As the first character to join Monkey D. Luffy’s crew, Roronoa Zoro is one of the most important pirates in the world of One Piece. Despite his horrible sense of direction, he possesses a unique perspective and a surprising amount of wisdom. Thanks to these traits and his skills as a swordsman, Zoro consistently ranks as the second-most popular character in the entire series.
Roronoa Zoro is determined, loyal, and not afraid to speak his mind; on a regular basis, he serves as the Straw Hat Pirates’ voice of reason. Since the aspiring swordsman is the First Mate of the Straw Hat Pirates, it’s up to him to fill the role of leader when Monkey D. Luffy is absent or occupied with other matters.
Updated on July 6, 2023 by Kennedy King: The One Piece manga is officially entering its final saga, and with the anime soon to do the same, the Straw Hat Pirates are closer than ever to achieving their dreams. This includes Roronoa Zoro, who is well on his way to achieving his goal of becoming the World’s Strongest Swordsman. He continues to utter memorable quotes, some of which are the best that post-timeskip One Piece has to offer.
10 “I’ll Become A Pirate.”
Episode 3: “Morgan vs. Luffy! Who’s This Mysterious Beautiful Young Girl?”
“That I can promise you.”
When Roronoa Zoro is first introduced, he is a prisoner at the Marine Base located in Shells Town. The Marines arrest the bounty hunter after he prevents them from harassing the town’s citizens, and on the orders of Captain Axe-Hand Morgan, he is strung up and left for dead.
When Monkey D. Luffy stumbles upon Zoro, the prisoner has no intention of taking up life as a pirate. However, he immediately sees the potential in the Straw Hat Pirate, and upon being saved from his execution, he pledges his life to One Piece‘s loudmouthed protagonist.
9 “Only I Can Call My Dream Stupid!”
Episode 24: “Hawk-Eyes Mihawk! Swordsman Zoro Falls into the Sea!”
In the Grand Line, the most successful pirates are those who steadfastly strive to achieve their dreams. Roronoa Zoro’s goal of becoming the World’s Strongest Swordsman is the source of his burning ambition, so when Sanji mocks his aspirations, Zoro is understandably cross.
The Straw Hat Pirates’ resident swordsman tells Sanji that only he can mock his own dreams, setting the tone for their tenuous relationship moving forward. Besting One Piece‘s most skilled swordsmen is a fool’s goal, but Roronoa Zoro won’t allow anyone to disrespect it.
8 “Scars On The Back…”
Episode 24: “Hawk-Eyes Mihawk! Swordsman Zoro Falls into the Sea!”
“…are a swordsman’s shame.”
Unlike most of the Straw Hat Pirates, Roronoa Zoro encounters his ultimate rival during One Piece‘s preliminary saga. Dracule Mihawk, the World’s Strongest Swordsman, squares off with Zoro during the Baratie Arc, immediately demonstrating the sizable gap between their abilities.
After suffering a brutal defeat at the hands of Mihawk, Zoro turns around to proudly face him. The Straw Hat Pirate states that a scar on his back would bring him shame as a swordsman; by doing so, he gains a tremendous amount of respect from Mihawk, who consequently decides to spare his life.
7 “There’s a Certain Man I Have To Face.”
Episode 39: “Luffy Drowning! Zoro vs. Octopus Hatchan!”
“Until I see him, Death himself cannot touch me.”
After his duel with the Dracule Mihawk, Roronoa Zoro sustains some serious injuries. It takes Zoro multiple arcs to recover from these wounds, but despite his state, he faces off against one of the Arlong Pirates’ top commanders, Hachi, during the Arlong Park Arc.
During his fight with Hachi, Zoro collapses from his injuries. Everyone believes that he’s on the brink of death—but somehow, the three-sword-style fighter gets back up, lets Hachi know that he refuses to die until he defeats Mihawk, and promptly defeats the octopus fish-man in a single blow.
6 “How About We Find Out Which One Is Stronger…”
Episode 49: “Sandai Kitetsu And Yubashiri! Zoro’s New Swords, And The Female Master Chief Petty Officer”
“…the sword’s curse or my good luck?”
A swordsman’s relationship with his swords determines his talent in battle, and few characters in One Piece are more intimately connected to their swords than Roronoa Zoro. This is on full display in the Loguetown Arc when Zoro discovers two blades, the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri, while out shopping.
The owner of the shop that houses these two swords refuses to let Zoro purchase the Sandai Kitetsu, claiming that it is a cursed blade that killed every one of its owners. However, this does little to discourage the Straw Hat Pirate, as he immediately pits the power of its curse versus the power of his good luck.
5 “I’ve Found That Fancy Titles…”
Episode 65: “Exploding Santoryu! Zoro vs. Baroque Works!”
“…mean nothing when it comes to fighting.”
During the Whiskey Peak Arc, the Straw Hat Pirates are ambushed by a slew of members from Baroque Works. Roronoa Zoro ends up facing this miniature army by himself, and after defeating the majority of them, the remaining members brag about their rank within the organization.
Unimpressed by their claims, Zoro proclaims that titles mean nothing in combat before wiping out the remaining agents. Given the fact that Monkey D. Luffy’s first mate ultimately defeats Mr. 1, the second-strongest member of Baroque Works, it’s obvious why he felt disrespected by its weaker members.
4 “You Do What You Can, The Best That You Can…”
Episode 102: “Ruins and Lost Ways! Vivi, Her Friends, and the Country’s Form!”
“…and then you turn to the others and expect the same from them.”
The Straw Hat Pirates travel through much of Alabasta Kingdom on foot, and during one of their marches across the desert, Roronoa Zoro and Tony Tony Chopper engage in an interesting conversation. The pair discuss the unique nature of their crew, during which Zoro explains to Chopper that Monkey D. Luffy is not an ordinary captain.
Despite Luffy’s non-traditional approach to piracy, the Straw Hat Pirates are as united as any crew in the Grand Line. Zoro states that everyone aboard the Going Merry (and, later, the Thousand Sunny) must do the best they can and trust their friends to do the same, explaining to Chopper how to function as part of a pirate crew.
3 “A Crew With No Respect…”
Episode 323: “Departure from the Water City! The Distinction of a Man, Usopp’s Duel!”
“…and a captain that doesn’t demand it is destined to fall apart quickly.”
During most of the Water 7 and Enies Lobby Arcs, Usopp is separated from the Straw Hat Pirates. After he and the Straw Hat Pirates successfully free Nico Robin from the clutches of CP9, a reunion between the two parties seems inevitable.
While most of the Straw Hat Pirates are overjoyed at the prospect of Usopp’s return, Zoro reminds everyone — and especially Luffy — that their sniper needs to apologize for his actions. Allowing Usopp to disrespect his captain would be a terrible mark against the crew’s honor, and it would set a poor tone for their group moving forward.
2 “What Happened Here?”
Episode 377: “My Crewmate’s Pain Is My Pain, Zoro Fights Prepared To Die”
“Nothing at all.”
Following the Straw Hat Pirates’ fight with Gecko Moria, another Warlord, Bartholomew Kuma, appears to apprehend Monkey D. Luffy. With Luffy already knocked out from his fight with Moria, the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates are forced to rush to his defense. Eventually, only Zoro is left standing, at which point Kuma offers him a deal: if Zoro is willing to take on all of Luffy’s pain and suffering, then he will spare the Straw Hat Pirate’s life.
As the first mate of the Straw Hat Pirates and Luffy’s staunchest ally, Roronoa Zoro agrees to the terms. The Warlord uses his Devil Fruit’s power to remove the pain from Luffy’s body before giving it to Zoro — who barely survives it. When Sanji finds the swordsman covered in blood and on the verge of death, he asks what transpired. In response, Zoro chooses to bear the burden on his own and simply tells Sanji that nothing happened.
1 “I Shall Become The King Of Hell. “
Episode 1062: “The Three-Sword Style of the Supreme King! Zoro vs. King”
For the entirety of One Piece, Monkey D. Luffy has strived to become the next King of the Pirates. In order for him to do so, his crew will have to also maximize their own potential. Roronoa Zoro embraces this challenge, and in his fight with King the Conflagration, the three-sword-styler user decides to become a king in his own right.
After using Conqueror’s Haki to strike down King, Zoro proclaims that he will assume the mantle of King of Hell. This moniker appropriately represents his hellish determination to help Luffy achieve his goals, providing the perfect bookend to one of the best fights in the entire series.
