One Piece makes Gekko Moria even more important with his latest God Valley appearance

Gecko Moria and his team, as seen in manga
Gecko Moria and his team, as seen in manga (Image credit: Shueisha)

One Piece has always been a story that thrives on planting seeds early, letting them lie dormant for years, and then bringing them back in shocking, world-shaking ways. From the return of Enel’s moon subplot to the revelation that Kuma’s ties to God Valley connect to the current Egghead arc, Oda has proven time and again that no character or detail is too minor to be reintroduced with greater significance.

The latest chapter continues this tradition, putting a spotlight on a character fans have often dismissed: Gekko Moria. He was long written off as a failed Warlord with wasted potential.

That is why the alleged Moria’s presence in the unfolding God Valley storyline suggests he’s not just a washed-up villain, but rather someone whose past, Devil Fruit, and ties to Wano could prove critical to One Piece’s endgame.

Gecko as seen in anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)
Gecko as seen in anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)

Additionally, God Valley has rapidly become the most important historical event in One Piece. We now know it was the site of a massive battle involving Rocks, Roger, Garp, and an island full of celestial secrets. The recent chapters suggest even more figures were present, including Moria in his youth.

The hints are subtle but powerful:

  • The narrator mentions “a hero from the West Blue raised in Ringo.” This matches perfectly with Moria’s backstory.
  • Moria’s obsession with corpses and shadows fits neatly with Rocks’ earlier plans, which involved frozen giant corpses and the potential of using them for something catastrophic.
  • His later creation of Thriller Bark, a floating graveyard of legendary bodies, may directly stem from what he witnessed at God Valley.

If Moria was indeed present, it explains how he knew about the Rocks Pirates’ fate, why he collected corpses from that era, and why Blackbeard has been keeping him alive despite having no obvious reason to.


Thriller Bark and God Valley: Two sides of the same coin

Geko Moria as seen in anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)
Geko Moria as seen in anime (Image credit: Toei Animation)

A popular theory gaining traction is that part of God Valley became Thriller Bark. Both are tied to the West Blue, both have eerily similar architecture, and both are associated with massive numbers of corpses.

If this is true, Moria’s creation of Thriller Bark wasn’t just random; maybe it was him reclaiming a piece of history. By turning God Valley into a floating graveyard, Moria may have been preserving the remains of the fallen Rocks era, unintentionally protecting secrets that the World Government wanted erased.


What comes next for Moria in One Piece

Gecko as seen in Thriller Bark arc in One Piece (Image credit: Toei Animation)
Gecko as seen in Thriller Bark arc in One Piece (Image credit: Toei Animation)

Moria’s importance has been steadily rising in One Piece:

  1. Kozuki Grave Revelation – Shows his hidden lineage.
  2. God Valley Presence – Explains his knowledge of Rocks.
  3. Blackbeard’s Interest – Suggests future importance in the final saga.

The big question is whether Moria will finally get his long-awaited redemption. Will he side with the Straw Hats in the coming war? Will he die protecting Wano, fulfilling his Kozuki duty? Or will he betray everyone and cling to the darkness that has defined his life?

Moreover, a popular theory gaining traction is that part of God Valley became Thriller Bark. Both are tied to the West Blue, both have eerily similar architecture, and both are associated with massive numbers of corpses.

If this is true, Moria’s creation of Thriller Bark wasn’t just random; it was him reclaiming a piece of history. By turning God Valley into a floating graveyard, Moria may have been preserving the remains of the fallen Rocks era, unintentionally protecting secrets that the World Government wanted erased.


Final thoughts

Now, with his Kozuki ties and God Valley presence, Moria looks less like a joke and more like a tragic relic of the old era who still has a role to play in shaping the future. As One Piece barrels toward its climax, one thing is clear: the age of underestimating Moria is over.

Edited by Nisarga Kakade