One Piece: The Best Villains, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• The One Piece series has a wide range of well-written villains who have left a significant impact on both the story and the viewers.
• Some of the most powerful and memorable villains include Kaku, King, Queen, Bartholomew Kuma, Ryokugyu, Caesar, Smoker, Arlong, Kizaru, and Aokiji.
• Each villain has their own unique strengths and weaknesses, but all of them have managed to captivate the audience and contribute to the overall quality of the series.

The One Piece anime series is famous for having a vast array of characters, and a lot of these characters are very well-written. This isn’t just limited to the heroes — the series boasts of some incredible villains who have left a drastic impact on both the viewers and the series as a whole.

The sheer amount of villains in the series makes it difficult to choose a favorite. However, it’s impossible to deny some of these rapscallions are a cut above the others. The following are not only among the most powerful but leave an impression as some of the most memorable personalities.

Updated November 25, 2024, by Suzail Ahmad: Eiichiro Oda is one of the greatest mangaka of all time. He has achieved fame and success because of his hard work. The One Piece manga is proof of Oda’s genius. He has created a manga that is nearly perfect in all regards.

Unlike many other authors, Eiichiro Oda uses villains in more ways than one. He doesn’t just put them as an obstacle in Luffy’s path, but as a means to improve him mentally. With that in mind, here are the best villains in One Piece.

39 Don Krieg

Captain Of The Krieg Pirates

• Affiliation: Krieg Pirates
• Bounty: 17,000,000 Berries
• Debut: Chapter 45
• Devil Fruit: None

Don Krieg appeared in the East Blue Saga. Don Kreig was a cruel individual who had the ego the size of Zunesha. He called himself the strongest person on the sea, which was a massive exaggeration. That said, he did give Luffy an excellent fight, and the latter had to dig deep to beat him.

Don Krieg had no redeeming qualities. He was a sadistic person who didn’t mind killing his crew members if they went against his wishes. If villains were measured by just how evil they were, then Don Krieg would certainly be in the top ten.

38 Bluejam

Leader Of The Bluejam Pirates

• Affiliation: Bluejam Pirates
• Bounty: 14,300,000 Berries
• Debut: Chapter 584
• Devil Fruit: None

Bluejam might not have featured heavily in One Piece, but it is hard to overlook his impact on the story. Bluejam led his own pirate crew, and all of his underlings were terrified of him. After all, Bluejam despised failure, and he would kill them if they were unsuccessful in their attempt.

Bluejam’s main goal was to become a noble and live a life of leisure; for that, he was willing to go to any lengths. When he was finally given the opportunity, he was ready to sacrifice all the people in the Gray Terminal. Given his actions, Bluejam is one of the better One Piece villains.

37 Vergo

Doflamingo’s Agent & A Vice Admiral

• Affiliation: Donquixote Pirates
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 671
• Devil Fruit: None

Vergo was introduced in the Punk Hazard arc as a Navy Vice Admiral. But at the time, fans had no idea that he was an undercover agent working for Doflamingo. Vergo had a dominant presence, and his subordinates respected him a lot. They religiously believed that Vergo fought for justice and that he could do no wrong.

Vergo exploited their trust and ruthlessly killed them one after the other. He was also a powerful fighter who could use Armament and Observation Haki. He was particularly proficient at using Armament Haki as he could cover his entire body with it.

36 Sentomaru

Head Of The Science Department Of The Marines

• Affiliation: Marines
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 497
• Devil Fruit: None

Sentomaru is the head of the Marines’ science department. In addition to being associated with the Marines, he is also Vegapunk’s bodyguard. Sentomaru’s first-ever appearance in One Piece came in Saboady. He was with the Pacifista, the advanced weapons created by Dr. Vegapunk.

In the arc, Sentomaru had a brief tussle with the Straw Hat Pirates. He was dominant in the fight, and Luffy couldn’t get even close to him. Sentomaru has respectable control over Armament Haki, and he can emit it over short distances. Sentomaru was quite proud of his defense, and he considered it impenetrable. While Sentomaru was certainly powerful, he did not make as big of an impact as some of the other villains, and that was mainly due to the debut of Admiral Kizaru.

35 Bellamy

A Big Fan Of Doflamingo

• Affiliation: Bellamy Pirates
• Bounty: 195,000,000 Berries
• Debut: Chapter 222
• Devil Fruit: Bane Bane no Mi

At the time of his introduction, Bellamy came off as a dangerous pirate. He taunted and mocked every person with grand dreams, and if they tried to talk back, he would beat them up. Bellamy even laid hands on Luffy, but the latter did not fight back. This inflated Bellamy’s ego even further, but it all came crashing later when Luffy beat him with a single punch.

Bellamy appeared again in the Dressrosa arc, stronger than before. He had learned to use Armament Haki, and he combined it with his Devil Fruit. Unfortunately for him, he was way behind Luffy and the others, so he couldn’t do much.

34 Foxy

Leader Of The Foxy Pirates

• Affiliation: Foxy Pirates
• Bounty: 24,000,0000
• Debut: Chapter 305
• Devil Fruit: Noro Noro no Mi

Foxy was the main antagonist of the Long Ring Long Island. Unlike most villains, Foxy does not have the hallmarks of being a cruel individual, but that does not mean that he is a generous soul. Foxy is an expert at swindling others, and he uses this particular skill in fights.

Foxy is a fan of Davy Black fights, and he uses the competition to steal individuals from other pirate crews. Despite not having any overpowered abilities, Foxy was able to leave his mark on the audience.

33 Charlos

A Sordid Celestial Dragon

• Affiliation: World Government
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 499
• Devil Fruit: None

Charlos is a Celestial Dragon who made his debut in the Sabaody Archipelago arc. As a Celestial Dragon, Charlos’ life holds more value than that of a regular person. He is free to do whatever he wants, and he doesn’t even have to suffer the brunt of his actions. Charlos came to Sabaody to participate in an auction in which people from all kinds of races were being sold. Charlos’ status as a Celestial Dragon meant that he could spend exorbitant amounts of money on whatever he pleased.

At the auction, Charlos tried purchasing Camie. If that wasn’t bad enough, he shot Hatchi for being a Fish-Man. Later in the Levely arc, Charlos does the unthinkable by trying to capture Shirahoshi, a princess of the Ryugu Kingdom. Clearly, Charlos does not have an ounce of humanity in him, but he does the job of a villain superbly.

32 Kuro

Captain Of The Black Cat Pirates

• Affiliation: Black Cat Pirates
• Bounty: 16,000,000
• Debut: Chapter 23
• Devil Fruit: None

Kuro is one of the many villains that the Straw Hats encountered in the East Blue Saga. He was living undercover in Syrup Village as a butler for Kaya. Kuro had concocted a plan to take over Kaya’s wealth and then live happily.

After his plans were exposed, he decided to attack the village with his crew. Kuro’s speed, along with his long claws, made it extremely difficult to fight him. A person with slow reflexes would never stand a chance against him. His best quality was his intelligence. Kuro had a very high IQ, and he could outsmart most people in the story. After his defeat, Kuro disappears, but there are some fans who think that he might make an appearance in the future.

31 Jack

Third Strongest All-Star

• Affiliation: Beasts Pirates
• Bounty: 1,000,000,000
• Debut: Chapter 801
• Devil Fruit: Zou Zou no Mi, Model: Mammoth

Jack was the first All-Star to be introduced in the story. He ate the Zou Zou no Mi, Model: Mammoth, an Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruit that allowed him to transform into a Mammoth. His Devil Fruit significantly enhanced his physical attributes, giving him an edge in battle.

Jack was a ruthless man who was willing to go to great lengths for the sake of a mission. For instance, he nearly destroyed the entire Mokomo Dukedom when they refused to hand over Raizo. Jack used his own power first, but when it proved to be ineffective, he used the poisonous gas developed by Caesar.

30 Orochi

Shogun Of Wano

• Affiliation: Wano Country
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 927
• Devil Fruit: Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi

Orochi was one of the main villains of the Wano Country arc. Many years prior to the current timeline, Orochi was nothing more than a weakling who had no authority whatsoever. But he carefully planned his ascension to power. Orochi ousted Oden with the support of Kaido.

Orochi was extremely cunning, and he made sure that nobody would rebel against him. He executed people for speaking against him, which made them stay in line out of fear of losing their lives. While Orochi did have a Devil Fruit, he did not have great control over it. He could only intimidate and kill people who were weaker than him. If he had trained more, Orochi could have easily become one of the strongest characters in the series.

29 St. Figarland Garling

Leader Of God’s Knights

• Affiliation: World Government
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 1086
• Devil Fruit: Unknown

St. Figarland Garling was introduced in the Final Saga of One Piece. In his heyday, he was considered the champion of the Celestial Dragons. He was a regular participant in their Hunting Competitions, where he tracked and killed many innocent people.

Currently, Figarland Garling serves as the leader of God’s Knights, who act as the security of Marijoa. He has enough authority to kill a Celestial Dragon without suffering any consequences. His way of thinking is quite akin to that of the Celestial Dragons, so he has no compassion for those beneath him. His power level is unknown, but given his status, it is safe to say that he is among the strongest characters in One Piece. Fans can expect to see him in action in the upcoming arcs.

28 Kaku

One Of The Strongest CP0 Assassins

• Affiliation: World Government
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 323
• Devil Fruit: Ushi Ushi no Mi, Model: Giraffe

Kaku is a masked assassin in the service of CP0. Initially, he belonged to CP9 but was kicked out after their loss to the Straw Hat Pirates. Eventually, he was promoted, and he joined CP0. Kaku has acted as the antagonist in three different arcs, namely, Water 7, Enies Lobby, and Egghead.

In the Enies Lobby arc, he fought against Roronoa Zoro. The swordsman had to come up with a brand-new technique to defeat him. In the Egghead arc, Kaku once again opposed the Straw Hats, but this time Stussy put an end to his rampage.

27 King

Right-Hand Man of Kaido

• Affiliation: Beasts Pirates
• Bounty: 1,390,000,000
• Debut: Chapter 925
• Devil Fruit: Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pteranodon

King was the right-hand man of Kaido. He is a Lunarian, a rare race of people who have nearly been wiped out. King’s lineage made him highly coveted, which is why Vegapunk performed many experiments on him. His Lineage Factor helped Vegapunk to create the Seraphim.

King ate the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pternaodon, which he used to fly at great speeds through the sky. The Devil Fruit also granted him great durability and recovery speed. King could use Haki, which added to his overall combative abilities.

26 Buggy

Leader Of Cross Guild

• Affiliation: Buggy Pirates
• Bounty: 3,189,000,000
• Debut: Chapter 9
• Devil Fruit: Bara Bara no Mi

Buggy is the leader of the Cross Guild and the captain of the Buggy Pirates. He debuted in the East Blue Saga and initially came off as a vicious individual. Slowly, it became quite clear that Buggy was just a funny person.

He has appeared in other arcs, but he never comes off as a serious threat. Oda has used him to induce humor in situations. However, that might change since he is very serious about claiming the One Piece. There is a chance that Buggy will face the Straw Hats again and fight them for an opportunity to find his former captain’s elusive treasure.

25 St. Jaygarcia Saturn

One Of The Five Elders

• Affiliation: World Government
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 233
• Devil Fruit: Unknown

St. Jaygarcia Saturn is one of the Five Elders, which makes him one of the few endgame antagonists in One Piece. Even though he appeared in the story before the time skip, his name, along with that of his compatriots, wasn’t revealed until the final saga. St. Jaygarcia’s appearance is enough to trick any person into lowering their guard, but in reality, he is nothing short of a dangerous monster.

In the Egghead arc, Jaygarcia Saturn traveled to Vegapunk’s Island to personally deal with the latter’s betrayal. Upon his arrival, St. Jaygarcia Saturn almost immediately began to use his power. His transformation looks like some kind of spider, so it is possible that it could be a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit. Or it could be some kind of supernatural ability.

24 Queen

All-Star Of The Beasts Pirates

• Affiliation: Beasts Pirates
• Bounty: 1,320,000,000
• Debut: Chapter 925
• Devil Fruit: Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Brachiosaurus

Queen was one of the All-Stars, which meant that he was one of the strongest members of the Beasts Pirates. What separated Queen from the rest of the villains in the Wano Country arc was his interesting personality. Despite being an antagonist, Queen was extremely entertaining.

His singing and dancing won over the hearts of the fans. When it came to strength, there weren’t many characters who could compete with him. Queen’s Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Brachiosaurus, granted him immense strength and durability. He had also made several modifications to his body, making him a dangerous opponent.

23 Bartholomew Kuma

Former Revolutionary

• Affiliation: None
• Bounty: 296,000,000
• Debut: Chapter 233
• Devil Fruit: Nikyu Nikyu no Mi

When Bartholomew Kuma appeared on Thriller Bark, his presence terrified all those who saw him. Kuma was taciturn and only spoke if it was absolutely necessary. In the Thriller Bark arc, Kuma could have easily killed the Straw Hat Pirates, but he decided to respect Zoro’s sacrifice.

Kuma fought the Straw Hat Pirates on Sabaody, and, this time, the outcome wasn’t much different. Luckily for the pirates, Kuma was on their side, and he only sent them to locations where they could train. However, Luffy did not know about Kuma’s intentions, so he was completely distraught. It was one of the few times that Luffy was helpless and couldn’t do anything but cry.

22 Ryokugyu

A Marine Admiral

• Affiliation: Marines
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 905
• Devil Fruit: Mori Mori no Mi

Ryokugyu joined the Marines sometime during the time skip. He was only mentioned by name in the Dressrosa arc, and he didn’t make an appearance until after the war of Onigashima. Ryokugyu traveled to Wano in hopes of capturing the big-name pirates to get inside Akainu’s good books.

Ryokugyu used the power of his Mori Mori no Mi to attack Momonosuke and his retainers. Before he could cause any further damage, he was forced out of Wano by Shanks. It was later revealed that he captured Edward Weevil, which is a big achievement.

21 Caesar

Evil Scientist Employed By Two Yonko

• Affiliation: Germa Kingdom
• Bounty: 300,000,000
• Debut: Chapter 658
• Devil Fruit: Gasu Gasu no Mi

Caesar was the main villain of the Punk Hazard arc. A once-proud member of MADS, Caesar, suffered several setbacks, causing him to work with Donquixote Doflamingo. Caesar was a malevolent, selfish individual who only cared about completing his job.

Caesar had no principles, which is why he decided to experiment on kids. He didn’t even like his underlings, and he exploited their simplemindedness by making them do all sorts of dangerous work.

20 Smoker

A Marine Vice Admiral

• Affiliation: Marines
• Bounty: None
• Debut: Chapter 97
• Devil Fruit: Moku Moku no Mi

Smoker was the first villain to actually overwhelm Luffy in a fight. He made his debut in the Loguetown arc, where he nearly captured Luffy, who was only saved by Dragon’s intervention. After letting Luffy slip through his hands, Smoker continued to follow the young pirate into the Grand Line.

The two crossed paths many times, and each time Luffy narrowly escaped. After the time skip, Luffy’s power increased significantly, and he could easily defend himself from Smoker. The Vice Admiral’s own strength has not been impressive, and he was humiliated in the Punk Hazard arc, which is why he is no longer among the most feared villains in the series.