One Piece: Blackbeard’s Crew Will Be Even Stronger Than The Rocks Pirates, And Here’s Why

Following the disclosure that Xebec is Blackbeard’s father and the implication that the ‘Rocks D.’ bloodline might hold greater significance than initially believed in the world of One Piece, many fans concur that Blackbeard could very well turn out to be the ultimate final antagonist. This theory has been subtly suggested since his debut, as Oda has steadily developed him as Luffy’s formidable counterpart.

In light of the widespread belief among fans that Teach might turn out to be Luffy’s ultimate adversary following Imu, many are also speculating about the crews of both Yonko in this regard. For quite some time now, discussions have been ongoing regarding this topic, and a subtle point from the Egghead Island arc lends credence to the notion that the Blackbeard Pirates will surpass the Rocks Pirates in power, eventually emerging as the true final antagonists of One Piece. Let’s explore the reasons behind this.

Blackbeard Will Recruit The Seraphim Into His Ranks In The Final War

The Strongest Force On The Seas

Blackbeard Pirates’ First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 234, “Please Remember”
Seraphim First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 1059, “The Matter Involving Captain Koby”

Among the pivotal story arcs in “One Piece,” the Egghead arc stands out for its numerous groundbreaking revelations, and it significantly shapes the dynamics of the upcoming Final War. The most remarkable disclosures centered around the Seraphim, a new power group created by Dr. Vegapunk and the Marine Special Science Group to supplant the Warlords of the Sea system as one of the Three Great Powers.

Because these Warlords held excessive power under the given system, it led to widespread misuse and conflict among various nations. Even Marine Admiral Fujitora joined in the effort to end this abuse. However, maintaining balance is crucial in the world, so the Three Great Powers must stay strong to prevent one from gaining too much control. This is why the World Government assigned Vegapunk to develop a new system to replace the Warlords.

Through analyzing the genetic material of the Warlords, Vegapunk successfully produced almost identical copies of each original seven. He then incorporated the Lunarian Lineage Factor, obtained from King and Green Blood, which enables users to mimic the abilities of Devil Fruits. These creations were the Seraphim; formidable warriors, capable of standing against the strongest characters in the series, even at a young age, though they were yet to reach their full potential.

In general operation, these Seraphims follow a hierarchical structure, with their main control coming from those who issue them commands. The highest-ranking individuals in this hierarchy are the Gorosei, led by St. Jaygarcia Saturn, as they hold unchallenged authority within the World Government. Nevertheless, near the end of Egghead, Catarina Devon and Van Auger from the Blackbeard Pirates unexpectedly emerged on the island.

Your crew is always up to something! What do you hope to get out of these stunts?

Everyone was taken aback, particularly when Devon manipulated Saturn’s identity after touching him, given that her Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox, bestows upon her such a formidable power. This leads many in the community to speculate that Blackbeard will leverage her abilities to seize command of the Seraphim during the Final War, a move that aligns perfectly with his cunning and underhanded nature. It is also widely believed that he will ultimately bring about Imu’s and the World Government’s downfall.

Performing this action would be ideal not just for the character alone, but also for the “One Piece” series overall. By amassing his own extraordinarily powerful crew alongside the Seraphim, Blackbeard will unquestionably form the most powerful pirate crew ever known, outdoing crews like the Rocks Pirates and potentially even rivaling Joyboy’s ancient crew.

Why The Seraphim Are The Perfect Endgame Fights For The Straw Hats

Quintessential Match-Ups

  • Each of the Seraphim represents a Warlord that has a strong relation to the Straw Hats.

Should this scenario unfold and the Seraphim indeed fall under Blackbeard’s command, it sets up an intriguing twist for the Straw Hats in the concluding chapter of their story. While some speculate that several members of the crew have saved their most formidable battles for the Great War, like Luffy against Imu or Zoro against Nusjuro, a surprise intervention by Blackbeard and his formidably strong crew at the last moment would certainly add an exciting layer to the climax.

Although the Seraphim demonstrated remarkable prowess in their Egghead debut, Vegapunk noted they are still immature at present. However, as they mature, they will undoubtedly become the most formidable force on Earth. Therefore, any faction leveraging these potent weapons during the Final War is likely to emerge victorious. Moreover, it’s speculated that the Seraphim will eventually supersede all new Blackbeard Pirates recruited post-Impel Down arc, save for Catarina Devon. Let’s delve into why this theory holds water.

Luffy vs. Blackbeard

It’s evident since the Jaya storyline that Luffy and Blackbeard are polar opposites, set on a collision course for a climactic battle at the end of the One Piece series. While Imu has been portrayed as the primary antagonist, perpetrating centuries of oppression and wickedness in the world, it’s actually Blackbeard who embodies the exact opposite of Luffy in every aspect. This confrontation seems inevitable throughout the entire series.

Zoro vs. S-Hawk, The Mihawk Seraphim

Just like Luffy and Blackbeard have a significant role in the story, so does Zoro’s relationship with Mihawk. Throughout his swordsman journey, Mihawk has been the benchmark for Zoro. It’s only logical that their confrontation against S-Hawk is imminent. This battle will serve as a test of Zoro’s swordsmanship skills before he possibly faces Mihawk in the final showdown to determine who is the World’s Strongest Swordsman, or this could be the epic duel that decides it once and for all.

Sanji vs. S-Flamingo, The Doflamingo Seraphim

Even though it may not seem immediately evident, the battle between Sanji and this character could indeed be logical given that Doflamingo has been known as one of the most powerful Warlords. Since Sanji previously suffered a significant loss against him in Dressrosa, facing a potentially stronger version of the antagonist would provide an ideal platform to demonstrate Sanji’s growth, as this Seraphim is suspected to be at or near Yonko level.

Jinbe vs. S-Shark, The Jinbe Seraphim

In this confrontation, Jinbei might find himself facing an enhanced version of himself, capable of moving on land. This battle could be significant because it offers a chance to boost Jinbei’s power for the upcoming Final War. His power hasn’t significantly increased since the Wano arc concluded, and his performances on Egghead and Elbaf didn’t seem to highlight his strength effectively.

Robin vs. S-Croc, The Crocodile Seraphim

Observing Robin confronting the Crocodile Seraphim would undoubtedly make for an intriguing spectacle and an ideal conflict for her in the Final War, given their tumultuous past. For much of her adult life, she was under Crocodile’s employ as Miss All-Sunday within Baroque Works, which eventually culminated in his betrayal, nearly leading to her demise. Engaging in a struggle against S-Croc offers Robin an opportunity for a fitting symbolic retribution that could serve as the climax of the series.

Brook vs. S-Gecko, The Gecko Moria Seraphim

Similarly to Robin, Brook’s journey of becoming a member of the Straw Hats was initiated due to an unfortunate encounter with Gecko Moria in the Florian Triangle, where Moria took away his shadow. Since the time skip, Brook has demonstrated significant power and participated in numerous impressive battles. A fight against Moria’s Seraphim would be a fitting conclusion to Brook’s story arc, showcasing his growth and abilities.

It appears that despite being programmed by the World Government, the Seraphim maintain the feelings of the humans they are modeled after. This is evident in S-Snake’s decision not to attack Luffy and her aid to the Straw Hats. Therefore, it can be reasonably concluded that neither S-Snake nor S-Bear, the Kuma Seraphim, will engage in combat with the Straw Hats because of S-Snake’s affection for Luffy, which she received from Boa Hancock, or S-Bear’s kindness, a trait he likely inherited from Kuma. The upcoming battles will then be against the genuine members of the Blackbeard Pirates.

Usopp vs. Van Auger, The Sniper

Throughout the series, fans have eagerly anticipated Usopp’s power-up more than any other character, with some even expressing concern about his abilities during the Final War. However, it was during the Enies Lobby arc that Usopp truly found his place within the crew, excelling as a sniper. This makes him an ideal contender to engage in a sniper duel against Van Auger in the Final War, a battle that would highlight just how far Usopp has come in terms of power.

Franky vs. Jesus Burgess, The Helmsman

In a similar vein to Sanji’s match-up, there isn’t a strong link suggesting a thematic fight between these two characters. Yet, both Franky and Burgess are characterized by excessive machismo and an abundance of bravado, rooted in their self-pride and strength. Given their roles within the Blackbeard Pirates and the Straw Hats, respectively, it seems fitting that one of them could face off against the other during their confrontation.

Chopper vs. Doc Q, The Doctor

Chopper’s personal odyssey has revolved around his ambition to aid others and attain the title of the world’s finest physician. Conversely, Doc Q is infamously known as the ‘God of Death’ due to his profession involving poison and causing harm – the antithesis of a doctor’s role. Given Chopper’s altruistic zeal and Doc Q’s antagonistic nature, their confrontation has long been imminent, making this encounter the peak challenge of Chopper’s existence.

Nami vs. Lafitte, The Navigator

In simpler terms, Nami isn’t known for her fighting skills and has mainly taken on support roles during conflicts she’s involved in. Similarly, Lafitte is enshrouded in mystery and isn’t typically depicted as a fighter. Given that they are both navigators and their lack of combat experience, this confrontation seems fitting for them both.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-08-04 18:33