One Piece: Oda Officially Confirms The Strongest Character Before The Great Pirate Era

by

This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.

In the realm of “One Piece”, an intriguing universe teems with formidable characters. Over time, Eiichiro Oda, the creator, has introduced some truly legendary figures boasting grand powers, hailing from both ancient and contemporary eras. As pirates dominate the present age, Oda unveiled to fans that Shanks, the Yonko, Dragon, and indeed, Imu, are exceptionally strong among them. The era known as “The Great Pirate Era” has witnessed a surge of powerful beings, yet it’s important to note that the preceding period was not bereft of mighty individuals either.

During the period preceding the Golden Age of Pirates in the world of One Piece, there were also some incredibly powerful characters roaming about. It was during this time that many legendary figures emerged and etched their names into history. Through his work, Eiichiro Oda has provided fans with insights into these remarkable individuals, ultimately clarifying to the audience who the strongest character from the past era truly was.

Rocks D. Xebec Was The Strongest Pirate Before The Great Pirate Era

Rocks Was The Biggest Threat To Imu

  • Rocks D. Xebec killed A Navy Admiral
  • Rocks Was Stronger Than Roger initially

In the Elbaf arc, Oda shared a flashback of Loki with the fans, and from this, it’s evident that Rocks D. Xebec was arguably the most powerful character prior to the era of the Grand Line pirates. Among the numerous formidable characters who achieved greatness in the world of One Piece before the Grand Line era, Rocks was undoubtedly a standout leader.

Rocks was Roger’s first and probably greatest adversary. — Sengoku

I proudly took on Marijoa solo and ventured deep into Pangaea Castle, reaching the Room of Flowers where Imu resides. But let me tell you, the unbelievable happened – Rocks, this combat beast, slayed an Admiral of the Navy! It’s hard to believe, but he barely took a scratch from it. Needless to say, he was unrivaled in strength at that moment.

Over time, his power significantly increased, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was the most powerful among them. Not even the Roger Pirates, who were active during this era, could rival him. The storyteller refers to this period as the Age of the Strong, or more commonly known as the Era of the Giants.

In front of that great treasure, Roger just laughed! — Narrator

Roger Eventually Reached Rocks’s Level

Roger Became The Pirate King

For as many years as Rocks lived, he was undoubtedly the strongest; however, it’s important to note that during Rocks’ time, Roger was yet to reach his full potential. Fifty years ago, Roger was just beginning his journey, which implies he was still learning and not particularly skilled at that point. Yet, in the subsequent years, Roger significantly increased in power.

After the God Valley Incident, it appears that Roger significantly increased his strength and power, rising to become the most formidable pirate ever known. This newfound might enabled him to dominate the seas, overcoming all opposition that came his way. Given these facts, it seems reasonable to conclude that Roger’s power level grew substantially after the God Valley Incident, ultimately reaching a level equivalent to that of Rocks.

One Piece Chapter 1160 will be released this coming Sunday for most readers around the world, while in Japan it comes out at midnight on Monday (Japan Standard Time). So, mark your calendars for September 14, 2025, to enjoy the latest chapter of One Piece. Fret not, as you can access and read this chapter for free via Manga Plus!

Read More

2025-09-12 13:37