One Piece: Oda Has Revealed The World’s Strongest Swordsman Before Mihawk

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Since the beginning of the series, the title of “The World’s Greatest Swordsman” has been highly esteemed within the universe of One Piece. In fact, reaching this level is the main goal that drives Zoro, the First Mate of the Straw Hat pirates. He aspires to surpass all other swordsmen in the world to uphold a pledge he made to his dearest friend. However, Dracule Mihawk, who currently holds the title, poses a significant obstacle for him.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve been intrigued for quite some time by the enigma that is Mihawk from One Piece. Despite making an early appearance in the series, his storyline remains one of its greatest mysteries. Labeled as the World’s Strongest Swordsman, his bounty places him among the world’s most wanted, a testament to his exceptional sword skills that even rival and equal Shanks.

However, with Oda introducing a new character to claim

Rocks D. Xebec Was The World’s Strongest Swordsman Before Mihawk

The Legendary Pirate

Mihawk’s First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 49, “Storm”
Rocks’ First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 957, “Ultimate”

In the course of the show, the World’s Strongest Swordsman title has consistently commanded respect due to the immense power it signifies. Although the series never disclosed anyone other than Mihawk who has held

Intriguingly, Chapter 1155 of the manga might have shed light on this long-standing question. The recent unveiling of Rocks D. Xebec has sent waves through the fanbase, revealing the enigmatic and formidable character from the past generation, who was said to be Roger’s most formidable rival. This latest chapter offers a more detailed glimpse into his combat style, as his extraordinary swordsmanship is now explicitly likened to the force of a hammer or cannon fire. Many speculate that this comparison offers a significant clue about the source of his power.

The skillful wielding of rocks was fearsome, with force comparable to a massive hammer or gunpowder explosion. It was legend that it obliterated anything within its nearby surroundings.

In numerous scenes depicting Xebec in battle, it appears he consistently wields a sword, leading many fans to conclude that Xebec was likely predominantly a swordsman. Moreover, his extraordinary strength, which enabled him to engage Roger on equal terms, further strengthens the argument that he could be considered the World’s Strongest Swordsman before Mihawk was born. This aligns well with the folklore surrounding this character.

It’s quite plausible that, like Mihawk, Rocks possessed an extraordinary-grade sword. These weapons are renowned for their immense power and durability, appearing only in the hands of the most significant characters within the story. Given this pattern, it seems logical to assume that Rocks would also wield such a formidable weapon.

I stand by as history recounts Roger as the most formidable adversary that Rocks ever encountered, their battles echoing in our tales during their peak years. While the specifics of their confrontations remain shrouded in mystery, it seems that Rocks might have emerged victorious on more than one occasion, hinted by Roger’s initial words upon his arrival at God Valley. This piece of information is noteworthy given that Roger’s rival was said to possess Ace, a Supreme Grade Blade renowned throughout the realm. Furthermore, Whitebeard, Xebec’s First Mate, yielded Murakumogiri, another blade of great repute among these revered weapons.

In other words, given the feats of strength displayed by these characters, it seems reasonable to assume that Rock had a top-tier weapon as well. After all, Mihawk can slice through massive icebergs with his sword Yoru, and in Chapter 1154, just before Rock’s debut, there’s a scene focusing on Loki where a mountain is shown being cut in the background, hinting that Xebec might have been the one wielding such a powerful blade. At this point, it appears that Rocks D. Xebec was probably the strongest swordsman in the world before Mihawk took the title.

What This Could Mean For Mihawk’s Future In The Final War

How Strong Does This Make Him?

  • This confirms Mihawk as, at least, equal to Shanks.
  • Some believe it even makes him stronger than his old rival.

In the thrilling world of One Piece, there’s a meme buzzing around that transforms practically anything into a ‘Mihawk-ified’ version. But this time, it’s no laughing matter! The confirmation of Xebec’s legendary strength within the storyline has underscored just how formidable an individual must be to earn the title of the World’s Strongest Swordsman, a title currently held by Mihawk. Now, Xebec hasn’t been officially declared as such yet, but many fans are convinced that the intense emphasis on his swordsmanship in Chapter 1155 was intentionally planted to hint at this possibility. I can hardly wait to see how this unfolds!

In a storytelling sense, it aligns well because Shanks resembles Gol D. Roger in today’s world, so his counterpart could be likened to Xebec. This implies Mihawk is poised to be one of the most powerful characters in the lore of One Piece, and Zoro has quite a journey ahead if he aspires to achieve such a stature.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-07-20 16:11