One Piece Characters Who Have Killed Luffy’s Friends

Summary

Luffy has lost friends due to malicious murders from individuals like Perospero, Kizaru, and Blackbeard.
Character deaths have left a lasting impact on Luffy.
Imu and Akainu played pivotal roles in the deaths of characters, shaping Luffy’s journey in One Piece.

This list contains heavy spoilers up to the end of Egghead Island.

A fundamental truth that fans of One Piece are well-acquainted with is that it’s an uncommon series when it comes to character deaths. However, if a storyline demands it, Eiichiro Oda doesn’t hesitate to eliminate characters from the narrative. Regrettably for Luffy, some of these fallen comrades were his close friends.

Typically, these characters meet their end due to various personal reasons, like being notorious pirates or coming dangerously close to the World Government. However, some have been eliminated as a form of revenge against Luffy himself. Throughout the One Piece storyline, Luffy has tragically lost several companions and allies. These are the villainous figures who delivered the fatal blow.

Perospero

Perospero Forces Pedro Into Making The Ultimate Sacrifice

Killed: Pedro

As the eldest member of Big Mom’s pirate squad, Perospero boasts a wealth of combat experience against those who dare cross him and his mother. His unique skill of conjuring candies from nothing makes him formidable, especially when he uses these sweets to fashion weapons. This proved challenging for the Straw Hats during their assault on Whole Cake Island.

As the team heads out to save Sanji, Perospero vows to annihilate them before they can reach him. But Pedro intervenes courageously, giving up his life for the sake of his newly formed companions. Luffy had developed a close bond with Pedro since their first encounter on Zou, so witnessing Pedro being pushed into such a desperate predicament by Perospero was a severe blow not only to him but the entire Straw Hat pirates. Despite being engrossed in the Wano arc and focusing on Kaido and Big Mom, Luffy’s seething animosity towards Perospero for what transpired on Whole Cake Island remained palpable.

Kizaru

The Admiral Unwillingly Killed The Greatest Scientist In The World

Killed: Vegapunk

Despite the fact that Vegapunk’s intelligence surpasses Luffy’s by a wide margin, this doesn’t prevent the Straw Hat captain from developing feelings of affection and respect towards the renowned scientist. Upon arriving at Egghead Island, Luffy gets an opportunity to interact with Vegapunk, gaining insights into his lifestyle on the island, as well as his heartfelt dedication to improving the world through scientific advancements.

Regrettably, they had only brief opportunities to interact with each other, as the Marines decided to execute a massive Buster Call operation against Egghead Island, targeting Vegapunk for assassination. In the end, it was Vegapunk’s old friend Kizaru who took his life, but fortunately Luffy managed to land some blows on Kizaru before he escaped.

Blackbeard

Blackbeard Took Whitebeard’s Life Only Hours After Luffy First Met Him

Killed: Whitebeard

Despite Whitebeard accumulating numerous injuries during the Marineford War, it was ultimately Blackbeard and his crew who brought about his demise. In true Blackbeard style, this ruthless pirate made a late entry into the war to eliminate his former captain, with the intention of subsequently claiming his Devil Fruit for himself.

At this stage of the battle, Luffy had been deeply affected by his brother Ace’s demise, so he found out about Whitebeard’s death in bits while talking to Rayleigh. Although Luffy and Whitebeard initially clashed, it was evident as the war progressed that they developed a profound respect for each other. Luffy admired Whitebeard because he risked his life to save Ace. Consequently, Luffy despised Blackbeard even more when he learned about Whitebeard’s demise, as Blackbeard represented everything Luffy detested.

Imu

Imu Removed Cobra From Existence After Realizing He Knew Too Much

Killed: Cobra

In the Reverie arc, a figure shrouded in enigma, referred to as Imu, made their debut. Though it’s evident that they head the World Government and effectively rule the world at large, the specifics about their personal identity continue to be elusive. Consequently, they’ve only been actively involved in crucial events sporadically within the narrative, but one of the most striking instances was when they mercilessly executed Cobra, king of Alabasta.

After the Straw Hats aided in ending the conflict within Alabasta, Cobra and Luffy formed an unexpected friendship. Cobra was grateful not only for Luffy saving the country, but also his daughter Vivi. However, what Cobra didn’t know was that he possessed crucial information about Imu and the will of D. Once Imu became aware of this, he felt it necessary to eliminate Cobra to prevent him from revealing sensitive information. This act greatly angered Luffy, who already had several reasons to dislike Imu, and the murder of Cobra, along with Sabo’s involvement in the incident, is a significant reason for his animosity towards Imu.

Akainu

Akainu Ruined Luffy And Ace’s Dream Of A Happy Ever After

Killed: Ace

Regardless of spending most of their adventure apart, Luffy and Ace had a friendship as strong as stone, forged in their youth. After they shared a toast, the pair declared themselves brothers, promising unwavering loyalty through thick and thin. Consequently, when Ace was captured by the Marines and faced execution, Luffy vowed to do everything in his power to prevent this dire outcome.

As it appeared Luffy and Ace were about to escape unscathed, Akainu taunted Ace’s captain, Whitebeard, right before their eyes. This provocation aimed to draw Whitebeard back one last time. In an instant, Akainu plunged a magma-seared fist into Ace, ending the young pirate’s life with a single strike. The act left Luffy in a state of emotional devastation, barely able to stand. The demise of Ace deeply affected Luffy as an individual and significantly contributed to his maturity, making him more aware of the peril that threatens not only himself but also his crew. However, the scar on Luffy’s chest serves as a persistent reminder of the Marine who took away his brother from him.

2025-08-05 08:34