The world of One Piece contains some exceptionally powerful sword-wielders. As soon as Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro joins the Straw Hat Pirates, swordsmanship becomes a major part of the long-running series. In each arc, One Piece's protagonists encounter new swordsmen who can perform incredible feats thanks to a mix of Haki and Devil Fruit-related powers.

If Roronoa Zoro is to accomplish his goal of becoming the World's Strongest Swordsman, then he will have to defeat a slew of unbelievably powerful opponents. He's proved himself capable throughout the series, but in the Grand Line, there are plenty of candidates vying for the title.

Updated on April 12, 2024 by Louis Kemner: Who's the strongest swordsman in One Piece? One Piece fans have been asking these questions for many years now, and the answers seem to change every year. Each new story arc in One Piece introduces new sword-slinging heroes and villains who are all in the running to be the best swordsman in One Piece, Now it's time to meet some of the best sword users in One Piece as of the Egghead Island arc in the anime and see what they're capable of. This list has also been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards.

20 Kikunojo Uses Color of Arms Haki as a Samurai Warrior

Kikunojo of the Lingering Snow is one of the strongest samurai of Wano Country, having been personally trained by Oden and his other retainers. Her control over Ryou — also known as Color of Arms Haki — is very impressive. Kikunojo has been confirmed to be an Observation Haki user as well.

As a member of the Nine Red Scabbards, Kikunojo possesses enough skill to be considered one of the country's finest samurai. However, her defeat of Kanjuro and ability to wound Kaido insinuate that she is even stronger than many of her Red Scabbard peers. That said, Kikunojo ranks last among the strongest swordsmen in One Piece, and is far from the most prominent, either.

19 Basil Hawkins Uses A Sword Made From Straw

Basil Hawkins belongs to the Worst Generation of pirates alongside the likes of Luffy, Jewelry Bonny, X-Drake, and others. What sets Basil Hawkins apart isn't just his serious demeanor and his habit of fortune-telling, but also his use of the Straw-Straw Fruit. Its powers can be used in a variety of ways, including forming swords.

Basil's straw sword is highly unusual, and Basil can use it to great effect in combat, as seen in the Wano arc. That sword is flexible and functions more like a whip than a regular sword, allowing Basil to attack his enemies from unexpected directions, and from a great distance, too. Fans saw Basil Hawkins and his unusual swordplay in action in the Wano arc, though not even he was powerful enough to alter the course of that arc.

18 Ashura Doji Lost To Oden, Then Started Following Him

Of the samurai from Wano, Ashura Doji easily ranks among the strongest. The pink-haired swordsman once ruled over the lawless Kuri region of Wano, but after losing to Kozuki Oden in battle, he became a follower of the samurai and honed his powers alongside him.

Since joining the Red Scabbards, Ashura Doji has grown exceptionally strong. He even takes on Jack the Drought in one-on-one combat, and the two appear to be on equal footing during the battle. Anyone capable of taking on a Yonko commander is a serious threat, regardless of their opponent.

17 Denjiro Tried To Take Orochi Down From Within

Denjiro belongs to the Nine Red Scabbards, and he's portrayed to be the right-hand man to the leader of the group. Following Oden's death, Denjiro goes undercover, joining the treacherous Orochi family under the alias "Kyoshiro" in an attempt to undermine their rule.

While undercover, Denjiro proves his capabilities by taking on multiple renowned swordsmen. This includes the Straw Hat Pirates' first mate, Roronoa Zoro, who found himself overpowered and couldn't stop the member of the Red Scabbards, despite sending some serious attacks his way.

16 Kin'emon Met Luffy's Crew At Punk Hazard

As the current leader of the Nine Red Scabbards, Kin'emon is the strongest of the lot. Much of his real strength remained hidden until the Wano Country arc, but with the reveal of his Foxfire Style and incredible Haki, it's clear that he's among One Piece's finest swordsmen.

By using his Foxfire Style, Kin'emon can create, manipulate, and slice through fire. The ability even let him cut an attack from Kaido's dragon form — a feat that only the strongest character in the entire series could hope to accomplish. Kin'emon made a strange first impression at Punk Hazard as a samurai split into several pieces, but once he came back together, it was clear how powerful and respectable he really was.

15 Vista Served Faithfully Under Whitebeard's Banner

Renowned as the moniker of Flower Sword, Vista is the former Fifth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates and also the strongest swordsman of the crew. He was one of the earliest followers of Whitebeard, and during the clash with Roger Pirates, he quite possibly matched up against Silvers Rayleigh himself.

During the Battle of Marineford, Vista briefly fought Dracule Mihawk and managed to hold his own against him. Although the gap between the two swordsmen is likely immense, Vista's position among the Whitebeard Pirates hints at a truly skilled swordsman. So, he earned his place among the strongest swordsmen in One Piece, though plenty are superior with the blade.

14 Jack The Drought Is A Massive And Brutal Swordsman Pirate

Jack the Drought made his debut early in the Whole Cake Island saga, serving as a brutal preview of what Kaido's Animal Pirates were like. Jack marched right up to the living island Zou and antagonized One Piece's heroes, and he was a formidable challenge thanks to his deadly weapons and Zoan-type Devil Fruit.

Jack doesn't focus solely on swordsmanship, and he seems to identify less with it than characters like Zoro and Mihawk do. Still, Jack is a tough customer in sword duels, using both a katana and a massive ax to perform deadly slashing attacks.

13 King The Conflagration Is Among The Last Of The Lunarians

King the Conflagration is the right hand to Kaido, and as the first commander of an Emperor-level crew, his name strikes fear across the Grand Line. The Lunarian possesses the ability to create flames, wields an Ancient Zoan-type Devil Fruit capable of flight, and can imbue his swords with ultra-powerful Color of Arms Haki.

King's wide range of abilities is a large reason why Kaido has placed so much trust in him. As evidenced by the Conflagration's battle with Roronoa Zoro, King also possesses a strong fighting spirit. While he's unlikely to play much of a role in One Piece after losing to the Straw Hat Pirate, his presence during the Wano Country arc more than asserted him among the series' best swordsmen.

12 Kozuki Oden Sailed The Seas With Whitebeard And Gol D. Roger

At one point, Kozuki Oden was the Daimyo of Kuri and the strongest fighter in all of Wano Country. His abilities were impressive enough to make him part of the crews of both Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger, and he even accompanied the latter all the way to Laugh Tale. That speaks volumes about how powerful and respected Kozuki Oden was in his time.

As an important member of both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Roger Pirates, Oden's skills were clearly world-class. He possessed all three forms of Haki, and his strongest attacks were even capable of scarring Kaido. However, it's not Oden's swordplay that he's best known for. As a noble and selfless hero, he gladly made a fool of himself in public to protect others, and then he died in boiling oil to save his allies from certain death.

11 Shiryu Of The Rain Was Once Impel Down's Feared Warden

The Blackbeard Pirates have slowly developed into a formidable crew since first being mentioned in the Drum Island Arc. They now include many of the most heinous villains in the show's history, and thanks to the addition of skilled fighters like Shiryu, they're arguably the top contenders to find the One Piece.

Shiryu formerly served as the Head Jailer of the notorious Impel Down prison, a position that requires tremendous power. However, Shiryu has since consumed the Clear-Clear Fruit, gaining the power of invisibility and potentially elevating him to the level of legendary swordsmen like Dracule Mihawk.

10 Charlotte Cracker Challenged Luffy In A Grueling Battle At Whole Cake Island

When all his powers and weapons are combined, Charlotte Cracker is a devastating combatant who definitely earned his rank as one of the Three Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom pirate crew. He wields the Bis-Bis Fruit, which creates biscuits. With that ability, Cracker can create soldiers out of thin air, though they're vulnerable to water.

Even more impressive than that are Charlotte Cracker's Color of Arms Haki and his double-edged sword, which make him an offensive powerhouse. Incredibly, Cracker could withstand Luffy's Gear 2 and Gear 3 attacks with casual ease, then hit back and slashed through Luffy's Gear 4 form with that blade of his. It's no wonder Charlotte Cracker ranks in the middle among the greatest One Piece swordsmen of all.

9 Brook Is Luffy's Loyal Skeleton Friend With A Musical Gift

Brook the undead pirate made his debut early in the Thriller Bark arc. At first, Luffy and the others only saw him as a goofy novelty, a somewhat perverted skeleton with a love of women's underwear, but he wasn't just a gag character. Soon, Brook proved himself a highly competent swordsman against Gecko Moria and his zombie minions.

Brook fought well, though it wasn't until after the time skip that he became a truly great swordsman on par with Roronoa Zoro. By then, Brook was far more skilled and could coat his blade with his own frigid soul to freeze his enemies. Brook is also noted to favor elegance and agility over raw power, contrasting him with his crewmate Zoro.

8 Roronoa Zoro Dreams Of Becoming The World's Greatest Swordsman

Roronoa Zoro is Monkey D. Luffy's first crewmate, and minus the Straw Hat Pirate himself, no character in the series has enjoyed a quicker rise to notoriety. In almost every single One Piece arc, Roronoa Zoro defeats an even more impressive opponent, culminating in his recent victory against King the Conflagration.

Zoro wields each type of Haki with tremendous skill, maintains an unrivaled bond with his three blades, and refuses to give up regardless of the circumstances. His goal of becoming the World's Strongest Swordsman is almost within reach, but for now, he has a few more hurdles to clear before asserting himself as the greatest. For example, Zoro must defeat the hero/villain Dracule Mihawk if he intends to ever become the world's #1 sword master.

7 Admiral Fujitora Believes In Tough Yet Fair Justice

Marine Admirals are all immensely powerful, but none of them are as skilled with a blade as the blind swordsman, Fujitora. The monk-like character is legitimately one of the World Government's most honorable members, but underneath his judicious demeanor exists a combatant capable of going toe-to-toe with any swordsman in One Piece.

Fujitora is presumably a master of Color of Arms and Observation Haki; however, what truly sets him apart is his Devil Fruit. The Press-Press Fruit allows Fujitora to manipulate gravity, turning his attacks into landscape-altering blows at will. As the inevitable battle between the World Government, Pirates, and Revolutionaries slowly builds, the blind Admiral's abilities will be more important than ever.

6 Trafalgar D. Water Law Commands The Heart Pirates In The New World

The Worst Generation debuted during One Piece's Sabaody Archipelago arc, and since then, they've proven themselves to be a massive threat to the stability of the World Government. One of the keys to their efforts is Trafalgar D. Water Law, wielder of the Op-Op Fruit and possessor of the Will of D.

Law's Devil Fruit, which allows him to exert complete dominion over the physical space around him, is arguably the strongest in the entire series. While his swordsmanship hasn't been tested as much as his other abilities, it's safe to say that his Op-Op Fruit-related powers would decimate anyone other than Yonko-level fighters.

5 Shimotsuki Ryuma Squared Off Against Zoro At Thriller Bark

Shimotsuki Ryuma was a famous samurai from the land of Wano. During his time centuries before the events of One Piece, he was considered the strongest swordsman in the world. Known to have slain a dragon in a single swing of his sword, Ryuma is confirmed to have possessed significant skill with Color of Arms Haki. It's no wonder he is so close to being the strongest swordsman in One Piece, with just four characters being even stronger with swords.

Unfortunately, information regarding Shimotsuki Ryuma is far and few between. Ryuma's reincarnated form during the Thriller Bark arc pales in comparison to his prime, but based on the abilities of his descendant, Roronoa Zoro, it's clear that he was an incredible swordsman.

4 Charlotte Linlin/Big Mom Commands An Army Of Her Powerful Children

The mighty Emperor Big Mom, or Charlotte Linlin, is practically unbeatable in single combat. She has many powers and weapons on her side, from her "homie" creations via the Soul-Soul Fruit to Zeus, Hera, and Prometheus. Charlotte Linlin also has titanic physical strength and durability, along with of Color of Arms Haki.

To maximize her offensive power, Charlotte Linlin will turn her bicorn hat, Napoleon, into an oversized sword. Even if Linlin's sword attacks are simple and straightforward, her attacks deliver such explosive power, it hardly matters. To date, no one and nothing has fully withstood an attack from Napoleon the hat-sword, not even Jimbei with his own Haki in full effect.

3 Silvers Rayleigh Taught Luffy How To Use Haki

Silvers Rayleigh, also known as the Dark King, is the former First Mate of the Roger Pirates and one of the strongest characters in One Piece. Despite his advanced age, he is still considered a legendary fighter by virtually every character that he meets, and he is the one who taught Luffy how to use Haki during the anime's time skip.

Rayleigh is known to be a skilled user of his sword and his Haki, having fought Admiral Kizaru, a powerful Logia-type Devil Fruit user, to a standstill at Sabaody Archipelago. During his prime, Silvers was perhaps the most refined fighter in One Piece history, so he more than deserves his spot among the strongest swordsmen of all time.

2 Dracule Mihawk Defeated Roronoa Zoro With A Tiny Knife

Dracule Mihawk was first seen during One Piece's Baratie arc, and he immediately demonstrated the capabilities of the series' strongest fighters. He decimated the fleet of Don Krieg, and by using a minuscule knife, he instantly dealt Roronoa Zoro a humiliating defeat as well. It's no wonder Dracule Mihawk earned his position as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, wielding a deadly black sword named Yoru.

Without question, Dracule Mihawk has earned his reputation as the World's Strongest Swordsman. None question his strength or skill, and he has yet to be legitimately bested in a single moment of on-screen combat. However, despite his title, another special sword-wielder actually reigns supreme.

1 Shanks Is One Of The Four Emperors And A Haki Master

As one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, Shanks exerts more influence than almost any person in the history of One Piece. He's one of few true contenders to become the next King of the Pirates, and as the spiritual successor to Gol D. Roger, it's only natural that he wields overwhelming strength as the single strongest swordsman in One Piece.

Until recently, Shanks' abilities were largely a mystery, but thanks to his clashes with several characters following the Raid on Onigashima, fans now have a much clearer idea of his power. His mastery of Haki may be the finest in the world, as it immediately incapacitated a Marine Admiral and a Supernova worth 3 billion berries. Although Shanks' rival, Dracule Mihawk, is likely more skilled with his sword, the Red-Haired Pirate's versatility makes him slightly more dangerous.