The Top One Piece Characters You Should Know

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Introducing the Straw Hats, Emperors, Marines, and more
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One Piece is a legendary anime with a staggeringly large cast of characters…so which are the characters you absolutely need to know? We’ve got you covered! In this article, we’ll cover the most important, “must-know” characters in One Piece (for those watching the anime or Netflix live-action series, of course). Keep reading for a comprehensive overview of the Straw Hats with exclusive input from an anime expert, as well as a guide to key members of the World Government and the other pirates of the Grand Line!

Major One Piece Characters You Need to Know

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An illustration showing several of the important characters from One Piece.

Monkey D. Luffy is One Piece’s protagonist. Major characters include Luffy’s Straw Hat crew: Roronoa Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Nico Robin, Franky, Brook, and Jimbei. Other important characters are Monkey D. Garp and Koby of the Marines, as well as Shanks and Blackbeard (pirate Emperors).

Section 1 of 3:

Characters in the Straw Hats Crew

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  1. Step 1 Monkey D. Luffy
    First, naturally, we have One Piece’s exuberant protagonist, Luffy. “He wants to become the Pirate King,” explains anime expert Ed Erskine. “He’s inspired by a legendary pirate called Gol D. Roger.”[1] Luffy is cheerful, good-natured, and always ready to offer help to those who need it. Friendship is sacred in Luffy’s heart, and that’s reflected in the journey that ensues as Luffy and his Straw Hats sail the world, seeking out the fabled One Piece treasure![2]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Mayumi Tanaka
    • English actor (anime): Colleen Clinkenbeard
    • Actor (live action): Iñaki Godoy
    • Check our article on One Piece birthdays to learn even more about its lovable cast!

    Meet the wikiHow Expert

    Ed Erskine is an anime expert and podcaster based in London. He and his co-host, Solo, use their podcast to break down specific anime series, episodes, and character profiles.

  2. Step 2 Roronoa Zoro
    Zoro is Luffy’s ride-or-die right-hand man. Before joining up as the very first official member of Luffy’s crew, Zoro was a famous bounty hunter, but now he has a bounty on his own head. And as Erskine explains, he’s a fan-favorite because he’s one of the crew’s most loyal and dedicated members![3] He’s also a master of the “Three-Sword Style,” meaning Zoro is capable of fighting with three blades: two in his hands, and one in his mouth.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Kazuya Nakai
    • English actor (anime): Christopher Sabat
    • Actor (live action): Mackenyu
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  3. Step 3 Nami
    Nami—or “Cat Burglar Nami,” as she’s also called—is the Straw Hats’ navigator. “Her purpose is to help the crew go to different islands,” says Erskine. “And as she’s doing that, she’s building maps…her dream is to build a map of the world.”[4] But before joining the Straw Hats, she lived up to the “cat burglar” part of her name! She initially met Luffy as part of a scam, but joined for real after the Straw Hats helped free her hometown from the pirate Arlong.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Akemi Okamura
    • English actor (anime): Luci Christian
    • Actor (live action): Emily Rudd
  4. Step 4 Usopp
    Usopp is one of the more easily relatable Straw Hats…namely because he’s scared of pretty much everything to do with the pirate’s life. Yet he dreams of becoming a brave warrior and meeting his father (a pirate on Red-Hair Shanks’ crew) at sea one day, and joins the Straw Hats with that goal in mind. And he does become braver as time goes on, serving as the Straw Hats’ sharpshooter and inventor.[5]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Kappei Yamaguchi
    • English actor (anime): Sonny Strait
    • Actor (live action): Jacob Romero Gibson
  5. Step 5 Sanji
    As the Straw Hats’ cook, Sanji is pretty much an indispensable member of the crew—although he can sometimes rub people the wrong way, since according to Erskine, he’s “always swanning over girls.”[6] Nonetheless, Sanji has an important goal befitting his profession: to find the All Blue, an ocean where fish from around the world live together so that he can cook the perfect dish.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Hiroaki Hirata
    • English actor (anime): Eric Vale
    • Actor (live action): Taz Skylar
  6. Step 6 Tony Tony Chopper
    Chopper is the crew’s first non-human member…because he’s an adorable little reindeer instead. As a young reindeer, he ate a Devil Fruit that allowed him to become human (and shift into hybrid human-deer forms). He’s a pretty strong fighter when he wants to be, but a healer at heart. Chopper is the Straw Hats’ doctor, trained by his mentor Hiriluk, who inspired him to become the world’s best physician.[7]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Ikue Otani
    • English actor (anime): Brina Palencia
    • Actor (live action): Mikaela Hoover
  7. Step 7 Nico Robin
    It’s a bit of a spoiler to include Nico Robin here, because she starts as a Baroque Works agent—but once her boss, Sir Crocodile, betrays her, she decides on a new career. And from there, Robin becomes the Straw Hats’ resident archaeologist (as well as a strong, Devil Fruit-empowered fighter).
    • Japanese actor (anime): Yuriko Yamaguchi
    • English actor (anime): Stephanie Young
    • Actor (live action): Lera Abova
  8. Step 8 Franky
    Franky is a renowned shipwright, one of the best in the world. He’s also a cyborg, having replaced many of his human body parts with robotic ones (meaning he’s also quite the high-tech shipwright). He builds the Straw Hats’ current ship, The Thousand Sunny, while pursuing his goal of building a ship capable of sailing even the most perilous seas—and accompanies Luffy to ensure the Sunny is actually up to snuff.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Kazuki Yao, Subaru Kimura
    • English actor (anime): Patrick Seitz
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  9. Step 9 Brook
    Brook is the crew’s eldest member by a considerable margin, considering he’s a resurrected skeleton. After dying at sea, Brook’s Devil Fruit resurrected him—but his body had already decomposed, leaving him in his current skeletal state. He’s now the Straw Hats’ musician, having joined to sail around the world and meet up with Laboo, the only other surviving member of his crew.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Chō
    • English actor (anime): Ian Sinclair
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  10. Step 10 Jimbei
    Jimbei (also spelled Jinbe) is the most recent Straw Hat, and a former Warlord of the Sea. He was one of Emperor Big Mom’s most trusted underlings, but decided to join Luffy out of sheer respect; he genuinely believes Luffy is one of the few people capable of changing the world for the better as the King of the Pirates. Thus, the ever-honorable Jinbe is now a loyal member of Luffy’s crew, determined to usher in a new age of piracy.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Daisuke Gori, Katsuhisa Hoki
    • English actor (anime): Daniel Baugh
    • Actor (live action): N/A
    • Curious to know which character you’d be? Take our One Piece character quiz to find out!
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Section 2 of 3:

Marines & World Government Characters

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  1. Step 1 Koby
    Koby first encounters Luffy as a captive cabin boy aboard the pirate Alvida’s ship. After Luffy sets him free, Koby decides to join the Marines—a dream he’s had since childhood. Yet despite becoming a Marine, Koby still respects Luffy a great deal; the pair encounter one another a couple of times after parting ways. Koby may not be a Straw Hat, but he was Luffy’s first travelling companion, making him someone worth knowing![8]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Mika Doi
    • English actor (anime): Leah Clark
    • Actor (live action): Morgan Davies
  2. Step 2 Helmeppo
    Helmeppo is introduced as the very entitled civilian son of Marine Captain “Axe-Hand” Morgan, and he’s a minor antagonist during One Piece’s Romance Dawn arc. However, after he and Koby are taken under Vice Admiral Garp’s wing, Helmeppo actually matures, becoming a full Marine and rising to the rank of lieutenant commander.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Koichi Nagano
    • English actor (anime): Troy Baker, Mike McFarland
    • Actor (live action): Aidan Scott
  3. Step 3 Captain “Axe-Hand” Morgan
    “Axe-Hand” Morgan is one of Luffy’s first Marine adversaries, introduced during the Romance Dawn arc. He’s a captain in the Marines with a vicious reputation (and, yes, an axe in place of one of his hands) stationed in Shells Town. Luffy runs afoul of him while searching for a map to the Grand Line—an event that ends in Morgan’s defeat.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Banjō Ginga
    • English actor (anime): Brett Weaver
    • Actor (live action): Langley Kirkwood
  4. Step 4 Monkey D. Garp
    Garp isn’t just an influential Vice Admiral within the Marines—he’s also Luffy’s grandfather! “Garp the Fist,” as he’s called, is known as the only Marine able to seriously challenge the Pirate King Gol D. Roger; he’s considered a hero within the Marines, and has won many battles against pirates in his time. He also raised Luffy and Luffy’s sworn brother, Portgas D. Ace, for a time when they were children.[9]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Hiroshi Naka
    • English actor (anime): Brian Mathis
    • Actor (live action): Vincent Regan
  5. Step 5 Admiral Akainu (Sakazuki)
    Akainu—real name Sakazuki—is the former Fleet Admiral Sengoku’s successor. He’s one of the three admirals of the Marines, and one of the most ardent proponents of “Absolute Justice” (a Marine philosophy in which the ends always justify the means). He eventually becomes a major antagonist for Luffy and the Straw Hats, beginning in the Marineford Arc.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Michio Nakao, Fumihiko Tachiki
    • English actor (anime): Andrew Love
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  6. Step 6 Admiral Kizaru (Borsalino)
    Kizaru is an alias, but it’s the name that this character is typically known by. He’s another one of the Marines’ three Admirals, ranking second only to Akainu (Sakazuki). And while he puts on a front of being easygoing and calm, he can be utterly merciless in battle against his foes.[10]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Unshō Ishizuka, Ryōtarō Okiayu
    • English actor (anime): Ray Hurd
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  7. Step 7 Admiral Fujitora (Issho)
    Fujitora is a newer Admiral—and a different kind of Admiral at that. He believes in “Humane Justice,” which prioritizes the protection of the innocent over the punishment of criminals (very different from Akainu’s firm belief in “Absolute Justice”). Fujitora is the one to lead the charge in abolishing the “Seven Warlords of the Sea,” and unlike many of his peers, he’s known for his benevolence and selflessness.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Ikuya Sawaki
    • English actor (anime): Charles C. Campbell
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  8. Step 8 Imu
    Imu is the mysterious and incredibly dangerous true ruler of the World Government. As an entity, Imu most definitely thinks of himself as a “god”; he’s one of the World Government’s founders, and he’s kept his existence a secret for at least 800 years or so. Moreover, he’s one of the primary antagonists in One Piece as a whole, having orchestrated numerous events throughout the series.[11]
    • Japanese actor (anime): N/A (kept secret intentionally)
    • English actor (anime): N/A
    • Actor (live action): N/A
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Section 3 of 3:

Pirates & Other Major Supporting Characters

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  1. Step 1 Dracule Mihawk
    Mihawk is universally recognized as the world’s strongest swordsman (which, if you’ll recall, is the title Roronoa Zoro is also after). He’s originally introduced as a Warlord—one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a band of notorious pirates authorized by the World Government. But after the Warlords’ disbandment, Mihawk forms the Cross Guild, which is a New World crime syndicate.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Takeshi Aono, Hirohiko Kakegawa
    • English actor (anime): John Gremillion
    • Actor (live action): Steven John Ward
  2. Step 2 Red-Haired Shanks
    Shanks is a former member of Gol D. Roger’s crew, and now one of the four pirate Emperors in his own right. More importantly, he’s a beloved figure from Luffy’s childhood; Shanks gave Luffy his old straw hat, which becomes part of Luffy’s trademark look throughout One Piece. While the two don’t sail together, Shanks generally seems happy and proud whenever he hears about Luffy’s exploits.[12]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Shūichi Ikeda
    • English actor (anime): Brandon Potter
    • Actor (live action): Peter Gadiot
  3. Step 3 Nefertari Vivi
    Vivi is a lot of things to the Straw Hats—first their enemy, then their crewmate, and still one of their closest friends. She’s listed among major supporting characters, but as far as the Straw Hats are concerned, she’ll always be one of them. Vivi is the princess of the Arabasta Kingdom, introduced while working to save her kingdom from the Baroque Works criminal syndicate.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Misa Watanabe
    • English actor (anime): Caitlin Glass
    • Actor (live action): Charithra Chandran
  4. Step 4 Marshall D. Teach
    Marshall D. Teach is none other than Captain Blackbeard—formerly one of the Seven Warlords, and currently one of the Emperors of the New World. One of his greatest claims to fame is being the first and only known person to have two Devil Fruits: the Yami Yami no Mi (Dark-Dark Fruit) and Gura Gura no Mi (Tremor-Tremor Fruit). And while Luffy considers Teach a bitter enemy, Teach appears to have a lot of respect for Luffy nonetheless.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Akio Otsuka
    • English actor (anime): Cole Brown, Chris Rager
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  5. Step 5 Trafalgar D. Water Law
    Law is one of Luffy’s sometimes-allies; the pair work together well, although Law usually maintains that their alliances are temporary. For his own part, Law is one of the Seven Warlords for a time—but even after that title is revoked, he remains the skilled captain of the Heart Pirates, as well as the crew’s official doctor.[13]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Hiroshi Kamiya
    • English actor (anime): Matthew Mercer
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  6. Step 6 Big Mom
    Big Mom—or Charlotte Linlin—is one of the four Emperors of the New World (and the group’s only female member). She’s introduced as the queen of Totto Land and Whole Cake Island, where she attempts to build a utopia of sorts (alongside her entire “Charlotte family”). She eventually allies with Emperor Kaido against Luffy and the Straw Hats.[14]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Toshiko Fujita, Mami Koyama
    • English actor (anime): Pam Dougherty
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  7. Step 7 Kaido
    “Kaido of the Beasts” (also spelled “Kaidou”) is yet another of the four original Emperors introduced in One Piece. He’s the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, but more importantly, he’s the “world’s strongest creature”—because he can transform into a seemingly indestructible blue dragon!
    • Japanese actor (anime): Tesshō Genda
    • English actor (anime): David Sobolov
    • Actor (live action): N/A
  8. Step 8 Buggy the Clown
    Buggy the Clown is another former member of Gol D. Roger’s crew, and at the beginning of One Piece, is one of the Seven Warlords. Buggy and Luffy run afoul of one another numerous times, with Buggy being one of the most frequently recurring characters in the series. And although Buggy and Luffy consider one another enemies, they’ve occasionally worked together (sometimes without even knowing it).[15]
    • Japanese actor (anime): Shigeru Chiba
    • English actor (anime): Mike McFarland
    • Actor (live action): Jeff Ward
  9. Step 9 Edward Newgate
    Newgate, better known as “Whitebeard,” is one of the legendary pirate Emperors and leader of the Whitebeard Pirates. Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger shared a friendly rivalry in their heyday—and, in fact, after Roger’s death, Whitebeard became the “strongest man in the world.” A confident and cheerful captain, Whitebeard eventually becomes one of Luffy’s allies.
    • Japanese actor (anime): Kinryu Arimoto, Ryūzaburō Ōtomo
    • English actor (anime): R Bruce Elliott
    • Actor (live action): N/A
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Common Questions: One Piece Characters & Factions

How many named characters has Eiichiro Oda introduced in the manga?

It’s hard to give an accurate number because One Piece is ongoing—but currently, there are 1,500 to 1,600 named characters in the One Piece manga. And if you factor in unnamed characters, that number gets even higher!

What are the main factions in the story?

One Piece’s most important factions include Luffy’s Straw Hats, as well as the World Government (a global organization that rules every nation), the Marines (the World Government’s military), the Four Emperors (pirates who rule territories around the Grand Line), and Baroque Works (a crime syndicate created by Sir Crocodile).[16]

Which One Piece characters have the highest bounties of all time?

The highest-known bounties of all time in One Piece belong to Gol D. Roger, Edward Newgate, Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks. But spoiler alert: Gol D. Roger is long-dead, Newgate is killed during the series, and Kaido and Big Mom are both defeated by the Straw Hats, so none of them are considered active currently. That said, Roger's bounty was 5,564,800,000 Berries; Newgate's bounty was 5,046,000,000 Berries; Kaido’s bounty was 4,611,100,000 Berries; Big Mom’s bounty was 4,388,000,000 Berries; finally, Shanks’ bounty is 4,048,900,000 Berries.[17]

Which One Piece characters currently hold the highest active bounties?

More spoilers ahead! With characters like Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom having met their defeat, the current highest bounty-holders are Shanks, Blackbeard, Mihawk, Buggy the Clown, and Luffy. Blackbeard's bounty is 3,996,000,000 Berries; Mihawk's bounty is 3,590,000,000 Berries; Buggy's bounty is 3,189,000,000 Beries; finally, Luffy's bounty is 3,000,000,000 Berries.

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References

  1. ↑ Ed Erskine. Anime Expert. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/eycbaFbjn2w?t=43
  3. ↑ Ed Erskine. Anime Expert. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ Ed Erskine. Anime Expert. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/OnePieceUsopp
  6. ↑ Ed Erskine. Anime Expert. Expert Interview
  7. ↑ https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Tony_Tony_Chopper
  8. ↑ https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Koby
  9. ↑ https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/OnePieceMonkeyDGarp
  1. ↑ https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Borsalino
  2. ↑ https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Nerona_Imu
  3. ↑ https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Shanks
  4. ↑ https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Trafalgar_D._Water_Law
  5. ↑ https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Charlotte_Linlin
  6. ↑ https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Buggy
  7. ↑ https://youtu.be/TGz2EbaiyFI?t=646
  8. ↑ https://youtu.be/GNoM410S3z0?t=917

About This Article

Ed Erskine
Co-authored by:
Ed Erskine
Anime Expert
This article was co-authored by Ed Erskine and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Ed Erskine is an anime expert and podcaster based in London, UK. Ed has been watching anime for over 20 years and founded the Suuuper Anime Podcast in 2020. The Suuuper Anime Podcast is the #1 anime podcast in the UK, and has been listened to in over 190 countries. In the podcast, Ed and his co-host Solo break down specific anime series, episodes, and character profiles, as well as discuss a variety of anime industry topics. They have had guests such as Jason Page (the original singer of the Pokémon theme song), the directors from the Amazon show Invincible, the directors from the Netflix show Love, Death & Robots, and many more notable industry contributors. Ed’s favorite anime are One Piece and Dragon Ball Z, and his favorite character is Ippo, from Hajime No Ippo.
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Updated: August 26, 2026
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