Are One Piece Admirals the Most Underrated Powerhouses in the Series?

Summary

• The Admirals in One Piece are still among the most powerful characters thanks to their Devil Fruit powers and formidable Haki.
• Although the Admirals fought legends past their prime, these battles built up their strength, showcasing their strength against some of the most powerful characters in history.
• The Admirals remain underrated due to the lack of battle scenes; though their feats against powerful opponents emphasize their strength.

In the early stages of the “One Piece” series, the Admirals were seen as the strongest contingent supporting the World Government, often predicted to be among the last challenges our heroes would encounter during the climactic war. Known as the Navy’s elite fighting force, these individuals hold supreme command within the organization and are some of the most potent characters in the World Government.

As a die-hard fan of One Piece, I can’t help but notice a shift in the spotlight from the Admiral ranks compared to earlier days. With the emergence of formidable forces like the Gods’ Knights, some fans argue that the Admirals have taken a backseat, seemingly underrated now. In this piece, let’s dive deep into the perspective that the Admirals are underappreciated and explore its validity, along with reasons why it might not hold water.

In essence, I aim to shed light on both sides of the argument and determine whether there is any substance to the claim that the Admirals have lost some of their former glory in the One Piece world.

The Admirals Still Have Some Of The Greatest Feats In The Story

The Premier Fighters Of The Navy

In the narrative, it was initially suggested that the Admirals were formidable foes for heroes to confront within the World Government. The position of Admiral carries considerable influence, allowing a character to exert an unparalleled degree of power and command over those beneath them in the Navy, except for Garp who stands apart from this rule.

Initially, in the story, the Admirals and Yonko were portrayed as equals, each commanding the mightiest forces on either side of the Navy and pirates. Essentially, this implies that both groups have comparable power levels, though their exact ranking is complex due to various factors. Their dominance largely stems from their extraordinary Devil Fruit powers, making them some of the most potent characters in One Piece.

What many fans might misunderstand is that characters like Kaido aren’t significantly superior to others, despite not appearing as overtly powerful or dangerous. In reality, the scale of strength among Yonko and Admirals isn’t vastly different on either end. A case in point is Kizaru, who didn’t think twice before facing Luffy in his Gear 5 form, much like Kaido. Even though both characters ultimately lost to him, their battles demonstrated their true capabilities.

Absolutely, I’ve often pondered over the idea that Kaido might have been drained from his previous battles against the Red Scabbards and Yamato before facing Luffy. There’s a strong case for it. However, let me add another perspective: Kizaru, too, seemed to be affected mentally during his fight with Luffy, given his role in killing his comrade. This was hinted at when he supplied Luffy with the food that reawakened Gear 5, suggesting a level of emotional strain.

Furthermore, when Blackbeard infiltrated Amazon Lily and encountered Rayleigh, he was so intimidated by the legend that he decided to leave the island, despite the fact that Rayleigh, though past his prime, claimed he might not have been able to defeat Blackbeard due to his age. Conversely, during the Sabaody arc, Kizaru didn’t think twice about engaging Rayleigh in a fair fight, demonstrating that his strength is at least equal to the aged Silvers Rayleigh.

The exceptional power of the Admirals primarily stems from their proficiency with their Devil Fruits, which are mostly Logia types, save for Fujitora’s Press-Press fruit. Logia fruits are inherently strong, and when combined with the Admirals’ formidable Haki abilities, they become a significant danger to confront. This underscores that even in the present day, the Admirals continue to rank among the most powerful characters across the entire globe.

So, Are They Underrated Characters?

The Truth of the Matter

• Ultimately, the answer is yes; The Admirals are underrated because they are still some of One Piece’s most powerful characters.

One reason why fans sometimes perceive the Admirals as weak is that they don’t often appear in battles. Interestingly, some of the most notable Admiral feats involve confrontations with legends who are well beyond their active years. For instance, Akainu fought Whitebeard, Kuzan (Aokiji) fought Garp, and Kizaru faced Rayleigh. These fights were remarkably balanced, leading some fans to jest about the Admirals’ inability to defeat men past their prime.

In contrast, encounters between the Admiral and characters like Whitebeard, Garp, and Rayleigh lack subtlety because these three are among the greatest figures in history, even though they’ve passed their prime. Remarkably, they’re still stronger than almost all contemporary characters. This fact underscores that the Admirals’ equal fights with these titans enhance their legendary status instead of diminishing it, especially Akainu, who inflicted the most substantial damage on Whitebeard, a pirate often regarded as the strongest in history, capable of annihilating the world.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

Read More

2025-05-25 16:07