In the world of One Piece, the Yonko are the four strongest pirates. They dominate the New World – the most treacherous part of the Grand Line – and wield power comparable to the Navy and the World Government. They control various territories and often form alliances with other pirate crews. In the New World, a pirate’s only real options are to become a Yonko themselves, or to join one as a subordinate.
The Yonko are incredibly strong, but being powerful in the world of One Piece doesn’t automatically make someone an Emperor. There have been characters who were powerful enough to be Yonko, but didn’t become one for various reasons.
6. Shiki
Shiki, also known as the Golden Lion, is a powerful and well-known pirate from the same generation as Gol D. Roger who is still sailing the seas. He was once part of the Rocks Pirates, serving alongside Rocks D. Xebec. Shiki’s strength was immense, making him one of the most dangerous pirates after the fall of the Rocks Pirates. He famously commanded a massive fleet and repeatedly clashed with Roger, proving his exceptional power.
Shiki was incredibly powerful, able to fight both Sengoku and Garp simultaneously. During their battle, he managed to destroy half of Marineford, even with both of them present. Though ultimately captured and imprisoned in Impel Down, he escaped by using his Devil Fruit power, the Fuwa Fuwa Nomi, to sever his own legs. In a fight, stopping Shiki seemed nearly impossible. Despite his strength, he never became one of the Four Emperors. Even without legs, he was more than capable of reaching that level of power, and his current location is a mystery.
5. Loki
Okay, so Loki is seriously one of the strongest characters in One Piece – I’m completely blown away by his potential! From the moment he was born, everyone knew he was a force to be reckoned with, but things really escalated fourteen years ago when he ate the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Nidhogg. And it doesn’t stop there! He also wields Ragnir, this incredible hammer that belonged to the god of war from Elbaf. Honestly, all of that combined puts him way above most people in the One Piece world. I think even the current Emperors would have a tough time fighting him – Shanks is probably the only one who could go toe-to-toe with him, in my opinion!
Fourteen years ago, Loki began a journey at sea. He spent eight years traveling the oceans before Shanks eventually returned him to Elbaf. During that time, Loki had a strong chance of becoming one of the world’s most powerful pirates – an Emperor – particularly since Shanks wasn’t yet a member of the Four Emperors at that point.
4. Dracule Mihawk
Dracule Mihawk is a tremendously powerful character in the world of One Piece. Widely recognized as the greatest swordsman alive, he used to be rivals with Shanks. They fought many times, and their battles were legendary throughout the Grand Line, though none ever had a clear winner – every duel ended in a tie. Because Mihawk was on par with Shanks in strength, he was considered a Yonko-level pirate and remains one of the most powerful figures in the series.
Mihawk has the strength to become one of the world’s most powerful pirates, an Emperor, whenever he chooses. However, he avoids seeking that level of power because it would bring unwanted attention. He doesn’t want to be hunted by the Marines or challenged by ambitious new pirates. Mihawk prefers a peaceful life, and he knows staying out of the Emperor race is the best way to achieve it. He’s clearly strong enough to become a Yonko if he truly desired the title.
3. Trafalgar Law
Trafalgar Law is a remarkably strong character in the world of One Piece, and is considered part of the newer generation of pirates alongside Luffy. He’s quickly becoming one of the most powerful figures, as demonstrated in the recent Wano arc where his abilities were crucial in defeating Big Mom. Importantly, he achieved this victory even though he hasn’t reached his full potential yet.
Law has the potential to become significantly more powerful, potentially mastering abilities like Conqueror’s Haki. Despite losing to Blackbeard recently, his bounty of 3 billion berries – the same as Luffy’s – indicates he’s a very strong fighter. Having improved his skills during the Wano arc, Law could realistically challenge the most powerful pirates, the Emperors (Yonko), and even become one himself. His biggest weakness currently isn’t his own strength, but the relative lack of power within his pirate crew, the Heart Pirates. If they can become much stronger, Law would be a true contender against any of the Yonko in the world of One Piece.
2. Eustass Kid
Eustass Kid is an incredibly powerful pirate sailing the New World. He’s as notorious as Luffy and Law, with a bounty of 3 billion berries. During the Wano Country arc, Kid fought against two of the most powerful pirates, Big Mom and Kaido. He played a crucial role in defeating Big Mom and knocking her off Onigashima, and his contributions were essential to the overall victory against the Emperors.
Kid was understandably upset when Luffy became a Yonko instead of him, particularly since their bounty amounts are comparable and Kid considers himself Luffy’s equal, or even a worthy rival. The stark difference in their power was made clear when Shanks easily defeated Kid with a single sword strike. Considering Shanks is currently the strongest of the Yonko, this defeat highlighted the gap between them. Despite this, Kid still deserves to be considered a contender for the position of Emperor, especially if he continues to build up his crew’s strength.
TopMob Quiz
—
Results
—
1. Wang Zhi
Among all the pirates who could have risen to become a Yonko, Wang Zhi stands out. He was once a member of the legendary Rocks Pirates and, after Rocks D. Xebec died, took control of Pirate Island. Wang Zhi ruled the island for many years, until Blackbeard defeated him during the event known as the Rocky Port Incident.
For many years, Wang Zhi had the power to become one of the Four Emperors. Some believe he actually was the fourth Emperor before Shanks, considering his control over Pirate Island, a hugely important and dangerous location in the pirate world. His current location is a mystery, but if he isn’t currently an Emperor, it’s likely he was unfairly stripped of the title, given how much influence he once held.
One Piece chapter 1178 will be available to read on March 29, 2026 on Manga Plus.
Read More
- Change Your Perspective Anomaly Commission Guide In NTE (Neverness to Everness)
- How to Get the Wunderbarrage in Totenreich (BO7 Zombies)
- How to Beat Turbines in ARC Raiders
- NTE Drift Guide (& Best Car Mods for Drifting)
- Robinhood’s $75M OpenAI Bet: Retail Access or Legal Minefield?
- Beware! Phishing Emails Are Deceiving Robinhood Users in a Sneaky Plot!
- NTE Fan Shows Off Mint Cosplay
- All Nameless Hospital Endings Full Guide In NTE
- NTE Banners (Current, Next, And Upcoming Banners)
- All Totenreich Relics & How to Unlock Them
2026-05-09 23:37