Discover 4 One Piece pirate battles that everyone remembers and 4 others that fans tend to forget from the series.
One Piece is filled with exciting battles featuring diverse Devil Fruit abilities, proficient Haki control, and a variety of other skills that keep us in awe. Over its decades of airing, some of these fights have become iconic to fans. However, as a consequence of the sheer number of battles, many have also been buried in the series’ vast history.
Here are 4 One Piece pirate battles that are memorable to everyone and 4 that have slipped through the cracks of their memory.
4 One Piece Pirate Battles Everyone Remembers
One Piece battles are beloved for their jaw-dropping moments and the emotional depth driving them. Along with the protagonist, many characters have standout fights that fans have discussed for years. These include:
1) Luffy vs Rob Lucci
On the quest to save Robin in the Enies Lobby arc, Luffy faced his greatest challenge yet, Rob Lucci. As the strongest member of the elite unit CP9, this was an intense battle where Lucci pushed Luffy to his limits through his Zoan Devil Fruit, which turned him into a leopard. Combined with his Rokuogan, the antagonist greatly increased his strength and delivered a brutal beating to Luffy.
Despite this, Luffy was driven to protect the Straw Hat Pirates and not surrender to the World Government’s Buster Call. When Gear 2 proved ineffective, Luffy unveiled Gear 3. By inflating his body parts and enhancing his raw power, Luffy persisted against Lucci’s blows before ending the battle with a decisive Jet Gatling.
This battle perfectly captured the emotion and bonds that everyone loves in One Piece, with many considering it the best fight in the series.
2) Zoro vs Mihawk
Wishing to become the greatest swordsman in the world, Zoro’s main goal in One Piece is to defeat Dracule Mihawk. He got the opportunity early in the series during the Baratie arc, where the Warlord intruded upon the confrontation between the Straw Hats and Krieg Pirates.
Overestimating his own capabilities, Zoro launched an attack but was swiftly overwhelmed by Mihawk’s prowess. Initially only using a small dagger, Mihawk was impressed by Zoro’s spirit and decided to properly defeat him with Yoru. Despite suffering defeat, Zoro was not discouraged but only furthered his resolve.
His scars from this battle remain a reminder of the path he must walk to become the greatest swordsman.
3) Franky vs Senor Pink
Fans initially thought Senor Pink’s battle against Franky would be humorous due to their personalities, but it ended up becoming a tear-jerking one. In the Dressrosa arc, the two clashed in a test of wills, taking each other’s attacks with unyielding determination.
Over the course of the battle, both characters formed mutual respect for each other as we connected with the antagonist through his tragic backstory. When Pink used Baby Buster to end the fight, Franky endured it and countered with Franky Iron Boxing. This concluded the battle, with Pink lying down and shedding tears at the thought of his family.
Franky acknowledged his opponent, wiped his tears, and walked away. The clash of these flamboyant personas made fans fall in love with both characters.
4) Ace vs Blackbeard
Ace and Blackbeard’s battle shook the foundations of One Piece, possibly having the most drastic consequences from its result. To avenge Thatch, Ace tracked Blackbeard and finally caught up to the villain on Banaro Island. When most fans expected Luffy’s brother to deliver swift retribution, Blackbeard surprised everyone by showcasing the terrifying powers of the Dark-Dark Fruit.
Ace, having his powers nullified, held on to his resolve, vowing to make Whitebeard the Pirate King. After a final clash between his Entei and Blackbeard’s darkness, Ace was defeated and handed over to the World Government.
This resulted in the shocking clash in Marineford, where both Ace and Whitebeard died while Luffy’s spirit broke. Hence, while the clash itself might have been one-sided, its long-lasting implications will never be forgotten by fans.
4 One Piece Pirate Battles That Most Fans Forget
One Piece has many memorable battles, but shorter or less impactful ones often get forgotten by fans. However, this doesn’t reflect their quality, as they simply fade over time due to the series’ expansive nature.
1) Zoro vs Hyouzou
Zoro versus Hyouzou was a magnificent showcase of the former’s growth following the timeskip. Hyouzou was the strongest swordsman in Fish-Man Island, wielding multiple swords and not hesitating to use underhanded tactics for victory.
Due to this, fans at the time were looking forward to an exhilarating battle. However, Zoro’s increase in power had been too immense, and he defeated his opponent without breaking a sweat. While this was certainly a cool moment for the Straw Hat, the brief nature of the match has made it forgettable over the years.
2) Brook vs Ryuma
Brook’s battle with Ryuma is often overlooked because it is overshadowed by the thrilling fight that follows. In the Thriller Bark arc, Brook faced the zombie of the legendary swordsman Ryuma, who wielded the sword Shusui.
Despite his personal connection to this fight and his wish to pay respect to his departed crew, Brook failed to overpower Ryuma’s swiftness. Right when facing death, Zoro intervened and proceeded to have a high-stakes battle that most fans remember. Hence, while Brook and Ryuma’s battle itself was very well-made, it was unfortunately positioned right before a key moment in Zoro’s character arc.
3) Smoker vs Vergo
Smoker’s clash with Vergo in Punk Hazard was one that deserved more recognition but failed to gain the spotlight due to the other chaotic events of the arc. As two high-ranking Marine officers, Smoker couldn’t tolerate Vergo’s corrupt nature and had an intense face-off against him.
In spite of Smoker’s strategic use of his abilities, Vergo’s Armament Haki was too powerful. This allowed him to overpower his enemy’s spirited efforts and deliver a brutal beating. A big reason why this battle is not well-known is that Law fought Vergo soon after Smoker’s defeat, cutting him in half using ROOM. This was an exhilarating scene that outshined the battle before it.
4) Nami vs Miss Doublefinger
Nami’s fight with Miss Doublefinger is often forgotten despite being a pivotal point for her character. In the fight against Baroque Works, Nami was armed with her new Clima-Tact and attempted to take down the agent Miss Doublefinger.
While figuring out how to use her new weapon, her opponent didn’t make it easy for her. By stabbing and impaling her multiple times, Miss Doublefinger pushed Nami to the furthest of her resolve. Nevertheless, the navigator finally learned to use her powers properly—dodging attacks with mirages and countering with lightning strikes.
With Vivi’s suffering in mind, Nami launched a decisive, high-velocity blow to Miss Doublefinger, ending the fight. Nami’s performance was very impressive, but the Arabasta arc’s political intrigue and Luffy’s battle with Crocodile dominated the storyline. Hence, this is also one battle most fans cannot recollect.
Conclusion
One Piece is a treasure trove of battles, each of which is distinctive and enriches the series’ narrative. In this article, we have taken a look at 4 One Piece pirate battles that stick out in everyone’s memories and 4 others that have been buried over time.
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