In the manga One Piece, the 4 Emperors (Yonko) are the most powerful and influential pirates in the New World. They rule over vast territories and command massive crews and fleets. Feared and respected even by the World Government, they maintain the balance of power.
Legendary former members like Whitebeard, and more recently Kaido and Big Mom have been defeated, shaking the established order. Only Shanks remains as an original Emperor, now joined by new characters sharing the same goal: To become the Pirate King. Let's explore them together!
Marshall D. Teach: Blackbeard
Blackbeard ascended to Emperor status shortly after the Summit War at Marineford. A former member of Whitebeard's crew, he betrayed his captain by murdering crewmate Thatch and handing Portgas D. Ace over to the World Government. By causing the fall of Edward Newgate, the world's strongest man, Marshall D. Teach secured his position as Emperor. Blackbeard's crew, reinforced by former Level 6 prisoners from Impel Down, has become one of the most formidable in the Grand Line.
His ultimate goal is to find the legendary One Piece treasure and become Pirate King. To achieve this, he's willing to plunge the world into chaos and darkness. With his sinister laugh "Zehahaha", Blackbeard represents the dark counterpart to Luffy. Their inevitable clash will determine the future of the pirate era.
What makes Marshall D. Teach particularly fearsome are his two devastating Devil Fruits:
- The Yami Yami no Mi (Dark-Dark Fruit), a Logia allowing him to create and control darkness, capable of absorbing everything including light and other powers.
- The Gura Gura no Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit), a Paramecia inherited from Whitebeard, granting him the power to generate destructive shockwaves and earthquakes.
Combined with his mastery of Armament and Observation Haki, along with his incredible endurance, Blackbeard poses a catastrophic threat to the New World's fragile balance.
Monkey D. Luffy: Straw Hat
Luffy achieved the remarkable feat of becoming an Emperor within just a few years of setting sail. His victories over pirates like Doflamingo, the Impel Down breakout, and his intervention at Marineford established him as a major threat to the World Government. However, it was his triumph over former Emperor Kaido that solidified his Yonko status.
Luffy's strength stems from his Zoan-type Devil Fruit, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika (Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika), granting his body rubber-like elasticity. He's also mastered all three types of Haki to an exceptional level and developed his signature Gear techniques. With a bounty of 3 billion Berries, he now stands among the world's most powerful pirates.
As the son of revolutionary Monkey D. Dragon and grandson of Marine hero Garp, Luffy is considered "the most dangerous element for the future." Now an Emperor, his influence has never been greater. The World Government must contend with this formidable new contender in the race for One Piece and the title of Pirate King.
Shanks: The Red-Haired
Despite his relative youth, Shanks earned his Emperor status through immense power and influence. He began as a cabin boy on Roger's crew alongside Buggy the Clown.
Though he lost an arm saving Luffy from a sea monster, Shanks remains one of the most formidable fighters. He's the only current Emperor without a Devil Fruit, relying instead on his supreme Haki mastery and physical prowess. His Conqueror's Haki proved powerful enough to halt the Marineford war with a mere glare!
Following the falls of Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom, Shanks stands as the last original Emperor. While his motives remain mysterious, he clearly plays a crucial role in the coming new era. Having inspired Luffy's pirate dream by entrusting him with his straw hat, Shanks may ultimately need to be surpassed for Luffy to achieve his goal.
Buggy: The Genius Jester
Former cabin mate to Shanks on Roger's ship, Buggy became an Emperor through a series of misunderstandings and clever schemes following Kaido and Big Mom's defeat in Wano Country. Here's how:
He formed the Cross Guild alliance with former Warlords Mihawk and Crocodile. While they installed him as a figurehead leader, the Marines misinterpreted this as Buggy commanding these powerful warriors. This earned him a bounty surpassing Luffy's and official Emperor status.
Buggy's Bara Bara no Mi (Chop-Chop Fruit) lets him split and control his body parts, making him surprisingly resilient in combat - even Mihawk's blades can't permanently harm him. Though his Emperor title stems from a misunderstanding, Buggy's growing influence and mysterious past suggest he'll play a significant role moving forward. As Oda himself states, Buggy is his favorite "wild card" character!
Former Emperors
Previous Emperors have fallen to the rising new generation or succumbed to injuries and illness. Let's revisit these legends who shaped pirate history.
Edward Newgate: Whitebeard
Whitebeard was a respected and feared Emperor commanding 1,600 crewmates and 43 allied fleets across the New World. His Gura Gura no Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit) allowed him to create devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.
Despite his power, Whitebeard fell during the Marineford War after confronting Fleet Admiral Sengoku to save his son Ace.
Kaido: The World's Strongest Creature
Kaido led the Beast Pirates, a 20,000-strong crew based in Wano Country. His Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Azure Dragon let him transform into a nearly invincible dragon.
After years of tyrannizing Wano, he was finally defeated by Luffy's alliance during the Onigashima Raid. Captured by the Marines, he lost his Emperor status.
Charlotte Linlin: Big Mom
The only female Emperor, Big Mom ruled Totto Land with her Charlotte Family. Her Soru Soru no Mi (Soul-Soul Fruit) let her create homie armies by stealing souls. Despite forming political alliances through marriages, she was ultimately defeated by Law and Kid during the Onigashima battle, losing her Emperor title.
Who Will Rule the New World?
The old Emperors' downfall and new legends' rise mark a turning point in One Piece history. The new generation led by Luffy disrupts the status quo, drawing closer to One Piece. But mysteries remain:
What is Shanks' true agenda? What moves will Blackbeard make? Most importantly, who will reach Laugh Tale first to claim the Pirate King title? One thing's certain - epic adventures and shocking revelations await!
Learn more about One Piece characters: