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 have immense crews and fleets. Feared and respected, even by the World Government, they maintain a balance of power.
Former legendary members like Whitebeard, recently Kaido and Big Mom have been defeated, shaking up the established order. Only Shanks remained Emperor, he was joined by new characters who have the same goal: To become the Pirate King . Let's discover them together!
Marshall D. Teach: Blackbeard
Blackbeard, rose to the rank of Emperor shortly after the Marineford Summit War . A former member of Whitebeard's crew, he betrayed his captain by murdering his companion Satch and delivering Portgas D. Ace to the World Government . It was by causing the fall of Edward Newgate , the strongest man in the world, that Marshall D. Teach was able to become Emperor. Blackbeard's crew, reinforced by former prisoners from Impel Down Level 6, became one of the most formidable in the Grand Line.
His ultimate goal is to find the legendary treasure of One Piece and become the Pirate King. To do this, he is willing to plunge the world into chaos and darkness. With his evil laugh "Zehahaha", Blackbeard represents the evil counterpart of Luffy . The two are destined to face each other in a merciless fight for the future of the pirate era.
What makes Marshall D. Teach particularly formidable are his two Devil Fruits with devastating abilities:
- The Yami Yami no Mi , a Logia that allows him to create and control darkness. He can thus suck in everything around him, including light and other powers.
- The Gura Gura no Mi , a Paramecia inherited from Whitebeard. This Devil Fruit gives him the ability to generate shockwaves and devastating earthquakes.
In addition to his powers, he is a fierce and resilient fighter, capable of withstanding terrible injuries. He also masters Armament and Observation Haki. With such destructive potential in his hands, he poses a huge threat to the already precarious balance of the New World.
Monkey D. Luffy: Straw Hat
Luffy has achieved the feat of becoming Emperor in just a few years since he set sail. His victories over pirates like Doflamingo , the escape from Impel Down or his intrusion into Marineford make him a major threat to the World Government. But it is especially his victory against Kaido , the former Emperor, that allowed him to achieve this status.
Luffy's strength lies in his Zoan-type Devil Fruit, the Hito Hito no Mi model Nika , which can make his body elastic. He also masters the three types of Haki to a very high level as well as his signature techniques, the Gear. With a bounty of 3 billion Berries , he is now part of the very exclusive club of the most powerful pirates in the world.
Son of the revolutionary Monkey D. Dragon and grandson of the Marine hero Garp, Luffy is considered "the most dangerous element for the future". Now Emperor, his influence has never been greater. The World Government will have to deal with this new major opponent in the race for One Piece and the title of Pirate King .
Shanks: The Redhead
Despite his young age, Red Shanks managed to become Emperor thanks to his colossal power and influence. He started out as a cabin boy in Roger's crew alongside Baggy the Clown.
Although he lost an arm saving Luffy from a sea monster, Shanks remains one of the most formidable fighters. He is the only current Emperor not to possess a Devil Fruit. His power comes from his mastery of haki and his natural physical abilities. Capable of stopping the Marineford War with a glance, his Haki of Kings is of rare power!
After the fall of Whitebeard, Kaido and Big Mom, he remained the only original Emperor . Shanks seems to have a mysterious agenda. His motivations remain unclear but he clearly has an important role to play in the new era that is coming. He is also the one who passed on to Luffy his dream of becoming the Pirate King by giving him his straw hat . Although he inspired him to take to the sea, the young pirate will undoubtedly have to defeat him one day to realize his dream.
Many mysteries still surround Shanks, his origins, his true intentions and the extent of his powers. But one thing is certain, his influence on the destiny of the world of One Piece is only just beginning...
Baggy: The Clown
Former cabin boy on the legendary Gol D Roger's ship with Shanks, Baggy is not an Emperor like the others. Following the fall of Kaido and Big Mom in the Land of Wano, Baggy was named Emperor to everyone's surprise . This unexpected nomination is the result of a series of misunderstandings and tricks on the part of the clown. We explain everything to you:
He formed an alliance called the Cross Guild with two former powerful Grand Corsairs , Mihawk and Crocodile . They placed him as the front leader of the organization, with the intention of getting rid of him when they no longer needed him. The Navy then interpreted this alliance as a sign that Buggy had managed to rally these fearsome fighters under his command. They therefore assigned him a higher bounty than Luffy , officially making him one of the Four Emperors.
Buggy has eaten the Bara Bara no Mi , which allows him to separate his body into several parts that he can control remotely. This power makes him a difficult opponent to defeat in close combat. Even the great swordsman Mihawk seems unable to cut him with his blades. Ultimately, even if his title of Emperor is based on a misunderstanding , Buggy is far from being an insignificant character.
With his mysterious past, his powers and his growing influence, the clown could well have a determining role in the rest of the story. As Oda himself says, Buggy is his favorite evil character from One Piece!
The Ancient Emperors
Over the course of the chapters, some Emperors have lost their status, either by being defeated by the new rising generation, or by succumbing to injuries or illnesses. A look back at the fate of these former Emperors who have marked the history of piracy.
Edward Newgate: Whitebeard
Whitebeard was a respected and feared Emperor . With his crew of 1,600 men and 43 allied fleets, he ruled over vast territories in the New World. His power of the Devil Fruit Gura Gura no Mi allowed him to cause devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.
Despite his power, Whitebeard succumbed to his injuries during the Marineford Summit War. He was defeated after battling Chief Admiral Sengoku in an attempt to save his son Ace.
Kaido: The Strongest Creature in the World
Kaido led the Beasts , a 20,000-man crew based in the country of Wano. Wielding the Uo Uo no Mi Azure Dragon , he could transform into a gigantic, nearly invulnerable dragon.
After years of tyranny over Wano, he was finally defeated by the alliance of Luffy, Law, Kid, the Samurai, and the Minks at the Battle of Onigashim . His defeat ended his reign and freed the country of Wano from his control. Captured by the Navy , he lost his status as Emperor.
Charlotte Linlin: Big Mom
The only woman to have been Emperor, Big Mom ruled the Totto Land archipelago with her crew, the Charlotte Family . With her Soru Soru no Mi , she could steal people's souls to animate objects and create an army of Homies. Feared for her power and unpredictability, she formed many alliances through political marriages.
Despite several attempts, Big Mom's crew failed to eliminate the Mugiwara who dared to challenge her on Whole Cake Island. During the raid on Onigashima, she allied with Kaido to face the new generation but was ultimately defeated by Law and Kid . But like him, she lost her title of Emperor following this bitter defeat.
Who will rule the New World?
The fall of the ancient Emperors and the advent of new legendary pirates mark a decisive turning point in the history of the One Piece manga. The new generation , led by Luffy, shakes up the established order and inexorably approaches One Piece. But many mysteries remain to be solved.
What is Shanks' real agenda? What will Blackbeard's next actions be? And most importantly, who among them will reach Laugh Tale first to become the Pirate King? One thing is for sure, the rest of their epic adventures still has many surprises in store for us!
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