Luffy new form probably can’t beat Imu yet because it hasn’t been tested against him. Chapter 1198 leaks show Imu flattening Loki in one hit, while Luffy skips the fight and goes after the Rain God Zaza. Imu’s third form is also a huge step up from anything Luffy has faced.
Spoiler warning: this covers leaks for One Piece Chapter 1198, which releases on November 8, 2026.
What We Might See in One Piece Chapter 1198? And Why Luffy New Gear Is Not Enough To Defeat Imu New Form
Chapter 1198 (out November 8, 2026) is expected to show Imu’s third form, Loki’s hybrid Zoan form, and a new ape-like form for Luffy. The leaks say Loki falls to a single blow. Luffy’s new form probably isn’t enough to beat Imu because it hasn’t faced Imu yet, and the leaks say Luffy runs away from that fight and goes after the Rain God Zaza. It also follows a loss: Gear 5 already lost to Imu in Chapter 1188.
What we might see
- Imu in a huge horned form with a long neck and torso.
- Loki finally fighting in his hybrid form, then losing quickly.
- Luffy with black hair, fangs, a tail and an ape-like nose.
Why it likely isn’t enough
- Untested: it has only been used on Zaza, not Imu.
- Gear 5 failed: a new form has to beat a bar that Gear 5 couldn’t clear.
- Looks instinct-driven: a popular theory is that Luffy lost control of his fruit and it acted on its own.
- Imu keeps escalating: a third form raises the gap again.
This is a prediction based on early leaks, and the official chapter may differ. I can adjust the length or tone if you need it shorter for a meta description or a featured snippet.
Why can’t Luffy new form beat Imu yet?
Three reasons.
- It hasn’t been tested against Imu: No panel shows the two facing off. Everything fans say about the outcome is a prediction.
- Loki’s loss sets a high bar: Loki’s hybrid form was teased for weeks, then fell in a single hit. If a giant of his caliber can’t survive Imu’s third form, a brand-new, untamed state won’t either.
- The form looks wild, not mastered: Gaban gives the only in-chapter explanation, and it is one line: that kid is a Zoan-type. A beastly shape with a tail and fangs suggests raw instinct. Some readers think taming this state will be Luffy’s version of the self-discovery Zoro and Sanji just went through.
Is Luffy’s new form a Zoan?
Gaban says so, and it fits. Luffy’s fruit is the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, which Oda has already shown reshaping the world around him. A more animal shape would be the same fruit showing another face, not a new power system. The animal itself is still unconfirmed, and some fans see cat traits mixed in with the monkey ones.
Did Luffy run away from Imu?
It reads more like Luffy picking a different target than fleeing. Loki himself was surprised that Luffy left mid-fight, but the chapter ends with Luffy watching Zaza from a rooftop. Few fans buy the cowardice reading. A fighter who has stared down Emperors rarely runs from fear.
What is the new form called?
Officially, nothing. Chapter 1198 gives the form no name, no title card and no transformation call-out. The names circulating, like Monkey King, Black Nika, Gear 6 and Gear Death, all came from readers and the fandom, not from Oda. Monkey King draws on the Sun Wukong legend, and “Gear Death” was the top Reddit reaction, but none of these are canon.
So who wins, Luffy or Imu?
My read: not this round. Imu keeps escalating, and Luffy’s form looks like a first draft. But Oda rarely builds a new form just to drop it. Expect it to matter when Luffy finally meets Imu head-on, probably after he learns to control it.
FAQ
Has Luffy fought Imu in his new form?
No. As of Chapter 1198, the two haven’t fought in this form. Luffy appears away from the Imu battle, near the village.
Who defeated Loki in Chapter 1198?
Imu, with one blow in his third form, right after Loki showed his hybrid Zoan form.
What does Imu’s third form look like?
A huge creature with an elongated torso, a long neck and massive horns. It’s a much larger and stranger shape than his earlier forms.
Is Luffy’s new form Gear 6?
Unconfirmed. Gear 6 is a fan nickname, and the chapter gives no official name.
Will Luffy beat Imu in the end?
Fans widely expect a final showdown, but nothing in the manga has settled the outcome yet.
