Zoro's Elite: The One Piece Characters Who Earned His Ultimate Respect!

Summary

Zoro respects characters who show bravery, heroism, and passion in battle like Monkey D. Luffy.
Characters like Momonosuke, Killer, Tashigi, Kin’emon, Yasuei, and Law earned Zoro’s respect through their actions.
Zoro acknowledges and respects Dracule Mihawk as the greatest swordsman after their battle.

In order to win the admiration of the fierce swordsman Roronoa Zoro, who cherishes combat above all else, one must demonstrate exceptional skill on the battlefield. However, respect can also be earned by standing firm in defense of one’s convictions and displaying unwavering passion and determination.

Consequently, though it doesn’t happen often, there have been numerous individuals within the span of One Piece‘s extended narrative who managed to win over Zoro’s respect and even admiration through their own deeds. These are the characters in One Piece who Zoro grew fonder of after observing them at work.

8. Kouzuki Momonosuke

Zoro Noticed Momonosuke’s Bravery And Heroism During The Wano Invasion

First Appearance: Episode 611

Initially, Momonosuke doesn’t make a favorable first impression during Punk Hazard, especially for Zoro. As a child prone to crying fits, Zoro tends to dismiss him as a mere troublemaker. However, as events unfold in the Wano arc, Zoro observes Momo transforming from a tearful brat into a true hero, eventually deserving of the title “shogun” of his nation.

In the climactic battle against Kaido’s troops, Momo’s transformation into his adult form is a testament to his strength, which clearly impresses Zoro. This impression is further solidified by Momo’s commitment to the samurai way, leading Zoro to smile and express admiration for Momo’s growth and dedication.

7. Killer

Zoro Views Killer In A More Respectable Lens After Their Sudden Encounter

First Appearance: Episode 382

During act 2 of Wano, it’s Zoro who faces off against Killer at Bandit’s Bridge, but due to the influence of the SMILE fruit, Killer’s mental state isn’t well enough for a full-fledged battle. He is constantly laughing uncontrollably, which temporarily hampers his fighting abilities. Despite this, he puts up a good fight against Zoro for a while, but eventually succumbs to a lethal Onigiri.

As Killer enters the fray against Kaido and Big Mom later on, it’s evident from Zoro’s sly grin that he now comprehends why this individual is known as a Supernova. Given his impressive resistance, even in his weakened state, it’s no wonder people speak so highly of him. Upon Killer hinting at having won the fight if he utilized his renowned rotating blades, Zoro found himself eagerly anticipating another duel between them, to gauge his own progression in the near future.

6. Tashigi

A Fellow Sword-User Who Shares A Striking Resemblance To Zoro’s Childhood Friend

First Appearance: Episode 48

Initially locking swords at Loguetown, Zoro and Tashigi have had a complex friendship-rivalry ever since. Given that Tashigi is a Marine, she is technically an adversary to Zoro and his comrades. However, despite their frequent battles, they’ve both developed a mutual admiration for each other. Following their initial duel in which Zoro emerged victorious, Tashigi swore to defeat him in combat one day, not just for the sake of boasting but also to obtain one of his swords – the Wado Ichimonji.

Every time Zoro encounters Tashigi, he eagerly takes the opportunity to engage her in a fight, and upon noticing her enhanced power after the timeskip, he develops a deep respect for the Marine. It’s also possible that his fondness for her stems from the strong resemblance she shares with Zoro’s childhood friend, Kuina.

5. Shomitsuki Yasuie

Yasuie’s Heroic Sacrifice Had A Huge Impression On Zoro

First Appearance: Episode 922

On multiple occasions while wandering through Wano’s expansive terrain, Zoro finds himself lost. It so happened that during one of these instances, he encounters a jovial fellow named Yasuie. After the affable character offers Zoro some sustenance, the swordsman initially grows agitated by Yasuie’s incessant laughter and gabbing. However, it doesn’t take long before Zoro understands the reason behind Yasuie’s unceasing grin.

To divert Kaido’s troops from discovering the uprising, Yasuie chooses to give the ultimate sacrifice, getting cruelly murdered for alleged wrongdoings. It later comes to light that Yasuie was a casualty of discarded SMILE fruits, which make many Wano residents unable to do anything but laugh. When all these facts align and he personally witnesses Yasuie’s tragic demise, Zoro develops an increased respect for the selfless martyr of Wano.

4. Trafalgar Law

Law’s Leadership Skills And Sword Expertise Were Picked Up On By Zoro

First Appearance: Episode 392

At Punk Hazard, it appeared that Zoro wasn’t very trusting of Law, given that he was a member of the Worst Generation who had chosen to align with the Marines as a Shichibukai. However, once they set sail for Dressrosa, Zoro gradually came to see Law as a noble pirate compared to many other dangerous sea-roamers, and recognized him as a valuable ally due to his exceptional swordsmanship skills.

Zoro is open to collaborating with anyone whom Luffy considers a friend, but Law has essentially been accepted as an honorary member of the Straw Hat crew. This is because on numerous occasions, Law has come to their aid when they were in trouble. Moreover, Law’s leadership abilities have played a significant role in keeping Zoro from getting lost during his journeys. Although it doesn’t always go according to plan, these commendable traits have nonetheless earned him a great deal of respect from Zoro.

3. Kin’emon

Anyone Who Strives To Become A Worthy Samurai Is Deserving Of Respect In Zoro’s Book

First Appearance: Episode 580

Despite their contrasting personalities, both Zoro and Kin’emon share an ardent passion for swordsmanship and being samurai. It’s this shared bond that links them. When Kin’emon unexpectedly appears on Punk Hazard, Zoro initially agrees to aid him out of duty as captain, but when Kin’emon splits a fiery cloud in two, it instantly catches the attention of the Straw Hats.

Over the upcoming series of events, Kin’emon will take on the role of leader, guiding the alliance of samurais, Minks, and pirates into battle. His exceptional swordsmanship had previously gained Zoro’s respect, but his passionate leadership of an army only served to make him admirable by the time the group arrived at Wano.

2. Monkey D. Luffy

Luffy Has Proven To Zoro That He’s Worthy Of Being The Swordsman’s Captain

First Appearance: Episode 1

During the Water 7 storyline, when Usopp becomes overwhelmed with emotion and departs from the group, Zoro states that Luffy can only welcome him back if Usopp apologizes for his behavior. If not, it seems pointless for everyone to admire a leader who doesn’t command respect. This moment encapsulates the dynamic between Zoro and Luffy, as they are certainly friends, but Luffy must show why he deserves Zoro’s respect as a captain through his actions.

Fortunately, by conquering formidable adversaries with his immense power and serving as a dependable commander who handles tough internal matters for his crew, Luffy has managed to gain Zoro’s approval since their initial encounter at the start of the series. At first, Luffy may have appeared to be just an eccentric simpleton, but as he demonstrated his determination and values through his actions, he earned immense respect from Zoro. In fact, this regard was so profound that Zoro was ready to lay down his life for his captain when facing Kuma.

1. Dracule Mihawk

All It Took Was One Battle For Mihawk To Earn Zoro’s Full Respect As A Swordsman

First Appearance: Episode 23

Initially, when Zoro sees Mihawk sailing beside Baratie, he mentions that he had heard tales of him being the most powerful swordsman in the world. This prompts Zoro, who had just started his grand journey with Luffy, to attempt challenging the fearsome Shichibukai. Unfortunately, he was soundly defeated and humiliated. It’s no surprise that this encounter made Zoro realize and respect Mihawk’s immense power even more, especially when later on he would train under Mihawk’s guidance.

Zoro harbors grand aspirations of becoming the greatest swordsman on Earth, yet he holds deep reverence for Mihawk’s unparalleled prowess. All swordsmen in the One Piece universe, regardless of their origins, acknowledge and respect the unique mastery of Dracule Mihawk unreservedly.

2025-03-19 12:35

Zoro’s Elite: The One Piece Characters Who Earned His Ultimate Respect!