For a long time, One Piece fans were convinced the Revolutionary Army knew what they were doing. Their plan seemed to be to vanquish oppressive forces, return power to the people, and overthrow the World Government; goals like these implied that they understood precisely what was required to fulfill their goals.
Recent events have revealed how little they actually knew. They claim that the World Nobles are their enemies, but they don’t know nearly as much about who they are or how to combat them as the story thus far would have people believe. If they want to settle their 22-year war with the World Government, they need more information and resources than they realize.
What Does the Revolutionary Army Know About the World Government?
At first, the base knowledge of the Revolutionary Army was difficult to appraise. Since their leader, Monkey D. Dragon, is the most wanted man alive, many fans assumed he had some information the World Government wouldn’t want to be publicv(much like how Nico Robin’s bounty was inflated because she could read the Poneglyphs). Dragon and, by extension, the Revolutionary Army, could have been privy to anything from the truth about the Void Century and the Ancient Kingdom to the identity of Imu. One theory even posited that the King of the World was Luffy’s biological mother. While the rebellions were one thing, a leak of such sensitive information could destroy the World Government’s credibility.
Chapter 1086 “The Five Elders,” however, made it clear how little the Revolutionary Army knew about their enemy. Sabo’s stories about the Reverie and Lulusia led to some theorizing. He, Dragon, and Emporio Ivankov tried to discern Imu’s identity and what weapons they possessed. In other words, these leading members of the Revolutionary Army were completely in the dark about who their true enemy was and what they were capable of. This lack of information puts its campaign into perspective. All they’ve done so far is fight general oppression, without a clear plan for stopping it at its source. They can start uprisings and cut off the World Nobles’ food supply all they want, but without truly knowing what they’re up against, they won’t get much closer to toppling the World Government — they’ll inevitably hit a wall.
This is likely where the paths of the Straw Hat Pirates and the Revolutionary Army will fully intertwine. Since Luffy and his crew are on their way to Laugh Tale, they’ll eventually uncover the secrets of the Ancient Kingdom, the Void Century, and the founding of the World Government. The Revolutionary Army gaining this information could give them the edge they need to form a real plan.
For now, the Revolutionary Army will have to bide its time. Unless they know exactly what they’re up against, they can’t hope to win or even make significant progress. Once they know more about what the World Government truly is, they should be able to find their Achilles’ heel and strike a fatal blow. Until then, they’ll have to stick to going from country to country and sparking the flames of revolution.