For most of One Piece’s history, Coby has been a background figure, often overshadowed by the sheer scale of the story’s central events and its colorful cast of pirates, marines, and revolutionaries. Introduced as a timid cabin boy in the earliest chapters, Coby seemed like a character designed to highlight Luffy’s courage, optimism, and larger-than-life spirit. Yet over time, Eiichiro Oda has brought him back at key moments, quietly shaping him into someone more important than casual readers may realize.
As the series moves into its final saga, an intriguing question arises: what if Coby is not just a side character, but the true mirror to Luffy in the endgame? Some fans argue that he could inherit the “will” of Garp, the legendary Marine hero who once stood toe-to-toe with the Pirate King himself. If so, Coby’s destiny might be to embody justice and discipline as a balance to Luffy’s freedom and adventure, creating a parallel that echoes the generational clash between Roger and Garp.
This possibility opens up a deeper conversation about legacy, the balance of ideals, and how Oda might bring the story full circle.
Coby’s Journey: From Coward to Cadet
When readers first met Coby in Romance Dawn, he was a nervous, insecure boy trapped in servitude to the cruel pirate Alvida. His early scenes played a crucial role: they highlighted Luffy’s kindness, sense of justice, and ability to inspire courage in others. It was Coby’s encounter with Luffy that gave him the strength to pursue his dream of becoming a Marine, marking him as one of the first characters whose life trajectory was fundamentally changed by the Straw Hat captain.
Over the years, Coby reappeared at crucial narrative points. He trained under Vice Admiral Garp, grew into an earnest Marine officer, and began to demonstrate both courage and principle in his duties. His most defining moment came during the Marineford War, when he bravely stood in front of Admiral Akainu to stop the pointless bloodshed, declaring that too many lives had already been lost. This act nearly cost him his life but cemented his role as a figure willing to put his ideals above his own survival.
That moment was more than just an emotional beat. It foreshadowed the possibility that Coby might grow into something much bigger—an inheritor of Garp’s spirit, a representative of a more humane justice, and perhaps, one day, the man to stand against Luffy not out of hatred but out of conviction.
Garp’s Legacy and the Weight of “Will”
Monkey D. Garp occupies a unique place in One Piece’s lore. He was the Marine who refused to rise to Admiral because he disliked the constraints of serving the Celestial Dragons, yet he was also one of the strongest figures in the world, able to fight Gol D. Roger on equal terms. Garp’s character embodies contradiction: he is a Marine hero who believes in justice but also a grandfather who raised the future Pirate King.
Garp’s “will” is not simply about power; it’s about carrying a sense of justice that does not bend to corruption. While other Marines have compromised themselves in service to the World Government, Garp has remained an enigma—loyal to the institution, yet openly rebellious against its darker elements.
The theory that Coby could inherit Garp’s will fits this narrative perfectly. Just as Luffy inherited Roger’s dream of freedom and adventure, Coby could become the one who inherits Garp’s sense of true justice. In doing so, he would serve as the counterweight to Luffy, not as a villain, but as a rival who embodies a different but equally powerful ideal.
Mirrors in One Piece: Rivalries and Reflections
Oda has long used mirroring as a storytelling device. Luffy and Blackbeard, for instance, represent opposite approaches to freedom: one driven by camaraderie and joy, the other by selfishness and chaos. Similarly, Ace and Sabo reflected aspects of Luffy’s journey, each shaped by the same brotherly bond but walking different paths.
Coby fits neatly into this structure. If Luffy’s story is about becoming the Pirate King and achieving ultimate freedom, Coby’s story could be about becoming the greatest Marine and achieving ultimate justice. Their journeys diverged at the very beginning of the series, but they may inevitably cross again in the end.
What makes this potential dynamic compelling is that Luffy and Coby do not hate each other. Their rivalry would not be based on animosity, but on conviction. A final clash between them would not just be about fists and Haki, but about proving which ideal is stronger—the freedom to live without constraints or the justice to protect society at all costs.
Why Coby Matters in the Final Saga
Coby’s potential rise as a key player isn’t just symbolic; it makes sense strategically for Oda’s narrative. The final saga will likely feature monumental confrontations: Luffy vs Blackbeard, the Straw Hats vs the World Government, and the ultimate revelation of the One Piece itself. But within this storm of battles, the theme of legacy must also play out.
If Luffy embodies Roger’s will, and Blackbeard represents Rocks D. Xebec’s chaotic ambition, then Coby could stand as the heir to Garp’s justice. This triad would perfectly encapsulate the balance of ideals that have shaped the world: freedom, chaos, and order.
Coby’s Marine status also positions him uniquely. Unlike revolutionary figures such as Dragon or morally gray pirates, Coby operates within the system, striving to make it better rather than destroy it. If he succeeds, he could symbolize hope that justice can evolve without being entirely dismantled. This, in itself, would be a powerful counterpoint to Luffy’s more anarchic freedom.
The Symbolism of Inheritance
One Piece has always revolved around inherited wills. From Joy Boy to Roger to Luffy, the torch of freedom has been passed across generations. The same is true of justice: Sengoku to Garp, and perhaps soon, Garp to Coby. This theme is at the heart of the story, reminding readers that ideals do not die with individuals; they live on in those who carry them forward.
In this sense, Coby’s quiet growth is a deliberate narrative choice. Oda does not spotlight him constantly, but instead brings him in at moments that matter. He is the seed quietly planted in the story’s early soil, now ready to blossom as the tale approaches its conclusion.
What a Coby vs Luffy Clash Could Mean
If Oda chooses to frame Coby as Luffy’s ultimate rival, it would not necessarily mean a climactic “villain fight” in the traditional sense. Instead, it could be a battle of ideals, a test of who can remain true to their principles in the face of the world’s chaos.
A clash between them would also resonate with history: Roger and Garp were said to have fought on equal terms, embodying the eternal struggle between pirates and Marines. To echo this through their successors would be a poetic conclusion, a way to bring the story full circle without repeating it beat for beat.
Imagine a final arc where Luffy must not only defeat tyrants like Imu and the Celestial Dragons but also prove to Coby that his brand of freedom can coexist with justice. This would elevate Coby from side character to one of the defining figures of the endgame, ensuring his place in the legacy of One Piece.
Why This Theory Resonates
Part of why this theory captures attention is because it challenges assumptions. Most fans expect Blackbeard, Akainu, or Imu to serve as the final great obstacles in Luffy’s path. Suggesting that Coby—a character once mocked for his weakness—could play a role on that level flips expectations on their head.
And yet, it fits Oda’s style. He has often taken underestimated characters and given them surprising importance. Coby standing as Luffy’s final mirror would be less about raw power scaling and more about the thematic resolution of justice versus freedom.
Conclusion: The Balance of Freedom and Justice
Coby’s journey is far from over, and his place in the final saga remains uncertain. But the possibility that he could inherit Garp’s will and rise to stand opposite Luffy is one of the most compelling theories surrounding One Piece today. It ties together themes of legacy, mirrors, and ideals in a way that feels deeply in line with Oda’s storytelling.
Whether Coby ends up clashing with Luffy in the final battle or working alongside him to reshape the world, one thing is clear: he is no longer just the timid cabin boy from Alvida’s ship. He is a Marine shaped by courage, conviction, and a will that could define the balance of the new era.
In the end, Coby may prove that the greatest rival is not the one who hates you, but the one who believes in a different dream just as fiercely as you believe in your own.