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Discover the 8 strongest One Piece first mates. Explore their strengths and abilities, and where they rank amongst each other.
The world of One Piece may often shine the spotlight on captains and their goal of becoming the Pirate King, but the first mates’ roles can never be overlooked. As the second most important person in the crew, first mates take on several duties. They play a crucial part in helping their leaders achieve their ambitions, showcasing impressive power during battles.
Hence, here are the 8 strongest One Piece first mates, ranked.
8) Jesus Burgess
Jesus Burgess is the first mate of the Blackbeard Pirates and one of its Ten Titanic Captains. Burgess is a very impressive fighter who personally guards Blackbeard. His abilities heavily rely on his physicality and wrestling-based attacks.
On top of his own monstrous power, Burgess’ Devil Fruit greatly amplifies his fearsomeness. He possesses the Riki Riki no Mi, making him an individual with superhuman strength. This is to the degree that Burgess can lift mountains.
In addition, Burgess can use Armament and Observation Haki. With his abilities, this Blackbeard follower impressed fans in the Dressrosa Arc. He had a heated battle with Lucy and withstood a devastating fire attack from Sabo. He may not be the most recurring character, but Burgess proves how the Blackbeard Pirates have become so great in rapid fashion.
7) Jinbe
While he may be a beloved Straw Hat currently, Jinbe was originally the most trusted companion of the Sun Pirates’ captain, Fisher Tiger. He is highly respected for his unwavering loyalty and tremendous strength.
As a Fish-Man, Jinbe’s senses, durability, and raw power are much greater than most other species. He is also one of the most talented users of Fish-Man Karate. Through this martial art, he blocked Big Mom’s attacks and beat down the gigantic Wadatsumi.
Jinbe’s abilities are boosted by Haki as well. His Armament Haki is perfectly paired with Fish-Man Karate, while he can also use Observation Haki. Hence, while Jinbe may often be overshadowed by the main characters surrounding him, he should never be underestimated.
6) Katakuri
Charlotte Katakuri is the strongest commander who works under Big Mom and is very caring towards her and his siblings. His intense emotions are shown through his battles, where he is always one step ahead of his opponents.
Katakuri is one of the few Future Sight users in One Piece, displaying fearsome capability in this advanced form of Observation Haki. He is also able to use the other two types of Haki. These pair very well with his Mochi Mochi no Mi, letting him manipulate mochi and even transform his body into it.
His sense of honor and genius talent make him an extremely impressive figure, nearly defeating Luffy in Whole Cake Island.
5) Benn Beckman
As the first mate of the Red Hair Pirates, Benn Beckman is an enigmatic character believed to possess immense strength. Despite his lack of screen time, Beckman has impressed viewers with what they’ve seen of him.
Beckman is an exceptionally intelligent individual with physical abilities that surpass most of his peers. He is a proficient user of Armament Haki, which he imbues into his bullets. With his abilities, Beckman single-handedly defeated Higuma’s crew and even held back Kizaru at Marineford.
While he may not have a Devil Fruit, he has contributed greatly to Shanks’ meteoric in One Piece. Hence, his position on this list may be much higher once we discover more about his character.
4) King
King is a rare member of the Lunarian race and the first mate of the Beasts Pirates. He is an absolute monster in battle, which can be greatly attributed to his lineage and Devil Fruit.
King possesses the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pteranodon, giving him immense durability and enhanced senses. Due to his race, he can also ignite any part of his body and use devastating fire manipulation abilities. Combining this with his swordsmanship, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki, he is a nightmare for any opponent.
This was best seen in his brutal battle against Zoro, which he had dominated for a long time. He was eventually defeated due to his opponent’s growth, and not his own weakness.
3) Marco
Marco the Phoenix is the former first mate of the Whitebeard Pirates and his captain’s strongest supporter. While Marco was often overshadowed by figures such as Ace and Whitebeard, his abilities are nothing to scoff at.
With the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix, he can transform into a human-phoenix hybrid while possessing the power of flight. Marco’s flames as a phoenix are extremely powerful and also have unique healing properties. They make him nearly unkillable, allowing him to recover from gruesome injuries.
In addition, Marco can use Armament Haki and Observation Haki. His experience and abilities let him put up a good fight against Kizaru in the Marineford War and face both King and Queen simultaneously in Wano.
2) Zoro
While Zoro isn’t officially the first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, fans consider him as Luffy’s right-hand man. Zoro is an immensely loyal individual with unbelievable willpower. His goal of becoming the strongest swordsman in the world and assisting Luffy in becoming the Pirate King has helped him rapidly gain strength.
Being an accomplished swordsman, Zoro uses multiple techniques. His most famous one is the Three Sword Style, but he can change it based on the situation, whether it be a One Sword Style or a Nine Sword Style. Zoro utilizes famous swords such as Enma and Shusui and several more to amplify his powers.
Additionally, he can utilize Supreme King, Armament and Observation Haki. Through his unwavering perseverance and skill, he could take down the likes of King in Wano. This makes him one of the strongest “unofficial” first mates in One Piece.
1) Rayleigh
As the right-hand man of the Pirate King, Rayleigh is undeniably the strongest first mate in One Piece. Known as the Dark King, he gained worldwide fear and renown for his exploits with the Roger Pirates.
Rayleigh is a battle-hardened warrior, showcasing immense prowess with the sword. He possesses all three types of Haki, with his Supreme King Haki being twice as potent as Luffy’s in the Fish-Man Island Arc. His reflexes and physical superiority even let him fight on par against Kizaru years after his retirement.
Most importantly, Rayleigh survived the arduous journey across the Grand Line to find the One Piece. Despite facing countless enemies, he discovered the grand treasure and the secrets of the Void Century. This stands as a testament to his greatness in the series.
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