One Piece: Why Dracule Mihawk Didn’t Become A Yonko, Explained

by

I’m completely fascinated by the power structures in One Piece! It’s amazing how difficult it is to climb to the top. You’ve got groups like the Seven Warlords of the Sea – incredibly strong pirates who dominate the first half of the Grand Line. And then the Emperors… wow, those guys are on another level! Every so often, a truly gifted pirate comes along who could join one of those groups. Take Dracule Mihawk, for example. He absolutely earned his spot as a Warlord, but it always struck me as odd… why didn’t he ever try to become one of the Emperors? It’s a question that’s been bugging me for ages!

Becoming a Sea Emperor isn’t easy, but Mihawk isn’t a typical pirate. He’s the world’s greatest swordsman, still far surpassing Roronoa Zoro, and his reputation is known throughout the Grand Line. While fans hope to see him rise to the level of an Emperor, it seems increasingly unlikely. Even if a position became available, Mihawk probably wouldn’t take it, despite his incredible skill. There are several reasons why this is the case.

How is Mihawk Worthy of Becoming an Emperor in the New World?

Being Shanks’ Rival is the Honor of a Lifetime

Image via Toei Animation.

Watching One Piece, it’s amazing how power keeps escalating, but Dracule Mihawk consistently stays at the top. Considering he was introduced so early in the story, it’s really impressive he’s still among the strongest fighters. What makes it even more remarkable is that he doesn’t rely on a Devil Fruit at all! His fighting style is surprisingly simple – just his huge sword, Yoru, and two types of Haki. His Observation Haki is almost like the Sharingan from Naruto; he can anticipate and track opponents’ moves with incredible accuracy. And his Armament Haki is so strong, he’s permanently infused it into Yoru’s blade, which is why it’s always dark.

Many One Piece fans believe Mihawk deserves to be among the most powerful pirates, the Emperors, simply because of his long-standing rivalry with Shanks. Shanks is already one of the four Emperors and has been for years – even when Luffy was a child. He’s the only original Emperor still active in the dangerous New World, after Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom have all fallen. Everyone knows how incredibly strong Shanks is, though he doesn’t often show it. He once clashed with Whitebeard in a friendly match and even ended the war at Marineford just by showing up, demonstrating his unmatched strength, swordsmanship, and Haki.

Considering Whitebeard’s strength rivals Shanks’, and Mihawk is Shanks’ equal, it’s logical to assume Mihawk is also at the same power level as Whitebeard. In One Piece, strength largely determines a character’s status within powerful organizations like the Warlords, Emperors, Admirals, and elite pirate crews. Mihawk, a former Warlord who considers Shanks his rival, has clearly earned the respect of skilled fighters like Zoro and Sir Crocodile. This suggests he’s powerful enough to be an Emperor, though some things are still preventing him from reaching that level.

Mihawk is a Solo Fighter While Emperors Command Fleets

Mihawk’s Ambitions Are More Personal Than Ruling Pirate Kingdoms

Find all 10 pairs Results

0
—
More Games

Mihawk possesses the strength and skill to rival the Emperors, largely due to his incredible swordsmanship, famous rivalry with Shanks, and widespread reputation as the world’s best. However, he’s missing key qualities that truly define an Emperor. While he can fight on equal footing with Emperors like Shanks and Whitebeard, they possess advantages he lacks – most notably, a powerful fleet to lead and command. Mihawk currently has no such fleet.

The title of ‘Emperor’ is given to those who lead massive pirate crews and control large areas in the New World. To be an Emperor, you need subjects to rule. For example, Whitebeard protected many islands, Kaido co-ruled Wano with Kurozumi Orochi, and Big Mom governed a collection of islands. Each of these Emperors also commanded powerful pirate fleets, like the Blackbeard Pirates, Beasts Pirates, and Whitebeard Pirates.

Unlike the other Emperors, Dracule Mihawk doesn’t command a fleet or even a crew. He’s a solitary figure who clearly enjoys being alone, so calling him an Emperor – someone who leads many – doesn’t really fit. This is highlighted by the fact that his ship was quite small and basic, as seen during the Baratie Arc. While he once felt like royalty in the Muggy Kingdom, that’s not the same as leading a large group. Mihawk needs more than just the company of Perona and his rivalry with Zoro to be considered a true leader with a following.

Mihawk’s goals are unique compared to the other Emperors. While Emperors like Kaido and Big Mom crave the ultimate prize – the One Piece and world domination – or Blackbeard seeks to overthrow the World Government, Mihawk has much simpler desires. Unlike those who aim to change the world, Mihawk just wants to find someone strong enough to challenge him and end his boredom as the world’s greatest swordsman.

A common anime theme is the ‘lonely master’ – someone so strong they have no true equals. This is essentially Mihawk’s only driving force. While powerful leaders don’t necessarily need rivals, they also strive for growth and expect more from the world around them. Even joining forces with Crocodile and Cross Guild was simply a way for Mihawk to find some stability and avoid unwanted attention from the Marines and others. Ironically, by trying to avoid competition altogether, Mihawk is actually moving away from achieving true Emperor status, which seems to be his ultimate goal.

Read More

2026-02-10 05:05