How Powerful Is Monkey D. Garp in One Piece?

How powerful is Monkey D. Garp in One Piece? Discover his abilities, strengths and why he’s called the Hero of the Marines.

How Powerful Is Monkey D. Garp in One Piece?
Monkey D. Garp as seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

One Piece has the unique ability to create a lot of excitement for characters who rarely show up on screen. We have seen this in the case of Shanks, and Garp is yet another addition to this list. As an iconic figure both in the series and outside among the fans, he has left an indelible impact on the story. Due to this, fans often wonder how powerful Monkey D. Garp is in One Piece.

Monkey D. Garp is one of the strongest characters in all of One Piece and its most celebrated Marine. Let us take a closer look at his character.

Who Is Monkey D. Garp in One Piece?

Garp, also known as Garp the Fist, is the paternal grandfather of Luffy and the adoptive grandfather of Ace. As he was connected to both Dragon and Gol D. Roger, Garp was entrusted with their care from a young age before giving them to Curly.

Despite being a Marine Vice Admiral, Garp shows no love for the World Government. He is aware of the corrupt nature of the nobles and does not go out of his way to protect them. At the same time, he sees the importance of the Marines and the necessity to stick up for the innocent, which is why he took up his profession.

How Powerful Is Monkey D. Garp in One Piece?
Ace and Garp seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

As Luffy’s grandfather, Garp shares a lot of traits with his grandson. He is often carefree, enjoys goofing off, and has a smile on his face. He is extremely loyal to those under him, as we saw him willing to lay down his life to protect Koby at Hachinosu.

Garp is a deceptively complex character who can get stuck between his duty and familial bonds. Assigned by his superiors to oversee Ace during the Marineford Arc, Garp was constantly torn between letting his adoptive grandson escape and setting an example as a Marine. He later goes on to immensely regret Ace’s death while carrying on ideals to not let it happen again. 

Why Is Garp Called the Hero of the Marines? 

Garp is called the Hero of the Marines due to his services in the God Valley Incident. The Rocks Pirates, led by Xebec, were laying an attack on God Valley – which had several nobles taking part in a native hunting competition.

We already know Garp’s dislike for the government, but it is likely that the regular population would have been severely affected by Xebec, who was known for his viciousness. Resultantly, he moved quickly to face them.

One Piece anime filler
Monkey D. Luffy as seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

However, recognizing that the Marines were not strong enough for the task, he allied with the Roger Pirates. Garp did not consider all pirates to be evil, as seen by his relationship with Roger, though he disapproved of their lifestyle.

Together, the pirates and Marines worked hand-in-hand to defeat the Rocks pirates. As the enemy was considered to be the most dangerous pirate crew at the time, Garp’s role in taking them down earned him the title of “Hero of the Marines.”

Roger’s positive involvement in the incident was covered up, and Garp was offered a position as Admiral multiple times, though he kept refusing.

Garp’s Abilities and Strengths

Don’t let Garp’s status as Vice Admiral fool you, as he has enough power to shake up the entire world of One Piece.

1) Haki –

Monkey D. Garp as seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Garp is capable of using all three types of Haki. With his Supreme King Haki, he can infuse it into his body parts and create vicious attacks. Since Garp is extremely strong on his own, his application of the technique can create tremendous shockwaves.

Armament Haki allows one to armor themselves and use it for both defense and offense. Garp used this against Marco in the Marineford War. By combining these two kinds of Haki, Garp can create tremendous abilities like Galaxy Impact, which caused large-scale devastation at Hachinosu.

Through his Observation Haki, Garp could sense Aokiji’s presence on Hachinosu and respond quickly to Shiryu’s invisibility.

2) Physical Strength –

Garp has ridiculous physical abilities even without his Haki. His immense punches gave him the title of The Fist, where he could match up to the legendary pirates of his time. Garp also throws large cannon balls at ships with his strength, believed to be more effective than when they are actually launched from a cannon.

Additionally, the Vice Admiral is surprisingly quick, as he displayed in his fight against the Blackbeard Pirates. By using high-speed techniques like Soru, he could escape Aokiji’s ice attacks.

3) Leadership and Experience –

Garp and Sengoku as seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Having been active for several decades, Garp is one of the most famous characters in the series. His name inspires confidence in allies while causing fear amongst enemies. As the mentor of Aokiji, Koby, and even Luffy and Ace, Garp has had a direct hand in guiding the next generation of pirates and Marines. His experience also helps him think strategically when necessary, taking the best possible course of action.

Is Monkey D. Garp the Strongest Marine in One Piece?

Among the active Marines in One Piece, Garp is at least among the two strongest. We will not be counting Sengoku as he has retired, but the battle between Akainu and Garp is still up to interpretation.

Since both Akainu and Garp are close-combat fighters, we are sure their battle will be legendary. Garp’s destructive powers against Akainu’s magma abilities will undoubtedly cause heavy damage to both parties. Since Akainu was responsible for killing Ace, the emotions will also run high.

Did Luffy Defeat Kizaru in One Piece
Kizaru and Akainu as seen in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

In his prime, it is safe to say that Garp would have won since he was hungrier and more nimble. Akainu, who is younger, more intense, and willing to do whatever it takes to win, will prove an even match for the current Vice Admiral.

Therefore, even at an older age, Garp remains one of the strongest characters in One Piece. As for the strongest, it will depend on any further revelations the series presents us with.

Conclusion

To conclude, Monkey D. Garp is a beloved character who has cemented his place as a legend. His actions in the Egghead Arc only make him more memorable as he faced his former protege for his current disciple. 

Since it is revealed in the One Piece manga that Garp is still alive, we cannot wait to see the role he plays in the Final Saga.


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