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Discover Usopp’s role in One Piece and why the series needs to focus on him far more than Oda has done till now.
One Piece follows the tale of Luffy, a young boy chasing after freedom and traveling the seas to become the Pirate King. Over the course of his journey, Luffy recruits various individuals to join his crew, each serving an important purpose.
Usopp is one such member, who was inherently different from his other crewmates from the very beginning. Nevertheless, he was able to captivate fans with his unique position, development, and contributions. Unfortunately, in the recent arcs of One Piece, Usopp faces the danger of falling into irrelevancy.
When compared to the more active role of his crewmates and their rapid rise in strength, Usopp has hardly changed, with moments spotlighting him being rare. Hence, here is a closer look at why One Piece needs to focus on Usopp far more than Oda has done so far.
Who Is Usopp in One Piece?
Usopp is a core member of the Straw Hat Pirates and the fourth individual to officially join the crew. Inspired by his father Yasopp, a member of the Red Hair Pirates, Usopp decided to follow Luffy after Kuro’s defeat in Syrup Village.
Usopp was initially introduced as a compulsive liar prone to cowardice. While he continues exhibiting these traits later in the series, his growth is apparent. Influenced by his brave peers, Usopp has trained himself as a sniper, protecting the crew from a distance.
Notwithstanding his lack of firepower, he makes a difference with his slingshot, staying strong to his ideals and supporting Luffy to reach his goals. As a result, he has the massive bounty of 500,000,000 berries and has a cult following of his own.
His alter ego, Sogeking, and his emotional journey during this time cemented his place as one of One Piece’s most well-written characters. However, despite this strong foundation, Usopp’s role in the post-time skip era has not been nearly as impactful as many had hoped.
Usopp’s Significance Before the Time Skip
It is not a stretch to say Usopp was one of One Piece’s most significant characters before the time skip. From his first appearance, he fascinated fans as a weak and wimpy character who wished to make a change.
Hence, he followed Luffy and his crew, gaining both courage and strength. He shocked everyone by beating Chew in the Arlong Park Arc and stole the show for his contributions in Arabasta.
Usopp faced his own fears, stating proudly how his captain would become Pirate King, and creatively defeated Mr. 4. He only impressed fans more as he bravely stood in front of Enel in Skypiea.
However, the sniper’s most impactful moment in the series was undeniably his battle against Luffy. When the Straw Hats decided to leave their broken ship, Usopp openly confronted Luffy for the first time. His fears of being abandoned for being weak just like the ship boiled over until he fought Luffy and left the crew.
Thankfully, this wasn’t the end, as Usopp realized his own faults. He took on the mantle of Sogeking, helping the Straw Hats save Robin from the World Government. He then shot down their flag in an epic sequence.
In one of the most emotional scenes of the series, he later apologized to Luffy and was accepted back into the crew. Hence, his journey continued, defeating Perona in Thriller Bark and showing his worth.
Therefore, till the time skip where he was sent to Greenstone by Kuma, Usopp was a tactician and long-range fighter. He turned the tides of every battle with his ingenuity, finding courage and stepping up when it mattered. This made him a relatable and beloved character.
Usopp’s Diminished Role After the Time Skip
After his training under Heracles during the time skip, Usopp’s physical improvements were evident. He gained muscle, learned to use the Pop Green, and became a much more masterful sniper. While this should have been a turning point where he became an even more important member of his crew, Oda decided not to do so.
In contrast, Usopp’s impact on the story started declining greatly, to the point where new members of the Straw Hat Pirates began overshadowing him. He was barely involved in significant battles during Fish-Man Island and Punk Hazard. During this, he was only remembered for facing defeat at Caesar Clown’s hands.
The major post-time skip storyline where Usopp truly shined was the Dressrosa Arc. He contributed to the Straw Hats’ victory, saving Luffy from Sugar, unlocking Observation Haki, and gaining the moniker “God Usopp.” This moment could have truly capitalized on Usopp as a formidable force, but One Piece made a decision that confused fans.
Right when Usopp was at the peak of his popularity, Oda shifted focus from him. The Whole Cake Island Saga emphasized Sanji and his family, with Usopp’s screen time being close to null.
Making matters worse, most fans are unaware of Usopp’s significance during the Wano Arc. During important moments of growth for Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Nami, the sniper had no discernible moments.
This severely disappointed Usopp fans, since the sniper only played a background role in a major world event. He showed signs of regressing back to his cowardly persona, openly scared of the Beasts Pirates. While fear is part of Usopp’s character, One Piece has not given him enough moments to demonstrate the courage and strategic brilliance he was known for.
Usopp’s Abilities Compared to His Crewmates
Usopp has always been one of the weakest Straw Hats, but that is part of his charm. We see an average person trying to keep up in an abnormal world, surpassing his limits and standing out in his own ways.
His marksmanship and sniping abilities allowed him to do this for a great part of the series, helping the Straw Hats topple entire governments. Regrettably, as we have already seen, Usopp’s role and improvement in abilities have stagnated in recent times.
All his crewmates have greatly enhanced their strength, allowing them to face the greatest powers in the world. Among the main fighters, Luffy has the powers of Nika, Zoro has his fearsome sword styles, and Sanji keeps upgrading his kicks. All three of them actively use their Haki as well. Even among those who don’t fight as much, Nami gained the use of Zeus, and Robin has the terrifying Demonio Fleur, which could defeat Black Maria.
In contrast, Usopp has barely showcased significant improvements apart from Observation Haki. Unfortunately, this ability comes with its own controversy. Despite being Usopp’s trump card that he unlocked under high pressure against Sugar, he has never used Observation Haki since Dressrosa.
This is unusual considering how beneficial it would have been against the Beasts Pirates and the World Government in Egghead. While some fans believe Oda has special plans for Usopp’s Haki, others assume he has simply forgotten about the sniper due to the big twists and reveals in One Piece. The lack of meaningful fights and moments where he shines makes his presence feel more like comic relief rather than an essential member of the crew.
Fan Expectations for Usopp in the Final Saga
Now that we are in the Final Saga, most fans are hoping for Usopp to get his moment to shine again. Oda has also foreshadowed the possibility of this occurring since the story is currently set in Elbaph.
Usopp has admired the Giants for a long time, expressing his praise for their warrior-like personality to Dorry and Brogy. Given the presence of the World Government’s agents on the island as well as many other powerful forces, it would be impossible for Usopp to stand out if he didn’t significantly gain strength.
Hence, in addition to boosts in power, potentially through unlocking Armament Haki and imbuing it in his sniping, viewers wish for Usopp to finally get a one-on-one battle. For most of the post-time skip fights, this pirate has been tagging along with other members of his crew.
To emphasize his growth and properly showcase that he is no longer a weak man, a challenge is needed. This will prove Usopp has achieved his dream of becoming a “warrior of the sea.”
Conclusion
Usopp has always been one of the most relatable and well-written characters in One Piece, but his development has stagnated in the post-time skip era. While he still provides comedic moments, his role in combat and overall storytelling has diminished.
As we approach the climax of the series, fans will be hoping for Oda to reintegrate Usopp into the central narrative and give him the growth he deserves.
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