One Piece Main Characters, Their Skills and Stories

One Piece Main Characters, Their Skills and Stories

One Piece is a popular Japanese manga series created by Eiichiro Oda. It’s been published in Weekly Shōnen Jump since July 1997, and there are 105 tankōbon volumes as of September 2023. The story follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young man on a quest to become the King of the Pirates by finding the legendary treasure, One Piece.

To achieve his dream, Luffy assembles a diverse and skilled crew to accompany him. Each member brings their unique talents to the table.

Discover more about the Straw Hat Pirates and other key characters in One Piece, including their backgrounds, special abilities, and interesting facts from this long-running anime series that has captured the hearts of fans for many years.

1. Monkey D. Luffy

Monkey D. Luffy

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“Straw Hat Luffy,” the main character in the anime, is the founder and captain of the Straw Hat Pirates crew. He’s had a big dream since he was little – to find Gol D. Roger’s legendary treasure and become the new King of the Pirates.

As he journeyed through life, Luffy earned a reputation as one of the top four fighters in his group. He’s known globally for causing problems for the World Government and for taking on and beating formidable pirates. His bold and fearless nature led him to do something no other pirate dared – he attacked the three most crucial government places and lived to tell the tale.

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Unsurprisingly, Luffy’s current bounty is a whopping $1,500,000,000. He’s part of a group called the “Worst Generation,” composed of 12 pirates fearless in challenging the World Government. Their rewards are all above $100,000,000 for their daring actions.

Abilities

When Luffy was a kid, he accidentally ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi fruit, which turned his body all rubbery. This fruit gave him some super cool powers, like:

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  • Superhuman Strength: Luffy can break steel, push buildings, and wreck ships with his crazy strength.
  • Toughness: He can take some serious hits and heal up pretty quickly.
  • Speed: Luffy got a speed boost and’s super agile and quick.
  • Devil Fruit Moves: After lots of practice, Luffy can stretch his body parts and smack his enemies from far away. He’s got all sorts of cool moves thanks to this power.
  • Haki: Luffy’s special because he can use all three kinds of Haki, which is like super vital energy. It makes him even more powerful, helps him predict attacks, and lets him come up with new fighting and defense tricks

2. Portgas D. Ace

Portgas D. Ace

Ace had a pretty exciting life. He’s the son of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King. But even before he was born, he was adopted by Monkey D. Garp, who raised him as if he were his grandson. Ace grew up with Luffy and Sabo, and even though he was more well-behaved than Luffy, he was still pretty reckless as a pirate.

Ace was a big deal in the pirate world. He was not only the captain of the Spade Pirates but also in charge of the 2nd division of the Whitebeard Pirates. People like Yonkou Shanks and Blackbeard knew he was powerful. He was even asked to join the Shichibukai but turned them down. Because of all his adventures, his reward reached a whopping 550,000,000!

Luffy and Ace were super close as brothers and stayed close even when they grew up. When Ace got in big trouble and was sentenced to death, Luffy did everything he could to save him. He busted into the Impel Down prison and started the huge Battle of Marineford to rescue him.

Ace loved Luffy just as much. After he was saved, they fought together, but he sacrificed his life to save Luffy from Akainu. Ace’s death hit Luffy hard. It marked the end of the first part of the anime and kicked off the second part, which happens after a two-year time jump. During that time, Luffy trained hard to become stronger and protect his friends.

Abilities

Ace was already a big deal before he got his super cool Mera Mera no Mi powers. He was known for being incredibly strong from all his tough training, and he was an awesome fighter. He was great at finding his way around, using a special Log Pose on his arm.

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When he ate the Mera Mera no Mi Devil Fruit, it turned him into a Logia-type user, which means he could transform into the fire and control it. That’s why people called him the “Ace of the Fists of Fire.”

Ace was also pretty special because he could use different types of Haki. He showed his Haoshoku Haki when he was just a little kid, and later on, he learned how to use Busoshoku Haki, which let him fight tough opponents like Vice Admiral Draw on an even level.

3. Monkey D. Garp

Monkey D. Garp

Monkey D. Garp is quite the unique character in his family. He’s the dad of Monkey D. Dragon, the grandpa of Monkey D. Luffy, and even adopted Portgas D. Ace. But unlike the rest of his family, Garp didn’t become a pirate. Nope, he’s a Vice-Admiral in the Navy. And guess what? He used to go head-to-head with Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King himself, who was looking for the legendary One Piece treasure.

Now, here’s the exciting part. Even though Garp’s a big shot in the Navy and doesn’t exactly approve of his grandkids Luffy and Ace becoming pirates, he’s shown that family comes first for him.

He’s got loads of experience from his Navy days, and he’s a real pro at fighting and sailing through the New World. Plus, he’s got some impressive victories, like beating Don Chinjao, who had a bounty of 500,000,000! So, he’s a hero among sailors.

Abilities

Garp is undeniably one of the strongest characters in the anime. He’s got this insane superhuman strength that lets him do some crazy stuff. He can catch cannonballs and throw them back faster than the actual cannons can shoot them.

And get this: during his training to fight Chinjao, he smashed eight whole mountains with just his bare fists! That’s some serious power right there..

  • Great speed, strength, and durability
  • Haoshoku Haki: The anime has hinted more than once that Garp has mastered this type of Haki, although he has yet to be seen using it.
  • Kenbunshoku Haki: Wasn’t seen using this Haki either, but Koby received a doctor’s recommendation to seek out Garp to train him in using this type of Haki
  • Busoshoku Haki: Garp has already hurt big opponents using this Haki, who can imbue his punch

4. Shanks

Shanks

Shanks, also known as Shank the Red, was the pirate who inspired Luffy to become a pirate. He started his pirate journey as part of Gol D. Roger’s legendary crew, who conquered the Grand Line. After Roger passed away, Shanks became the captain of his crew, the Redhead Pirates. He’s a big deal in the pirate world, one of the Yonkou, which means he’s among the five most powerful pirate captains.

People really respect Shanks, both his crew and other pirates. He’s known for being laid-back and enjoying his travels worldwide. But he gets serious when his crew or innocent people are in danger. You can see this early in the anime when he sacrificed his arm to save a young Luffy from a Sea King. That’s some serious dedication right there.

Abilities

Shanks is one of the four most powerful pirates in the world, known as the Yonkou. He’s incredibly strong and can handle a lot of pain without flinching.

  • Fencing: Shanks is a master swordsman, even rivaling Mihawk, known as the greatest swordsman in the world
  • Haki: Shanks is one of the few people on recordable to use the three forms of Haki

5. Roronoa Zoro

Roronoa Zoro

Roronoa Zoro, the second member to join the Straw Hat Pirates after Luffy, accepted Luffy’s invitation because Luffy saved his life. He’s one of the four strongest fighters in the crew and belongs to the Worst Generation, a group of pirates with high bounties. Zoro’s bounty is $320,000,000.

He’s incredibly skilled with his three swords and dreams of becoming the world’s best swordsman. This dream started when he was a child and made a promise to a friend who had passed away.

Zoro may seem severe, but he’s known for his humorous and clumsy moments. He often gets lost even on straight paths, which adds to the comedy of the series.

After a time jump in the anime, Zoro has a scar on his left eye that’s permanently closed, and fans have come up with theories about how he got it since the show hasn’t explained it yet.

Abilities

Zoro’s abilities are on par with Luffy’s. He’s incredibly strong, has amazing sword skills, and is fast, agile, and tough. He also created powerful techniques using his three swords.

  • Flying Slash Attack: Using air pressure, Zoro can attack the enemy from a distance.
  • Santoryu (Three Swords Style):  Zoro is a master of different sword styles. He’s skilled in One Sword Style and Two Sword Style, but he’s also created his own style called Santoryu. In this style, he fights with a sword in each hand and one in his mouth, allowing him to do fast attacks, powerful strikes, and even shoot compressed air.
  • Kyutoryu (Ashura form): Zoro awakened this sword style through his apparent contact with the Ashura entity. With an intense spiritual focus, he gains the temporary appearance of having six arms and three heads, able to use nine swords simultaneously, tripling his swordsman potential.

6. Nami

Nami

Nami had a tough childhood. She was adopted by a navy woman named Bell-mère and grew up with her sister Nojiko. Nami loved making maps and dreamed of mapping the whole world. But then a pirate named Arlong came to their village, killed Bell-mère, and took Nami. He forced her to make maps and steal for him.

For eight years, Nami was stuck with Arlong. When they came to her island, she tried to steal from the Straw Hat Pirates, but things changed. Luffy and his crew defeated Arlong, and Nami joined them. Now, she’s their navigator and mapmaker.

Her time with Arlong made her a skilled thief, and she’s also great at navigating and understanding the weather. Nami also handles the crew’s money. Her bounty is $66,000,000.

Abilities

Nami had a tough childhood and wanted to free her village from the Arlong Pirates. So, she became strong and agile. While she’s not as skilled in fighting as her friends, she can defend herself in close combat or with a stick, which she’s good at using.

  • Art of Weather:  Nami has a unique tool called the Clima-Tact by Usopp. With it, she can control the weather during battles, which can be very destructive to her enemies.
  • Perfect Clima-Tact: After improving Clima-Tact, Nami created this new technique, with which she can even create duplicates of herself using mist.
  • Sorcery Clima-Tact: After the time jump, we see that Nami has further developed her abilities with Clima-Tact, now able to perfectly control lightning, which she can use to destroy even submarines.
  • Fourth Clima-Tact: After being enhanced by Usopp and Franky, the new Clima-Tact intensified the power of the techniques for which Nami uses the artifact.

7. Usopp

Usopp

Usopp, the fourth Luffy crew member in One Piece, has undergone significant growth and development throughout the anime series. His initial bounty, starting at $30,000,000, has soared to $200,000,000, a testament to his achievements. He’s earned the title “God” Usopp due to his remarkable actions.

Known for his distinctively long nose and a name that invites playful teasing from his crewmates, Usopp’s penchant for spinning incredible tales traces back to his childhood. It was his coping mechanism in the face of his father’s abandonment and the loss of his mother.

Usopp’s past has also shaped him into one of the crew’s most sentimental members, although he initially grappled with insecurity and self-doubt. There were moments when he questioned his worthiness within the group, leading to occasional conflicts with Luffy. However, after the time jump, Usopp has acquired new combat skills and a substantial boost in self-confidence. He now proudly serves as the crew’s sniper, ready to take on challenges with newfound determination.

Abilities

Usopp, the sharpshooter of Luffy’s crew, possesses remarkable skills with his trusty baseball/slingshot, enabling him to hit targets accurately, even at considerable distances. However, his talents go beyond being a marksman; they extend to his expertise in operating the ship’s cannons.

His boundless creativity and deep understanding of engineering have led to the creation of impressive artifacts. One of his notable inventions is the Clima-Tact, a device Nami utilizes to manipulate and control weather conditions. Additionally, Usopp designed the Kabuto weapon, a unique slingshot equipped with five interconnected elastic bands, showcasing his ingenuity and knack for innovation.

8. Sanji

Sanji

Sanji, famously known as “Dark Leg” Sanji, became the fifth member to join Luffy’s crew. His daring exploits as a pirate have earned him the third-highest bounty among the Straw Hat crew members, totaling an impressive $330,000,000. In addition to serving as the group’s official chef, Sanji is recognized as one of the crew’s top four combatants, alongside Luffy, Zoro, and Jinbe.

Born as the third son of the prestigious Vinsmoke Family, Sanji has twice rejected his royal title as a prince of the Germa Kingdom. During his childhood, he faced relentless bullying from his two brothers for providing food to individuals his family deemed unworthy. His father considered him a disgrace to the family, leading Sanji to sever ties with them at eight.

Sanji is known for his composed and sophisticated demeanor, often resembling that of a covert agent, further emphasized by his customary suit attire. He shares a particular rivalry with Zoro, occasionally hindering their battle performance. Nevertheless, when these two join forces, they become a formidable threat to their adversaries.

Abilities

Like his siblings, Sanji underwent rigorous combat training from a young age. In addition to his combat prowess, this pirate possesses exceptional strategic skills. His impressive physical strength and extensive martial arts training enable him to disarm even metallic weapons.

Sanji’s remarkable endurance and agility are complemented by his distinctive fighting style, which blends capoeira, Taekwondo, and savate elements.

  • Blue Walk: Using this technique, Sanji can run underwater temporarily.
  • Sky Walk: This technique allows you to jump immense heights and move at an unbelievable speed, making noise boulevards in the air.
  • Diable Jambe: Sanji can warm his legs to a high enough temperature to gain appearance and live firepower.
  • Kenbunshoku Haki: By using this form of Haki, Sanji can sense the presence of other people even from great distances or using concealment techniques.
  • Busoshoku Haki: Sanji can create a kind of invisible armor around himself.

9. Tony Tony Chopper

Tony Tony Chopper

Chopper, the adorable reindeer, acquired the ability to transform into various forms and possess human-like intelligence after consuming the Hito Hito no Mi fruit. Despite being initially mistaken for a mere pet, his bounty stands at a modest $100. However, Chopper holds a special place within the Straw Hat Pirates as their dedicated medic.

Thanks to the fruit’s powers, Chopper can assume up to seven different forms, each tailored to suit specific situations. These transformations allow him to enhance his muscles, adjust his fur, become lighter for increased speed, or grow in size to boost his strength, agility, and jumping abilities.

Abilities

Some of the forms Chopper can take are:

  • Horn Point: with the sharp growth of its horns.
  • Monster Point: Chopper stands over 20 feet tall, gaining monstrous strength.
  • Guard Point: Its fur grows to the point where it doesn’t allow outside attacks to reach it.

10. Nico Robin

Nico Robin

As the sole survivor from the island of Ohara, Robin possesses the unique ability to decipher Poneglyphs, a skill deemed dangerous by the World Government, leading to its prohibition. Known by aliases such as the “Demon Child” and the “Light of the Revolution,” this pirate initially appeared as an antagonist during the Alabasta Saga but eventually joined Luffy’s crew as its seventh member.

As the group’s archaeologist and historian, Robin aspires to attain the freedom to unravel the world’s mysteries. Among the crew, she is known for her calm demeanor and even displays maternal care towards certain members, particularly Chopper. However, she also harbors a morbid fascination with chilling tales of destiny and horror.

With a bounty of $130,000,000, Robin has developed deep respect and affection for her comrades, considering them her saviors and those who reignited her dreams.

Abilities

Robin’s life on the run has bestowed her with remarkable physical prowess. She is exceptionally strong and agile, and after undergoing extensive two-year training, she has further refined her abilities. Having consumed the Hana Hana no Mi fruit at the age of eight, she has been endowed with the powers of this Devil Fruit.

This enables her to replicate parts of her body on various surfaces, including her own body or objects. Some of the attacks in her arsenal include:

  • Clutch: Robin replicates his hands on the opponent’s back, using them to attack him.
  • Body Fleur: Double Clutch: creates four more arms for herself and a clone of hers.
  • Ojos Fleur: replicates your eyes on an object or another person’s body, so you can see at long distances.
  • Oreja Fleur: replicates your ears so you can hear sensitive information.

11. Franky

Franky

Franky, the eighth member to join the Straw Hats crew, initially appeared as an antagonist during the Water 7 Arc. As the leader of the Franky Family, a group involved in ship dismantling, Franky harbored a dream of one day constructing and captaining a ship that could voyage across the world.

Due to a series of events, he joined the Straw Hat Pirates, taking on the role of a shipwright. Despite his flamboyant and eccentric demeanor, Franky has proven to be one of the crew’s most responsible members. He deeply cares for his comrades and goes to great lengths to protect them. Moreover, he staunchly defends marginalized or persecuted individuals simply for being themselves, believing that no one should be unfairly judged or harmed.

Despite his imposing appearance and larger-than-life personality, Franky possesses a remarkably tender heart, often shedding tears when hearing touching stories or witnessing emotional moments. Currently, his bounty stands at $94,000,000.

Abilities

As one of the crew’s most formidable members, Franky transformed himself into a cyborg through extensive body modifications. He exhibits exceptional combat skills, wielding various weapons with expertise.

His remarkable hearing abilities also enable him to listen to sounds over vast distances, providing him with a unique advantage.

12. Brook

Brook

Brook, the ninth member of the crew, has a unique story. He became pseudo-immortal by consuming the Yomi Yomi no Mi fruit while still alive. When the Straw Hats first encountered him, he was on a ghost ship and had a skeletal appearance. In addition to being a swordsman alongside Zoro, Brook is also the crew’s musician, and his bounty stands at $83,000,000.

Despite his eccentric and comical personality, Brook reveals himself as a fair and compassionate individual who cherishes simple moments. Many years ago, he served as the vice-captain of the Rumbar Pirates, and he endured immense suffering as his crew succumbed to disease and enemies. However, the powers of the fruit he consumed granted him a second life as a skeleton. Even to this day, he holds onto his dream of reuniting with Laboon, a whale calf and the former mascot of his original crew.

Abilities

Brook’s musical talents are truly exceptional. Besides being proficient in playing any musical instrument, he possesses the unique ability to influence those around him with his artistry. For instance, he can lull his opponents to sleep using his music.

As a pirate, Brook is highly valued for his skills as a fencer and the remarkable abilities his skeletal body affords him, such as the capability to leap to extraordinary heights and run across the surface of water.

Furthermore, as the anime progresses, Brook harnesses yet another aspect of the powers granted by the Yomi Yomi no Mi fruit. He can temporarily detach his soul from his skeleton, allowing him to move freely as a disembodied spirit.

13. Jimbei

Jimbei

Jimbei, often spelled Jinbe, is the skilled helmsman of the Straw Hat Pirates, making him the crew’s tenth member. Known as the “Knight of the Sea,” Jimbei is a Fishman belonging to the whale shark species. He first encountered Luffy before and during a major war, and the two developed a strong friendship.

Jimbei aligned himself with Luffy’s crew two years later to thwart the New Fishman Pirates’ plot to overthrow the Ryugu Kingdom.

Jimbei’s ultimate goal is to honor the wishes of his former captain, Fisher Tiger, by achieving peaceful and equitable coexistence between fishermen and humans. Over time, he officially became a part of Luffy’s group, the Straw Hat Pirates and his bounty has reached an impressive $438,000,000.

Abilities

Jimbei possesses remarkable traits such as a high pain tolerance, immense strength, and impressive speed. However, he readily admits that he is more formidable when fighting in water than on land. One of his outstanding skills is mastery of Fishman Karate. This martial art enables him to strike opponents from a considerable distance by harnessing the power of water particles in the air.

Fishman Karate also grants Jimbei the ability to manipulate water, whether it’s in his surroundings or within the bodies of others. In battle, he can communicate with various sea creatures, and he once even summoned a massive group of whale sharks to aid him. These unique abilities make him a formidable asset to the Straw Hat Pirates.

14. Sakazuki, [Akainu]

Sakazuki, [Akainu]

Akainu currently holds the position of admiral in the Navy fleet and is known for unwaveringly adhering to the principles of Absolute Justice. According to this strict ideology, criminals must receive punishments that match the severity of their crimes. His extreme approach even led to opposition from Admiral Aokiji, his fellow naval officer, regarding his promotion. Akainu played a major antagonistic role in the iconic Battle of Marineford arc and has remained a central antagonist in the anime.

His extreme dedication to Absolute Justice is evident in his actions, including the ruthless killing of sailors who defy his orders. Akainu also showed no regard for Monkey D. Garp, a highly respected figure within the Navy, solely because Garp was related to Dragon, Luffy, and Ace. He harbors deep mistrust even for the Shichibukai pirates who ostensibly work for the government.

One of the most pivotal and tragic moments attributed to Akainu occurred during the Battle of Marineford when he played a key role in the death of Ace. Ace’s attempt to save Luffy from harm led to a fateful confrontation with Akainu, forever altering the course of the anime. This event profoundly impacted Luffy and his crew, setting the stage for the series’ second half following a two-year time skip.

Abilities

Like the other vice admirals, Akainu possesses the ability known as Haki. Additionally, he has consumed a Logia-class Devil Fruit, granting him the power to transform into and control a specific element of nature.

  • Magu Magu no Mi: Akainu could transform into magma and produce the element after consuming this fruit.
  • Dai Funka: The primary technique that Akainu developed with the powers that the Devil Fruit has given him, in which he turns his arm into magma and, by projecting his fist forward, the attack spreads into several meteors.
  • Gentle: With this attack, he transforms his body into an extremely powerful magma claw.

15. Charlotte Linlin

Charlotte Linlin

As the Big Mom Pirates captain, Charlotte Linlin holds a significant position among the Yonkou, representing the most potent pirates globally. She leads the Charlotte family and reigns as the queen of Totto Land.

Linlin envisions a utopian world where all races can coexist peacefully without discrimination. Still, her relentless pursuit of this vision makes her the central antagonist of the Whole Cake Island Arc and the Yonkou Saga.

While Linlin initially had good intentions, her immense strength often led to unintentional destruction, such as fracturing a giant’s bones while trying to swat a mosquito on its back. Unfortunately, she has resorted to violence and extortion to achieve her goals, resulting in numerous adversaries.

Linlin possesses a volatile and childlike personality, driven by extreme selfishness and an insatiable hunger for power. Her unstable and violent tendencies have even led to the destruction of entire nations for minor transgressions. Abandoned by her biological family, she formed an extensive surrogate family of 39 daughters, 46 sons, and 43 husbands. Many of these marriages were motivated solely by her thirst for greater power.

Abilities

Charlotte Linlin, one of the world’s most formidable pirates, stands among the select few capable of halting the infamous Blackbeard. Her impressive bounty has soared to 500,000,000, reflecting her prominence in the pirate world. This influence allows her to gather information effortlessly, further solidifying her reputation and power.

  • Superhuman strength, endurance, and durability
  • Akuma no mi: Linlin ingested the Paramecia Soru Soru no mi fruit, which allows him to extract part of the soul of his victims, which may or may not kill the victim instantly or take a few years of his life. The ability, however, does not affect those who are not afraid of it, something very rare.
  • Special Homies: Using pieces of her soul, she created a cloud, a sun, and a hat with lives, which are extremely powerful and fight at her side whenever summoned.
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