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Does Blackbeard deserve to be One Piece’s final villain? Explore the different facets of this antagonist and his role in the series.
One Piece is filled with a compelling array of antagonists, each one of whom helps richen its narrative. While most of these villains in the series fulfill their roles within particular sagas or arcs, there are more long-standing characters who have had continuous significance in the plot. Blackbeard is one such person, who is infamous among the cast as well as the fans watching. However, with all the speculation regarding the Final Saga, does Blackbeard deserve to be One Piece’s final villain?
In short, yes, Blackbeard definitely deserves to be the final villain of One Piece, even compared to the controlling forces of the world. Here is a closer look at why this polarizing figure needs to be the final hurdle for the Straw Hats.
Who Is Blackbeard in One Piece?
Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, is the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates and one of the four Yonko in One Piece. He was first introduced in the series as an innocuous figure who seemed to hit it off with Luffy. When they met at a bar, they shared fascinating banter, and Blackbeard voiced his ideals on how people’s dreams never end.
Unfortunately, in spite of his optimistic words, his true nature takes on a more extreme form of expressing freedom. Blackbeard lives life in a way that pleases him, relentlessly chasing his ambitions. He cares little about the means to achieve his goals, having betrayed the Whitebeard Pirates and killed Thatch for obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit.
As the series proceeds, Blackbeard’s crew only keeps adding more and more criminals who embody his ruthlessness and free spirit. While Blackbeard’s rise can largely be attributed to his power, an understated element is his intellect.
Blackbeard cares little about pride or keeping up appearances, realizing that victory is all that matters. He shows cowardice when necessary, even bowing his head if required. However, when the tides are changing, he jumps at the opportunity to make a name for himself. This confusing personality that goes against the general superiority of pirates makes him a distinctive figure in the series.
How Blackbeard Mirrors Luffy
The main reason why Blackbeard is such a good antagonist is not because of how different he is from Luffy, but due to their similarities. Blackbeard mirrors Luffy in several ways, best displayed through their first conversation in Mock Town.
He carries the “Will of D.” and his progression from a member of the Worst Generation to a Yonko is similar to the protagonist. While the Blackbeard Pirates are undoubtedly evil compared to the Straw Hat Pirates, most of their members have goals of their own rather than being solely focused on Blackbeard’s ascent to Pirate King.
This is seen through Aokiji, who wishes for personal strength as well as the Impel Down prisoners wanting carnage. The focused ambition of the captain’s subordinates is seen in Luffy’s crew as well, where the Straw Hats are dedicated to Luffy but have their own paths.
Both Blackbeard and Luffy are the personification of unrelenting determination and freedom, but this is where the line is drawn. These two characters would never become friendly because the way they pursue their ideologies directly clashes with each other. Luffy’s journey to finding the One Piece involves protecting the innocent, focusing on the camaraderie between his crew, and inspiring trust.
Blackbeard doesn’t care about this, and his crew members themselves are bound by fear and personal goals. He is manipulative, selfish, and will stoop to any lows to win. Hence, the similarities and differences between Blackbeard and Luffy, despite their limited time shared together, are what makes the dynamic so memorable.
Blackbeard’s Impact on the Plot
It is not an overstatement to say that Blackbeard has been one of One Piece’s most impactful characters based on the chain of events he has set off. By capturing Ace and sending him to the World Government, he triggered the Marineford War.
This is the largest-scale battle in One Piece to date, showing the world’s strongest man, Whitebeard, face the entire Marine force. Unfortunately, it resulted in the death of both Ace and Whitebeard, bringing in an era for the new generation. It also forced Luffy to train harder and mature to ensure he never lost his loved ones again.
Due to Blackbeard’s hunger for power, he is also actively chasing down Poneglyphs. He is believed to have copies of three Road Poneglyphs, making him the closest to the One Piece apart from Luffy and Shanks.
The most recent event his crew partook in featured their capture of Garp after taking over Hachinosu. It is also implied that they are searching for The Man with the Burn Scar, one of the series’ biggest mysteries.
Hence, it is safe to say that Blackbeard is the biggest and most important competitor of the Straw Hats at this stage in the story. He contributed to killing Luffy’s brother, holds Luffy’s grandfather, and causes rampant destruction to innocent people. By playing a pivotal role in advancing the story towards its climax, Blackbeard’s schemes directly intertwine with the overarching mysteries of the series.
Blackbeard’s Terrifying Power
There is no shortage of bad figures in One Piece, but Blackbeard sticks out because he has the power to execute his nefarious schemes.His primary power, the Dark-Dark Fruit, is the series’ most sinister Devil Fruit. It enables him to control darkness and gravity.
By nullifying others’ skills and crushing anything in his path, Blackbeard could effortlessly overpower the likes of Ace. However, what makes his strength terrifying is that he is the only character having two Devil Fruit powers.
The exact reason for this isn’t revealed, assumed to be because of his special body, but Blackbeard currently has Whitbeard’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit. This is a fruit with the ability to destroy the world and cause natural disasters.
By wielding these two fruits, Blackbeard defies the natural order of the world, symbolizing his role as a harbinger of chaos. His special durability, where he feels pain but never seems to be knocked down, only boosts these abilities.
Unlike Luffy, whose powers are mainly based on creativity, Blackbeard’s focuses on raw power. This stark contrast in their fighting styles makes their eventual clash even more anticipated.
Should Blackbeard Be One Piece’s Final Villain?
While competitors such as the World Government and Imu would undoubtedly be worthy choices, we believe that Blackbeard is the perfect selection for One Piece’s final villain. He acts as the center point for several plot threads in the series, actively competing against the Straw Hats’ goals.
Mainly, Blackbeard has been relevant in One Piece from early in the series, yet his character remains largely mysterious. Apart from his greed, betrayal and power, we have yet to take a deeper look into him and his driving factor. Blackbeard’s backstory, bloodline and connection to the “Will of D.” remain an enigma in the series.
These have helped him retain a sense of anticipation, causing excitement whenever showing up on the screen. Using the Celestial Dragons as the main antagonist would show the scale of One Piece. However, choosing Blackbeard would bring the series back to its roots. A final pirate battle for the greatest treasure would evoke nostalgia and stay thematically consistent.
Regardless of Oda’s plans for One Piece’s conclusion, we eagerly await learning more about the fascinating Blackbeard.
Conclusion
Blackbeard is a frighteningly similar character to Luffy but embodies all the ideals the protagonist stands against. His cunning, ambition, and connection to major world events make him the perfect pick for the final One Piece villain. As the story nears its climax, the clash between Luffy and Blackbeard promises to be a legendary battle.
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