One Piece: Oda Reveals The Four Strongest Pirates Before The Great Pirate Era

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This article contains spoilers from the Elbaf Arc.

Following the mysterious Void Century, the Great Pirate Era is the most significant period in the world of One Piece. It’s the time when Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, along with countless others, began their journeys to find the legendary treasure, the One Piece, and claim dominance over the seas. Though the Great Pirate Era is central to the story, the time before it was equally crucial in forming the world we see today, as it was when the world’s most famous figures first left their impact.

The current flashback storyline in One Piece, set in the Elbaf Arc, is heavily featuring incredibly strong pirates. Chapter 1167 of One Piece officially reveals the four most powerful pirates who lived before the Great Pirate Era: Roger, Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom.

Roger, Whitebeard, Big Mom, And Kaido Became The Strongest Pirates Before The Great Pirate Era

When people talk about the strongest pirates before the Great Pirate Era, Roger and Whitebeard are almost always the first names mentioned. Many fans consider Roger the perfect pirate, possessing incredible strength that few could match. In fact, throughout his entire career, Whitebeard was the only pirate considered to be his equal.

Even Whitebeard, one of the most powerful pirates, considered it a huge accomplishment to be on par with Roger, highlighting just how incredibly strong Roger was, even while battling illness. Whitebeard himself was equally formidable, inspiring the same level of fear as the Pirate King.

Following the stories of previous powerful pirates, fans often debated who the strongest really were. But in One Piece chapter 1167, the author, Oda, made it clear: Kaido and Big Mom were equals to Roger and Whitebeard as the strongest pirates of their time. This means they surpassed even well-known figures like Shiki and Silver Axe. Kaido steadily grew stronger and eventually conquered Wano Country, while Big Mom built her own empire, Totland, which became one of the most terrifying nations in the world.

Roger Became The Pirate King

Of the four pirates, Roger was the most successful, ultimately earning the title of Pirate King. He was unique in that he sailed completely around the world – a feat no other pirate has ever accomplished. This achievement, combined with his immense power, makes Roger the greatest pirate of all time, surpassing even Whitebeard in this regard.

A New Generation Of Yonko Came After Roger’s Death

So far in the story, the previous generation of powerful pirates – known as the Yonko – have all been defeated. Roger was executed, Whitebeard died during the great war, and Kaido and Big Mom were both defeated in the Wano Country arc. This has paved the way for a new group of Yonko: Luffy, Shanks, Blackbeard, and Buggy.

While they haven’t fully proven themselves yet, this group is steadily becoming the most powerful force of their time. Fans are eager to see the reasons behind their status as the Four Emperors, and it will be thrilling to watch their accomplishments unfold as the story progresses.

The newest chapter of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, Chapter 1167, will be available in this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump. It officially releases on November 30, 2025. In Japan, it will be released at midnight on Monday, which translates to 11:00 AM Eastern Time or 8:00 AM Pacific Time. Fans can read it for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app.

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2025-12-03 00:34