One Piece Chapter 1189: Release date and everything we need to know

Still from the manga
Still from the manga- Source: Shueisha

Fans are eagerly awaiting watching One Piece Chapter 1189 as the latest installment has ended on a major cliffhanger, as everyone needs to know if Imu killed Luffy. The story follows Elbaph's arc in a battle where the antagonist is leading a major attack on the island, and now it looks like Eiichiro Oda has an opportunity to take this series to a whole new level.

According to official sources, it has been confirmed that One Piece Chapter 1189 is going to be released on July 19, 2026. As usual, the latest installment is going to be released on Shueisha Manga Plus and Viz Media. Currently, the Final Saga has raised the stakes once again, and that is why the upcoming episode is highly anticipated. Imu has effortlessly overpowered Luffy, and we would need another miracle for him to be safe and active in this battle.

At the same time, readers got a little information about Imu's connection with Joy Boy. Meanwhile, knowing about Brook's connection with Princess Shuri is also adding to the ongoing mystery. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait longer than usual to read One Piece Chapter 1189 as this manga is on a short haitus.


Recap for Chapter 1188

Still from the manga - Source: Shueisha
Still from the manga - Source: Shueisha

This week's installment showed us Imu remembering Joy Boy. During this small flashback montage, both of these characters used to stay tough. Coming back to the current timing, Imu states that Luffy is nothing like Joy Boy because, in terms of power level, he comes short. But looking at him using Gear 5 constantly reminds him of his old rival.

This fight escalated when Imu overwhelmed Luffy with black flames and a back-to-back attack. Luffy introduced a brand-new Gear 5 technique called Gomu Gomu no Majin, transforming into a massive genie-like figure, but the form proved ineffective against Imu's superior combat ability.

At the same time, we see Jinbe step in to protect Loki and Ragnir, while Brook unexpectedly caught Imu's attention after calling the frozen Gunko by her true name, Princess Shuri. This chapter ended with Imu impaing Luffy, as we are left questioning if this is the end for our main character.


What to expect from One Piece Chapter 1189? (Speculative)

Still from the manga - Source: Shueisha
Still from the manga - Source: Shueisha

Looking at how the latest installment ended, fans could expect the following from One Piece Chapter 1189:

  • Luffy recovers from his devastating defeat: The biggest question heading into One Piece Chapter 1189 is whether Luffy can immediately recover from Bohu's attack. While the injury looks incredibly severe, longtime readers know Luffy has overcome seemingly impossible defeats before, including his losses against Crocodile, Kaido, and Katakuri.
  • Imu's mysterious time limit becomes important: Several readers believe Oda deliberately introduced hints that Imu is using a temporary vessel outside Mary Geoise. If that theory proves correct, One Piece Chapter 1189 could reveal signs of Imu's power beginning to weaken or force him into a retreat before completely defeating the Straw Hats.
  • The Straw Hats could finally join the battle: With Luffy critically injured, many readers expect the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates to become more directly involved. Jinbe has already taken on a defensive role, while Nami, Usopp, and Brook witnessed just how overwhelming Imu truly is. In One Piece Chapter 1188, the crew could unite to buy time for Luffy's recovery.

In conclusion, whether Chapter 1189 marks the beginning of his comeback or the continuation of his greatest defeat remains to be seen, but readers won't want to miss what comes next.

Edited by Nisarga Kakade