Yonko vs Admirals: Oda Reveals Who’s Stronger in One Piece

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This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.

Summary

  • The Yonko are the strongest pirates in the world, ruling the New World like kings.
  • Admirals are powerful Marines who can fight Yonko, but have not shown Supreme King Haki.
  • Oda has indicated that the Yonko are stronger than the Admirals in One Piece battles.

In discussions about the most formidable characters in the One Piece universe, it’s clear that the Admirals and the Yonko are the subjects of much debate among fans. The Yonko are the four strongest pirates in One Piece, while the Admirals serve as the military powerhouses for the World Government. It goes without saying that these characters stand apart from others due to their remarkable strength, a fact that often leads to comparisons.

While they may both be powerful, it doesn’t imply that their strength is identical in any way. In reality, Eiichiro Oda has made it apparent in his narrative that one group surpasses the others, and there are indeed differences between them. As we delve deeper into the Final Saga of One Piece, Oda will delve even more into this concept, but for now, he’s already demonstrated this disparity quite evidently for everyone to observe.

The Yonko And The Admirals — The Strongest Fighters

  • The Yonko Are The Strongest Pirates
  • The Admirals Are Among The Strongest Marines

Discussions among fans about the Yonko and Admirals are constant and unchanging, a fact that will remain true for the duration of One Piece. Even in instances where an Admiral gets defeated by a Yonko, debates persist – such is the captivating nature of this series. The reason for these ongoing discussions becomes evident once you consider the immense power each group wields.

The Yonko are the four most powerful pirates on the seas! Red Hair is one of them — Garp

In the era known as the Great Pirate Age, there are four formidable pirate leaders, referred to as the Yonko, who hold dominion over the world’s mightiest pirates. These pirates possess such immense power that no one dares to confront them without facing potential destruction. The Yonko govern the New World, the most powerful sea in the One Piece universe, with an iron fist, their rule unquestioned even by the Navy. They control numerous territories and have thousands of ally crews in the New World. Many aspiring pirates seek alliances with the Yonko, while some offer tribute or other forms of payment to secure their protection or defend territories on their behalf.

Nevertheless, certain entities safeguard territories without receiving any benefits, similar to Whitebeard’s past defense of Fishman Island for King Neptune, or Shanks’ current protection of Elbaf and numerous other regions in the New World without compensation. It is evident that Yonko crews possess immense power. Even their lower-tier members display remarkable strength, while their highest-ranking commanders can stand their ground against opponents such as fellow Yonko and Admirals. Generally speaking, the Yonko themselves tend to be the most powerful members within these crews.

Contrarily, the Marines’ commanders, known as the Admirals, are formidable powerhouses. They possess an impressive amount of strength, capable of facing off against Yonko pirates with confidence and maintaining their footing. Their strength is so immense that even a Celestial Dragon feels secure in their company. The Admirals hold a certain level of independence, but ultimately, they serve as the government’s loyal servants, always ready to obey the Celestial Dragons. Equipped with incredibly potent Devil Fruits, the Marine Admirals stand on a distinctly higher plane.

How Oda Has Shown The Difference Between The Yonko And Admirals

The Yonko Are Stronger Than The Admirals

So far in the narrative, Oda has frequently placed the Yonko and the Admirals in conflict, with the outcome consistently favoring the Yonko. For instance, during Marineford, fans witnessed Admiral Akainu battling a weakened Whitebeard. Despite his poor health, diminished Conqueror’s Haki abilities, and compromised Observation Haki, Whitebeard proved difficult for Akainu to defeat.

Indeed, although Akainu inflicted severe damage by exploiting the weakness caused by Whitebeard’s ailment and Squard’s premature wound, he was ultimately unable to overcome Whitebeard. In the end, it was two powerful blows from Whitebeard that brought him down, leaving him incapacitated until Whitebeard’s demise.

You guys are not going anywhere. — Luffy to Kizaru and Saturn

During the Wano Country arc, Shanks appeared menacing to Greenbull, causing him to become fearful just upon observing Shanks’ Haki abilities. This encounter made it evident that Greenbull held a sense of inferiority towards Shanks. Moreover, Greenbull publicly acknowledged that he would not dare set foot in Wano if Kaido were still alive, demonstrating his apprehension towards the Yonko.

In Egghead, viewers witnessed Luffy engage in a battle against Kizaru. Despite already being exhausted after battling Lucci and the Seraphim earlier, Luffy effortlessly knocked down Kizaru. However, it’s important to mention that Luffy was significantly weakened due to having to traverse the Frontier Dome twice, which left his body drained on two separate instances. Additionally, Oda strategically restricted Luffy from using Conqueror’s Haki until he deployed the White Star Gun, which ultimately immobilized Kizaru. However, Kizaru regained mobility before Luffy could finish him off.

In the thrilling tale of Egghead, I found myself witnessing a battle between none other than former Admiral Kuzan and a worn-out Garp, well past his prime. Despite Kuzan’s impressive skills, he seemed incapable of overpowering Garp without the backing of the Blackbeard Pirates.

When Blackbeard commended Kuzan for his victory over Garp, it was evident that he credited the success to the unwavering support from their crew. This, my friends, is a clear indication in this story that even the mighty Admirals, though formidable, are not on par with the Yonko. Their power is immense, but it appears they lack the strength necessary to ever bring down these fearsome Yonko.

As a bystander, I’ve noticed that both Admirals and Yonko possess formidable Haki abilities. However, what sets the Yonko apart is their display of Supreme King Haki, a factor that tilts the balance in their favor.

The Fleet Admiral Is Yonko Level

The Fleet Admiral Should Be Stronger

Although individual Admirals may not have the strength to defeat a Yonko, Fleet Admirals such as Sengoku are thought to be on par with them due to his legendary status, comparable to figures like Garp and even the Pirate King, Roger, who considered Sengoku a formidable opponent. This is supported by the fact that Sengoku, who was an Admiral himself in the past, was considered worthy of challenging the mighty Roger. Moreover, Sengoku’s potential was always recognized, as he possessed Supreme King Haki, much like Garp, indicating his exceptional power and ambition for greatness.

After the time leap, it’s reasonable to expect Akainu to be significantly stronger than his fellow Admirals and to be in the same tier as the Yonko. It wouldn’t come as a shock if he was found to possess Supreme King Haki. His bounty of 5 billion berries reflects his status, which is on par with the Yonko. Keep in mind that Akainu will likely need to be as powerful as Luffy at some point. The other Admirals are strong, but they’re not quite at Akainu’s level, despite still posing a threat.

You can enjoy reading “One Piece” through Viz Media. Fans have the opportunity to read it officially and at no cost on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps. The upcoming chapter of “One Piece,” titled “One Piece 1143,” is scheduled for release on March 23, 2025.

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2025-03-12 00:26