The 10 Most Powerful Pirate Crews in One Piece – Destructoid

The world of One piece is vast and teeming with powerful pirate crews, each vying for dominance of the seas. These crews, whether from the legendary past or the current rulers of the New World, are often defined by the sheer strength of their members, the leadership of their captains, and their influence on the Grand Line.

In this competitive landscape, only the most formidable crews make it to the top. When they do, the world watches their every move. Here’s a look at ten pirate crews who made it.

Giant Pirate Warriors

As their name suggests, Giant Warrior Pirates are made up of giant crew members, making them a terrifying force to face. Given that their crew members are true behemoths, their ship easily makes the Marines’ battleships look cute in comparison. Furthermore, their race alone makes each Giant Warrior Pirate a formidable foe on the battlefield.

The Giant Warrior Pirates also have a long history of piracy. Long before, they were led by Jorul and Jarul, though the captaincy was eventually passed to Dorry and Broggy. These two Giants were the ones the Straw Hat Pirates encountered in Little Garden. But due to their constant bickering, the pirate crew disbanded over a century ago.

Before their disbandment, they were known for terrorizing the world. They even inspired young giants like Hajrudin to form a new version of the pirate group. However, the Giant Warrior Pirates finally experience a resurgence in popularity when they come to the aid of the Straw Hat Pirates during the Egghead Arc. Their help is certainly appreciated, especially since a single combined attack from Dorry and Broggy is enough to sink the Child Pirates’ ship.

Guild of the Cross

The inclusion of Cross Guild in the Four Emperors crews certainly surprised many people, both in the world of One piece and in the real world. Buggy’s fighting abilities are certainly far from those of Shanks, Luffy, Kaido, Big Mom, and Blackbeard, and he only has luck on his side. But upon closer inspection, Cross Guild’s strength is nothing to be taken lightly.

Cross Guild is one of the rare cases where the captain of the crew is likely weaker than most of its members. Aside from the original members of the Buggy Pirates, most of the members of Cross Guild are inmates released from Impel Down. It is important to note that only the most notorious criminals are sent to this prison, and Cross Guild has inmates of varying levels. Additionally, Cross Guild has expanded its fighting force during Buggy’s stint as a warlord.

Its most powerful members, however, are the two who recently joined the group: Crocodile and Dracule Mihawk. Crocodile, as a former warlord, can easily hold his own against the strongest opponents. Mihawk, on the other hand, is in a league of his own. It may not be an exaggeration to say that he is an Emperor-level powerhouse. After all, he and Shanks considered each other equals when the latter still had two arms.

Big Mom Pirates

From this point on, there is no real need for justification. As a crew of a former emperor, the title of Big Mom Pirates speaks for itself. The pirate crew is mainly composed of Big Mom and her children. She has a thing for creating a large family of different races, so her children are mostly biracial.

Big Mom alone is strong enough to destroy an island. Once she goes on a rampage, even her many children have a hard time stopping her. In fact, she can easily kill her opponent by stealing their life force. She also has her Sweet Commanders, who are formidable in their own way. Cracker managed to push Luffy to the limit, forcing him to use his Gear Four. Smoothie was second only to Katakuri, who was as strong, if not stronger, than Luffy’s Gear Four. In addition to them, there are also the other children and the vast network that the Big Mom Pirates have built over the years.

Pirates of the Animal Kingdom

Similarly, Kaido’s Animal Kingdom Pirates possess terrifying military might. Since taking control of Wano Country, the former emperor has continually strengthened his forces by recruiting powerful Zoan Devil Fruit users, as well as feeding his weaker crew members with SMILES.

Kaido alone has been dubbed “the most powerful creature in the world”, while his powerful All-Stars are almost as powerful. Jack terrorized Zou for days, nearly wiping out the Minks. Queen was a member of MADS and was known for her self-modifications. Finally, there’s King, who is the last Lunarian. There’s also the elite Tobi Roppo and the Headliners.

The Whitebeard Pirates

The Whitebeard Pirates, once led by the legendary Edward Newgate, were one of the most powerful pirate crews in existence. Whitebeard was known as “The Strongest Man in the World”, a title he held until his death.

Under Whitebeard’s leadership, the crew has dominated the seas, with high-ranking commanders like Marco the Phoenix, Jozu, and Vista holding their own against the strongest opponents. In fact, the Whitebeard Pirates and their allies are strong enough to take on the Marines, as evidenced by the Summit War at Marineford. Had Whitebeard not grown weaker due to old age, his pirate crew could still be considered one of the most powerful forces in the seas of One piece.

Red Haired Pirates

Despite the pirate group’s popularity, the Red-Haired Pirates aren’t very active. Nevertheless, they are certainly a force to be reckoned with. For one, the Red-Haired Pirates are the only remaining members of the original Four Emperors, and their presence alone was enough to cause the Marines to stop the Summit War after Whitebeard’s death.

Despite their limited screen time, it is well known that its members are incredibly strong. Red-haired Shanks’ Color Observation Haki is so powerful that he can see into the future. Furthermore, he is strong enough to easily defeat Eustass Kid with a single attack. Furthermore, he also seems to have a stance that can gain him an audience with the arrogant Five Elders. Other notable members of the crew include Benn Beckman – who is said to have the highest IQ in the East Blue, Yasopp – a sharpshooter with unmatched skills, and Lucky Roo – who is known for his speed and agility.

Blackbeard Pirates

The Blackbeard Pirates rose to fame in just a few years. Originally a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marshall D. Teech betrayed the group by killing Division Commander Thatch and stealing his Dark-Dark Fruit. He formed his own pirate crew, became a member of the Worst Generation, then a Warlord, and eventually Emperor.

In the process, he strengthened his crew’s strength by freeing and recruiting Impel Down’s worst criminals. He then took over Fullalead Island and turned it into a pirate haven, further strengthening his military might. With every major member of his crew possessing a Devil Fruit ability and Teech himself possessing two, the Blackbeard Pirates certainly deserve their place on this list.

The Straw Hat Pirates

Another pirate crew that has gained notoriety in recent years is the Straw Hat Pirates. Much like Blackbeard, Luffy’s trajectory to fame has been rapid. He was declared a member of the Worst Generation before the timeskip, and then Emperor after the timeskip.

Luffy himself has already become strong enough to defeat other emperors after reaching Gear Five, while his crew members are capable enough to compete with other high-ranking individuals. Although the Straw Hat Pirates’ main ship only consists of a few people, their total military might is far stronger than that. Luffy already has his own Grand Fleet consisting of 5,650 people, and there are also the Straw Hat Pirates’ alliances, which include the Giant Warrior Pirates.

Pirates of the Rocks

The Rocks Pirates were a legendary crew that terrorized the seas long before the era of Gol D. Roger. Led by the infamous Rocks D. Xebec, this crew consisted of some of the most powerful individuals in history, including future emperors such as Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido.

The Rocks Pirates were known for their infighting and chaotic nature, with members often fighting each other despite being part of the same crew. Their downfall came at the hands of a combined effort by Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp during the legendary Battle of God Valley.

Roger’s Pirates

Led by the Pirate King himself, the Roger Pirates are undeniably the most powerful pirate crew to ever sail the seas of One piece. At least, no other pirate crew has yet won this title.

Gol D. Roger alone was strong enough to play a major role in the downfall of the Rock Pirates. Furthermore, he was never defeated by anyone. His supposed execution would not have even happened if he had not surrendered to the Marines. Other notable members of the group include Silvers Rayleigh (Luffy’s master), Crocus (Laboon’s caregiver), Kozuki Oden (Wano’s rightful heir), and the young Shanks and Buggy (now emperors).

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