One Piece: How Much Has Zoro Changed Since Season 1?

Right from his introduction in the One Piece series, Roronoa Zoro has always been loved by fans. As he journeyed with Luffy through countless adventures, he became a fan favorite, and fans yearn to see him achieve his goals. With his dream of becoming the strongest swordsman in the world, Zoro has gone through various life-threatening situations and battles, causing him to mature in his skills, demeanor, and thinking.

Of course, while some aspects of Zoro have changed, others, such as his trope of getting lost, have not, which makes fans question just how much change Zoro has truly undergone. As his skills have undoubtedly become more refined, many also wonder if the same can be said for his demeanor and interactions with others in One Piece.

Zoro’s Characterization In Season One

What Was Zoro Like In Season One?

Before coming across Luffy, Zoro was a fierce swordsman who roamed East Blue as a bounty hunter to survive. His main goal was to keep training himself until he became the strongest swordsman, and he only took bounty hunting as a way to sustain himself while developing his abilities. When Luffy came across Zoro, the swordsman was about to be executed by Captain Morgan. Luckily, Luffy came across the swordsman, liking his overall demeanor, and asking him to be his crewmate. At that point, Zoro accepted Luffy’s offer so that his life could be spared and his dream would not die, and from then on, Zoro became Luffy’s first cremate and the unofficial vice-captain of the crew.

In the first season of One Piece, Zoro was relatively weaker than the many big names in One Piece, but he seemed to rate himself quite highly as he challenged Mihawk, who was known to be the world's strongest swordsman. After being defeated and spared by Mihawk, Zoro then swore never to lose again, a promise he has upheld till now. From then on, Zoro became fiercely loyal to Luffy and began roaming the seas with him.

A Character Arc Analysis

When Did Zoro Truly Grow?

After joining Luffy and establishing the Straw Hat pirates alongside his captain, Zoro began tempering himself through the many adventures he and the crew went on. When there’s no villain to defeat, Zoro is often seen training on the ship's crew, an act that he remained consistent in. While Zoro grew steadily during those moments, his highest growth arc so far was during the time skip. At this point, the Straw Hat pirates were defeated on Sabaody without any way of fighting back. After getting separated from each member of the crew, Zoro then found out that Luffy was involved in the Paramount War, and his brother Ace died right in front of him. At this moment, Zoro then begged Mihawk, the very man he wants to defeat, to train him. This was a moment in which Mihawk stated that Zoro had changed as he placed his captain and his captain’s dream above his pride.

During the time skip, Zoro trained under Mihawk for two years and came back stronger and more stoic than before. Pre-time skip, Zoro was usually seen joyful and participating in banter with the rest of the crew. While he still participates in banter, Zoro undoubtedly became much more mature during the time skip. He was the first to reach Sabaody two years after the crew was separated, which was surprising. He also came back with a scar on his left eye, a mystery that has remained unsolved to this day.

Assessing Zoro’s Growth And Development

Has Zoro’s Growth Been Worthwhile?

While Zoro has evolved throughout the series in terms of his overall demeanor and abilities, the swordsman remains true to this core character. His loyalty, determination, and kindness have only grown stronger alongside his strength. A significant change is his bond with Luffy, as Zoro initially joined the Straw Hat captain without knowing anything about him but as a way to further his goals.

But now, Zoro is fiercely loyal to Luffy and even puts his captain's ideals and goals above his own. Zoro is never seen disagreeing with Luffy except in a situation where he believes Luffy’s actions would be detrimental to himself (Luffy). In terms of overall growth, Zoro has become more refined with his technique, as he can even go toe to toe with awakened devil fruit users and characters worth over a billion berries.

How Much Change Should Fans Expect?

Has Zoro Reached His Peak?

At his core, Zoro is not expected to change, as his core is what makes him the character that fans love. However, the swordsman is expected to greatly enhance his abilities, especially with Enma, the sword he received from the land of Wano. Moreover, with the final arc of the series coming into play, the mysteries behind his eye are expected to be revealed, and his interactions with his crew mates and possibly, new crew mates are expected to become stronger and more refined.

Zoro is also expected to become way stronger as the enemies he will begin to face are like no other. While these are all enhancements Zoro is expected to undergo, at his core, many believe that he will remain the same fiercely loyal but friendly swordsman he has always been.

One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll.