The Most Powerful 1st Mates from One Piece You Need to Know

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Summary

  • Jesus Burgess, despite a frozen bounty, is a key member of the Blackbeard Pirates with immense strength and trust from the crew.
  • Trebol of the Donquixote Pirates exemplifies the role of a strong First Mate with operational control and influence second only to the captain.
  • Ben Beckman of the Red Hair Pirates, a rare First Mate, showcases power without Devil Fruit by mastering Haki, maintaining a smooth crew operation.

In reality, the role of a First Mate carries real authority and tasks. They carry out the captain’s instructions and oversee that the crew performs their duties correctly. Conversely, in the universe of One Piece, roles can differ significantly. Only a few Pirate crews appoint a First Mate among them, with many others lacking a formal hierarchy or utilizing alternative structures that don’t require a traditional First Mate role.

In light of these factors, we’ve broadened the term “First Mate” to encompass roles such as “Vice-Captain”, “Second-in-Command”, and the “Second Most Influential Crew Member.” Additionally, this list highlights individuals who have previously served as First Mates in the One Piece world. Here are the top First Mates, ordered by their bounty.

10. “Champion” Jesus Burgess

Captain Of The First Ship Of The Blackbeard Pirates

  • Bounty: At least 20,000,000 Belly
  • First Appearance: Chapter 222
  • Japanese VA: Tetsu Inada

Amongst all pirates sailing under Blackbeard, it’s Jesus Burgess, who possesses the right mix of authority, duty, and has gained both his captain’s and fellow crew members’ trust, that holds the roles of helmsman and captain on the first ship.

Burgess consumed the Extremely Powerful Fruit, enhancing his strength at an incredible rate. Despite its seemingly modest reward, the crew member of the Blackbeard Pirates has a bounty of 20 million Belly. This is due to the Marines freezing his bounty upon Blackbeard’s ascension as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Even after Blackbeard gained the title of an Emperor of the Sea, the Marines have yet to revise his bounty.

9. Trebol

The Staff Officer Of The Donquixote Pirates

  • Bounty: 99,000,000 Belly
  • First Appearance: Chapter 700
  • Japanese VA: Taiki Matsuno

The Donquixote Pirates lack a First Mate position. Instead, they are governed by a select team known as “Elite Officers”, which includes Trebol, Diamante, Pica, and Corazon. Each of these officers specializes in different aspects of the organization and commands their respective squads.

Among the four top-tier officers, it is Trebol who oversees the daily activities and wields significant power, with authority second only to Doflamingo. Much like Jesus Burgess from the Blackbeard Pirates, Trebol exhibits an ideal blend of physical prowess and strategic responsibility, making him perfectly suited for the position of First Mate within the Donquixote Pirates.

8. “Murder Machine” Killer

The Right-Hand Man Of Captain Kid

  • Bounty: 200,000,000 Belly
  • First Appearance: Chapter 498
  • Japanese VA: Kenji Hamada

In this section, we shift focus slightly from operational duties and lean more towards highlighting strengths. To be clear, “Killer the Murder Machine” might not be the ideal choice for leading a well-organized team due to his aggressive nature, but beyond his violent inclinations, he is unquestionably the second most influential member among the Young Buccaneers.

Even though Killer doesn’t possess a Devil Fruit ability, he still ascended through the ranks and earned a place among the eleven most powerful new recruits, famously known as the Eleven Supernovas. His strength and lethal sword skills are his sole sources of power, making him reminiscent of Roronoa Zoro from the Straw Hat Pirates in terms of relying on their own abilities rather than supernatural powers.

7. Charlotte Katakuri

The Top Sweet Commander Of The Big Mom Pirates

  • Bounty: 1,057,000,000 Belly
  • First Appearance: Chapter 860
  • Japanese VA: Tomokazu Sugita

Within the Big Mom Pirates, all significant crews and officers are actually offspring of Big Mom herself. Among her numerous children, the three most powerful form an exclusive team known as the Sweet Commanders. This group includes her second-born child, Charlotte Katakuri, her 14th-born daughter, Smoothie, and her 10th-born son, Cracker.

Amongst the trio known as the Sweet Commanders under Big Mom’s rule, it’s none other than Charlotte Katakuri who commands awe and is deemed the strongest by her kin. His formidable Devil Fruit abilities, coupled with his exceptional control over Haki, particularly Armament Haki and Observation Haki, places him amongst the world’s most potent beings. I find myself in constant admiration of this extraordinary warrior!

6. “Knight Of The Sea” Jinbe

The Vice Captain Of The Sun Pirates

  • Bounty: 1,100,000,000 Belly
  • First Appearance: Chapter 528
  • Japanese VA: Katsuhisa Hōki

Prior to serving as Helmsman for the Straw Hat Pirates, Jinbe held the position of vice-captain under the command of the late Fisher Tiger within the Sun Pirates. He gained his leadership skills from the esteemed Fisher Tiger, which earned him the admiration and respect of his crew. Consequently, upon Fisher Tiger’s demise, Jinbe assumed the role as captain of the Sun Pirates.

Fish-Men boast not just their physical power, but also a distinctive form of martial arts they call Fish-Man Karate. Among all practitioners worldwide, Jinbe stands out as the supreme master of this art. From firing rapid water blasts to manipulating ocean currents, his command over Fish-Man Karate is unparalleled.

5. “Pirate Hunter” Roronoa Zoro

The Second-in-Command Of The Straw Hat Pirates

  • Bounty: 1,111,000,000 Belly
  • First Appearance: Chapter 3
  • Japanese VA: Kazuya Naka

As I watched, Luffy hoisted the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates aloft, Zorro, or rather Roronoa Zoro, was the first to join him as a fellow pirate. Ever since then, Zoro has been locking swords with Luffy in battle and safeguarding our crew with unwavering dedication.

Since their initial voyage together in a small boat, Zoro has consistently been by Luffy’s side as his right-hand man and the second strongest member of their crew. Remarkably, Zoro is currently among the world’s most formidable swordsmasters, with only a few others who can match him in skill using his distinctive three-sword technique.

4. Marco The Phoenix

The 1st Division Commander Of The Whitebeard Pirates

  • Bounty: 1,374,000,000 Belly
  • First Appearance: Chapter 234
  • Japanese VA: Masakazu Morita

At their peak, the mighty Whitebeard Pirates stood as the largest pirate armada globally, featuring no less than 16 distinct divisions, each boasting colossal crews, and many more associated crews that hoisted the emblematic flag of the legendary Whitebeard.

The chief of the 1st Division within the Whitebeard Pirates, and the one who was most akin to Whitebeard himself, is known as Marco, the Phoenix. Owing to his Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability, Marco possesses the blazing blue flame of the Phoenix. This unique power not only incinerates anything in its vicinity but also aids in healing minor wounds. After the captain’s demise, Marco assumes command as the new leader of the crew and eventually dismantles the entire Whitebeard fleet.

3. King The Wildfire

Beasts Pirates’ Top Executive

  • Bounty: 1,390,000,000 Belly
  • First Appearance: Chapter 920
  • Japanese VA: Makoto Tamura

Within the ranks of the Beast Pirates, a select trio of particularly formidable members forms an exclusive squad known as the “All-Stars.” These three powerhouses are referred to as King “The Wildfire,” Queen “The Plague,” and Jack “The Drought.” Each leads their own legions of Devil Fruit wielders, yet it is King who earns the distinction of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the captain, Thousand Beast Kaidou.

King has been associated with Kaidou since a dragon, powerful enough to break free confinements, liberated him during his childhood years. Since then, he’s served as Kaidou’s trusted lieutenant. With his unique Devil Fruit abilities and uncommon Lunarian powers, King ranks among the Beast Pirates’ most formidable fighters, surpassed in strength only by Kaidou himself.

2. Benn Beckman

The First Mate Of The Red Hair Pirates

  • Bounty: Unknown
  • First Appearance: Chapter 1
  • Japanese VA: Aruno Tahara

Beckman serves as the First Mate aboard the Red Hair Pirates, acting as the trusted deputy of Red Hair Shanks, one of the Sea’s Four Emperors. Among those listed as First Mates, Beckman is a rare find. Indeed, he excels at his role, ensuring the ship functions efficiently and effectively, while also possessing the ability to aid Shanks in combat when needed.

One uncommon pirate group, the Red Hair Pirates, is distinct because the majority, if not all, of its members do not possess Devil Fruit abilities. Instead, they excel in Haki techniques. Notably, both Shanks and Beckman are skilled in this art. Even a Marine Admiral like Kizaru hesitates when faced with a threat from Beckman’s Haki-enhanced bullet. As Ben Beckman has been associated with the Four Emperors’ crew for some time, it’s likely that his bounty, yet undisclosed, is in the billions of Belly.

1. “Dark King” Silvers Rayleigh

Right Hand Of The Pirate King

  • Bounty: Unknown
  • First Appearance: Chapter 19
  • Japanese VA: Keiichi Sonobe

Prior to the Red Hair Pirates’ dominance over the seas with their expert use of Haki, it was actually the Roger Pirates who initially employed this technique first. This is because many members of the Roger Pirate crew, such as the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and his Second-in-Command, Silver Rayleigh, did not possess Devil Fruit abilities and instead relied entirely on their immense strength and fearsome Haki.

In the crew of Roger Pirates, Rayleigh, serving as the First Mate, stands second only to the Captain in strength. Even in his advanced years, Silvers Rayleigh can easily match a Marine Admiral in combat without showing any signs of strain. Akin to Ben Beckman, the series has yet to disclose Rayleigh’s exact bounty; however, given his position as the right-hand man of the Pirate King, it is reasonable to infer that he possesses one of the highest bounties worldwide. As a result, Rayleigh is not only one of the strongest but also arguably the most capable First Mate in One Piece.

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2025-04-18 02:36