Facebook
Reddit
Email
Who is Enel in One Piece? Discover the character’s role, powers, fate, and theories on his return in the Final Saga.
One Piece has an abundance of antagonists, be it pirates or world nobles, who keep getting in the way of the Straw Hat Pirates. The only major exception to this list is the self-proclaimed God, Enel. As a man who follows no one but himself, he is a despicable yet fascinating character who sticks out in the minds of fans. So, who is Enel in One Piece?
Enel is the main villain of the Skypiea Arc, driven by his self-belief in being divine and his grand goal. Let us take a closer look at this character.
Who Is Enel in One Piece?
While the Skypiea Arc received mixed reviews from One Piece fans, most agreed that Enel was a fantastic antagonist. Unlike other villains with complex goals or tragic backstories, Enel’s sole reason for evil was believing he was superior.
Thinking of himself as an invincible being, he was the tyrannical ruler of the entire Sky Island. Originating from Birka, Enel overthrew the previous inhabitants of Skypiea, claiming himself as God. His main goal in the series was to reach Fairy Vearth or the moon through a ship he forced his subjects to make.
One would think that his ambitions and rule would keep him busy, but Enel lived a surprisingly relaxing lifestyle. He wielded immense power, capable of killing any person in his territory at any moment. When not being worshipped by others, Enel would enjoy the company of beautiful women when resting at his abode. He is so casual that he has even fallen asleep amid battles.
While there is no particular point of origin for his god complex, Enel’s character exemplifies the destructive nature of unchecked power and the importance of humility. This eventually led to the battle between him and the Straw Hats.
Enel’s Role in the Skypiea Arc
Enel’s presence in the Skypiea Arc was one we had never seen from an antagonist before. He cared little about worldly matters and solely focused on reaching the moon. Nevertheless, he did not tolerate those who badmouthed him, keeping a constant check through his Mantra.
By making his subjects live under the fear of death at every moment, he left them trapped in a cage. At the same time, his powers were proficient enough to back up his godly image. He enjoyed entertaining himself, no matter the means. This was displayed through the ruthless battles between the Straw Hats and his followers, which he saw as nothing but a game.
Finally, when the Straw Hats were getting closer, he descended from his abode and put on a show of lightning. In their first meeting, Enel comfortably defeated Zoro, Gan Fall, Wyper, and Robin. After taking Nami hostage and taking her to see his Ark, Luffy finally caught up.
While initially confident when facing the protagonist, Enel soon lost his arrogance when he discovered that his lightning was nullified by Luffy’s rubber. No matter how much stronger he got, Luffy was left unscathed and could unleash a barrage of his own attacks. Hence, by the end, the protagonist emerged victorious, sending Enel crashing after a devastating attack.
As the representatives of freedom and liberation, Luffy and his crew had succeeded yet again in driving out the oppressor. In a surprise, however, this wasn’t the end of the villain. In fact, Enel is the only antagonist in One Piece to actually achieve his dream since he travels to the moon by himself anyway. Hence, despite his loss, this “divine” figure got a victory of his own.
How Powerful Is Enel?
It is not an overstatement to say that Enel is one of the strongest characters in One Piece. Despite being defeated early into the series, the only reason Enel lost was his incompatibility with Luffy’s abilities. If that were not the case, it is safe to say that the Straw Hats would not be in Elbaph today.
Enel possesses the Goro Goro no Mi, a Logia-type Devil Fruit that allows him to transform and manipulate lightning. He has full control over its output, capable of going up to 200,000,000 volts and destroying entire islands. Additionally, Enel is also highly proficient in Observation Haki, which he calls Mantra.
He could use this to predict attacks and sense life forces across Skypiea, making him an all-seeing figure. Combining this with his high intellect and physical prowess, his powers far exceed most of the characters even from post-time-skip One Piece.
What Is Enel’s Great Space Operations?
As we had mentioned earlier, despite his defeat, Enel was able to achieve his goal of reaching the moon. His life after reaching Fairy Vearth is covered through the ninth One Piece cover story, titled Enel’s Great Space Operations.
This follows Enel’s encounter with the automata, a group of robots struggling against the vicious Space Pirates. Enel himself was disappointed by the actions of the pirates, who he believed were disrespecting his holy ground. Hence, he destroyed them and gained the automata as his followers. Happy with his new surroundings, he continues to raise his powers on the moon while investigating its endless mysteries.
Will Enel Return in the Final Saga of One Piece?
Fans have been very vocal about wishing for Enel to return in One Piece, believing his potential to be wasted as just a one-time villain. He is too unique of a character and his powers are too immense to never be seen again in the series. While there doesn’t seem to be any reason for Enel to return since he has achieved his dream, Oda’s masterful writing could always end up creating a purpose.
The moon has been a recurring point of important events in One Piece, appearing in models in Ohara and also bringing about the transformation of the Minks. Enel had also discovered an ancient civilization that lived on the moon, living in Birka, a city with the same name as Enel’s birthplace.
These have already thrown hints that the Moon is connected to the events happening on Earth and could even hold the answers to One Piece’s mysteries. Shifting the narrative to this provides a reason for Enel to return, who now considers the moon to be his territory.
Additionally, Enel could also be a wildcard entry, simply because no one knows who he would support. He is solely driven by his own interests and has no reason to support Luffy or the World Government. Hence, his final decision could shift the tides of the decisive battle in One Piece.
While the theories of Enel’s return are endless, what remains true is that there is a very realistic possibility of his return. Since Oda has been making several fan-favorite characters return in the Final Saga, Enel’s presence would undoubtedly elevate the stakes, providing fans with thrilling encounters and revelations.
Conclusion
Enel in One Piece remains an iconic villain whose influence extends beyond the Skypiea Arc. His god complex, overwhelming power, and celestial ambitions make him a distinctive character in the series. Though defeated by Luffy, there have been subtle hints that he may be making a triumphant return to the series.
While it is yet to be seen what Oda plans to do with this character or if he has simply written him off, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of their favorite narcissist.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!