Is Prime Rayleigh the Secretly Strongest Pirate, Even Tougher Than the Yonko?

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This post contains spoilers for One Piece.

Summary

  • Silvers Rayleigh’s feats include stopping Kizaru and intimidating Blackbeard.
  • Rayleigh is proficient with all three types of Haki, including Conqueror’s Haki.
  • In his prime, Rayleigh may have been on par with the Yonko, but there is no concrete evidence of this.

In the fictional world of One Piece, it was the Roger Pirates who ruled over the vast oceans, eventually amassing the world’s greatest treasure. By being the first to reach the Laugh Tale, they solidified their reputation as the most infamous pirate crew.

Yet, their success wouldn’t have materialized without a robust foundation. The Roger Pirates boasted some of the most formidable fighters among their ranks. Leading this formidable group was undoubtedly their captain, Gol D. Roger, followed closely by Kozuki Oden, the legendary samurai from Wano. Not far behind came Silvers Rayleigh, who stood as a trusted confidant to Gol D. Roger. Over time, there have been many discussions about the strength of each crew member, including Rayleigh.

Silvers Rayleigh’s Feats Are Rather Impressive

He Has Accomplished A Lot In His Life

Rayleigh has yet to fully demonstrate his potential, but he boasts several impressive accomplishments. One of them is halting Kizaru in his advance, an achievement that left the Admiral considering reinforcements for a live capture. Notably, Rayleigh managed to inflict a wound on Kizaru’s face, suggesting that he circumvented the Admiral’s Devil Fruit power.

Undo the petrification, Hancock… I’ll mediate this situation. —Rayleigh

An additional example demonstrating that Rayleigh isn’t your typical pirate is the fact that Blackbeard, who previously showed no hesitation in eliminating Boa Hancock and all of Amazon Lily’s inhabitants, retreated when Rayleigh appeared. It’s worth noting that Rayleigh himself acknowledged he wouldn’t have been able to defeat Blackbeard one-on-one. This is reasonable given that Rayleigh was well beyond his peak at the time.

Rayleigh Has Access To All Types Of Haki

Among a select few characters, Silvers Rayleigh is exceptionally skilled in manipulating all three forms of Haki, and he demonstrates great proficiency in their use. Specifically, Rayleigh has perfected the art of Armament Haki, which allows him to project it from afar, defeating enemies without physical contact. Furthermore, his Armament Haki enables him to disintegrate a person’s body internally. Remarkably, Rayleigh’s Armament Haki proved powerful enough to pierce through Kizaru’s intangibility.

Rayleigh demonstrates remarkable mastery over Observation Haki, a skill that allows him to perceive certain aspects about individuals, such as their power levels. Additionally, he’s capable of sensing the presence of others using this ability. However, it remains uncertain if he possesses the ability to utilize Future Sight.

Silvers Rayleigh not only wields Conqueror’s Haki, but he is particularly proficient with it. In a SBS, Oda indicated that Rayleigh could have easily overpowered all 100,000 Fish-Men, suggesting his control surpasses Luffy’s. Moreover, Rayleigh is among the select few who can incorporate Conqueror’s Haki into his attacks. This ability allows him to enhance the force behind his strikes significantly. In his prime, it’s reasonable to assume that both Rayleigh’s Haki and physical strength would have been substantially greater.

Was Prime Rayleigh Stronger Than The Yonko?

At the peak of his powers, Rayleigh surpassed the abilities of even Yonko Commanders and Marine Admirals, with some arguing he matched the Yonko themselves. Yet, it remains unproven that Rayleigh could have defeated any of the Yonko. The majority of the Yonko from One Piece display extraordinary feats, except for Buggy. They are formidable beings, wielding incredibly potent Devil Fruits and Haki. Some instances showcasing their immense strength include:

1. Whitebeard’s ability to create a colossal tidal wave with a single strike.
2. Kaido’s transformation into a giant dragon, capable of leveling entire islands.
3. Blackbeard’s manipulation of darkness and space, allowing him to teleport at will.
4. Big Mom’s control over sweet-scented clouds, which can alter the weather and heal her allies.

  • Ryokugyu ran away after Shanks used his Haki
  • Whitebeard thrashed Admiral Akainu
  • Luffy beat Kizaru in Egghead with no real problems

A flashback by Oda might offer further insights into Rayleigh’s power, enhancing fan perspectives. It’s plausible to assume that if Rayleigh was as strong as a Yonko, he could have given them quite a challenge. This implies that Scopper Gaban too would have been equally formidable, considering their comparable strength. However, whether Rayleigh could have defeated the Yonko is uncertain. Nevertheless, it’s indisputable that Rayleigh ranks among the most powerful characters in One Piece, earning him the title of the Dark King.

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2025-04-30 19:54