One Piece has fascinating villains, but some evildoers are worse than others.
One Piece depicts the beautiful journey of the Straw Hat Pirates. However, for all its pleasant locales and light-hearted moments, the series has pit Monkey D. Luffy and his crew against their fair share of trials and tribulations — many of which are the series’ most iconic villains. Poised as both oppressive authorities and mischievous thieves, One Piece features a diverse cast of villains for fans to root against.
Whether they’re burning down entire kingdoms or making one of Luffy’s friends cry, One Piece villains leave a lasting impression. They cause many of the Straw Hat Pirates’ largest conflicts, and when they are at their best, these antagonists can prompt some of the series’ best discussions.
As One Piece‘s Wano Country Arc finally draws to a close, the end of the long-running series is finally in sight. Author Eiichiro Oda has confirmed that the next saga will be One Piece‘s last, prompting many fans to look back and appreciate the genre-defining journey depicted up to this point. Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates have encountered countless villains on their search for the One Piece, many of whom deserve to be recognized for their contribution to the series.
20. Gecko Moria
may not have the same world-shifting consequences as his peers, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s one of One Piece‘s most unique villains. When his looming frame stands over his enemies, he perfectly personifies the monster-movie aesthetic he was based on.
With his Shadow-Shadow Fruit, Gecko Moria can rob people of their souls and contort his body in unnatural ways. If it weren’t for the poor pacing of the Thriller Bark arc, there’s a chance that he could have ended up as one of Luffy’s most memorable enemies. However, as it currently stands, he finds himself toward the back of the pack.
19. Magellan
Magellan was just an intermediary villain during the Summit War Saga, but he was easily one of the most terrifying forces seen up to that point in the series. While the Summit War itself split attention among a variety of villains, Magellan was terrorizing lowly pirates by himself throughout the entirety of the Impel Down arc.
Magellan benefited from his association with the World Government, as it gave him a unique flair that many pirates and revolutionaries lack. Although his lack of character depth and memorable moments hold him back as a villain, his strength as an opponent is undeniable.
18. Hody Jones
Hody is the first villain after One Piece’s time skip. As expected, this makes him fodder to demonstrate the Straw Hat Pirates’ growth over the past two years. Although Hody Jones is the exact type of unrelenting force that the Straw Hats will regularly encounter in the New World, his disappointing strength prevents him from being very memorable as a villain.
Thankfully, the narrative surrounding Hody Jones does him a ton of favors. As part of the persecuted Fishmen, he is a living incarnation of the evil that is inspired when society pushes its poor and disenfranchised people far enough. His hate for humanity outclasses even Arlong and makes him frightening as both a fictional and real-world monster.
17. King The Conflagration
When King the Conflagration first appears, his personality is shrouded in mystery. His studded leather outfit, protruding wings, and Mythical Zoan-abilities make him a much-needed addition to the Beast Pirates, while his skills as a swordsman provide the perfect foil to Roronoa Zoro throughout the Wano Country arc.
However, King’s value as a villain doesn’t truly emerge until his background is revealed. His history with Kaido makes him an integral part of the Yonko’s backstory, and the nature of his race could have larger implications than any of Roronoa Zoro’s previous opponents.
16. Captain Kuro
The East Blue saga might not have the highest stakes in One Piece, but its villains are a cut above the rest. Captain Kuro, the dastardly pirate targeting Lady Kaya’s fortune, is the third antagonist that the Straw Hats square off against, and he does a great job of setting the tone for the entire series.
By posing as Lady Kaya’s assistant, Captain Kuro weasels his way into her estate with the goal of stealing her fortune. The juxtaposition between his life as a ruthless pirate and his life as a helpful butler makes for a surprisingly nuanced character, especially at this point in One Piece‘s narrative.
15. Vinsmoke Judge
Vinsmoke Judge may not have been the big bad of his arc, but he was easily the most detestable face at the Tea Party. He willingly experimented on his own children to turn them into unfeeling super soldiers.
Judge put a young Sanji in a locked mask and imprisoned him just because he was ashamed of how “human” Sanji was. The head of the Vinsmoke family is a touring warmonger and conqueror that makes the World Government’s propaganda sound like child’s play. He’s the king of the Germa and the type of dad that every child fears.
14. Aokiji
Each of the Marine Admirals possesses an incredible on-screen presence, yet none is objectively cooler than the user of the Ice-Ice Fruit, Aokiji. This monstrously overpowered character first appeared in the Long Ring Long Island arc, and after causing the Straw Hat Pirates several problems throughout the first half of One Piece, he eventually defected from the Marines.
At this point in One Piece, Aokiji’s status as a villain is debatable. However, his ambiguous nature and temperament are what makes him an interesting antagonist, so until his true allegiances become clear, Aokiji is arguably the biggest wildcard sailing the Grand Line.
13. Bellamy
As evidenced by Bellamy the Hyena, not every great One Piece villain needs to spend an excessive amount of time on-screen. In only a few short episodes, the main antagonist of the Jaya arc earns a reputation as one of the most dislikable pirates on the Grand Line.
Whereas pirates like Monkey D. Luffy and Marshall D. Teach cling to lofty goals like finding the One Piece, Bellamy instead mocks those who pursue the highest form of greatness. His pessimistic outlook is normally lacking from One Piece‘s major villains, and it helps him stand apart from the show’s crowded sea of villains.
12. Buggy The Clown
Buggy the Clown could have very well been a throwaway villain for the early part of One Piece. Much like Axe-Hand Morgan or Don Krieg, the series could’ve forgotten him, and most fans wouldn’t have noticed. However, his persistence, slapstick humor, and attachment to the Roger Pirates have earned him a reputation as one of the series’ best comic reliefs.
Time after time, Buggy the Clown has proven he’s among the luckiest characters in anime, giving new meaning to the phrase “failing upward.” This consistently makes him one of One Piece‘s most interesting villains, even if he and the Buggy Pirates are a disaster waiting to happen.
11. Arlong
Arlong is probably the first villain that most One Piece fans take seriously. When the hot-tempered Fishman first appears on-screen, he brings forth all the mystery and prestige that was expected of the Grand Line. He hails from an otherworldly species, and his disdain for humans is front and center in virtually every scene he’s in.
After entering the East Blue, Arlong made it his business to be as despicable as possible, immediately raiding a village, extorting money from its people, killing Nami and Nojiko’s mom, and essentially enslaving Nami as their navigator. His backstory does a great job of rationalizing some of his behavior while still presenting him as a heinous villain, somehow increasing his intrigue years after he was taken from the screen.
10. Enel
One Piece isn’t exactly the first series that people think of when considering religious allegory and symbolism. However, divine villains like Enel prove that almost nothing is outside of Eiichiro Oda’s wheelhouse. The “God” of Skypiea tested viewers’ own capacity to fear and respect what is perceived as divine will.
Enel is a relentless, overpowered being whose entrance to the series shook even the bravest fans. He can’t be hit, he can wipe out villages from miles away, and he is virtually immortal. Thankfully, Oda takes the time to show that raw power doesn’t make for a good ruler, let alone a god.
9. Big Mom
While Big Mom isn’t the most well-received of the Four Emperors of the Sea, she is a great examination of the effects of overwhelming natural talent and inhuman strength. Monkey D. Luffy is known for taking on hordes of pirates, but he was easily overwhelmed by the efforts of Charlotte Linlin and her family.
Big Mom in particular was a steamrolling force of nature that the Straw Hats had to handle as a team in virtually every interaction. This, coupled with her long-standing connection to Kaido and the Rocks Pirates, helps make Big Mom feel larger than life.
8. Charlotte Katakuri
Rarely does a subordinate’s value as a villain rise above their leader, but in the case of Charlotte Katakuri, that is exactly what happened. Despite his mother, Charlotte Linlin, and her status as one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, the second son of the Charlotte Family was the antagonist that stole the show during the Whole Cake Island arc.
When Charlotte Katakuri fights Monkey D. Luffy, he demonstrates a level of Haki and Devil Fruit mastery that had not been seen up to that point in the series. In addition to his strength, he also exhibits a commendable commitment to his family, earning the respect of Monkey D. Luffy and fans alike.
7. Rob Lucci
Rob Lucci holds a special place in most One Piece fans’ hearts, primarily because of his role in what is quite possibly the most epic fight in the series’ history. By design, Lucci is a man built to test someone’s physical limits. He was raised to be a killing machine at a young age and is a master of the Marine’s Rokoshiki martial arts.
Lucci’s innate talent is bolstered even more by his Cat-Cat Fruit and its lethal Zoan transformations. Both an agent and product of absolute justice, Rob Lucci is a prime example of why the World Government’s militaristic influence is terrifying.
6. Kaido
When Kaido debuts in One Piece, little is known about his character. Fortunately, the Wano Country arc has slowly peeled this colossal titan’s layers back, and over 300 episodes after first appearing on-screen, it feels safe to say that Kaido really is the Strongest Creature on the Grand Line.
Valuing strength and power over anything else, Kaido spends a good portion of his time stockpiling weapons and soldiers — all at the expense of other pirates and Wano Country. His presence, canonical significance, and unfathomable might easily make him the most memorable villain of the Four Emperors saga.
5. The World Government
Despite a plethora of quality antagonists, the World Government and its various governing bodies are the overarching villain of One Piece as a whole. The series has all but confirmed that they are responsible for a grand conspiracy to take over the world, and on countless occasions, their elites have shown that they’re generally abhorrent people.
The World Government has committed mass genocide in the name of cover-ups and rewrites history on a regular basis. They enslave good portions of society, targeting especially the disenfranchised Fishmen. Im, the World Government’s mysterious leader, has yet to play a major role in One Piece‘s narrative, but when he does, the World Government will quite possibly become Monkey D. Luffy’s greatest opponent yet.
4. Sir Crocodile
Crocodile is the first villain in One Piece to truly give Luffy a run for his money. Although enemies of the past may have given the Straw Hat Pirate a hard time, they never outright defeated him. Crocodile, on the other hand, managed to take down Luffy multiple times, including an exceptionally decisive victory halfway through the Alabasta arc.
Crocodile also concocted one of the biggest schemes in One Piece history, planning an entire conspiracy to take over Alabasta Kingdom — a region with millions of citizens. Showing brains, brawn, and swagger in equal measure, Crocodile certainly proves how he earned his Warlord status.
3. Fleet Admiral Akainu
More so than any other character, Akainu stands against everything that Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates believe in. He is a malevolent authority who believes in absolute sovereignty, crushing any detractors with overwhelming force and extreme prejudice.
Unerringly, Akainu protects and represents the interests of the Celestial Dragons, making him the ultimate pawn in a generational game of political chess. His murder of Portgas D. Ace is easily the most pivotal moment in One Piece, and as a result, it’s hard to argue that Akainu is anything other than the Marines’ most despicable officer.
2. Marshall D. Teach
Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, has been primed as Luffy’s endgame villain ever since the Straw Hat Pirate entered the Grand Line. He is the definition of a marauding pirate, raiding whatever he wants and conspiring against the government to steal resources right under their nose.
Blackbeard’s crew is made up of the Grand Line’s most reprehensible villains, most of whom acquired their Devil Fruits by stealing them from other pirates. As the man who attacked the Whitebeard Pirates, the World Government, and the Revolutionary Army, it’s clear that Marshall D. Teach’s ambition knows no bounds.
1. Donquixote Doflamingo
Donquixote Doflamingo is far from being the most powerful or dangerous character in One Piece, but he more than makes up for it by being stone-cold evil. At a young age, he presented the World Government with his father’s head in, and when they denied him entry, he began an entire campaign to spread anarchy throughout the world.
Doflamingo blackmailed his way into becoming a Warlord, took over his family’s old kingdom through bloody means, facilitated drug and weapons trafficking across the world, and even turned people into toys. His role in the Dressrosa conflict gave him the perfect chance to shine, and regardless of his defeat at the hands of Monkey D. Luffy, his place in anime history is cemented.
Src: cbr.com
