw Hats finally set foot on the island that has been perpetually shrouded in mist and shadows thus far.

One Piece is available from Manga Plus and Viz Media.

Source: Shōnen Jump Official Website; @sandman_AP