Strongest Pirates Of The Old Era, Ranked By Strength

Highlights

• The Great Pirate Era began with the death of Gol D. Roger, leading to an influx of pirates in search of the “One Piece” treasure.
• Some pirates from the old era, such as Whitebeard and Roger, were incredibly powerful and left a lasting legacy despite their records being erased.
• Legendary pirates like Captain John, Rocks D. Xebec, and Joyboy were among the strongest and most feared in the One Piece world, with their true power yet to be fully explored.

The Great Pirate Era in One Piece started with the death of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and countless pirates took to the sea in search of the grand treasure known as the “One Piece.” Thanks to Roger’s last words, piracy became a lot more common, however, even before the Great Pirate Era began, some incredible pirates ruled the seas of the One Piece world.

While some of them had their names jotted down in the history books, others were so powerful that the Government completely erased every record of them. The power they wielded, however, remains a testament to their legacy.

Updated on April 10, 2024, by Rei Penber: the world of One Piece has always had pirates sailing across its seas, regardless of the era. While it is true that pirates are now sailing to seas more than ever before, thanks to the words of people such as Roger and Whitebeard, that is not to say that pirates were non-existent before the Great Pirate Era. Even before this time, pirates took to the seas to obtain riches and other treasures, and of course, even to conquer the oceans such as the Grand Line. In fact, quite a lot of the strongest pirates known to fans in One Piece actually belonged to the old era. While this list already goes over the vast majority of the pirates from the old era, there are others who deserve a shout as well. Quite a lot of them have actually been revealed to the fans in the Final Saga, and as such, this list has been expanded upon.

29 Oimo/Kashi

Pirate Crew: Giant Pirates

Oimo and Kashi are two members of the Giant Pirates. These two individuals were introduced to One Piece in the Enies Lobby arc, and given that they are a century old, it goes without saying that these are pirates from the old era. They used to be on the same pirate crew as Dorry and Brogy, as their underlings.

However, when Dorry and Brogy started fighting on Little Garden, they had to leave them behind. Eventually, they made it their goal to find Dorry and Brogy, however, that is when they were tricked by the World Government and, eventually, served as guardians of Enies Lobby. Once they learned of the truth, they left Enies Lobby once again to search for their captains. Given that they are Giants, there is absolutely no denying the monstrous strength that they possessed. They are also especially close to the captains, which means that they possessed strength that is rather noticeable in the pirate crew.

28 Fisher Tiger

Pirate Crew: Sun Pirates

Fisher Tiger was quite a renowned figure in the world of One Piece, and an individual who went on several pirating journeys from Fishman Island. This was potentially before the Great Pirate Era, even though the Sun Pirates were created after Roger’s Death. Tiger lived quite a dangerous life, and, on one of his journeys, he was actually captured and made a slave. Thankfully, Fisher Tiger managed to escape from the Holy Land of Marijoa, however, later, he went back there and saved all those who were enslaved, human or Fishman.

He then established the Sun Pirates, and this incredible pirate crew saw to it that the Fishmankind was not discriminated against any longer. By taking the mark of the sun, no one could differentiate between a member of the Fishman and a slave. Fisher Tiger did as much as he could to save as many lives as he could. He even saved human lives, even though sometimes, his heart couldn’t bring itself to trust humans who had put him through so much misery. He died a very tragic death, when he was betrayed by the very humans that he saved. However, his death paved the way for a better future for the young generation of the Fishmen.

27 Shimotsuki Kozaburo

Pirate Crew: N/A

Shimotsuki Kozaburo was a swordsmith from the land of Wano. 55 years ago, he departed from the land of Wano illegally, and then, he came to the East Blue. At some point, he ended up becoming a criminal, and it is believed that he, along with his group of people, were all then labeled pirates.

He established the Shimotsuki Village in the east blue. It is clearly mentioned and Zoro’s flashback that Shimotsuki Village was founded by pirates. The fact that Kozaburo was on the run from the Marines, and at the same time, the fact that the village was founded by pirates itself is proof of the fact that he was a powerful pirate. He was a strong samurai, and, in his prime days, he was able to forge a powerful blade such as Enma. At the same time, the incredible blade, Wado Ichimonji, which is currently being wielded by Zoro in the memory of Kuina, was also crafted by him.

26 Brook

Pirate Crew: Rumbar Pirates (Formerly), Straw Hat Pirates

Brook is a part of the Straw Hat Pirates, who plays the role of their musician. While he’s a part of the current pirate era, Brook was also a pirate prior to that. In fact, he was actually a pirate even before the era of Roger. When Brook was an accomplished pirate, Roger was considered to be a rookie.

That puts into perspective how long Brook has lived. He is a rare case of pirates who can be considered to be part of both the old and the new eras of piracy. Regardless, when it comes to strength, Brook is quite capable, and his bounty of 383 million berries speaks for itself.

25 Gecko Moria

Pirate Crew: Thriller Bark Pirates

Gecko Moria is a character that fans know from the Thriller Bark arc of One Piece. Back then, he was introduced as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and the captain of the Thriller Bark Pirates. However, what a lot of the fans do not know is that Gecko Moria had a pirate crew before the Thriller Bark Pirates. His original pirate crew was called the Gecko Pirates, and this pirate crew was supposedly active even when Roger was executed.

Moria was a rookie back then, and he continued to make waves years after. Years later, he clashed with Kaido in battle in the land of Wano, specifically in the Ringo region. This battle went on for days, and it is said that Moria was able to go toe to toe with Kaido. However, at the end of it, Kaido was victorious and Moria’s crew was utterly annihilated. This is precisely why Moria, who was a very bright and powerful individual, lost his will, and then, got significantly weaker in the upcoming years.

24 Sanjuan Wolf

Pirate Crew: Blackbeard Pirates

Known as the Battleship, Sanjuan Wolf is the Seventh Ship Captain of the Blackbeard Pirates, and one of the most important characters in the Final Saga of One Piece. Sanjuan Wolf is a giant, and as a result, has lived almost a century, with his current age being around 98 years. Fans know him to be incredibly powerful, given that he was locked up and Impel Down Level 6.

He also has a Devil Fruit ability of Deka Deka no Mi, which allows him to gigantify himself even more. He’s one of the few characters who had their Devil Fruits even before Blackbeard started his hunt for powerful abilities. Fans have seen his skill in combat on many occasions, and it is safe to say that he is a monstrous pirate of the old era in his own right.

23 Zeff

Pirate Crew: Cook Pirates

Also known as Red-Leg, Zeff was a famous pirate of the old era and one of the very few who have made a name for themselves in the East Blue. Zeff took to the seas to look for the ocean known as the All Blue. He voyaged across the Grand Line for a year and returned unharmed, which is quite a feat.

In his prime, Zeff’s strength was said to have been so incredible that whenever he fought, his foot was coated in the blood of his enemies, earning him the epithet of “Red-Leg” Zeff. Although Zeff has considerably weakened in the current time, he was one of the strongest pirates in One Piece in his prime.

22 Crocus

Pirate Crew: Roger Pirates

Crocus was the doctor of the Roger Pirates and an incredibly powerful fighter as well. Although he was a part of the Roger Pirates for quite a short while, joining only for the last voyage, Crocus managed to do the impossible and reached Laugh Tale with Roger.

As a fighter, he is likely to have been impressive as that’s expected of the Pirate King’s crew. Crocus engaged the likes of Whitebeard Pirates and also the Golden Lion Pirates in combat on several occasions and remained relatively unharmed over the years.

21 Silver Axe

Pirate Crew: Rocks Pirates

Silver Axe was a member of the Rocks Pirates but, unfortunately, not much is known about him. However, from what little fans know, he was one of the strongest pirates of the old era. Not just anyone would be allowed to join the Rocks Crew and the fact that he managed this is a testament to his strength. Furthermore, he was also a legendary figure in the One Piece world, given that Sengoku speaks of him in high regard.

While fans have not seen much from this mysterious character, Silver Axe was certainly one of the strongest pirates of the old era. On the island of God Valley, 38 years ago, he took part in the God Valley Incident and fought against the World Government and the Marines. Somehow, this elite force was wiped out and the whereabouts of Silver Axe have been unknown since then.

20 Captain John

Pirate Crew: Rocks Pirates

Captain John was one of the members of Rocks Pirates around 50 years ago and together with his crewmates, he ruled the seas with absolute authority. After the God Valley Incident, Captain John became much stronger and earned great fame.

He’s known to have been a legendary pirate. He died at an unknown time, however, history still remembers him as a phenomenal pirate. His treasure is especially regarded to be unique and was sought by Buggy.

19 Izo

Pirate Crew: Whitebeard Pirates

Izo, just like Brook, is a pirate who has played an active role in both the old and the new era. He hailed from the land of Wano and left the country with Oden when Whitebeard docked his ship. Just like Oden himself, Izo joined the Whitebeard pirates and, although he was just protecting his lord at first, he soon became an integral part of this pirate crew.

In fact, when Oden left for Roger Pirates, Izo stayed behind with this group and continued to make his mark. He acquired a bounty of 510 million berries, which is extremely impressive. He also played an active role in the new pirate era, where he joined the raid on Onigashima. He fought against Kaido very impressively and, eventually, died while liberating his country.

18 Little Oars Jr.

Pirate Crew: Whitebeard Pirates

Little Oars Jr was around 72 years old during the Paramount War. For a giant, this is extremely young, yet, it also goes to show that he existed during the old era for sure. Little Oars Junior belongs to the race of Ancient Giants and he also has his own pirate crew. His pirate crew has likely been active for quite a long time and that means he was also active at some point before the beginning of the Great Pirate Era.

What exactly he did and where he originates from is something that fans do not know just yet, however, it is possible that Oda will shed more light on this in the future. Little Oars Junior has a bounty of 550 million berries. His current whereabouts remain unknown after he suffered great injuries in the Paramount War.

17 Don Chinjao

Pirate Crew: Happo Navy

The 12th leader of the Happo Navy, Don Chinjao was one of the strongest pirates in One Piece, and back in the day, he was feared as a legendary pirate. Chinjao had a bounty of over 500 million berries on his head, which just goes to show that the level of skill that he possessed was quite high.

He could use all the three types of Haki and had, in the past, fought Garp on multiple occasions. Chinjao often made use of his drill in combat and it is believed that it was strong enough to split a continent of ice apart. During his last fight against Garp, he lost his drill and therefore, his biggest source of power.

16 Wang Zhi

Pirate Crew: Rocks Pirates

Wang Zhi was a member of the Rocks Pirates and one of the most intriguing members of the crew, other than the ones that the fans already saw in the story in the form of the Yonko. Wang Zhi was believed to be insignificant for the vast majority of the series, however, was later revealed to be the leader of the Pirate Island up until the timeskip of One Piece.

This means that he was still a major force in the new world as a pirate. Eventually, during the day of the Rocky Port Incident, Trafalgar Law and Blackbeard combined inadvertently and stripped him from power. It is unknown what ended up happening to Wang Zhi, however, Blackbeard took control of the Pirate Island. His name is held in legendary light, as was confirmed by the Marines themselves at one point in the story. Sadly, fans have never seen him in the manga, and all the legendary weight that his name carries is through the mouths of other characters.

15 Miss Buckingham Stussy

Pirate Crew: Rocks Pirates

It was recently confirmed that Miss Buckingham Stussy was also a member of the Rocks Pirates a long time ago. She is a self-proclaimed scientist who was supposedly very strong in the old era. Miss Buckingham Stussy is one of the strongest old era pirates and she also had connections with the likes of Vegapunk.

It is also believed that she was the lover of Whitebeard, after whom Weevil is modeled. In terms of strength, Miss Buckingham Stussy was strong enough to join a powerful crew such as the Rocks Pirates. She was also present in God Valley during this major incident, as has been confirmed in One Piece during the flashback of Bartholomew Kuma.

14 Jarul/Jorul

Pirate Crew: Giant Pirates

Just like Dorry and Brogy, Jarul and Jorul co-captained the Giant Warrior Pirates at one point in their lives. They were hailed as heroes and the likes of Hajrudin looked up to them immensely. Their strength is believed to be legendary and only a handful of characters could take them on in combat.

Being successful pirates in the New World, both Jarul and Jorul were likely incredibly powerful in their primes. Sadly, fans only saw them close to their deaths, when they were exceptionally old. Jorul ended up dying at the hands of a younger Big Mom during the Winter Solstice, while Jarul managed to survive, however, was incapacitated. In their primes, both Jarul and Jorul would have been monstrously powerful and strong enough to take on some of the mightiest people in the One Piece world.

13 Shakky

Pirate Crew: Kuja Pirates

Shakky was always believed to be a powerful pirate, as she mentioned that, around 40 years ago, she was being chased by Monkey D. Garp, who was like a demon to pirates at the time. However, it was only recently confirmed that Shakky was actually the former Empress of Amazon Lily and the captain of the Kuja Pirates before Hancock.

This essentially means that Shakky is an incredibly powerful fighter, given that Hancock herself possesses tremendous strength. Shakky being a Kuja also means that she has immense control over Haki, as this tribe is predisposed to this skill. Shakky would also have exceptional control over both Armament and Observation Haki. What’s more, like Hancock, she is likely going to be a user of Conqueror’s Haki as well, and if she can infuse it, that would put into perspective how dangerous a pirate she truly is.

12 Gloriosa

Pirate Crew: Kuja Pirates (Formerly), Rocks Pirates

Much to the surprise of everyone, Gloriosa, who is also known as Elder Nyon, was a member of the Rocks Pirates as well. Fans know her to be one of the former Empresses of Amazon Lily. Although she is weak and feeble right now, 38 years ago, she was in her prime and a very powerful pirate. She took part in the God Valley Incident and arrived with Rocks in God Valley.

There, she fought to her heart’s content and managed to survive this incident, which just goes to show how strong she is. Fans do not know her to possess any Devil Fruit ability and, given that she is from the Kuja Tribe, it is only logical that she is a master of Haki. Given that she was the former Empress of Amazon Lily, she was likely a master of all Haki types as well. Hopefully, fans will get to see more about how she became one of the strongest One Piece pirates of the old era.

11 Dorry/Brogy

Pirate Crew: Giant Pirates

Dorry and Brogie are two of the strongest pirates who co-captained the Giant Warrior Pirates at one point in their lives. They were a force so powerful that they were believed to be demons and even though they have just a bounty of 100 million berries, their true strength far surpasses that amount.

What’s more, they are Giants and, thus, have a massive lifespan. Sadly, Dorry and Brogy got into a competition within themselves that lasted for quite a long time on Little Garden in the Grand Line. Now, Dorry and Brogy are back on Elbaf, as seen when they allied with the Red Hair Pirates to destroy the Kid Pirates. They are powerful Haki users and, given that they hail from the mightiest race to exist in the One Piece world, they are surely tremendously powerful.

10 Scopper Gaban

Pirate Crew: Roger Pirates

One of the strongest members of the Roger Pirates, Scopper Gaban was an incredibly powerful pirate. According to Roger, he was one of his two best men on the crew, putting him second to just Silvers Rayleigh. Although he hasn’t been seen fighting in the story, he’s known to be a user of Haki.

His weapons of choice are two axes and he’s very proficient with their usage. Gaban’s whereabouts after the disbandment of the Roger Pirates are unknown.