One Piece: 8 Strongest Swordsmen Before Mihawk’s Era

The series One Piece features many incredibly talented swordsmen, but Dracule Mihawk is considered one of the very best. He was already famous long before the current age of pirates began. Today, he’s known as the world’s strongest swordsman, though many believe even more powerful swordsmen existed in the past, some potentially surpassing his skill.

Shiki

  • Swords: Oto and Kogarashi

Known worldwide as “The Golden Lion,” Shiki was once a member of the powerful Rocks Pirates. After that crew broke up 38 years ago, he formed his own pirate group. He was a major rival to Roger and considered one of the three strongest pirates of his time. Shiki commanded the largest fleet in the Grand Line, making him a formidable opponent even to Roger’s crew.

Shiki was an incredibly powerful pirate who wielded two swords, Oto and Kogarashi. He had exceptionally strong Haki, and his overall skill level placed him among the greatest pirates of his era. Though his specific sword fighting techniques haven’t been shown, he’s considered a legend, spoken of in the same regard as Roger and Whitebeard, proving his immense talent.

Garling Figarland

  • Swords: Unnamed Saber

Saint Garling Frigarland is currently one of the Five Elders, and he recently retired from his position as the Supreme Commander of the Holy Knights. He’s an extremely powerful warrior, highly skilled with a sword, and fought against formidable opponents like Rocks during the God Valley incident – though he was defeated. Garling has a special agreement with Imu that gives him incredible abilities, including immense strength, rapid healing, and eternal life. Now that he’s part of the Five Elders, his powers have likely increased even more.

Garling is incredibly strong, and we haven’t even seen the limits of his power yet. As someone who skillfully uses advanced Haki and has other impressive abilities, he’s easily one of the most powerful swordsmen from the past.

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Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro

  • Sword: Shodai Kitetsu

I’ve heard about Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, one of the Five Elders, and let me tell you, he’s an incredibly skilled swordsman – possibly the best in the One Piece world, if you go by what people say. He wields a Supreme Grade sword called Shodai Kitetsu, which already makes him a force to be reckoned with. But it doesn’t stop there. Apparently, he has a special deal with Imu, the Abyssal Covenant, that gives him things like immense strength, the ability to heal instantly, and effectively makes him immortal and never age. It’s a pretty powerful combination.

He possesses a Yokai ability named Bakotsu, allowing him to transform into a skeletal horse or a creature combining both forms. Coupled with his incredibly strong Conqueror Haki, these powers establish him as a top-tier swordsman in the One Piece world, capable of effortlessly slicing through entire islands.

Silvers Rayleigh

  • Sword: Unnamed Blades

Silvers Rayleigh is widely considered one of the most powerful pirates in the world of One Piece. He was Roger’s trusted first mate and an incredibly skilled swordsman, earning him the nickname ‘Dark King’ and widespread fame. Even as an old man, Rayleigh is strong enough to be compared to the Yonko, demonstrating just how formidable he once was.

I’ve heard stories about Rayleigh – he was a terrifying swordsman, able to fight with two swords simultaneously and become incredibly dangerous. What really set him apart, though, was his mastery of Haki – all three kinds! When he channeled that power into his swords, it made him unbelievably strong. People said he could easily defeat the Holy Knights, and some even put him on the same level as the Emperors – that’s how formidable he was.

Kozuki Oden

  • Swords: Enma and Ame no Habikiri

Before Mihawk became famous for his swordsmanship, Kozuki Oden was the most renowned swordsman. This legendary samurai from Wano Country skillfully wielded two powerful swords, Ame no Habakiri and Enma. He mastered both swords and all three types of Haki by the incredibly young age of nine, and his Ryuo technique was considered unmatched.

Oden was a formidable swordsman with a unique style called Oden Nitoryu, making him a dangerous opponent. At his strongest, he was as powerful as the most influential figures in the One Piece world, and potentially could have defeated even Yonko Kaido, an incredibly powerful and nearly unmatched fighter.

Rocks D. Xebec

  • Sword: Eclipse

Rocks D. Xebec was a famous and incredibly strong swordsman who became known about 56 years ago when he attacked a meeting in the Holy Land of Marijoa and easily defeated a Navy Admiral. He was considered one of the greatest swordsmen in the world of One Piece, and his fighting style was unlike any other. Instead of simply cutting with his sword, Rocks used his Haki to deliver powerful, crushing blows from within his opponents, making him a truly unique fighter.

However, Rocks wasn’t helpless with a sword either. He rose to power during a time filled with incredibly strong fighters in the One Piece world, and proved his skill by defeating powerful opponents like the Elders and Holy Knights at God Valley. This made him one of the most dangerous swordsmen of his era.

Harald

  • Sword: Unnamed Legendary Blade

Similar to Rocks, King Harald was a skilled swordsman with incredible power. Around 109 years ago, Harald was a formidable force in the world of One Piece, but he later reformed thanks to Ida. He rose to become one of the strongest people on the seas, rivaling Rocks D. Xebec in every way. Ultimately, he made a powerful pact with Imu, known as the Depths Covenant, which further amplified his strength.

Harald possessed all three forms of Haki, but his Conqueror’s Haki was his most formidable ability. He was powerful enough to effortlessly obliterate nations, and after gaining strength from Imu, he became capable of destroying the entire world.

Gol D. Roger

  • Sword: Ace

As a long-time One Piece fan, it’s widely believed that Gol D. Roger was the strongest swordsman before Mihawk! He wasn’t just good, he was incredible, and what’s really fascinating is he fought purely with Haki. Similar to Rocks D. Xebec, Roger didn’t aim to cut his enemies – he specialized in delivering these devastating, invisible shockwaves. It wasn’t about visible wounds; he’d shatter your bones from the inside, leaving no outward marks at all. It’s a truly terrifying and unique fighting style!

Roger wasn’t a swordsman in the classic sense, and he didn’t particularly value the art of swordsmanship, but he was undeniably one of the most powerful fighters with a blade during his era. His immense strength allowed him to overcome even the Haki defenses of a powerful opponent, Domi Reversed Rocks, decades before he reached his peak. At his prime, he was a terrifying force, feared by the World Government more than anyone else on Earth.

One Piece is available to read on Manga Plus.

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2026-04-19 00:52