One Piece: Garp, And Other Legends Who Never Became Weak

This list contains spoilers up to the Elbaph arc of One Piece

It might seem logical that characters from the “One Piece” series who were incredibly powerful in their youth would grow weak and frail as they age. However, not all legends adhere to this pattern. Intriguingly, some of the most formidable pirates and marines from yesteryears appear to be even more ferocious and threatening in the present narrative than ever before. Remarkably, these characters should arguably have retired long ago, but they continue to showcase remarkable strength and vigor in their advanced years.

In battle, these particular individuals can be extremely volatile as they’re capable of unexpectedly unleashing powerful and destructive moves amidst chaos. This has been experienced by Luffy and the Straw Hats on multiple occasions, where what seems like a weak or tired opponent can actually hide immense power beneath the surface – a trait particularly evident among these legendary characters from One Piece.

Garp

Despite His Age, Garp Is Still More Than Capable Of Flattening An Entire Island With A Single Punch

First Appearance: Episode 313
Devil Fruit: N/A

In his prime, Garp was a formidable force, standing out as the marine with enough strength to engage in battles not only with the legendary Gol D. Roger, but also the incredibly powerful pirate, Rocks. His actions at God Valley earned him the title of Marine Hero, and though he spends much of his time now lounging and snacking on potato chips, it doesn’t mean he’s fully retired. On the contrary, despite being older than most marines, Garp has repeatedly demonstrated that he can still deliver a powerful blow when necessary.

In the latest turn of events, I’ve witnessed Garp unleash a breathtaking assault, Galaxy Impact, that leveled an entire island with a solitary punch – quite possibly the most impactful move seen in the series thus far. It’s important to clarify that although he never accepted the title, Garp’s prowess is beyond question, making him a formidable Marine indeed. He remains one of their most trusted figures in confronting powerful pirates.

Kaido

The Intimidating Yonko Only Got Stronger With Age

First Appearance: Episode 739
Devil Fruit: Fish Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon

Once part of the notorious Rocks pirate gang, one might expect Kaido, with his epic seafaring adventures behind him, to retire peacefully after their disbandment. However, instead of settling down, the Yonko extraordinaire formed a new army by seizing control of the island of Wano and converting it into an immense weapons factory. With his power to morph into a fearsome Azure Dragon at his disposal, few dared challenge Kaido in an attempt to liberate the country, leaving him to wreak havoc over Wano for several years.

When Luffy faces off against Kaido, it’s evident that Kaido has grown old and seems deeply disenchanted with the world. However, despite this, he manages to overpower Luffy with a single Thunder Bagua, demonstrating to Luffy that he has a considerable distance yet to travel before matching Kaido’s legendary power. Though Luffy eventually defeats Kaido, he could only do so by tapping into the hidden strength of his Devil Fruit, and the journey to reach this point was definitely not an easy one.

Whitebeard

The Strongest Man Alive Kept That Title Until His Passing

First Appearance: Episode 485
Devil Fruit: Tremor Tremor Fruit

Just as Kaido later did, Whitebeard chose to establish his own pirate crew following Rocks’ defeat at God Valley. When audiences first encounter Whitebeard in the main narrative, it becomes evident that the mightiest man alive was severely ill, and his crew may have been unaware of the extent of his condition. Typically, someone in such a critical state wouldn’t last long against a single Marine battleship. However, since we’re discussing Whitebeard, he engaged in an enormous conflict with all the Marines, not for personal gain, but to attempt rescuing one of his crewmates.

In the tumultuous fight, Whitebeard harnessed his Devil Fruit’s power to trigger colossal earthquakes, catching the Marines off-guard and demonstrating his formidable might. Simultaneously, he was peppered with hundreds of bullet holes and slashes from swords across his body. Remarkably, he stayed on his feet through it all. Whitebeard serves as a testament that appearances can be deceiving in the world of One Piece. Despite appearing weak due to illness, he had an impressive reservoir of energy left, capable of shaking both the Marines and the World Government to their very foundations.

Big Mom

She May Have Let Herself Go A Little, But Big Mom Is Still Feared Across The World

First Appearance: Episode 571
Devil Fruit: Soul Soul Fruit

In the series One Piece, most characters retain some resemblance to their younger selves, but Big Mom stands out as exceptionally unique. Though she has always been exceptionally large-bodied, during her time sailing with Rocks’ crew, Big Mom appeared quite different. To earn a spot in that notorious gang, she needed to be more than just powerful; she needed immense strength. As a person with an insatiable craving for food, it seems that as she aged, this obsession led to her becoming much larger than she appears in the flashbacks, particularly noticeable in the main story.

It’s important to clarify that despite appearing slower, Big Mom is surprisingly quick on her feet, particularly when hunger pangs grip her body. As a skilled user of Armament Haki and the creator of Homies armies, it wouldn’t take long for the Straw Hats to recognize that this elderly woman remains as formidable, if not more terrifying, than she was in her youth.

Sengoku

The Old Fleet Admiral Caused Plenty Of Carnage During The Marineford War

First Appearance: Episode 151
Devil Fruit: Human Human Fruit, Model: Buddha

Although Sengoku had held the position of Fleet Admiral for several years, his advanced age suggested he was nearing retirement during the Marineford War. However, rather than stepping aside due to his advanced years, Sengoku chose to engage actively in the conflict. His involvement was quite significant; describing it as merely impactful would be an understatement.

Due to his special Devil Fruit power, Sengoku has the ability to transform into a colossal golden Buddha statue. His powerful punches can wipe out entire pirate groups with just one strike. Remarkably, he was also strong enough to restrain an enraged Garp, who was determined to attack Akainu – a task that’s not simple given the character involved.

Rayleigh

Roger’s Right-Hand Man Hasn’t Missed A Beat

First Appearance: Episode 397
Devil Fruit: N/A

I’ve witnessed that Gol D. Roger met his end before the main tale unfolds, yet Silvers Rayleigh, his former comrade, continues to thrive. Though he seems to while away his time at Shakky’s Bar, this man has made it explicitly clear to Luffy why the Marines remain wary of provoking him. Given his unquestionable might among the world’s pirates, even though his era of voyaging across the Grand Line is long past, Rayleigh still commands awe and respect.

After the timeskip, Rayleigh was the one who showed Luffy how to use Haki effectively, and this skill has allowed him to hold his own against powerful characters like Kizaru. It’s clear that Rayleigh’s prowess hasn’t waned, and although he doesn’t appear often in the story, it’s easy to see why many people are eager to avoid upsetting him.

Scopper Gaban

Despite Being Hidden Away For Many Years, Gaban Is Back, And He’s Still Just As Powerful As Ever

First Appearance: Episode 523
Devil Fruit: N/A

Although Rayleigh is commonly recognized as a prominent figure among Rogers’ pirate crew, another formidable pirate named Scopper Gabon was also close friends with the Pirate King. Despite his absence from the story for hundreds of episodes and chapters, fans often overlooked Gabon, making it surprising when he unexpectedly appeared in the Elbaph arc.

In a similar vein, much like Rogers’ trusted comrade, Gabon remains a formidable force to reckon with. Surprisingly, he appears even stronger than what most fans anticipated. Wielding his axe, Gabon has demonstrated an impressive display of power through his Conqueror’s Haki, causing considerable harm to the Holy Knights. Given that the Holy Knights are depicted as some of the mightiest adversaries ever introduced in the story, this achievement is no small feat. Although he may no longer be at his peak, based on his recent performances, Gabon still packs quite a punch – just as potent as during his days sailing with the Pirate King.

2025-09-13 19:08