Facebook
Reddit
Email
Discover 4 beloved One Piece pirate captains and 4 who divide the fandom. Discover how they captain their crews.
One Piece is filled with charismatic pirate captains, who travel the seas in search of true freedom. With their unique personalities and ambitions, these characters are the heart of the story. At the same time, not all captains are admired, with many stirring up a lot of controversy.
Hence, here are 4 One Piece pirate captains loved by the entire fandom and 4 others who get divisive reactions.
4 One Piece Pirate Captains Everyone Loves
The word pirate may automatically lead you to associate with criminals, but that is not necessarily true in the world of One Piece. On the contrary, several pirate captains preach good values and partake in noble actions while opposing the authoritarian World Government. These include:
1) Monkey D. Luffy
It might not come as a surprise to many that Luffy is one of the most beloved One Piece pirate captains. He is wholesome, funny, fierce in battle, and a beacon of hope. On his journey, Luffy inspires all kinds of people regardless of their backgrounds and social standing. This is reflected in his crew, which features extremely diverse members.
Luffy is beloved because he carries out good deeds without expecting anything in return. He fought for Wano because he couldn’t stand the thought of people not having freedom. For the sake of freeing Robin, he also declared war against the entire World Government.
While this might be called reckless in some senses, it is what draws everyone to Luffy’s character. He is straightforward, optimistic, and willing to go to any lengths for his loved ones.
2) Whitebeard
Years after his passing, Whitebeard is still a figure of reverence among One Piece fans. Once known as the strongest pirate, Whitebeard was an honorable person who shared a close relationship with all his crew members. He was a paternal figure to all of them, being a man who saved them from dire straits.
Whitebeard commanded an intimidating presence and was fully aware of his strength. He used this to his advantage to protect the islands under him and would destroy anyone who threatened the peace of his family. This was best seen in the Marineford War when he fought against the combined forces of the entire government for the sake of rescuing Ace.
His values of loyalty, unity, and love are something not many One Piece captains possess. This is what makes fans admire the character so much.
3) Shanks
The captain of the Red Hair Pirates, Shanks, is a scarcely appearing figure in One Piece. Within those limited appearances, he has captivated fans with his aura of mystery and charisma. Shanks played a crucial role in Luffy becoming a pirate, sacrificing his arm to save the protagonist from a Sea King.
He never regretted this, however, and can be seen elated every time Luffy gains a new accomplishment in One Piece. Shanks is generally carefree and calm but can quickly switch should the situation escalate. The pirate captain is also a rare pacifist who does not fight unless absolutely necessary.
Shanks cares about the balance in the world, best displayed when we see him putting an end to the Marineford War. It is also noted that most people following him aren’t quite powerful but deeply love him. Shanks recognizes this and readily welcomes them rather than seeing them as a burden. By embodying the spirit of camaraderie and being an enigma in the series, Shanks lights up the screen every time he shows up.
4) Gol D. Roger
The greatest pirate in One Piece, Gol D. Roger, was the one who kicked off the new pirate era by setting off the hunt for the One Piece. Roger’s personality was very similar to Luffy, where he was fearless and cared deeply about those around him.
He would act impulsively on occasion and wore his heart on his sleeve. Due to his compassionate nature, he even earned the respect of marines such as Garp. Despite the complex relationship between the two, Roger trusted Garp to look after Ace following his death.
To the very end, Roger embodied the freedom that every pirate strives for. His last words challenged the entire world to find the One Piece, solidifying his unparalleled impact on the narrative.
4 One Piece Pirate Captains That Divide the Fandom
While it has been established that several good pirates work for the betterment of the world, there are many at the opposite end of the spectrum. The extreme form of freedom these pirate captains get from illegally traveling the seas can lead to mixed reactions from fans. 4 One Piece pirate captains that divide the fandom are:
1) Rocks D. Xebec
As the captain of the Rocks Pirates, Rocks D. Xebec and his forces were one of the biggest threats the world ever faced. There is not a lot known about this character other than his ambition and viciousness. He wished to rule the world and cared little about those who would fall for this to happen.
While Rocks was opposed to the World Government due to his goal, it did not mean he cared about the innocents. This was why both Garp and Roger joined forces to face him at God Valley. The main testament to Rocks’ nature was that the most famous members to come from his crew were Kaido, Big Mom and Whitebeard.
Whitebeard did not look back on his time with the Rocks Pirates pleasantly, while the other two are some of the biggest villains in One Piece. This makes the mysterious Rocks D. Xebec an equally polarizing character.
2) Arlong
Arlong is a character who sparks heavy debate among fans. This is because his actions were terrible in One Piece, but they were caused because of the flaws of the world itself. As a Fish-Man, Arlong had faced oppression and discrimination his entire life.
He had lost his former captain and many friends because of the cruelty of the World Government. Due to this, Arlong carried on the cycle of hatred and took over Nami’s hometown. He killed her foster mother and manipulated the Straw Hat for a long time.
As one of Luffy’s first major opponents in the series, fans were happy to see the antagonist fall. However, as the series went on and they realized the reasons behind his actions, it made his character more layered and resulted in heavier discussions.
3) Blackbeard
Blackbeard is among the most divisive figures in One Piece because there are many who hate him but also others fascinated by his actions. Blackbeard has unending ambition and is willing to do anything to achieve it.
For the sake of finding the Dark-Dark Fruit, he betrayed the trust of the Whitebeard Pirates. He also captured Ace and killed Whitebeard later in the series. These make him an undeniably irredeemable character. At the same time, Blackbeard is simply on the other end of the coin as Luffy.
He takes advantage of the lawlessness of pirates to play the situation in his favor. He lives life in the freest way possible, playing others to his tune through sheer cunning. This makes him a figure of complexity who is both liked and disliked by parts of the fandom.
4) Buggy
Buggy the Clown is the captain of the Buggy Pirates and the main comic relief character in One Piece. While he was once a realistic threat during the Orange Town Arc, he has quickly become famous for his incredible luck.
With his over-the-top antics, hilarious reactions, and success as a pirate—many love his role in the series. At the same time, many fans of the series did not like Buggy’s current position as a Yonko.
Buggy was a Warlord of the Sea in the past and grew to become a Yonko. This had nothing to do with his effort but rather continuous good luck that kept making his forces powerful. The positions of both Warlord and Emperor were coveted since they marked the best in the pirating world. Buggy simply jumping forward in line can make some feel like the role isn’t being given its due respect. Therefore, some love Buggy’s blend of cowardice and charisma while others aren’t too ecstatic about his rise.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!