One Piece’s central theme revolves around pirates and the adventures they embark on around the world. The anime series is known for its passionate characters, rich world-building, and action-packed adventure. One of the most fascinating aspects of the anime is the incredible pirate ships that sail into the Grand Line. They boast numerous unique characteristics such as Jolly Rogers with skull and bones, guns and swords, and much more. Some of the pirate ships in One Piece are designed based on their captain’s signature style, while others are more traditional. From the legendary Thousand Sunny, the flagship of the Straw Hat Pirates, to the animated Queen Mama Chanter, Big Mom’s flagship ship, the world of One Piece is filled with countless iconic vessels. So today, let’s check out the best 15 pirate ships we have seen in One Piece so far and what makes them special.
Popular Pirate Ships in One Piece (2023)
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers about the One Piece pirate crews and their ships. So make sure to watch the One Piece anime or read the manga before to avoid ruining your experience.
We have compiled this list based on the ship’s design, popularity, and a few personal preferences. So without further ado, let’s begin:
1. Oro Jackson
Image Courtesy – One Piece by Toei Animation Studios (Fandom)
- Pirate Crew: Roger Pirates
- Total Bounty: Over 5,564,800,000 Berries
- Captain: Gol D. Roger
The first position belongs to the Legendary Oro Jackson, the main ship of the mighty Roger Pirates. This ship was built by a brilliant shipwright Tom (who raised Iceburg and Franky) and was made out of Adam Wood, which is considered to strongest and top-quality wood. This was the only ship to sail across the world of One Piece and even reached Laugh Tale. Oro Jackson has the red-color theme all over it as the main man Roger.
At the front, there are a special pair of mermaids with a cannon at the center acting as the figurehead. Furthermore, The ship features three massive masts, each having big red-colored sails. The Jolly Roger of the Roger Pirates is painted over the top of the sail and a bottom sail has Gol D Roger written over it. This is the best pirate ship in One Piece and is well-recognized by everyone.
2. Moby Dick
Image Courtesy – One Piece by Toei Animation Studios (Fandom)
- Pirate Crew: Whitebeard Pirates
- Total Bounty: Over 7,480,000,000 Berries
- Captain: Whitebeard (Edward Newgate)
Whitebeard’s main flagship name was inspired by the classic tale — Moby Dick. Like the titular character (a white sperm whale) in the tale, the ship’s design is particularly familiar. This is another battleship that is enormous in size like the man Whitebeard himself. Still, it is the most traditional-looking pirate ship we have seen in One Piece.
Further, there is a giant whale figurehead in the front that has a herculean smile just like Oyaji Whitebeard. This ship played an important role during the Marineford war and sadly got destroyed in the end.
3. Queen Mama Chanter
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- Pirate Crew: Big Mom Pirates
- Total Bounty: At least 10,121,500,000 Berries
- Captain: Charlotte Linlin
Big Mom’s devil fruit Soru Soru no Mi, one of the strongest devil fruits, allows her to give life to inanimate objects. And if you’ve forgotten, she refers to these animated objects as “Homies.” Thus, Big Mom’s flagship pirate ship in One Piece – the Queen Mama Chanter – is a ship homie that has life. The giant figurehead at the front can sing “Ship,” an example of the parts of being alive. This gigantic ship resembles the fantasy land of Big Mom’s Whole Cake Island, which includes ice creams, cones, cakes, wafers, and whatnot. It is so enormous in size that the Thousand Sunny looked like a miniature boat beside it.
Primarily, the ship houses various individual homies and is large enough to have the Big Mom’s family board the ship. When we thought the Going Merry was the only ship to have a soul (figuratively), Big Mom’s ship is a big addition to that category. As a result, Queen Mama Chanter is a colorful-looking pirate ship in One Piece.
4. Polar Tang
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- Pirate Crew: Heart Pirates
- Total Bounty: At least 3,000,000,500 Berries
- Captain: Trafalgar D. Water Law
We have to admit that the Heart Pirates are the coolest, and well, the same can be said for their Jolly Roger and their pirate ship. The Heart Pirates have a stylish submarine as their pirate ship. For me, it is reason enough to call it one of the best pirate ships in existence. But let us look at the details.
The Polar Tang is a submarine that uses engines to travel around the sea. When the engine is not in use, the two masts at the front and rear have retractable sails, which can help them sail like a normal ship. Thus, we have a 2-in-1 versatile ship and is the only type of pirate ship to exist.
The Polar Tang is made out of metal and is painted in shades of yellow all over. It also has the Jolly Roger and Law’s “DEATH” moniker on one of its sides. It also includes a lamp, which is helpful during underwater travels. This submarine also boasts a specialized medical room, which Law makes full use of in the climax of the Marineford war.
5. Thousand Sunny
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- Pirate Crew: Straw Hat Pirates
- Total Bounty: 8,816,001,000 Berries
- Captain: Monkey D. Luffy
After Going Merry’s farewell, the Thousand Sunny was ready to inherit its will to become the second pirate ship of the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece. Recently, this ship attracted a lot of fans with its part in the latest One Piece movie, One Piece Film: Red. The Thousand Sunny is a modern pirate ship, resembling the brigantine ships. It was built by Franky and The Galley-La Company, who are known to be the best shipwrights in the world. Additionally, it was made using Adam Wood like the Oro Jackson of the Roger Pirates.
This ship is bigger in size, twice that of the Going Merry, but it still looks like a tiny boat in front of Big Mom’s pirate ship. This ship is regarded to have the best craftsmanship as it was made by the best professionals. The Thousand Sunny has to be the most versatile ship as well since it packs multiple modern-day features and is extremely well-designed in terms of the interior and exterior. It also comes with Franky’s inventions at the bottom, including the Mini Merry II.
Instead of the sheep figurehead on the Going Merry, we now have Lion’s head on the front. Thus, the Thousand Sunny is a modern piece of art celebrated by fans all over the world.
6. Thriller Bark
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- Pirate Crew: Thriller Bark Pirates
- Total Bounty: 320,000,000 Berries
- Captain: Gecko Moria
The Thriller Bark is recognized as the biggest pirate ship in the One Piece world right now. Surprisingly, this pirate ship used to be an island in West Blue until it was turned into a gigantic ship by Gecko Moria, a former Warlord. Gecko leads the Thriller Bark Pirates and this is his main ship. I mean, an entire arc took place on this island, and it was entertaining as heck. This ship used to reside in the Florian Triangle (much similar to the Bermuda Triangle we have in our world).
The entire ship follows a gothic-styled theme, which also boasts popular Hollywood horror classic themes such as zombies, vampires, and Frankenstein. That is exactly why Thriller Bark is one of the best pirate ships ever in One Piece.
Moreover, there is a mansion at the center that also acts as the giant mast, which has four chains holding the outer walls surrounding the island. Each of the bottom sails has thriller bark written over it and the top sail has a massive Jolly Roger. The entrance here has a mouth-shaped gate, and there is a dense forest surrounding the mansion. One could easily get lost on this creepy ship. The Thriller Bark doesn’t have any detailed designs, but the idea of an island converted into a ship still amazes us.
7. Red Force
Image Courtesy – One Piece by Toei Animation Studios (Crunchyroll)
- Pirate Crew: Red-Haired Pirates
- Total Bounty: At least 4,142,900,000 Berries
- Captain: Shanks
Undeniably, just like their captain Shanks, Red Force is the most ferocious-looking pirate ship in One Piece. It is the current primary ship of the Red Hair Pirates, replacing their old one. This ship retains the major characteristics of the old ship like the figurehead on the front. The dragon-like figurehead adds more fierceness to the appearance of the ship, and it’s way more detailed than its predecessor.
For unknown reasons, there are several palm trees on the Red Force. This ship is ultimately bigger in size than their last one, has massive sails to boost their travel, and red decorations all over. During the Marineford arc in One Piece, Shanks battled against Kaido and returned to put an end to the war swiftly. Thus, this fierce Red Force is easily an important inclusion on our list.
8. Nostra Castello
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- Pirate Crew: Fire Tank Pirates
- Total Bounty: At least 535,000,000 Berries
- Captain: Capone Bege
The lone mafia figure in the One Piece universe is Capone Bege. His primary ship was built with his Fortress-based devil fruit abilities in mind. The author meticulously constructed this ship as a piece of art with the fortress’s theme in mind. Compared to other ships, you can see how well-detailed it is. Nostra Castello resembles a paddle ship and doesn’t require sails since it has flexible tank treads on either side, which allow it to travel.
There is a rook figure with double cannons at the front, surrounded by the castle design all over. The top sail features the name of this pirate crew whereas the bottom has their Jolly Roger. Unfortunately, this work of art was totally destroyed by Big Mom. Now, the Fire Tank Pirates are traveling in an unnamed ship.
Furthermore, the Nostra Castello was one of the most maneuverable ships in the entire show. And for this reason, it definitely deserved a spot on our list.
9. Flying Dutchman
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- Pirate Crew: Flying Pirates
- Total Bounty: N/A
- Captain: Vander Decken IX
Unquestionably, the Flying Dutchman is an iconic ship in the sailing lore, which was also shown in the popular “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie series. Just like in folklore, it is said to be a ghost ship, cursed to wander the seas forever, in One Piece too. This ship has been used by the first Vander Decken, and it continued with his descendants. The newest captain to sail on this ship is Vander Decken IX, who was a major antagonist against the Straw Hats during the Fish-Man Island arc.
Therefore, since it is a ghost ship, you can pretty much guess its appearance as being a torn and damaged old ship. This pirate crew’s Jolly Roger is carved as the figurehead at the front, featuring a skull with two cutlasses. The sail at the front bears the ship’s name and the Jolly Roger at the top. The Flying Dutchman is the second-spooky ship on our list and is considered to be one of the biggest ships ever.
10. Shark Superb
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- Pirate Crew: Arlong Pirates
- Total Bounty: At least 42,500,000 Berries
- Captain: Arlong
Undoubtedly, the Arlong Pirates not only had a distinctive Jolly Roger, but their ship was also uniquely designed with the shark theme in mind. It was based on their captain Arlong, as you can see the Saw-Shark nose at the front. This ship was painted red and the shark teeth design was implemented all over the ship’s edges.
The mast of the ship is very long and unusually includes many sails at the top. Their special Jolly Roger is drawn on one of the sails and on a pirate flag at the top of the ship. The Arlong Park arc is one of the best arcs in One Piece, and it featured Shark Superb, which we think is one of the best-designed pirate ships in the show.
11. Baratie
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- Team: Zeff and his cooks
- Total Bounty: None
- Owner: Red-Leg Zeff
Remember the time the Straw Hats were in search of a cook for their crew and landed at an ocean-moving restaurant? Yes, it was the ship named Baratie. It was a unique ship that hosted a restaurant run by Red-Leg Zeff (the adoptive father of Sanji). The entire Baratie mini-arc took place in this restaurant. It is rich in color and has a giant fish head at the front, which doubles as a paddleboat usually piloted by Patty and Carne.
Moreover, the Baratie is oval in shape unlike the other ships on this list, and has four levels of decks. This ship can also be used in battle as it’s equipped with cannons on either side. It is said that the Baratie ship has undergone various renovations after two years, and the ship is only getting better. So, this is by far the most special pirate ship we have on our list.
12. Going Luffy-Senpai
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- Pirate Crew: Barto Club
- Total Bounty: At least 267,000,000 Berries
- Captain: Bartolomeo
Yes, we are all huge fans of the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece, but Bartolomeo is a level above us when it comes to fanboys. He dedicated his life and his crew to the Straw Hats. His pirate crew is called the “Barto Club” (more like a fan club), and their ship’s official name is the Going Luffy-Senpai. Barto derived its names from Going Merry and Luffy, combining them as a token of love for his favorites. We all knew he is an ardent fan but never imagined he will design his ship based on the Straw Hats.
Furthermore, Bartolomeo carefully noted all the important things about the Straw Hats and incorporated them into a ship. For example, a big Luffy statue at the front, Going Merry’s front sheep head, and a Chopper figure in the rear end. There are even tangerines that Nami loves and updated wanted posters of all the Straw Hat Pirates inside his room. Barto is the epitome of a Straw Hats fanboy, and he perfectly paid homage to our beloved pirates with his ship.
13. Victory Hunter
Image Courtesy – One Piece by Toei Animation Studios (Fandom)
- Pirate Alliance: Saruyama Alliance
- Total Bounty: At least 84,000,000 Berries
- Captain: Mont Blanc Cricket
Remember the funny pirate alliance that the Straw Hat Pirates encountered during the Jaya arc when they tried to salvage another ship? Yes! They are the Saruyama Alliance, and one could have easily forgotten them since they appeared a long time ago. To remind you, this alliance featured a funny and interesting pirate ship. This is their ship, mainly Mashira’s, and is based on a monkey theme.
Indeed, there is a big monkey up in the front with two cymbals in its hand (based on the famous Jolly Chimp figure, which appeared in Toy Story 3). Consequently, there are two other big banana-shaped poles that hold the monkey statue. Multiple palm trees are also seen around the ship, which further suits the overall theme. You can notice the big Jolly Roger up on the front sail, including monkeys and bananas. This crew sure does love them. This might not be the best pirate ship in One Piece, but it is a hilarious addition for sure.
14. Perfume Yuda
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- Pirate Crew: Kuja Pirates
- Total Bounty: At least 1,739,000,000 Berries
- Captain: Boa Hancock
The alluring Kuja Pirates’ main ship name is Perfume Yuda. The Kuja Pirates are led by Pirate empress Boa Hancock, one of the best female characters in One Piece, and the captain of the ship. This ship is more similar to ancient Chinese ships called the “Junk.” It is very big and painted red and black all over with two sea serpents (Yuda) hitched up the front. These sea serpents can help them travel through the Calm Belt easily.
Both the sails showcase their Jolly Roger and the crew’s name. The front sail has the big medusa-like jolly roger of the Kuja Pirates and the rear sail has “Kuja” text written in Kanji. The Perfume Yuda is one of the most attractive yet simple pirate ships we have seen in One Piece.
15. Wind Granma
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- Organization: Revolutionary Army
- Total Bounty: N/A
- Captain: Monkey D. Dragon
The One Piece world’s most wanted criminal is Monkey D. Dragon, and he has his own ship called the Wind Granma for his organization, Revolutionary Army. It is another gigantic ship, and like this ship captain’s name, it has an enormous dragon from the start of the ship to the end. The dragon theme really suits them symbolically and “Granma” was actually a real yacht used during the Cuban revolution. The Dragon at the front and its tail ending in the back is a good design that captures one’s eye easily.
BONUS Pirate Ships
In addition to the pirate ships included above, we couldn’t end the list without mentioning these fan favorites – Luffy’s Going Merry and Mihawk’s Hitsugibune.
Going Merry
Image Courtesy – One Piece by Toei Animation Studios (Fandom)
- Pirate Crew: Straw Hat Pirates
- Total Bounty: 8,816,001,000 Berries
- Captain: Monkey D. Luffy
A true One Piece fan would never forget the Going Merry pirate ship. It is more than just one of the best pirate ships we have ever seen in the anime series. This ship was truly loved by the Straw Hats to the point it was treated like a member of the crew. Going Merry is the first complete ship of the Straw Hat Pirates, which kept sailing until it reached Water 7. It has a great resemblance to a type of sailing ship known as “Caravel,” which was majorly used by the Portuguese.
Going Merry was designed by Merry who was the butler of Kaya (Usopp’s friend), and this ship was gifted to the Straw Hats by them. The ship originally had a brown color in the manga, but luckily, the anime had a vibrant and colorful ship. The sheep figurehead at the front is Luffy’s favorite seat on the ship and we have seen him sitting there countless times. The ship also gained tangerine trees from Bell-mere’s orchard during the Arlong arc.
Throughout its lifetime, Going Merry suffered much damage, leading to its demise, and the crew gave the deserved ending with a viking-esque funeral at the end of the Enies Lobby arc.
The Hitsugibune
Image Courtesy – One Piece by Toei Animation Studios (Fandom)
- Captain: Dracule Mihawk
- Bounty: 3,590,000,000 Berries
The Hitsugibune is the main boat (we can’t call it a ship as it’s too small) of the world’s greatest swordsman – Dracule Mihawk. It is a simple boat shaped in the form of a coffin. The giant crucifix-like mast in the center is a similar representation of Mihawk’s “Black Blade” Yoru and has a black sail. Unlike Zoro’s swords in One Piece, Mihawk sure does have a colossal sword in his hand.
The boat also features two candles in the flanks with a green flame, which also suits Mihawk’s green color theme. It has been a fan-favorite ever since we first saw it back in the Baratie arc. The world’s great swordsman does not need anyone else, and he travels on his own across the dangerous seas of the Grand Line. This itself showcases how mighty Mihawk is.
