One Piece has no shortage of cowardly pirate crews who run, hide, lie, and betray.

One Piece is well known for its unique individual characters and dynamic groups. Among these groups, especially pirate crews, fans often see the use of cowardice as a defining trait. Cowardice is often defined as being afraid, however, the term is much deeper than that. Pirate crews and even individuals can demonstrate cowardly behavior in different ways.

Cowardly actions include those who run away from a fight or avoid confrontation with a greater threat. Cowards are also people who could backstab their savior or commit an action that only serves their own self-preservation. With its vast and diverse world, One Piece finds no shortage of these cowardly actions across the many pirate crews the Straw Hats have met.

10. The Red Arrow Pirates Had A Nasty Scheme Planned

The One Piece movie, Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island, showed us that not all pirate crews have to run away to be cowardly. The Red Arrow Pirates, or more specifically the captain who was the only survivor of the crew, were truly cowards for their actions.

Having lost his crew, the captain, Baron Omatsuri, made a deal with Lily Carnation. In exchange for feeding her pirates he lured in with an innocent competition, she revived his lost crew. The Baron was truly a coward who took the lives of happy pirate crews out of jealousy and fear of losing his beloved crew once again.

9. The Bellamy Pirates Looked Down On Dreamers

At first glance, the Bellamy Pirates don’t quite come across to viewers as cowards, but they do have their cowardly ways. The Bellamy Pirates, mainly their captain, Bellamy, would only attack and antagonize those whom he knew were weaker than him. He only picked a fight with Luffy and Zoro because he believed that, since their bounties were less than his, they were weak.

Captain Bellamy, and the rest of the Bellamy Pirates, judged a person’s worth on their bounty, rather than the content of their character. Targeting the weak and mocking those who held onto dreams made this pirate crew a cowardly bunch.

8. Blackbeard Pirates Are Pros At Stealing The Show & Running Away

Though the Blackbeard Pirates have been known for their cruelty, their cowardice does not go unnoticed by viewers. This pirate crew rarely gets involved directly with world events, often turning their backs and running away. This cowardice was on full display during the Marineford arc.

The Blackbeard Pirates, entered the war late only to take Whitebeard’s life, right as he was at his weakest point, and steal his powers. Any fans would see this moment as one of the most cowardly moments in One Piece as the Blackbeard Pirates took advantage of the weakened Whitebeard and the chaos of war, rather than fight fair and square.

7. Thriller Bark Pirates Were A Crew Of Cowards

The captain of the Thriller Bark Pirates, Gecko Moria, uniquely emulated his cowardice. He stayed holed up on his ship, Thriller Bark, and built almost his entire crew out of zombies from the shadows he had stolen. He was lazy, arrogant, and refused to even fight his own battles. He relied solely on his devil fruit abilities and some hired assistance.

Moria often made the zombies under him do all the work while he reviled in complacency. His cowardice became apparent to viewers as he relied on the zombies he created to fight for him, rather than risk his skin.

6. The Caribou Pirates Are Aptly Named For Their Selfish Leader

The Caribou Pirates, namely their captain Caribou, is the very image of cowardice. Despite having a ruthless temperament, Captain Caribou is quick to run away and hide. He’s quick to lie, even sacrificing and abandoning his crew mates to save himself.

While traveling with the Straw Hats to Fishman Island, Caribou’s cowardice could be easily seen by viewers in the way he didn’t contribute to the fight. Instead, he suggested some of the Straw Hats go and fight the Kraken away from the ship so he could be safe. Caribou is the kind of ruthless coward whose personal safety always comes first, no matter who else may suffer for it.

5. The Bliking Pirates Were A Temporary Group

There’s no greater form of cowardice than a king who abandons his kingdom at the first sign of danger. Wapol, the king of Drum Kingdom, ran away with his closest subordinates and abandoned his kingdom when the Blackbeard Pirates attacked Drum Island.

After running, Wapol formed a temporary pirate crew called the Bliking Pirates until the danger had passed. He had no regard for the lives of his citizens, even denying them doctors. Wapol exiled almost all the doctors and hoarded those who remained. He was selfish and arrogant, but when it came down to the wire, he was a coward most of all.

4. The Fake Straw Hat Crew Fooled Everyone With Their Cowardly Scheme

The time skip was a huge moment in the One Piece anime, and from that, the Fake Straw Hat crew was born. This was a group of small-time pirates who pretended to be the Straw Hats after a two-year-long absence. Viewers can easily see the cowardice of this group, and their leader Demaro Black, as they hid behind the prestige of the Straw Hats name.

This cowardly group used the identity of the Straw Hats as a shield to do whatever they wanted, including recruiting all kinds of powerful pirate crews. The cowardly act of stealing an identity, lying, and abusing their newfound power solidifies this group as one of the most cowardly pirate crews.

3. The Cowardice Of The Buggy Pirates Is A Long Running Gag

Though the crew mates of the Buggy Pirates are not entirely cowardly, their leader, Captain Buggy, is one of the most cowardly people in the One Piece world. It was only through sheer luck and coincidence that Captain Buggy gained the status he has today.

After Captain Buggy’s encounter with the Straw Hats early on in the anime, he has repeatedly been in and out of unfortunate situations. However, these situations ultimately led Captain Buggy to become one of the Seven Warlords. He managed to achieve great status, even though all he has ever done throughout One Piece is run away and lie, suitable actions to his cowardly nature.

2. The Foxy Pirates Have A Few Tricks Up Their Sleeves

The Foxy Pirates are one of the most cowardly crews in One Piece. They actively challenge pirates to a series of competitions at the cost of losing one of their crew members. The Foxy Pirates became such an enormous group by poaching pirates. What makes these acts so cowardly is that the majority of these games are rigged and unfair.

The Foxy Pirates cheated through most of the games against the Straw Hats. These cowardly pirates do whatever they can to swindle and lie their way through their rigged Davey Back Fight.

1. The Usopp Pirates Follow A Cowardly Creed

Though only a pirate crew in name, the most cowardly pirate crew of all was the Usopp Pirates. Taking after their cowardly captain, Usopp, the three young crew mates all ran away in the face of danger. This is one of the smallest crews in One Piece, with only Usopp and three young children as its members.

Viewers first see the Usopp Pirates when the Straw Hats first docked on Syrup Island. However, the first to turn tail, flee, and abandon their captain is Usopp’s pirate crew. Usopp has trained them well to stand by his cowardly creed.

Src: cbr.com