The God Valley Flashback: A New Era of Confirmed Matchups

The God Valley Incident has long been one of the most significant and mysterious events in the history of One Piece. For years, all fans knew was that Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp teamed up to defeat the formidable Rocks Pirates, a crew so dangerous that the World Government completely erased the incident from history. Now, with the ongoing flashback through the eyes of Bartholomew Kuma and other characters, creator Eiichiro Oda is finally pulling back the curtain on this epic battle. The latest manga chapters, particularly the events leading up to the incident, have not only provided a clearer timeline but have also given us definitive confirmation on some of the most anticipated matchups. The battle was far more complex than a simple pirate vs. Marine clash; it involved the Celestial Dragons, the Holy Knights, and an unexpected alliance that forever changed the world. This article will break down every confirmed and highly-speculated matchup we can expect to see, based on the latest manga revelations from August 2025.

The recent chapters have revealed the true reason behind the conflict. The Celestial Dragons were holding a “Native Hunting Competition” on God Valley, a sickening “sport” where they hunted the island’s inhabitants and slaves. The Rocks Pirates, led by the ambitious Rocks D. Xebec, appeared on the island with a specific objective: to reclaim a “crown jewel” that was stolen from them at Hachinosu, the Pirate Island. This “crown jewel” has been revealed to be none other than Shakky, who was running a bar on Hachinosu that was popular with the Rocks Pirates. The arrival of both the Rocks Pirates and the Roger Pirates, who were also drawn to the commotion, set the stage for an all-out war. The fact that this battle involved multiple factions with their own goals means that the matchups were far more chaotic and interesting than we ever imagined.

Confirmed Matchups We Will See

Rocks D. Xebec vs. Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp

This is the central fight of the God Valley Incident and the one that has been confirmed since the very first mention of the event. While the specifics of their alliance are still being revealed, we know that Roger and Garp put aside their differences to face the common threat of Rocks. The latest chapters have shown us that Rocks was a truly monstrous pirate, even more so than the Yonko who would later inherit his will. This battle was not a simple 2v1, but a clash of titans that tested the limits of both Roger and Garp’s strength. The manga will likely dedicate several chapters to this monumental showdown, showing how Roger’s growth as a pirate and Garp’s legendary strength earned him the title of “Hero of the Marines.”

Figarland Garling vs. Whitebeard

This is a major revelation that has been heavily hinted at and is now all but confirmed. The latest chapters have shown us a young Figarland Garling as the “Champion of God Valley” in a flashback. Meanwhile, a fan-favorite theory suggests that the iconic scar on Whitebeard’s chest was given to him by Garling during this conflict. The fact that the World Government sent a squad of Holy Knights to God Valley to protect the Celestial Dragons, and Garling was the commander of that force, makes this an incredibly likely matchup. It would be a clash between two of the most powerful individuals in the world at the time, and a battle that would forever cement Whitebeard’s status as a legend.

Big Mom vs. Saint Jaygarcia Saturn and Kaido

This is a particularly complex and fascinating matchup. We know that Big Mom was present at God Valley, as was a young Kaido. We also know that Big Mom ended up with Kaido’s Mythical Zoan, the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon. The latest chapters suggest that this happened during the chaos of God Valley. A recent spoiler from Chapter 1157 has also revealed that one of the Gorosei, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, was also present at God Valley. This opens up the possibility of a direct conflict between the Gorosei and a member of the Rocks Pirates. Given that Saturn was seen near a young Kuma in a past chapter, and the battle was centered around the prizes of the Celestial Dragon’s hunt, it’s highly plausible that Big Mom fought Saturn to protect her “son” Kaido and to claim the powerful Devil Fruit. This would provide a direct link between Big Mom, Kaido, and a member of the World Government’s highest authority, a major lore drop that would change the way we view the series’ history.

Highly-Speculated and Expected Matchups

Silvers Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban vs. Other Holy Knights

While the focus will be on the main event, the God Valley Incident was an all-out war involving countless powerful individuals. It is highly likely that Roger’s top commanders, Silvers Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban, were also engaged in battle against the Holy Knights. The manga has already revealed that the Holy Knights were present to protect the Celestial Dragons, and it’s a safe bet that Roger’s crew was fighting their way through the Marine forces and the Holy Knights to either aid their captain or simply to fight. This would provide a perfect opportunity to showcase the full power of the Roger Pirates in their prime and give us a glimpse of some of the battles that shaped the future of the series.

The rest of the Rocks Pirates vs. The World Government

The Rocks Pirates were a crew of monsters, including Whitebeard, Shiki, and Captain John. It’s a guarantee that we will see them in action against the Marine forces. While Garp was the lead Marine, we will likely see other iconic figures from that era, such as Sengoku, or even a younger Akainu and Dragon, in the background. The battle between these forces would be a sight to behold and would fill in many of the gaps in the series’ history. The God Valley flashback is set to be one of the most explosive and revealing arcs in the history of One Piece, and it’s a testament to Oda’s masterful storytelling that he has been building up to this moment for decades.