One Piece: How Powerful Is Imu?

Imu as seen in the One Piece anime
Imu as seen in the One Piece anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)

As one of the most beloved anime of all time, One Piece features a plethora of intimidating characters wielding a variety of abilities. Their ranking in the power hierarchy is generally derived from their skillfulness in using Devil Fruits and Haki. However, there are also individuals whose strength is a lot more secretive in nature, yet draws the fear of characters and fans.

The biggest testament to this is Imu, the ruler of the World Government. There is very little known about Imu, but it is no overstatement to say that they are one of the most powerful and influential figures in the world of One Piece.

This is because Imu’s powers are not solely restricted to their prowess in battle, but also the authority they wield. This antagonist is believed to have existed ever since the Void Century, contributing to Joy Boy’s downfall and the creation of the World Government.

The Five Elders kneeling before Imu as seen in the One Piece anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)
The Five Elders kneeling before Imu as seen in the One Piece anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)

The Empty Throne in Sacred Mary Geoise is a symbolic representation of the equality between nations and how there is no single ruler. However, Imu’s introduction proved this to be a fallacy. During their first appearance, Imu sat on the Empty Throne, while the Five Elders knelt in reverence.

This act alone completely overturned the power dynamics in One Piece. Up to that point, the Gorosei were believed to be the ruling powers of the World Government, jointly making decisions on global geopolitics. However, even these great figures served the enigmatic Imu faithfully.

Therefore, every resource held by the World Government and all its authority automatically comes under Imu. They control the Marines, the God’s Knights, the Five Elders, and all other Celestial Dragons. In addition, Imu is capable of ordering out Buster Calls whenever desired and is not answerable to anyone. This amount of free rein already makes them one of the most dangerous beings in One Piece.

Despite their limited screen time, Imu has displayed high skill in battle. Imu are capable of using sharp arrow-like appendages that extend from their body to fatally injure targets. They showcased this during the Levely by attacking Nefertari Cobra and Sabo. Additionally, this antagonist is capable of transforming into a humanoid creature that can consume fire.

Hence, Imu could effortlessly overpower Sabo, who possesses a Logia-type Devil Fruit and is the greatest talent of the Revolutionaries. They also have a unique connection with the Five Elders. During the Egghead Arc, Imu could telepathically communicate with Saint Saturn to relay their orders.

When the Elder failed in his objective, Imu could strip away his powers and kill him, though the process of how this was done remains a mystery.

Imu destroys Lulusia Kingdom as seen in the One Piece anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)
Imu destroys Lulusia Kingdom as seen in the One Piece anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)

What Makes Imu So Fearsome in One Piece

Imu is a very powerful being with limitless resources and jurisdiction. At the same time, this is not why they are extremely scary. Imu’s fearsomeness is a result of their mercilessness and brutality when handling enemies. They show no hesitation when commanding genocides and can be held responsible for the gag order on information related to the Void Century.

Paired with their apathetic personality, Imu possesses the most dangerous weapon in One Piece. This is an Ancient Weapon powered by Vegapunk’s Mother Flame. By using this, entire islands can be destroyed in a matter of seconds. This was shown in the shocking anime scene where Imu annihilated Lulusia Kingdom without pity.

This was done simply to flaunt the power held by the World Government and to instill terror in those who hoped to revolt. Imu’s action was made more severe after Vegapunk later revealed that using the Ancient Weapons would sink the world itself. However, given that Mary Geoise is high above sea level, the villain does not hesitate to destroy the world itself if it’s for their goals.


Imu is the concealed autocrat ruling the World Government and is responsible for most atrocities in One Piece. They are cruel, remorseless, and wield unparalleled power and influence. As a result, most fans believe Imu to be the greatest threat in the series and an individual worthy of being the final antagonist.

Edited by Zainab Shaikh