Things have finally kicked into high gear in One Piece, and Episode 1166 left us with plenty to be hyped about. As the first half of the 2026 run nears its close, the Elbaph arc is proving that it’s going to end this season on an incredibly high note.
While the giants’ celebrations were winding down, Luffy quietly put his plan into motion: free Loki and finally uncover Shanks’ whereabouts. But, true to One Piece fashion, things are never that simple. Unbeknownst to the Straw Hats, another dangerous group has already reached Loki, and their intentions are anything but friendly. It’s easily the most dramatic turn the Elbaph arc has taken so far, setting up Episode 1167 to be an absolute must-watch.
Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming episode.
⏰ When and Where to Watch Episode 1167
As usual, new episodes of the One Piece anime stream weekly. Assuming there are no unexpected broadcasting delays, Episode 1167 will premiere on Sunday, June 21.
You can catch the simulcast on Crunchyroll at the following times:
Pacific Standard Time (PST): 9:00 AM
Eastern Standard Time (EST): 12:00 PM
British Summer Time (BST): 5:00 PM
If you prefer watching on Netflix, the episode will debut on the platform the following Saturday. (Episodes can also be accessed via third-party platforms that host Crunchyroll content, like Amazon Prime).
⏪ What Happened in Episode 1166?
If you missed Episode 1166, "Encountering Loki - Gunko of the Knights of God," here is a quick breakdown of the chaos.
The Legend of Nika and Loki's Dark Past The episode opened with Rodo finally apologizing for kidnapping the Straw Hats, though he quickly ruined the moment by picking a fight with the other giants, claiming he wanted to rule the world just like Nika. This prompted Jarul to step in, explaining that according to the Harley text, Nika only appears when the world faces destruction. While interpretations of the Sun God vary, the giants including Loki and the late King Harald universally admire him.
However, when Luffy innocently asked if Loki was a "good guy," the giants practically united to shut that idea down. They revealed Loki's chilling history: his birth coincided with Big Mom killing Jorul, marking him as a dark omen. From there, Loki became synonymous with natural disasters, eventually taking over the Underworld, wreaking havoc across Elbaph, and assassinating King Harald. The terror only ended six years ago when Shanks finally defeated him a detail that immediately snapped Luffy's focus back to his main goal.
Luffy's "Stealth" Mission Luffy attempted to sneak away from the banquet, but Zoro and Nami were quick to catch him and force him to spill his plan. Reluctantly, the two agreed to tag along. Luffy’s foolproof strategy? Just beat Loki up if he tries anything funny. Nami, ever the opportunist, ordered a now-subservient Rodo to escort them to Aurust Castle so they could find the key and conveniently loot any treasure lying around.
Enter the Holy Knights of God Meanwhile, the mysterious intruders were finally revealed to be none other than the Holy Knights of God. They managed to track down Loki to recruit him, but Loki flat-out refused to align himself with "garbage" like the Celestial Dragons. Frustrated by the rejection, a Knight named Gunko cruelly strangled a wolf that Loki had befriended. In a truly chilling moment, Loki calmly stated that while the wolf's death saddened him, he would simply channel that grief into destroying the world.
⚔️ The Verdict: Elbaph is Heating Up
If Episode 1165 felt a bit slow to some, Episode 1166 was the perfect course correction. It did a fantastic job pushing Luffy’s subplot forward while officially introducing the Holy Knights of God. As their first proper on-screen showing, the anime perfectly sold the Knights as deeply intimidating threats.
Overall, it was a stellar outing for One Piece that beautifully set the stage for the arc's climax. Be sure to tune into Crunchyroll on June 21 to see how Luffy's rescue mission collides with the Holy Knights!







