From Mihawk to Blackbeard, here’s how each Warlord in One Piece ranks based on their powers.
In order to exert greater control over the age of pirates, the World Government established the Seven Warlords of the Sea. This group of pirates would be largely immune from direct government intervention in their affairs and have their bounties frozen, provided they officially ally with the government. Before the system was ultimately eliminated at the Reverie, the roster of the Seven Warlords included some of the most dangerous and influential pirates on the Grand Line.
Whether serving as primary antagonists, eventual allies, or future plot points that have yet to be fully realized, the roster of the Seven Warlords features some of the biggest names in all of One Piece.
11Gecko Moria
Moria’s had a tough go of it. Once the proud captain of the Gecko Pirates, he suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of Kaido and effectively shut himself off on Thriller Bark to hide from his trauma. While his shadow power does present a threat to the Straw Hats during their adventures on Thriller Bark, Moria lacks some of the gravitas of many of his Seven Warlords peers. After being nearly killed by Doflamingo at Marineford, Moria has largely faded into obscurity within the story.
10Crocodile
At one time, Crocodile easily ranked as the greatest villain the One Piece story had seen. Not only did his powers make him a nearly insurmountable threat to Luffy, but his political machinations nearly brought the kingdom of Alabasta to total ruin. Still a fan favorite for his impact, personality, and design, it’s unclear where Crocodile now ranks as a threat in a world of conqueror’s haki and ancient devil fruits. The fact that Crocodile is still so well regarded so many years after the Alabasta saga shows just how great his impact was at the time.
9Edward Weevil
Weevil is unquestionably a strong pirate — he wouldn’t have earned a position with the Seven Warlords otherwise. But what makes him more interesting in the One Piece story is his mother, Mis Buckin’s claim that he is the son of former Emperor Edward Newgate, also known as Whitebeard. One Piece rarely leaves plot threads hanging without eventually resolving them, so it is unlikely this plot hook and character would be introduced without a role to play in the story, but it remains to be seen.
8Boa Hancock
Her beauty and devil fruit power combined make Boa Hancock a true threat to any man — and most women — with possibly the sole exception of Luffy. As the ruler of Amazon Lily, Hancock allied with the World Government to protect her people and their way of life. Now that the system has been dissolved, Hancock’s only allegiances are to herself and her beloved Straw Hat Luffy. The warriors of Amazon Lily will no doubt have a role to play in the coming conflicts before One Piece ends.
7Trafalgar D Water Law
If you think about it, Law has been responsible for every major movement that has occurred since the time skip. His alliance with the Straw Hat Pirates set the events of Dressrosa in motion, which lead to the end of the Seven Warlords system. It was his plan that eventually led the heroes to a direct conflict with Kaido — a conflict that will have irreversible consequences for the world regardless of its result. Not only is he adept at strategy and political maneuvering, but his devil fruit is also among the most powerful we’ve seen in the series thus far.
6Jimbei
Throughout his early appearances in One Piece, Jimbei rarely showcased his true prowess as a warrior. Having joined the Seven Warlords, it was clear he was a strong pirate, but now as a member of the Straw Hat crew, there can be no question that Jimbei will end the series as one of the most powerful fighters in the world. Like Boa Hancock, Jimbei’s motivation to join the Seven Warlords was to protect the Fishman Pirates and the rest of his people, but that goal was ultimately far better achieved by aligning with the future King of the Pirates.
5Bartholomew Kuma
The various mysteries surrounding Bartholomew Kuma remain one of the biggest dangling plot hooks from as far back as Thriller Bark. With his appearance in that arc, Kuma established himself as a clear powerhouse, but his full transformation into a cyborg and seeming loss of sense of self raise far more questions about his motivations and role in the story. Kuma has already played a major role in the events that will shake the world, but he likely has much more to do in the future.
4Buggy The Clown
Buggy is one of the most important characters in all of One Piece — his ability to consistently fail upward reminds the audience that the story is rooted in comedy despite its heavy themes and intense combat.
Given the levels Buggy has already reached without any of the strength to back it up, there can be no question that Buggy will remain a major force in the story. In fact, the natural ending to his joke would be for Buggy to stumble his way into becoming Pirate King before Luffy.
3Dracule “Hawkeye” Mihawk
While Mihawk has done little in the story of One Piece in terms of world-altering impact, his importance and power were established all the way back during Baratie. As the world’s strongest swordsman, not only is Mihawk clearly one of the most powerful characters in the series, but his defeat is a key part of Zoro’s dream.
Mihawk may never have the political or broad story impact of other warlords, but his strength and personal importance to one of the main characters make him a major player.
2Donquixote Doflamingo
Not only is Doflamingo clearly one of the strongest of the Seven Warlords, requiring Luffy to unveil Gear Fourth for the first time in order to defeat, but his cruel reign over Dressrosa, combined with his underground arms dealing, was the catalyst for the dissolution of the entire system.
Doffy could certainly still hold his own against some of the best fighters the series has to offer, but it’s his knowledge and scheming that makes him such a threat and one of the best antagonists in the series since Crocodile.
1Blackbeard
As the only known person in the entire series to possess two devil fruits, Marshal D Teach is a truly unknown quantity. Blackbeard has clearly established himself as one of the series’ final antagonists, but his impact has been felt throughout the series.
His bid to join the Seven Warlords set the events of Marineford in motion. He freed some of the worst criminals from Impel Down. Notably, he’s also one of the few characters truly actively pursuing One Piece rather than simply accumulating power.
