The One Piece universe is governed primarily by luck. Whether it's Luffy's multiple brushes with death or Buggy's bizarre rise to power as an emperor, there is no shortage of miracles on a daily basis. One could argue that their success is due to "plot armor," a convention where the author deliberately protects a character simply because they're important to the story.

RELATED: The 10 Most Evil Marines In One Piece, Ranked

However, other characters are so abysmally unlucky that it almost seems they never catch a break. Their string of misfortune has often made their lives completely miserable and resulted in crushing defeats. The sheer unluckiness of these characters can even make them sympathetic, allowing fans to see just how good some other characters have it.

10 Magellan Wasn't Responsible For The Prison Break At Impel Down

Magellan Venom Venom fruit One Piece

Magellan was the monstrous warden of Impel Down. Although the most unprecedented jailbreak in history occurred under his watch, it was due to a number of unlucky circumstances he couldn't help.

For example, no one could have predicted Luffy to have infiltrated through Boa Hancock.

Additionally, Bon Clay conveniently happened to have the perfect devil fruit in order to release the gates for the prisoners to escape. Magellan's biggest misfortune is his devil fruit, which constraints him to the bathroom for most hours of the day. If his own vice warden hadn't been jockeying to replace him, Magellan might have succeeded in doing his job.

9 Usopp Constantly Gets Into Situations He Can't Handle

Usopp in shock and fear when he goes over the waterfall in Skypiea - One Piece

Since being introduced, Usopp has accidentally encountered opponents much stronger than he is. Abandoned by his father and having lost his mother at a young age, the sniper's incessant need for attention has made him a subject of mockery in his village.

Usopp's skittish disposition is unfortunate when considering that he faces a disproportionate amount of danger compared to the rest of the crew. For example, he and Chopper ran into Big Mom while attempting to infiltrate Onigashima. Usopp also encountered Eneru at Skypiea, a villain he had no means of harming. Considering that he was shocked by a baffling amount of electricity, he realistically shouldn't have survived.

8 Caribou Stumbles From One Misfortune Into The Next

Caribou from one piece

"Wet Hair" Caribou was a vicious pirate who once sought to claim Luffy's bounty. Moments after debuting, he was almost immediately arrested alongside Demaro Black's fake Straw Hat crew.

Though pursuing the real Luffy to Fish-Man Island, his ship was promptly sunk, which dispersed his crew. After being defeated multiple times, Caribou got captured by the Beast pirates and forced to work in their labor camps. Ironically, he ended up begging Luffy to liberate him in spite of his previous crimes.

7 Sanji Was Abused For Being Different From His Siblings

Sanji holding Raid Suit in One Piece.

As a descendant of Vinsmoke Judge, great expectations were put on Sanji's performance. He and his siblings were biologically enhanced in order to conquer all of the North Blue. However, Sanji's augmentations went awry.

By sheer coincidence, he did not benefit from them like his brothers and sister did. As a result, he was mistreated and abused by his entire family until they flagrantly cast him out. Sanji harbors resentment for his father and vows never to become like him.

6 Oars Jr. Was One Of The Few Fatalities In Marineford

Oars jr intimidating stare in One Piece

Despite being a massive battle, there were few casualties at Marineford. Oars Jr. was not so lucky. Between the marines' gunfire, Doflamingo's strings, and Gecko Moria's shadows, he was downed moments after making his presence known.

RELATED: One Piece: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About The World Government

As a result, it's strongly implied that Oars' body will become a zombie, similar to his late father's. However, considering that Gecko Moria was forced to flee Marineford prematurely, it's unspecified if he ever procured Oars' body.

5 Ace Was Born A Wanted Man

Close up of Portgas D. Ace from One Piece

As the son of Gol D. Roger, Ace never had it easy. His mother was forced to keep him in her womb long past the due date on account of the World Government. As a result, she grew deathly ill and passed away shortly after he was born.

Hunted throughout his entire life, Ace's unfortunate run-in with Blackbeard resulted in his capture. Similarly, Akainu happened to be in the perfect position to execute him near the end of the Marineford conflict.

4 Vivi Was Targeted By Both Pirates & World Government Agents

Vivi smiling

Princess Vivi's life has been a chaotic one. With her kingdom plunged into civil war, she was forced to infiltrate Baroque Works. To make matters worse, Luffy nearly blew her cover and beat up her retainer.

Even after it seemed like Vivi's life began settling down, the Reverie incident entailed otherwise. Im himself has made Vivi into a person of interest, suggesting a dark future for her. As a result, Vivi has never had a moment's peace due to factors outside her control.

3 Whitebeard Constantly Got Betrayed By His Own Family

Squard Being Forgiven by Whitebeard

As powerful as he was kind, Whitebeard lived a prosperous life as an emperor of the sea. He rejected Roger's request to become the next king of the pirates since he only wanted to look after his crew.

RELATED: One Piece: 5 Ways Hody Is The Most Sinister Fish-Man (& 5 It's Arlong)

It was particularly tragic that his family kept betraying him, be it Squard's duplicity at Marineford or Teach's murder of Thatch, Whitebeard could never catch a break. Even Oden, a man who begged to join his pirates, abandoned him in order to set sail with Roger.

2 Kin'emon Was Betrayed, Dismembered, & Cast Into The Frozen Wastes

Kin'emon frowning from One Piece

Kin'emon has never had things easy. As a young man, he almost destroyed an entire town in order to procure a cheap payday. Though Oden saved his life, his allegiance would cause many more issues.

Not only did Kin'emon and his allies lose against Kaido's forces, but they were also cast twenty years into the future where his home country had been deliberately destroyed. To make matters worse, Kin'emon got lost and was dismembered by Trafalgar Law while searching for allies to retake Wano.

1 Gecko Moria Went From An Emperor-Level Threat To A Public Disgrace

Gecko Moria cutting and stealing Luffy's shadow in One Piece.

At one point, Gecko Moria's crew was strong enough to challenge Kaido for the fate of Wano. Since his crushing defeat, the villain's life has spiraled out of control. In addition to losing most of his forces, Moria fell into a deep depression and lost his physical stature.

Luffy destroyed Thriller Bark while passing through the Florian Triangle, ruining Moria's plans of ever returning to relevance. Furthermore, Moria was betrayed by the World Government at Marineford and deemed too weak to remain a warlord of the sea. His final humiliation was when Blackbeard coerced him into joining his crew under the threat of death.

Next: 10 Perks Of Being A One Piece Villain