The leader of the Fish Men and one of the most difficult challenges Luffy faced in the beginning of One Piece, Arlong's legacy is one of strength and terror. His experience as a fighter and unique physiology give him natural advantages over many of the obstacles foolish enough to stand in his way.
Despite his impervious skin and razor sharp teeth, Arlong is not invincible. By analyzing his history, feats, and battles, we gain a fuller understanding to the limitations of the shark's power and gauge just how strong the aquatic menace was against the Straw Hat Pirates.
10 Could Beat – Kuro (One Piece)
One of Usopp's worst enemies, Kuro's treachery nearly resulted in the destruction of Syrup Village. He was able to engage in a stance so swift, it would shred anyone on an entire beach that was caught in its path.
Unfortunately for the pirate, his attacks are not concise, reducing the potency of the damage he could possibly inflict against his shark-like opponent. Since Arlong was able to withstand a direct blow from Zoro to the face, it follows that Kuro's claws would shatter against his body before they could do any harm.
9 Would Lose – Galand (Seven Deadly Sins)
Though he may be weaker than some of the other Ten Commandments, Galand's physical strength overshadows anything that Arlong would be able to withstand. He cleaved down an entire town in a matter of moments, causing destruction far more significant than that of the Fish Man's park.
Further, while Arlong's teeth may be able to puncture his armor, such wounds are superficial since the demon does not abide by traditional standards of human anatomy. It would procure an even balance of offense and durability that would invariably cause the shark's defeat.
8 Could Beat – Rui (Demon Slayer)
Rui's webs are usually potent enough to cleave through ordinary people. It was a tactic he employed with great success against the many demon slayers in his path, almost killing Tanjiro in the process.
However, against sturdier opponents they do not fare nearly as well. This is evidenced through the way Nezuko was able to withstand them. All Arlong would have to do is charge through the youth's attack, gripping him by the shoulders and tearing off his head with his teeth.
7 Would Lose – Overhaul (My Hero Academia)
Though Arlong's physical might entail that he could potentially kill Overhaul in a single punch, his haughty demeanor would spells that the Yakuza boss might have the chance to land the first blow. The Fish Man views humans as a novelty, and any efforts to resist would amuse him – until it was too late.
As tough as the shark's hide might be, Overhaul's quirk overrides any defenses, obliterating his adversaries into a fleshy paste. Since Arlong's self preservation strategies are additionally geared more toward what he can resist rather than dodge, it would spell his doom in their battle.
6 Could Beat – Mad Pierrot (Cowboy Bebop)
Able to withstand dozens of bullets and even the concentrated fire of a ship, Mad Pierrot is easily the deadliest villain in the Cowboy Bebop universe. He is equipped with an arsenal of weapons to defeat his opponents, including his cane, guns, and even explosives.
While Pierrot may have been able to absorb the projectiles fired at him, he does not fare well against blunt attacks (as seen through his death via pulverization). It follows that Arlong's physical brawn would be enough to overcome him, especially if he crushed him with rubble.
5 Would Lose – Mario Zucchero (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)
Mario's "Soft Machine" Stand was not only able to defeat enemies with one hit (by deflating them into a rubbery substance he could manipulate at will), it also allowed him to conceal himself by stretching one thing over another and layering him inside.
This would make it difficult for Arlong to predict his movements and render him vulnerable for the killing stroke. Since the Fish Man is unfamiliar with the nature of his adversary's Stand, he could not hope to anticipate it until it was too late.
4 Could Beat – Asuma (Naruto)
Asuma's primary skill was tying his chakra into weapons, infusing them with power. However, he struggled immensely against Kisame, an opponent with many similarities to Arlong himself and would require the assistance of Might Guy to win the day.
Moreover, the Fish Man not only possesses superior durability, he can also use his jaws as makeshift weapons. This entails that in a melee exchange, he would be able to inflict much more devastating damage than his shinobi adversary and give him an insurmountable edge in the fight.
3 Would Lose – Gon (Hunter X Hunter)
Despite his childlike appearance, Gon is capable of immense power. He is able to concentrate energy into his fist for devastating Nen attacks, ones that could overcome even the most seasoned chimera ants (who share many properties with the Fish Men themselves).
Further, Gon is able to fight through severe injury as seen through his battle against the Bomber, entailing that after wounding him, Arlong's success would not be guaranteed. In a dire situation, he could also transform into his adult state, granting him enough power to devastate entire ridges and taking out the shark along with them.
2 Could Beat – Kars (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Kars may have been the apex of the Pillar Men, though in his unevolved form, he is hardly impressive. The villain was forced to rely on deception to defeat Lisa Lisa and even had his hand broken by Stroheim, whose only remarkable attribute was his metallic body.
Considering that Arlong can catch and destroy cannon balls in his mouth, he is an unprecedented physical advantage over his Aztec opponent. Kars' blades are more likely to snap against his skin than inflict meaningful damage, putting him in the range of the shark's voracious jaws.
1 Would Lose – Grimmjow (Bleach)
Grimmjow's physical prowess rivaled that of Ichigo's himself, able to cause widespread devastation after he activates his Resurrección state. Even without one of his arms, he was able to fight effectively, demonstrating the ferocity and power behind his attacks.
Accordingly, he possesses both the speed and precision to overwhelm Arlong in a flurry of blows, and even if the shark was able to retaliate by biting him, the Espada's Hierro would grant him natural resistance, making what should have been a lethal wound manageable.