Quick TakeArticle at a glance
- One Piece episode 1179 , "One Do-or-Die Second – Gaban vs.
- Spoiler warning: everything below discusses the full episode, including its final-minute twist.
- We haven't watched this one yet — this review is built on the episode's official synopsis and other critics' early write-ups.
One Piece episode 1179, “One Do-or-Die Second – Gaban vs. the Knights of God,” is one of the stronger Elbaf episodes in weeks. It trades a straightforward power showcase for a real emotional gut-punch, and the final minutes set up a much bigger fight to come.
Spoiler warning: everything below discusses the full episode, including its final-minute twist. Come back after you’ve watched if you want to go in clean.
We haven’t watched this one yet — this review is built on the episode’s official synopsis and other critics’ early write-ups.
Gaban Chooses His Son Over the Fight
Gaban picks up right where last week left off, and he wastes no time proving he hasn’t lost much rust: he takes Sommers down for good within the episode’s first stretch, a permanent wound the Knight can’t regenerate from. It’s the kind of moment the Elbaf arc has trained viewers to expect from a Roger’s-crew veteran getting his spotlight.
Then Gunko makes it personal. She goes after Colon, and Gaban realizes in an instant — using Observation Haki — that he cannot protect his son and keep fighting at the same time. He drops his axes and surrenders, and Gunko shoots him down. A brief flashback to Colon’s birth does the heavy lifting here, and it works: Gaban’s greatest strength in this episode isn’t a technique, it’s knowing exactly what he’s willing to give up.
Why the Surrender Works Better Than a Bigger Punch
The easy version of this episode ends with Gaban landing one more spectacular hit. Instead, the show has him quit on purpose, and that’s the better choice. One Piece has spent the entire Elbaf arc raising the ceiling on how strong a veteran fighter can look; having Gaban walk away from a fight he could plausibly still win says more about who he is than another finishing move would have.
It helps that Toei has deliberately slowed the anime’s pace since 2026 so each episode can sit with roughly a single chapter’s worth of story instead of rushing through several at once. A quieter character beat like this one is exactly what that pacing change was built for, and it shows.
The Ending Twist: Imu Takes Over Gunko
Colon’s cries trigger something in Gunko — a half-buried memory involving Brook from back when he was alive, and it visibly shakes her. Before she can chase that thread down, she’s overtaken by Imu, who speaks through her to all three Knights of God at once: the Holy Land is burning, and they’re taking too long to bring back the giants’ strength. It’s a colder, creepier beat than a full-on power display would have been, and it lands harder because the episode just spent its whole runtime on Gaban’s vulnerability.
One note for manga readers: the print story has already moved well past this point, and Imu’s full, far bigger arrival in Elbaf is still ahead for the anime. This episode’s possession scene isn’t that moment — no spoilers for what’s coming here, just a heads-up that book readers know a larger beat is still on the way.
Is One Piece Episode 1179 Worth Watching?
Yes. This is Gaban’s best episode of the arc, precisely because it isn’t built around him winning. Between the surrender, the Brook connection teased through Gunko, and Imu closing things out, episode 1179 does more with restraint than most Elbaf episodes have done with spectacle.
For context on why a single character beat like this carries so much weight: Shueisha confirmed in 2026 that the One Piece manga has topped 600 million copies in worldwide circulation, and Elbaf is the arc that’s meant to pay off nearly three decades of setup. Episodes like this one are doing some of that work in miniature.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Episode | 1179 — “One Do-or-Die Second – Gaban vs. the Knights of God” |
| Arc | Elbaf |
| Aired | September 20, 2026 (Japan) |
| Studio | Toei Animation |
| Where to watch | Crunchyroll |
Frequently Asked Questions
When does One Piece episode 1180 come out?
One Piece airs weekly, so episode 1180 is expected the following Sunday in Japan, arriving on Crunchyroll shortly after.
Is the One Piece anime caught up to the manga?
No. As of the Elbaf arc, the anime is running well behind the manga’s chapter count — Toei has deliberately paced the show at around 26 episodes a year since 2026 to keep from catching up to Eiichiro Oda.
Where can I watch One Piece episode 1179?
Episode 1179 is streaming now on Crunchyroll with subtitles and an English dub.
Who is Gaban in One Piece?
Scopper Gaban is a former member of the Roger Pirates and Gol D. Roger’s right-hand man, introduced during the Elbaf arc as Colon’s father.
Did Imu take over Gunko’s body in One Piece?
Yes. In episode 1179’s final minutes, Imu briefly speaks through Gunko to pressure the Knights of God into moving faster in Elbaf.
For where the story stood heading into this episode, our review of episode 1178 covers Gaban’s first strike against the Knights of God, and our live-action watch guide has the full viewing order if you’re catching up. FandomWire’s review and FictionHorizon’s release coverage both back up the plot details above.
