One Piece: Why Whitebeard Was Greater Than Roger And Rocks

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Discussing the most legendary pirates from the universe of “One Piece”, it’s unavoidable to bring up the man who earned the title Pirate King and captained history’s mightiest crew. For numerous compelling reasons, many believe that Rocks and Roger are the strongest and most significant pirates within this world, with their influence living on as some of the greatest characters in the entire series.

In their heyday, these two notorious pirates had a contemporary – Edward Newgate, famously known as Whitebeard. This formidable character was recognized as the World’s Strongest Man. Moreover, he was the one who came closest to possessing the One Piece since Roger’s demise, making him arguably the greatest pirate of their era.

Whitebeard May Have Been Even Greater Than Roger and Rocks

The Legendary Pirate

First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 234, “Please Remember”
Story Arc Jaya

After discovering the fabled Joyboy’s treasure, Roger reportedly reshaped the entire epoch, an era later referred to as the Age of Roger. It was from atop the gallows where he met his end that Roger declared his treasure could be claimed by anyone, sparking the beginning of what became known as the Golden Age of Piracy.

This event transpired 24 years prior to the present narrative timeline, with all pirates scouring the globe for his fabled treasure. Among them, only one man was rumored to have come closest – none other than Whitebeard, who once fiercely competed with Roger as a top rival. Over the years, they frequently clashed, yet neither could claim victory consistently because their Haki powers were evenly matched. This is suggested from Oden’s flashback, where it appears that both men engaged in combat primarily using this mysterious power.

Whitebeard’s reputation grew nearly equal to Roger’s, but he never aimed for the title of Pirate King. His real aspiration was to build a family, which is why he was revered or feared worldwide. As a result, during the period after Roger’s demise, he was often referred to as the most powerful pirate who sailed the seas. Consequently, this era came to be known as the Whitebeard Era.

One factor that makes some people believe Whitebeard surpasses Roger is his direct confrontation with the World Government, much like his past captain, Rocks D. Xebec did. Unlike his former rival, Whitebeard didn’t shy away from engaging the World Government when Ace was captured and set for punishment. In response, Whitebeard’s entire fleet stood against the overwhelming forces of the World Government during the Battle of Marineford, pushing their organization to the edge by almost bringing it to destruction.

Let’s not underestimate our adversary; despite having more strength on our side, he possesses the capability to obliterate our world. He should not be taken lightly, as we could be facing our demise today.

In the annals of the One Piece saga, this confrontation stands out as a significant moment. It’s notable because it depicted one man facing off against an entire organization for the sake of his family. At this juncture, Whitebeard demonstrated his formidable abilities, though they were significantly diminished due to his frail health and the proximity of his fleet. This aspect reflects Whitebeard’s character; he wielded the series’ most devastating Devil Fruit, yet consistently refrained from utilizing it to its full potential, as he was conscious of the risks such use would pose to his comrades.

Come dusk, it was declared that Whitebeard stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Roger, a comparison based solely on their Haki prowess. Consequently, this sets him as a formidable adversary to Rocks as well. However, it’s plausible he surpassed both in strength, a notion bolstered by the colossal power of his Devil Fruit, rumored to be potent enough to obliterate the world if so desired. To top it off, his command over all three Advanced Forms of Haki solidifies him as the most formidable pirate in this saga.

Why Whitebeard Was Likely Even Stronger Than Roger And Rocks

The Best Devil Fruit And Haki

  • It’s possible that Whitebeard was the strongest character of all time after Joyboy and Imu.

In the course of their lives, it’s known that Whitebeard and Roger frequently encountered each other, but these encounters always resulted in a standoff because they were, in fact, friends. Nevertheless, fans have only witnessed one of these confrontations, which took place during Oden’s flashback in the Wano arc. In this fight, they fought non-stop for three days without a clear winner, yet again ending in a draw. Interestingly, during this battle, neither character was depicted using their Devil Fruit abilities, with Whitebeard specifically not shown to use his at all.

Fans interpret their battles as being solely about Haki, with both parties being equally skilled in it. However, if Whitebeard possessed the Gura Gura no Mi, the strongest Devil Fruit in the series, he might have emerged victorious not only against his adversary but possibly even against Rocks, Roger’s greatest rival. The exceptional power of Whitebeard’s specific Devil Fruit could potentially give him an edge over most opponents.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

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2025-07-24 17:17