Disclaimer: This column contains spoilers for One Piece chapter 788 as well as predictions for things to come.

Welcome to One Piece Podcast‘s weekly column, “OPP Predicts!” Each Tuesday we have predictions from numerous members of The One Piece Podcast news, editorial, and podcast staff about thoughts on the latest chapter and where they think things may go in the next chapter, or even beyond that. Please comment below with your own predictions, and if you get yours right, we’ll feature it on next week’s column.

Let’s start out with a prediction from a fan last week regarding what they expected in this week’s chapter:

Dr. Chaotix

The next chapter’s going to be the time used for buying that last minute for certain. I doubt we’ll actually see Luffy’s last big hit on Doflamingo just yet but it’s going to be a clusterfuck seeing who manages to be the most helpful in keeping that birdcage from reaching everyone. Someone may have to distract Doflamingo still. I’d like for it to be Fujitora but I doubt that’ll be it. It might have something to do with those sparkles Fujitora saw in the sky though. I’m not really expecting too much from Rebecca but to be honest, I don’t really hold anything against her like a lot of people do so it’s fine for me if she doesn’t.

The next chapter’s going to be the time used for buying that last minute for certain. I doubt we’ll actually see Luffy’s last big hit on Doflamingo just yet but it’s going to be a clusterfuck seeing who manages to be the most helpful in keeping that birdcage from reaching everyone. Someone may have to distract Doflamingo still. I’d like for it to be Fujitora but I doubt that’ll be it. It might have something to do with those sparkles Fujitora saw in the sky though. I’m not really expecting too much from Rebecca but to be honest, I don’t really hold anything against her like a lot of people do so it’s fine for me if she doesn’t. Akemichan

My guess is that will be a chapter where everyone try to stop Dofla/tha birdcage (and maybe Rebecca will bring Mansherry to Luffy, so he can heal one minute before) and in the last page Luffy will face Dofla ready for his last attack (and the will have a week of stop!)

My guess is that will be a chapter where everyone try to stop Dofla/tha birdcage (and maybe Rebecca will bring Mansherry to Luffy, so he can heal one minute before) and in the last page Luffy will face Dofla ready for his last attack (and the will have a week of stop!) 9872efr

Well after seeing this chapter, I can predict a few things:1. Luffy will almost certainly one-shot Doflamingo as soon as his limit is up; and when he does, he’ll throw Doffy (conveniently) into the factory. Obviously, he won’t make a hole through it, but he will make an indentation deep enough so that its Sea stone walls will be in constant contact with him, with the likely result of him losing control over his strings, both the Birdcage and his pseudo-organs. (Whitebeard has shown that sea stone walls can be damaged, sort of, at least enough to make an indentation in them)2. This is most likely Rebecca’s last shot of doing anything noteworthy, so that her role isn’t reduced to being Kyros’ damsel-in-distress. Obviously her “fighting” style means nothing against a monster like Doffy, even in his weakened state (in fact, he can counter it effectively by simply ignoring her). If Rebecca does confront him, she will most likely try to distract him by either angering him or appealing to his arrogance, then she’ll inevitably get cornered into almost certain death, which by then, Luffy will come to her inevitable rescue.3. Sadly, I don’t see anything that Robin can do right now. (my one gripe with Oda this entire arc)

Were They Close?

Doesn’t look like anyone really hit the mark on this week’s chapter. A lot of folks were predicting a number of things, but not a lot of them had anything to do with the large emphasis Oda placed on everyone pushing out the Birdcage. Viola’s last stand was another wild card no one could see coming. Though there seems to be a general consensus that we can use some extra involvement on the female front.

Listen to the latest episode of The One Piece Podcast for the crew’s thoughts on what may happen next:

Now on to this week’s predictions from our OPP staff!

As an additional disclaimer: these are just predictions and are just the opinion of each individual member and not the podcast as a whole. Without further ado, here are this week’s predictions:

Zach Logan

Host and Founder of The One Piece Podcast

This week’s chapter left a lot of people wanting. I think this may bode well for Chapter 789. As we discussed on the show, I think it’s very likely Luffy will finally awaken from his Gear Four-induced muscle coma. With the entire town now preoccupied in their efforts to stop the birdcage, I think Luffy will need to quickly and deliberately deal the final blow. I hope the final blow comes in the next chapter. I hope that Doflamingo’s glasses fall off, and I hope Sam’s dream comes true and Doflamingo breaks down crying. However, I think all of that good stuff may happen in Chapter 790.

So what does Chapter 789 hold in store? Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment, but I really think this presents an opportunity for Viola and Rebecca to shine. I don’t think they have–or should have–a chance in hell at beating Doflamingo, but I do think they can provide the very important task of keeping him at bay for the one minute Luffy needs to gather his strength.

Chao

Editorial Writer, “Chao Time”

God Usopp is angry. Fear his wrath, ye mortals.

Meanwhile, Traffy’s back! And, he’s tagging in to buy some time for Luffy, even though his arm is bleeding profusely and he’s still incapable of dealing with Doflamingo at the moment. Poor Cavendish, he can’t really do anything to stop a bearer of the Will of D from doing what he wants. Mansherry is spreading her curing dandelions all around the city, so she must be literally crying herself to death. Viola is attempting to assassinate Doflamingo, which is quite surprising since women had been taking the backseat throughout this arc. To top it all off, Fujitora is finally getting involved, who for some reason is not using his gravity powers to blow away the cage instead.

I underestimated how long Oda could drag the last few minutes, so I’ll just go by the hiatus and the sunglasses once again as my next prediction. Rebecca should do something to help her aunt, who would most likely be near dead in the next chapter. Then, Cavendish will come and rescue the ladies and fight off Doflamingo to delay him, all while noting how pissed he is at Law for abandoning him. Luffy would probably get back up, at which time Law would inform him about another plan or point out another of Doflamingo’s weakness.

Since those dandelions are spread around a large area, it would be terrible if Doflamingo gets his hands on one of them, but it would be highly convenient if Luffy were to get a couple of them. Since Law is there, it would be great to see those two form one final combined attack to take down Doflamingo once and for all.

Kyle Lesniewicz

Editorial Writer, “Piece Out!”

Trafalgar Law either knows something we don’t, or has something up his sleeve. He’s no babysitter, so his reappearance is likely to factor into either Luffy’s final moments of healing or his decisive attack.

As unlikely as this may seem, the Chekhov’s gun of Law’s immortality surgery still looms large. Perhaps we will see him offer life everlasting to Luffy as both Law’s trump card in this fight, and one parting shot to piss off Doflamingo (who wanted the surgery performed on him more than anything). Law is the overdramatic type, so him offering up his own life to see Dofy fall isn’t out of the question.

That said, while I think Law may offer Luffy immortality, there’s no way in hell that Luffy would accept such an offer. In fact, maybe Luffy’s anger that Law would “give up” his life like that after they’d come so far is what would push Luffy over the edge in this bout.

If Law can transport himself that far across Dressrosa to babysit, there’s also the possibility that he’s got some fighting spirit left in him. Who knows?

I expect to see more Burgess in this upcoming chapter. As I said last week, I assume that we’ll get a conclusion to that before Doflamingo falls.

Finally, Mansherry’s ability is too convenient. In fact, I believe that it will become an obvious plot hole, because I do not foresee Oda granting Doflamingo or Luffy any healing from the dandelixirs despite how easy it would be for one to fall on them randomly or even intentionally. A burst of free healing to either of them would cheapen their fight. They’ve earned this exhaustion. So I predict Doflamingo and Luffy stay coincidentally aloof to these miraculous floating flowers, at least until their fight is over (which won’t be next chapter).