8 One Piece Characters Who Deserved Better Endings

While One Piece is generally a fun and upbeat anime and manga, most of its main characters have happy endings. However, that isn’t true for everyone. Despite being good and decent people, many other characters have faced surprisingly sad and tragic fates throughout the series.

Whether they were heroes, villains, or just ordinary people, many important characters have suffered tragic fates, highlighting the harsh and unjust nature of the world in One Piece. While numerous characters deserved happier conclusions, these eight stand out as particularly heartbreaking examples.

Mont Blanc Noland And Kalgara

Two Best Friends Who Never Got To See Each Other Again

Debut: Chapter 286 (Manga) Episode 187 (Anime)

The Skypiea Arc, often overlooked, centers around the touching story of Mont Blanc Noland and Kalgara. Despite coming from vastly different worlds, they formed a strong and lasting friendship. Sadly, a twist of fate separated them, and they never had the chance to see each other again before they both passed away.

The Knock Up Stream tragically separated Jaya, leaving the Shandians stuck in Skypiea, and Kalgara and Noland never saw each other again, eventually passing away without knowing each other’s fate. Adding to the sorrow, Noland was falsely accused of lying about Shandora’s existence and was publicly executed. It’s a deeply sad conclusion for two genuinely kind characters and their beautiful friendship.

Nico Olvia (And The Rest Of The Ohara Scholars)

She Was Trying To Unveil The Secrets Of The World

Debut: Chapter 392 (Manga) Episode 275 (Anime)

Nico Olvia made the difficult decision to leave her daughter, Nico Robin, to continue her archaeological work while keeping the child safe. Tragically, when she returned to Ohara to be with Robin, she was killed, along with all the other scholars, for researching a forbidden period of history known as the Void Century.

One Piece has always shown the World Government’s corruption, but the destruction of Ohara revealed just how far they’d go. Archaeologists were simply trying to uncover the truth about the Void Century when the government ordered a devastating attack, wiping out the entire island and everyone on it – even innocent people with no involvement. Olvia, a researcher, deserved a peaceful life with her daughter, not a life on the run simply for pursuing forbidden knowledge.

The Rumbar Pirates

They Just Wanted To Play Music With Laboon

Debut: Chapter 103 (Manga) Episode 63 (Anime)

While the Straw Hat Pirates are known for being heroic, not all pirate crews in One Piece are the same. Brook’s backstory reveals that The Rumbar Pirates were a particularly cheerful group. They spent their days sailing, playing music, and enjoying life without a worry.

The Rumbar Pirates also became friends with a young whale they named Laboon, and they promised to meet him again. Sadly, they never could. They were attacked by a rival pirate crew using poisoned weapons, which led to a slow and painful death for Brook and the rest of the crew. Even in their final moments, they bravely played music and sang together, but watching such a cheerful crew meet such a tragic end was truly heartbreaking.

Portgas D. Ace

Sacrificed Himself To Protect His Younger Brother

Debut: Chapter 154 (Manga) Episode 91 (Anime)

Portgas D. Ace had all the potential to become an incredibly powerful pirate, possibly even the next Pirate King. He was the son of Gol D. Roger, raised by Whitebeard, and wielded the immensely strong Mera Mera no Mi Devil Fruit. Unfortunately, he was betrayed and defeated by Blackbeard, leading to his capture by the World Government and sparking a huge war between the Marines and Whitebeard’s crew.

Ace nearly survived the battle at Marineford, but he intentionally sacrificed himself to protect his brother Luffy when Admiral Akainu provoked an attack. While Ace wasn’t flawless, he was a strong and respected pirate with a lot of potential. Had he lived longer, he likely would have achieved great things in the world of One Piece. The one positive aspect of his tragic death is that it motivated Luffy to become even stronger and pursue his dream of becoming the Pirate King.

Queen Otohime And Fisher Tiger

Wanted To Stop The Rampant Discrimination Of Their People

Debut: Chapter 621 (Manga) Episode 539 (Anime)
Debut: Chapter 521 (Manga) Episode 145 (Anime)

Queen Otohime and Fisher Tiger both dedicated their lives to bridging the gap between humans and Fish-Men/Merfolk, but they pursued this goal in very different ways. Otohime, as a kind ruler, believed in the power of diplomacy and peaceful persuasion. Fisher Tiger, a powerful adventurer and pirate, chose to fight for freedom by battling the Marines and liberating slaves.

Both Otohime and Fisher Tiger played vital roles in fighting for equality for their people, making their deaths particularly heartbreaking. Otohime was murdered by Hody Jones as a deliberate attempt to worsen the conflict between humans and Fish-Men/Merfolk, and Fisher Tiger was killed by the Marines shortly after successfully reuniting a formerly enslaved woman with her family. Had either of these leaders lived, the world of One Piece would likely be a more peaceful place today.

Shimotsuki Yasuie

Gave His Life For The Future Of His Country

Debut: Chapter 929 (Manga) Episode 916 (Anime)

Kurozumi Orochi’s cruel rule devastated the people of Wano, and the town of Ebisu suffered the most. Its citizens faced extreme poverty and didn’t have enough food or water. To make things worse, they were forced to eat artificial fruits called SMILEs, which trapped them in a permanent, emotionless grin.

Shimotsuki Yasuie, the lord of Hakumai, worked to bring joy to the people of Ebisu, encouraging them to find humor even in hardship and even taking in a young girl named Toko. He ultimately sacrificed himself to deceive Orochi, making it appear he was the leader of the planned rebellion instead of the Nine Red Scabbards. This led to his public execution by crucifixion and gunfire, a sight his followers could only meet with laughter due to a prior condition. Yasuie was a selfless man who bravely risked everything for the sake of his country, and his actions proved vital in the fight to defeat both Orochi and Kaido.

Ginny

She Should Have Lived A Peaceful Life Alongside Kuma And Bonney

Debut: Chapter 1095 (Manga) Episode 1125 (Anime)

Among all the sad deaths in One Piece, Ginny’s is arguably the most emotionally devastating. She played a key part in the God Valley Incident and, alongside her beloved Bartholomew Kuma, joined the Revolutionary Army to fight against the World Government. They were steadily making a difference, working towards a better world, when Ginny was tragically captured by a Celestial Dragon.

This optimistic and courageous woman was enslaved and subjected to cruel experiments by Jaygarcia Saturn, which ultimately led to her death. She was released shortly before she died, allowing her to travel to Sorbet Kingdom and entrust her newborn daughter, Bonney, to Kuma, hoping he would raise her. It’s a heartbreaking story – Ginny, Kuma, and Bonney deserved a happy life together, but sadly, fate had other plans.

Harald

He Just Wanted What Was Best For His Country

Debut: Chapter 1136 (Manga)

King Harald of Elbaph wanted to improve his country’s image and build relationships with other nations, encouraged by his love for Ida. However, Imu and the Five Elders exploited his good intentions. They knew that controlling the giant warriors of Elbaph would make the World Government’s army incredibly powerful, and they used Harald to achieve that goal.

Following the death of his close friend Rocks D. Xebec, Harald was deceived by the World Government into joining the Knights of God and making a pact with Imu. This agreement allowed Imu to eventually control Harald, leading to a tragic situation where Harald’s son, Loki, was forced to kill him. Like Otohime and Yasuie before him, Harald simply wanted a better life for his people, but ultimately suffered an unjust fate. Thankfully, his ideals continue to inspire the people of Elbaph, particularly through his sons, Jakr and Loki.

2026-02-17 05:06