The Worst Generation are a group of unaffiliated pirates that crossed paths at Sabaody. Each played roles of varying importance in One Piece's New World saga, although they did not all remain equally relevant. Some characters possess extraordinary bravery, challenging emperors and defining major events on the high seas.
Others struggle to keep relevance, only being mentioned a few times during Luffy's adventures across the Grand Line. Measuring the Worst Generation's relevance is important when gauging how the group has impacted the series for better or worse. It suggests whether or not its pirates have reached their full potential.
10 Urouge Only Defeated A Sweet General Off Screen
"Mad Monk" Urouge made a promising debut. Significantly taller and stronger than other members of the Worst Generation, his brute strength distinguished him as a potential threat. However, Urouge only defeated a single one of Big Mom's Sweet Generals since the time skip.
He didn't even make it far into Whole Cake Island, as Charlotte Cracker immediately ousted him upon learning of his comrade's defeat. Ultimately, Urouge's lack of screen time rendered him the cast's greatest disappointments and a character that fans seldom remember.
9 Scratchman Apoo Was Kaido's Lacky
After Kaido interrupted a meeting between Worst Generation captains, he told them to obey him or die. Apoo agreed without hesitation, immediately rising to prominence within the emperor's organization. While there were a number of perks about being a Beast Pirate, Apoo seldom appeared ever since.
He was not an active component of the Wano campaign, instead preferring to spend his time in Onigashima. When Queen tried to eliminate the samurai, he turned on Apoo by giving him the only ice oni antidote. The former captain lost his novelty, making him disposable in Kaido's grand plan.
8 Hawkins Kept The Peace In Wano
Like Apoo, Hawkins joined Kaido under threat of death. However, he assumed a much more aggressive role in the Wano campaign, attempting to attack the Straw Hats as they appeared across the country. Hawkins developed a strong rivalry with Trafalgar Law, especially due to their numerous harrowing encounters.
He exchanged the Heart Pirates' freedom for their captain's, which nearly deprived the heroes of one of their greatest champions. Luckily, Law managed to escape prison in the middle of the night, rejoining his comrades for the pending raid on Onigashima.
7 X Drake Was Secretly A Marine Infiltrator
Although X Drake debuted as a respectable pirate, nothing was further from the truth. In reality, the man was a marine infiltrator tasked with spying on the most notorious crews on the high seas.
This made his proximity with Kaido especially opportune, as it informed him about two of the most powerful emperors in the New World. The information funneled back to marine headquarters may have been useful, though Drake was quickly exposed. Considering his unique role in the story, Drake proved significantly more relevant than Kaido's other conscripted captains.
6 Jewelry Bonney Appeared In Several Key Places
Despite lacking a "main arc," Jewelry Bonney appeared at various key points throughout the series. For example, she saved Zoro at Sabaody, escaped from Blackbeard amidst his quest to become emperor, and even infiltrated the Reverie to gauge the World Government's darkest secrets.
Recently, Bonney appeared in Egghead Island in hopes of commissioning the Straw Hat's aid. It is increasingly likely that she'll take a more important role going forward, especially given her relationship with Warlord Kuma and the fact that she is the only female captain in the Worst Generation.
5 Eustass Kid Is A Cutthroat, Self-Serving Captain
Despite being mostly absent for the New World Saga, Eustass Kid made the most of what time he had. In addition to escaping Udon, he was a massive credit in the battle against the emperors. Kid nearly even drowned Big Mom, only failing thanks to Prometheus' intervention.
Additionally, Kid stood tall alongside Law and Luffy as they humiliated an army of marines at Sabaody. He even survived an off-screen battle against Shanks at the cost of his arm. Well-defined and vicious, Kid is easily one of the Worst Generation's most powerful and morally complex members.
4 Bege Nearly Assassinated Big Mom
"Big Gang" Bege is notorious across the West Blue for betraying his employers and business partners. He kept his reputation while in Big Mom's employ, using his security position to upstage the wedding and attempt to assassinate her.
Bege was integral to the Whole Cake Island arc. He abducted Sanji, threatened Zeff, fought against the Big Mom Pirates, and even helped Luffy escape at Chiffon's insistence. He may not have been particularly relevant before or since, though the Straw Hats would have died dozens of times over if not for the Firetank Pirates.
3 Trafalgar Law Has Been A Fantastic Ally Since Punk Hazard
Trafalgar Law is one of the most relevant pirates in the entire series. A former warlord, he assisted Luffy in defeating Caesar Clown at Punk Hazard. Their victory began a strong partnership that lasted from Dressrosa through the conclusion of the Wano arc.
Law played an instrumental role in defeating Doflamingo and Big Mom, proving the versatility of his Devil Fruit in both instances. Recently, he engaged the Blackbeard Pirates in a brutal battle for survival.
2 Blackbeard Is Luffy's Greatest Competitor For The One Piece
Ever since Mock Town, Blackbeard has been Luffy's most persistent enemy. He is equally ambitious to find Laugh Tale and significantly more ruthless. So far, the villain is responsible for Thatch's murder, Ace's capture, the destruction of Marineford, the dissolution of the Whitebeard Pirates, and the invasion of Amazon Lily.
To make matters worse, his crew consists of Impel Down's most incorrigible inmates. As the strongest remaining pirate villain in the series, Blackbeard's limits have yet to be explored. His crew continues to display their sinister Devil Fruits, and it's becoming increasingly unlikely for the Straw Hats to defeat them on their own.
1 Luffy Is Destined To Find The One Piece
As the series' main protagonist, Luffy is the Worst Generation's most relevant character. So far, he has liberated multiple nations from various threats, established a crew of world-class pirates from the ground up, and declared war against the World Government itself.
Ever since defeating Kaido, Luffy has been universally acknowledged as an emperor of the sea. Now that he has unlocked the secrets behind his Devil Fruit, there are few remaining characters capable of preventing Luffy from achieving his dream.