One Piece is filled with heroes who don’t get enough credit and deserve way more time in the spotlight.
Consistently praised for its variety of inventive, unforgettable characters, Eiichiro Oda’s shonen epic One Piece features some of the genre’s most popular and universally beloved heroes. The likes of Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Vinsmoke Sanji, and even relatively minor characters like Trafalgar Law and Shanks never fail to make the ranks of fan favorites.
However, in a series with over a thousand named characters, some well-deserving heroes are bound to shrivel outside the limelight. No matter how great they are, fans show them enough appreciation. These underrated One Piece heroes deserve the same acknowledgment for their merits as the more popular characters in the story.
10Tony Tony Chopper
When the quirky reindeer Tony Tony Chopper made his unforgettable appearance during the Drum Island Arc, many were fascinated with his altruism, determination, and admirable dream to cure all diseases. His role as the crew’s doctor and the versatile powers of his Devil Fruit also made Chopper a seemingly irreplaceable member of the Straw Hats.
Unfortunately, as the adventure progressed, Chopper’s role diminished to a cutesy mascot of the series. Despite his adorable appearance, he deserves to be taken more seriously as both a doctor and a fighter.
9Nefertari Vivi
Alabasta princess Nefertari Vivi was the first honorary Straw Hat to part ways with the crew after spending a long time sailing side-by-side. However, not all fans saw Vivi’s decision to stay behind as a loss. Due to her impulsive nature and lack of fighting skills, Vivi wasn’t appreciated and acknowledged as a part of the crew by many fans.
Some preferred to forget about her after her arc’s resolution. Disregarding Vivi, someone the Straw Hats grew to appreciate as a close friend, seems disingenuous and undeservedly harsh.
8Yamato
The Straw Hats’ biggest and most devoted ally during the Wano Country Arc, Yamato, the son of Kaidou who openly rejected his father’s ideology, was anticipated to join Luffy after his country was liberated. Despite Yamato’s immense strength and loyalty to the crew, some saw him as undeserving of becoming a Straw Hat.
The appearance of such a powerful crewmate candidate so late into the series annoyed many fans. They undermined Yamato’s incredibly potent personality, which led to a saddening lack of appreciation for him in the fandom.
7Nami
One Piece has a polarizing history with representation of female characters. On the one hand, the show features no shortage of strong, multifaceted women. But then, One Piece is criticized for giving its female leads unrealistic, needlessly sexualized looks.
Nami has been at the forefront of this discussion ever since her debut, and many fans still don’t see her as more than eye candy with disappointing fighting skills. However, the Straw Hats navigator deserves recognition as one of the smartest and most emotionally mature crewmates with versatile abilities.
6Eustass Kid
By far the most underrated member of the Worst Generation, Eustass Kid, the captain of the Kid Pirates, suffered a lot of humiliation at the hands of some of the Grand Line’s strongest pirates. After losing his arm to Shanks and getting imprisoned by Kaidou, Kid lost much of the community’s respect.
Nevertheless, he remains the closest Supernova in terms of sheer power to Law and Luffy, the strongest of their generation. Eustass Kid’s brash, aggressive personality also doesn’t earn him extra points with fans.
5Smoker
While technically an enemy to the Straw Hats, Marine Officer Smoker is one of the most admirable and genuinely likable representatives of the force, even if his ideals clash with those of the pirates he hunts.
Yet, his status as a Marine Commander and near-constant failures to match the Straw Hats in a fight still tampers with Smoker’s reputation. Despite his formidable powers and strong moral compass, Smoker often ends up the laughingstock of the story, receiving pity instead of admiration from the fans.
4Shirahoshi
Fans meet the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, the stunning daughter of King Neptune, during the crew’s journey to Fish-Man Island. The arc reveals that Shirahoshi is the current incarnation of the Ancient Weapon Poseidon, making her one of the strongest characters in One Piece and a master to all Sea Kings.
Nevertheless, fans still refuse to give the Mermaid Princess a break because of her meek, fragile personality. Years spent in isolation and fear for her life made Shirahoshi prone to panic, but she held onto her curiosity and kindness.
Fans meet the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, the stunning daughter of King Neptune, during the crew’s journey to Fish-Man Island. The arc reveals that Shirahoshi is the current incarnation of the Ancient Weapon Poseidon, making her one of the strongest characters in One Piece and a master to all Sea Kings.
Nevertheless, fans still refuse to give the Mermaid Princess a break because of her meek, fragile personality. Years spent in isolation and fear for her life made Shirahoshi prone to panic, but she held onto her curiosity and kindness.
3Kokoro
The Water 7 Arc introduces fans to Kokoro, a drunkard managing the Sea Train station near the city. Her carefree personality and near-constant intoxication made Kokoro an easy target for hatred.
However, she swiftly redeemed herself as a reliable ally, saving the Straw Hats from doom many times with her technical experience and secret mermaid powers. Kokoro’s efforts to aid Franky and the crew during their quest at Water 7 and, later, at Enies Lobby didn’t rid some of the prejudice lingering after her unappealing introduction.
2Boa Hancock
The Kuja Pirates’ captain and Amazon Lily’s empress Boa Hancock didn’t become one of the most formidable Warlords of the Sea by chance. Despite her strength, mental agility, and influence, most only acknowledge Hancock as Luffy’s most devoted admirer and potential love interest.
Her one-sided infatuation with the future Pirate King can get infuriating, reducing a powerful heroine to a lovestruck maiden. Yet, when push comes to shove, Boa Hancock never fails to prove her competence as both an efficient leader and an imposing fighter.
1Usopp
The Straw Hats’ cowardly sniper Usopp was designed as a relatable, down-to-earth point-of-view character to balance out the likes of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, the crew’s monstrous powerhouses. Being a liar with no outstanding fighting skills, Usopp often ends up overshadowed by his more formidable teammates.
Even fans forget how many times Usopp stood up to his fears and saved the crew from certain doom, as his fits of courage are never as spectacular compared to the series’ most memorable fights, which Usopp smartly avoids.
