The Beast Pirates in One Piece: A Complete Guide

The Beast Pirates in One Piece are one of the most popular pirate groups. Here is a breakdown of their structure.

The Beast Pirates Jolly Roger (Image via Toei Animation)

The world of One Piece is vast and filled with an array of pirate crews, each with its unique characteristics and stories. Among these, the Beast Pirates, led by the fearsome Kaido, stand out as one of the most powerful and notorious groups in the series.

This guide delves into the origins, hierarchy, key figures, and significant events surrounding the Beast Pirates, providing a comprehensive overview of their impact on the One Piece narrative.

Origins and Formation

Beast Pirates in One Piece
Young Kaido at Punk Hazard (Image via Toei Animation)

Kaido’s story

The Beast Pirates have a wild origin story that begins with their legendary captain, Kaido. Growing up in the Vodka Kingdom, he was no ordinary kid. Even as a child, Kaido stood out for his incredible strength. He joined the army of his kingdom as a child soldier. His abilities caught the eye of the World Government, who saw him as a potential asset or threat depending on what choice he made.

By the time he became ten, he was sold to the Marines by the king of Vodka Kingdom for the right to attend the next Reverie. But Kaido was not one to be controlled, and he escaped. He got caught by the Navy a couple of times after that, but he still kept escaping every time. 

His path to becoming a legendary pirate took an upward direction when he was invited by Edward Newgate (Whitebeard) to join the infamous Rocks Pirates. This wasn’t just any regular crew. This crew was captained by Rocks D. Xebec, a very notorious pirate at that time. The crew members were also not to be laughed at. They included Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin (Big Mom), and Golden Lion Shiki. But after the events that transpired at God Valley, the Rocks Pirates disbanded. At this point, Kaido saw an opportunity. He decided it was time to forge his own path and create a crew that would strike fear into the hearts of his enemies. And so, the Beast Pirates were born.

Beginning of the Beast Pirates

Kaido didn’t just want any ordinary crew. He selected some of the most powerful warriors he could find. His first crewmate and right hand was King from a race of almost extinct Lunarians. He went on to select more elite and powerful characters like Queen and Jack. What began as a small and elite group expanded into tens of thousands of people.

While most of his journey with the Beast Pirates is not known, it was shown that he ended up in Wano Country. He formed an alliance with Kurozumi Orochi, a deceitful outcast from Wano’s ruling family, and took control of the place. With Orochi as the Shogun of Wano, Kaido solidified his grip on the region and set the stage for his ultimate goal of total control.

The Hierarchy of the Beast Pirates

Captain of the Beat Pirates (Image via Toei Animation)

The organizational structure of the Beast Pirates is distinctively based on strength and combat ability. Unlike other pirate crews that may prioritize familial ties or meritocracy, Kaido’s crew operates under a strict hierarchy where power determines rank.

King, Queen, and Jack as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

At the top is Kaido, known as the Captain. Below him are the Lead Performers, consisting of three figures: King, Queen, and Jack. Each Lead Performer holds immense power comparable to Marine Admirals and is responsible for leading significant operations within the crew.

The Tobi Roppo (Image via Toei Animation)

Beneath the Lead Performer are the second-tier officers, often possessing devil fruit powers. Among them are six elite members known as the Tobi Roppo. The Tobi Roppo members include Page One, Black Maria, Ulti, Sasaki, Who’s-Who, and X Drake.

A collage of Gifters, Pleasures, and Waiters (Image via Toei Animation)

The lower ranks consist of three main groups: Gifters, Pleasures, and Waiters. Gifters are those who have consumed artificial Zoan devil fruits and gained enhanced abilities. Pleasures have also consumed these fruits but failed to gain significant powers. Finally, Waiters are those awaiting their chance to consume these fruits. This tiered structure allows for a vast array of abilities within the crew while maintaining order under Kaido’s command.

Kaido: The Captain of the Beast Pirates

The King of the Beasts Pirates, Kaido in his dragon form (Image via Toei Animation)

Kaido, known as “Kaido of the Hundred Beasts,” is the captain of the Beast Pirates. He is also one of the strongest characters in One Piece. Being known as one of the Four Emperors really shows how powerful and influential he is in the pirate world.

Kaido is famous for his never-ending desire for fighting and disorder. He has a mythical Zoan devil fruit called Uo Uo no Mi (Fish-Fish Fruit), which lets him turn into a dragon. This transformation grants him immense power and durability in combat situations.

His leadership style is characterized by brutality. He is known for forcibly recruiting powerful pirates into his ranks while also using fear tactics to maintain control over Wano Country. Even though Kaido can be really harsh, he has a charm that attracts strong people. A huge chunk of those people want to gain his power or test their skills against him.

Kaidou’s ultimate goal was to create an army that could overthrow the World Government and establish a new era completely dominated by pirates. This ambition drives many of his actions throughout One Piece, particularly during significant arcs like Wano.

The Role of SMILE Fruits

SMILE fruits growing (Image via Toei Animation)

A crucial element within the operations of the Beast Pirates was to use SMILE fruits to increase the number of devil fruit users in their group, which would in turn increase their power. SMILE fruits are artificial devil fruits created by Dr. Vegapunk’s research on Zoan fruits but altered by Caesar Clown. 

These fruits allow users to gain animal-like abilities but come with huge risks. Each artificial fruit has a chance to give abilities or take the ability to control emotions after consumption. If the fruit takes the person’s ability to control their emotions, they remain in a state of smiling constantly. This is how the artificial devil fruits got their name.

The SMILE fruits serve multiple purposes within Kaido’s crew:

  1. Strengthening numbers: With over 500 members possessing SMILE abilities, they bolster Kaido’s forces significantly.
  2. Diversity in abilities: The various animal transformations provide versatility during battles against rival crews or Marines.
  3. Loyalty through dependence: Many members become reliant on their SMILE powers for strength and status within the crew.

However, despite their advantages, SMILE fruits have been met with criticism due to their side effects. A larger percentage of users become mere shells of themselves without emotional control or individuality.

The Beast Pirates and Wano Arc

The Beast Pirates in the Wano arc (Image via Toei Animation)

The Wano Arc marks a significant turning point for both Kaido and his crew. After years of occupying Wano Country with Kurozumi Orochi as their puppet leader, they face unprecedented challenges from various factions seeking liberation from tyranny.

During this arc, alliances form among former enemies—including Luffy’s Straw Hat Pirates and other samurai—uniting against Kaido’s oppressive regime. The culmination occurs during intense battles where Luffy and his allies confront Kaido directly.

As events unfold, it becomes clear that Kaido’s reign is built on fear rather than loyalty; many former allies begin to question their allegiance as they witness acts of bravery from those fighting against oppression.

Kaido’s defeat isn’t just about him losing; it also shows hope for everyone who suffered under his control, which is a big theme in One Piece. The fights in this arc point out important ideas like friendship, sacrifice, and the ability to keep going even when things seem impossible, like going against the strongest creature in the world.

Legacy and Impact on One Piece

The Beast Pirates and Orochi at Onigashima (Image via Toei Animation)

The legacy left by the Beast Pirates extends beyond their immediate actions within Wano Country; they have significantly influenced other characters’ development throughout One Piece. Their presence shows what can happen when power isn’t controlled, making it easier for those who are oppressed by tyrants like Kaido to rise up against them.

Additionally, a lot of characters that come up in this part of the story have gained popularity among fans because of their special skills or interesting backgrounds that connect to bigger stories about freedom and oppression, which is a common theme in Eiichiro Oda’s work.

As one of several prominent pirate crews vying for dominance over seas filled with danger and adventure, the impact made by Kaido’s crew will likely resonate long after their defeat at Wano. It will also definitely help shape future arcs in One Piece.

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the Beast Pirates provides valuable insight into one of One Piece‘s most formidable factions. Their origins rooted in ambition, hierarchies defined by strength, leadership characterized by brutality, reliance on artificial powers, and struggles against oppression all contribute quite a lot to the story. 

As we follow Luffy’s journey through this vast world filled with colorful characters, it becomes clear how important the idea of freedom is to him. Most of his actions, including defeating Kaido, did not directly translate to him getting closer to the One Piece, but helping those in need of help. It is interesting to think that Kaido, who broke free from the government and helped others like King break free too, was the one who kept a whole country under his foot. The phrase ‘You either die a hero or live long enough to become the villain’ comes to mind.


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