Summary
Imu, as interesting as his past and connection to JoyBoy is, is not the final villain ofOne Piece. With each passing chapter, it’sbecoming increasingly clear that the final battle for the One Piecewill be between two crews that have been on a collision course since the beginning: the Blackbeard Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates. Oda has consistently portrayed Teach as Luffy’s perfect counterpart. These two captains represent opposite sides of the same coin, embodying contrasting ideals and methods in their pursuit of becoming the Pirate King. This duality isn’t limited to the captains, though; it extends to both of their crews as well. Oda very likely did this on purpose, as these potential match-ups promise to deliver the most thematically rich battles in the series' history — which is exactly what you would expect fromOne Piece’sfinale.
What makes this impending clash so compelling is how Blackbeard’s crew members serve as dark reflections of the Straw Hats. Many of Teach’s main allies embody what the Straw Hats might have become had they chosen a path of evil and selfishness. Others represent the very antithesis of what Luffy’s crew stands for, making them the perfect adversaries in a battle that will test not just strength, but the very ideals that have driven both Yonko crews to their positions. But when it comes down to it, which Straw Hat member would Oda pair againstwhich one of Blackbeard’s Ten Captains?
Jinbe vs Avalo Pizarro: Honor vs. Corruption
Jinbe, the embodiment of honorable leadership, versus Pizarro, against a poster child for corruption, will be a battle that’s as much about ideals as it is about raw power.
Pizarro’s Shima Shima no Mi ability to assimilate into islands gives him a massive home-field advantage, turning the very ground beneath Jinbe’s feet into a weapon. It’s a clever counter to Jinbe’s mastery of Fishman Karate, forcing the Straw Hats' helmsman to fight an uphill battle – literally.Jinbe, a warrior most at home in the sea, will have to fight an island with no access to water.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Jinbe’s time in Impel Down’s sixth level might just be his ace in the hole. If these two crossed paths during Jinbe’s imprisonment, it adds a layer of familiarity to their confrontation. Jinbe, having seen Pizarro when he was imprisoned, could exploit weaknesses that others might miss.
Brook vs Laffitte: A Duel of Entertainers
Brook versus Laffitte stands out as a clash of eerie similarities and stark contrasts. Both characters excel at stealth, but their methods couldn’t be more different. Brook’s soul powers let him phase through solid matter, while Laffitte’s mysterious ability to infiltrate Marine HQ undetected hints at a yet-to-be-revealed power that could rival Brook’s ghostly tricks.
What makes this match-up so fun is that they’re both entertainers at heart. And they’re both deadly. Brook proved his value to the crew whenhe single-handedly took on Big Momand managed to copy the Road Poneglyph from her. And while Laffitte’s abilities have yet to be revealed, it’s not hard to guess that his design is quite similar to Brook’s. The only difference is that Brook manages to convey more emotion without a face than Laffitte does with one.
Franky vs Sanjuan Wolf: Battle of the Shipwrights
This one hardly needs explaining. Franky’s lifelong ambition was to create a ship capable of conquering the Grand Line. And out of all of Blackbeard’s crew, no one could be a bigger goal for Franky than Sanjuan Wolf (also known as “the colossal battleship”). Fighting him will put Franky’s engineering skills to the ultimate test.
Franky, with his cyborg enhancementsand technological innovations, represents the pinnacle of human ingenuity. Wolf, on the other hand, embodies raw, natural power on a titanic scale. The fight could easily turn into a spectacular showdown between Franky’s General Franky (possibly integrated with the Thousand Sunny) and Wolf’s colossal form.
Chopper vs Doc Q: Doctor vs. Sickness
Chopper’s dream of curing any disease standsin stark opposition to Doc Q’s Sick-Sick Fruit, which allows him to inflict illnesses at will. But it goes deeper than their abilities. Chopper’s unwavering commitment to helping anyone, friend or foe, clashes violently with Doc Q’s moniker as “Death God.”
And again, this won’t just be a battle of strength and skill, but instead an ideological battle that cuts to the core of what it means to be a doctor in the world of One Piece. After all, if there’s one thing guaranteed to send Chopper into a fury, it’s someone who’ll make others sick for entertainment. Doc Q is everything Chopper stands against, wrapped up in one wheezing, disease-spreading package.
Robin vs Aokiji Kuzan: A Chilling Reunion
Sometimes, Oda’s matchups write themselves, and Robin vs Aokiji Kuzan is a prime example.
If the Straw Hats clash with Blackbeard’s forces, Kuzan and Robin are bound to cross paths. Their history runs deep. Kuzan’s role in the Ohara incident, his past interactions with Robin, and his complex moral stance make him the perfect thematic opponent for the Straw Hats' archaeologist.
To address the elephant in the room – the theories about Kuzan potentially betraying Blackbeard, while plausible, they don’t negate the possibility of this matchup. Even ifKuzan’s loyalty to Blackbeard is a ruse, he’d likely have to maintain the charade in a full-scale battle. This could lead to a fascinatingly complex fight where Kuzan might be pulling his punches, and Robin could be fully aware of it.
Usopp vs Van Augur: A Sniper’s Ultimate Test
Usopp’s journey as a sniper has been unique. Despite his growth and numerous encounters, he hasn’t had many opportunities to truly test his marksmanship against fellow sharpshooters. This lack of sniper-versus-sniper confrontations makes Usopp’s potential face-off with Van Augur in the Final Saga not just exciting, but crucial for his character development.
Van Augur, Blackbeard’s sniper, stands as one of the most formidable marksmen on the Grand Line, rivaled perhaps only by Yasopp, Usopp’s father. What sets Van Augur apart is his lethal combination of pinpoint accuracy and raw power. His feats are nothing short of legendary:
For Usopp, facing Van Augur represents more than just another battle. It’s an opportunity to prove himself against one of the world’s elite snipers, and a test of how far he’s come since his days as a self-proclaimed liar from Syrup Village.
Nami vs Catarina Devon: A Battle of Beauty and Cunning
The first thing fans learn about Devon is that she hates beautiful women. This defining trait sets up a perfect conflict with Nami, one ofthe most celebrated beauties in the One Piece world. In fact, Nami stands alongside Shirahoshi and Boa Hancock as prime targets for Catarina’s wrath. As the only one among these beauties in the Straw Hat crew, Nami becomes the natural focus for Catarina’s hostility in the final battle.
Beyond this surface-level antagonism, Oda has cleverly woven similarities between these two characters that set the stage for a battle of wits and trickery. Nami, known as the “Cat Burglar,” is renowned for her sneaky and calculated nature. Similarly, Catarina has demonstrated cunning through her deceptive use of her mythical Zoan fruit, the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox. This kitsune transformation ability, associated with trickster spirits in Japanese folklore, mirrors Nami’s talent for illusions and misdirection. Their confrontation promises to be a match of strategy and deception, where each tries to outmaneuver the other.
Sanji vs Vasco Shot: A Clash of Morals and Flames
Sanji, whose chivalrous code forms the bedrock of his persona, will likely find his enemy in Vasco Shot, the pervert on Blackbeard’s crew. Shot’s lecherous nature was laid bare when he suggested exploiting Boa Hancock for carnal pleasure rather than killing her, as Catarina Devon had proposed.
While both men may be swayed by feminine charms, Sanji’s unwavering commitment to protecting and honoring women, even at great personal cost, stands in sharp relief against Shot’s willingness to objectify and exploit them, creating a powder keg of ideological conflict.
The parallels between these two extend beyond their opposing views on women, as their combat abilities share a fiery commonality: Vasco Shot, empowered by the Gabu Gabu no Mi—a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit granting alcohol-based powers — has demonstrated the capacity to weaponize alcohol’s flammable properties in attacks.Sanji himself tends to be surrounded by flames when angry, though if it will be enough to take down one of Impel Down’s most dangerous criminals remains to be seen.
Zoro vs Shiryu: A Duel of Shadows and Steel
Both men occupy pivotal roles within their respective crews: Zoro as the Straw Hats' first mate and unofficial second-in-command, and Shiryu as one of Blackbeard’s formidable “Ten Titanic Captains” commanding the second ship. This parallel in their crew dynamics, coupled with their shared mastery of the blade and penchant for violence, makes them the perfect combination of fighters.
Shiryu was later revealed to have th Suke Suke no Mi, a Paramecia-class Devil Fruit that grants him invisibility. An enemy like this would likely anger Sanji more, but Oda has cleverly laid the groundwork for Zoro to be the one who overcomes it. Throughout the series,Zoro has demonstrated an uncanny ability to fight without relying on sight, coupled with his exceptional perceptiveness in sensing threats. These skills suggest that Zoro’s confrontation with an invisible opponent may not be the challenge it appears, but rather a perfect test of his honed instincts and spiritual awareness of swordsmanship.
Luffy vs Blackbeard: The Inevitable Clash of Pirate Kings
The confrontation between Luffy and Blackbeard has been an inevitability since their introduction in theOne Piecesaga. This matchup is not just a battle between two powerful pirates, but a clash of fundamentally opposing ideologies that define the very essence ofwhat it means to be a captain in Oda’sOne Piece.
Luffy and Blackbeard stand as perfect foils to each other, embodying contrasting aspects of the pirate ethos. Luffy’s unwavering belief in honor, fair play, and the bonds of friendship — as exemplified in his refusal to take advantage of Admiral Fujitora’s blindness during their confrontation — stands in stark contrast to Blackbeard’s tendency to play dirty and willingness to employ any means necessary to achieve victory.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
