One Piece 1196 arrives on October 18: Sanji on the verge of Conqueror's Haki

Chapter 1196 of One Piece now has a release date: it drops on October 18, 2026. The series keeps its weekly pace, and the Elbaf arc shows no signs of slowing down. Zoro finally has his Supreme King Haki nearly under control, while Sanji gears up for a fight that could take him out if he doesn't level up.

The info comes from the franchise's official sources. As always, the chapter will be available on Shueisha's Manga Plus and Viz Media, the legal platforms where you can read it for free. In Japan, it releases at 12:00 AM on Monday, October 19; in Europe, at 5:00 PM on Sunday, October 18. For Latin America, check the exact time in the app, but the logic is the same: Sunday afternoon or evening depending on the country.

The previous chapter left several fronts open in Elbaf. Zoro managed to take down Sommers with his control of Conqueror's Haki, a moment many of us had been waiting for. Brook confronted Gunko and asked if she was Princess Shuri. That's when something big came to light: Gunko's memories returned, and for a second she recognized her identity, but in the end she denied it and escaped.

The mystery of Lily and the Owl Library

Robin and Saul found an ancient chest in the Owl Library connected to Nefertari D. Lily. This gives them a new side quest: investigating what connection Lily has to Elbaf. It's a thread that could lead to major revelations about the Void Century.

Meanwhile, Sanji fights Killingham. Mid-battle, he recalls Gaban's advice about his self-destructive nature. Memories of his training on Momoiro Island also start coming back. That sets the stage for the character development Sanji has urgently needed for a while.

Panel from the One Piece manga, courtesy of Shueisha.aol.com

What to expect from chapter 1196

The big fan theory is that Sanji will awaken Supreme King Haki. To achieve that, he'd have to recognize his own worth and stop treating himself like he's disposable. Some believe he already awakened that ability without knowing it during his training on Momoiro.

Another major point is the connection between Brook and Gunko. Her memories confirm there was a deeper relationship than her current personality lets on. We already know part of her past from a flashback a few chapters ago, but the circle hasn't been closed yet.

There's also the return of Ivankov and Sanji's suppressed memories. Some fans theorize he repressed memories of a major achievement because it clashed with the image he has of himself. Chapter 1196 could explore that, though Oda hasn't confirmed anything.

The Elbaf arc is moving a lot of pieces at once. Oda has us used to switching scenes without warning, but right now everything points to Sanji getting his moment. It's about time.

Do you think Sanji awakens Conqueror's Haki in this chapter, or will Oda throw us another curveball? Tell us in the comments.