Consistently praised for its variety of inventive, unforgettable characters, Eiichiro Oda’s shonen epic One Piece features some of the genre’s most popular and universally beloved heroes. The likes of Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Vinsmoke Sanji, and even relatively minor characters like Trafalgar Law and Shanks never fail to make the ranks of fan favorites.
However, in a series with over a thousand named characters, some well-deserving heroes are bound to shrivel outside the limelight. No matter how great they are, fans don’t show them enough appreciation. These underrated One Piece heroes deserve the same acknowledgment for their merits as the more popular characters in the story.
Updated on June 9, 2023, by Maria Remizova:One Piece‘s cast is so large that some incredible heroes are bound to end up overshadowed by more notable characters. Be it lack of screen time, underdeveloped characterization, or too noticeable flaws, these underrated heroes never made it big with the fans. This list was updated with even more One Piece characters who could use more love from the community.
15 Crocodile
One of the first major villains the Straw Hats had to face, Crocodile used to seem like an impossible obstacle to overcome. Yet, due to the former Warlord’s early introduction, he seems much less intimidating in retrospect.
Despite returning to relevance after establishing the Cross Guild with Mihawk and Buggy, Crocodile never escaped his reputation as a weak and unimpressive minor villain. Considering his formidable Devil Fruit power and direct links to some of One Piece‘s most dangerous characters, Crocodile still has a chance to prove the haters wrong.
14 Koby
Koby embodies some of One Piece‘s greatest thematic strengths and deserves much more respect for his accomplishments. One of the first allies Luffy met during the East Blue Saga, Koby used to be a timid involuntary pirate under Alvida’s ruthless command.
Inspired by Luffy’s confidence, he went on to pursue his own dream and became a Marine Captain. Koby’s ambition to become an Admiral mirrors Luffy’s dream, and he might as well be one of the only worthy Marines to restructure the corrupt military system.
13 Big Mom
Big Mom was first introduced as the second strongest Emperor of the Sea, a formidable and merciless ruler among the New World’s sovereigns. However, her goofy character design and eccentric personality swiftly diminished any intimidation her status demanded.
Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge Charlotte Linlin as the only female Emperor and possibly the strongest woman in One Piece. Her grotesque appearance and absurd love for candy might be played up for laughs, but they don’t make her any less of a legend among the pirates.
12 Emporio Ivankov
Yet another character whose bizarre powers and eccentric appearance prevent them from being taken seriously is Emporio Ivankov, Queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom and commander of the Revolutionary Army. Humorous and easy-going with both his friends and allies, Iva actually plays a crucial role in the grander political conflicts of the One Piece world.
Ivankov’s abilities are also nothing short of terrific, as he is both a powerful healer and a shockingly effective striker. Having Ivankov on his side might prove to be a pivotal advantage for Luffy.
11 Curly Dadan
Curly Dadan might not be a legendary pirate or a core player of the One Piece world. Still, she played one of the central roles in Luffy’s upbringing, replacing the boy’s mother.
Other mentor figures from Luffy’s childhood, like Garp and Shanks, often get much more credit for raising the future Pirate King despite being there for Luffy much less than Dadan. Petty and short-tempered, Dadan didn’t have patience for Luffy’s hijinks, but she still cared for him greatly, loving the boy as though he was her own son.
10 Tony Tony Chopper
When the quirky reindeer Tony Tony Chopper made his unforgettable appearance during the Drum Island Arc, many were fascinated with his altruism, determination, and admirable dream to cure all diseases. His role as the crew’s doctor and the versatile powers of his Devil Fruit also made Chopper a seemingly irreplaceable member of the Straw Hats.
Unfortunately, as the adventure progressed, Chopper’s role diminished to a cutesy mascot of One Piece. Despite his adorable appearance, he deserves to be taken more seriously as both a doctor and a fighter.
9 Nefertari Vivi
Alabasta princess Nefertari Vivi was the first honorary Straw Hat to part ways with the crew after spending a long time sailing side-by-side. However, not all fans saw Vivi’s decision to stay behind as a loss. Due to her impulsive nature and lack of fighting skills, Vivi wasn’t appreciated and acknowledged as a part of the crew by many fans.
Some One Piece fans preferred to forget about Vivi after her arc’s resolution. Disregarding Vivi, someone the Straw Hats grew to appreciate as a close friend, seems disingenuous and undeservedly harsh.
8 Yamato
The Straw Hats’ biggest and most devoted ally during the Wano Country Arc, Yamato, the son of Kaidou who openly rejected his father’s ideology, was anticipated to join Luffy after his country was liberated. Despite Yamato’s immense strength and loyalty to the crew, some saw him as undeserving of becoming a Straw Hat.
The appearance of such a powerful crewmate candidate so late into One Piece annoyed many fans. They undermined Yamato’s incredibly potent personality, which led to a saddening lack of appreciation for him in the fandom.
7 Nami
One Piece has a polarizing history with its representation of female characters. On the one hand, the show features no shortage of strong, multifaceted women. Still, One Piece is criticized for giving its female leads unrealistic, needlessly sexualized looks.
Nami has been at the forefront of this discussion ever since her debut, and many fans still don’t see her as more than eye candy with disappointing fighting skills. However, the Straw Hats navigator deserves recognition as one of the smartest and most emotionally mature crewmates with versatile abilities.
6 Eustass Kid
By far the most underrated member of the Worst Generation, Eustass Kid, the captain of the Kid Pirates, suffered a lot of humiliation at the hands of some of the Grand Line’s strongest pirates. After losing his arm to Shanks and getting imprisoned by Kaidou, Kid lost much of the community’s respect.
Nevertheless, Kid remains the closest Supernova in terms of sheer power to Law and Luffy, the strongest of their generation. Eustass Kid’s brash, aggressive personality also doesn’t earn him extra points with One Piece fans.
5 Smoker
While technically an enemy to the Straw Hats, Marine Officer Smoker is one of the most admirable and genuinely likable representatives of the force, even if his ideals clash with those of the pirates he hunts.
Yet, Smoker’s status as a Marine Commander and near-constant failures to match the Straw Hats in a fight still tampers with his reputation. Despite his formidable powers and strong moral compass, Smoker often ends up the laughingstock of the story, receiving pity instead of admiration from One Piece fans.
4 Shirahoshi
One Piece fans meet the Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi, the stunning daughter of King Neptune, during the crew’s journey to Fish-Man Island. The arc reveals that Shirahoshi is the current incarnation of the Ancient Weapon Poseidon, making her one of the strongest characters in One Piece and a master to all Sea Kings.
Nevertheless, One Piece fans still refuse to give the Mermaid Princess a break because of her meek, fragile personality. Years spent in isolation and fear for her life made Shirahoshi prone to panic, but she held onto her curiosity and kindness.
3 Kokoro
The Water 7 Arc introduces fans to Kokoro, a drunkard managing the Sea Train station near the city. Her carefree personality and near-constant intoxication made Kokoro an easy target for hatred.
However, Kokoro swiftly redeemed herself as a reliable ally, saving the Straw Hats from doom many times with her technical experience and secret mermaid powers. Kokoro’s efforts to aid Franky and the crew during their quest at Water 7 and, later, at Enies Lobby didn’t rid some of the prejudice lingering after her unappealing introduction.
2 Boa Hancock
The Kuja Pirates’ captain and Amazon Lily’s empress Boa Hancock didn’t become one of the most formidable Warlords of the Sea by chance. Despite her strength, mental agility, and influence, most only acknowledge Hancock as Luffy’s most devoted admirer and potential love interest.
Hancock’s one-sided infatuation with the future Pirate King can get infuriating, reducing a powerful heroine to a lovestruck maiden. Yet, when push comes to shove, Boa Hancock never fails to prove her competence as both an efficient leader and an imposing fighter.
1 Usopp
The Straw Hats’ cowardly sniper Usopp was designed as a relatable, down-to-earth point-of-view character to balance out the likes of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, the crew’s monstrous powerhouses. Being a liar with no outstanding fighting skills, Usopp often ends up overshadowed by his more formidable teammates.
Even fans forget how many times Usopp stood up to his fears and saved the crew from certain doom. His fits of courage are never as spectacular compared to the series’ most memorable fights, which Usopp smartly avoids.