One Piece: 5 Characters Blackbeard Needs To Beat To Become Pirate King

Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, is the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates. He started his crew after murdering Thatch, and in a short time, he was able to make a name for himself. Blackbeard became a Warlord as a reward for capturing Portgas D. Ace and handing him over to the Marines. He gained his second promotion after beating the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates in the Payback War.

Upon his victory, the World Government decided to name him one of the Four Emperors of the Sea. Blackbeard is an ambitious man who will do anything it takes to become the next Pirate King. Unsurprisingly, there are several One Piece characters whom he must defeat before laying claim to the biggest treasure of them all.

5. Buggy

Bounty: 3,189,000,00 Berries

Buggy is arguably the most lucky One Piece character. At the time of his introduction, he came off as an individual who would have a small role in the story. So, when he became an Emperor of the Sea, everyone was perplexed. No one could believe that Buggy, a renowned coward, would be considered one of the most influential pirates in the world.

Buggy’s power is nowhere near that of his fellow Emperors, so they can easily beat him in 1v1. Buggy’s real strength lies in his charisma, with which he can rile his supporters to undertake the most dangerous missions. He has also shown decent willpower, which was evident when he refused to be bullied by Crocodile and Mihawk. They threatened him, but that didn’t stop Buggy from telling his underlings about his dream—to find the One Piece. With a dream this big, it is obvious that Buggy will have to fight Blackbeard.

4. Shanks

Bounty: 4,048,900,000 Berries

Even with his limited screen time, Shanks has found a place in the hearts of the audience. In fact, his limited appearances have shrouded him in an aura of mystery. There is very little that fans know about Shanks, and it’s because Oda is saving him for the Final Saga. One of the few things that the audience knows about Shanks is that he does not have a Devil Fruit but makes up for it with his incredible Haki. Not only can he use all types of Haki, but his Conqueror’s Haki prevents the enemy from using Future Sight in combat.

Shanks is also an elite swordsman who used to fight with Dracule Mihawk. While the winner of their fights remains unclear, it has been stated that there was very little separating the two. Shanks has a history with Blackbeard, as the latter was responsible for giving him the scar above his left eye. Shanks has expressed his displeasure multiple times, and it would be unwise to think that the two won’t lock horns again in the future.

3. Monkey D. Luffy

Bounty: 3,000,000,000 Berries

Monkey D. Luffy is the main protagonist of One Piece. He is the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and a member of the Worst Generation. Despite being so young, Luffy has managed to become a renowned pirate. He is among the few characters in One Piece who are capable of utilizing all three types of Haki. On top of that, he can even use their advanced versions, making him nearly unbeatable in combat.

Luffy possesses the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit that allows him to tap into the power of the Sun God. As a result of fighting many powerful opponents, Luffy awakened his Devil Fruit. Luffy and Blackbeard have already met, but they have yet to engage in an all-out battle. Considering both of them want the same thing, it is inevitable that they will fight each other for the One Piece.

2. Imu

Bounty: None

Imu holds the highest authority within the World Government, which means that their world is absolute, and not even the Five Elders dare to oppose them. Imu is likely the oldest character in One Piece, as Ivankov stated that he found a similar name in a book that dates back to the Void Century. A normal person would never survive for centuries, so Imu might have undergone the Immortality Surgery, which would allow them to bypass the restriction.

Imu’s powers remain unknown, but it is highly unlikely that they don’t have any special abilities. Fans will be hoping that Oda will unravel this particular mystery sooner rather than later. Imu and Blackbeard have not come into direct contact, but the former is aware of the pirate’s existence and considers him a threat. With Katarina Devon gaining the ability to morph into Saint. Jaygarcia Saturn, a meeting between Imu and Blackbeard might be on the cards.

1. Kuzan (Potential)

Bounty: Unknown

Kuzan used to be a Navy Admiral, but following his loss to Akainu, he gave up the position. If his resignation didn’t raise enough eyebrows, the decision to join the Blackbeard Pirates certainly did. Kuzan decided to team up with Blackbeard and became one of the Ten Titanic Captains. Kuzan’s biggest test as a pirate came on Hachinosu against Monkey D. Garp, his old teacher.

After a grueling fight, Kuzan emerged as the victor. Although his decision to strike his master serves as a testament to his loyalty, one can’t help but think that Kuzan might be on a mission to take down the Blackbeard Pirates from within. While it remains a conjecture, it is highly likely that the former Admiral is the leader of SWORD and wants to work on his own. If this turns out to be real, then Kuzan will certainly fight Blackbeard.