The world of One Piece is mostly ocean, and after Gol D. Roger revealed the existence of the One Piece treasure, piracy exploded across the seas. To control the growing number of pirates, the World Government created the Warlord system, a program where seven powerful pirates were appointed to help keep the peace and maintain a balance of power.
The Warlords were once feared pirates, and the Government used this reputation to their advantage, allowing the pirates freedom in exchange for maintaining order. Eventually, the system ended because the Warlords repeatedly misused their power. During its existence, there were 11 Warlords, each with distinct characteristics, and here’s a ranking of them based on different criteria.
11) Edward Weevil
Edward Weevil, introduced after the two-year timeskip as one of the Seven Warlords, claims to be Whitebeard’s son. However, it’s clear he’s manipulated by his mother, Buckingham Stussy, who is determined to get revenge on the Whitebeard Pirates and recover a treasure she feels is hers.
Despite not being very smart, Weevil is incredibly strong, as he single-handedly defeated several of Whitebeard’s allies. However, after the Warlord system ended, he was captured by Admiral Ryokugyu and hasn’t been a factor since. Because of this limited impact, Weevil was the least influential of the Warlords and ranks last on the list.
10) Gecko Moria
Gecko Moria, the main villain in the Thriller Bark arc, approached the Warlord position in a distinctive way. Once considered as powerful as Kaido at his peak, the Moria we see in this story is significantly weaker, but he compensates with his research into and control of zombies.
While his battles against the Straw Hats were only moderately challenging, and he’s probably weaker than Weevil, Moria’s lasting impact and future possibilities make him a noteworthy character. Given his potential ties to Wano Country and his freedom to roam the seas, he could return with considerable power, as his Devil Fruit ability to control shadows still presents a major threat to the story.
9) Boa Hancock
Boa Hancock is a unique character in the series – the only woman to become a Warlord of the Sea. Her backstory is complex, having once been enslaved by the Celestial Dragons before becoming the ruler of Amazon Lily. She’s a powerful fighter thanks to her Devil Fruit ability, and her strong feelings for Luffy have led many fans to hope they become a couple.
Despite being a fascinating character, she hasn’t yet had a significant impact on the overall story. Currently, she mostly focuses on building relationships with other pirates and admiring Luffy, but there’s potential for more. If she becomes more involved in the main plot, she could rise to become a powerful and influential Warlord of the Sea.
8) Jinbei
Jinbe first appeared during the Impel Down story arc, and by that point, he had already quit being a Warlord of the Sea. Throughout his story, he’s consistently shown to be a good person, so it’s likely he acted with honor even when he was a Warlord. He’s also incredibly powerful, and his unique Fish-Man Karate makes him one of the strongest fighters around.
Jinbe is now the helmsman of the Straw Hat Pirates and will likely be important to the story going forward. However, his time as a Warlord wasn’t particularly memorable, which is why he’s considered less influential than other characters who held that title.
7) Crocodile
Crocodile was the first major villain the Straw Hat Pirates encountered who held the position of Warlord, and he really showed how strong, influential, and politically connected these characters could be. He perfectly captured what fans expected from the role, and consistently proved to be a formidable opponent. Despite this, he was defeated by Luffy before Luffy mastered Gear Second, primarily because his powers were significantly weakened by water.
Crocodile’s loss doesn’t change the fact that he’s incredibly powerful – his bounty of almost two billion berries proves he’s in a class of his own. As a leading figure in the new Cross Guild, he’s set to make a significant comeback, and fans are eagerly awaiting it.
6) Bartholomew Kuma
For fans of One Piece, Bartholomew Kuma was long believed to be the World Government’s most devoted Warlord. But new information has revealed a heartbreaking backstory, showing Kuma to be one of the kindest characters in the entire series. Before becoming a tool of the Government, he was actually a member of the Revolutionary Army. He only cooperated with the World Government because he was desperately trying to save Bonney.
Kuma was one of the most influential Warlords because his body served as the model for the Pacifista and other powerful weapons. While his impact was greater than many other Warlords, a few still had a larger overall effect.
5) Buggy
Buggy’s journey from a Warlord to one of the powerful Emperors of the Sea demonstrates that becoming so influential requires both a reputation and strong political connections, and he’s consistently benefited from good fortune. While serving as a Warlord, he grew his Buggy Delivery business, which played a key role in establishing him as a major Emperor.
Many fans see Buggy as a comical character, and his successes are often played for laughs. However, his rise to power among the most dangerous pirates is surprisingly believable if you look closely. It’s still exciting to imagine what One Piece will do with him as the story nears its end.
4) Trafalgar D. Water Law
I’m a huge fan of Trafalgar Law from One Piece, and it’s fascinating to see how much his story revolves around Donquixote Doflamingo. Seriously, Doflamingo really shaped who Law became! A lot of what drove Law to become a powerful pirate and eventually a Warlord was his burning hatred for Doflamingo – and his desire to take down Kaido too, considering the impact both had on his younger years. That intense motivation is honestly what helped him become such a well-known and feared pirate!
Near the end of the Wano arc, Law unlocked the full potential of his Devil Fruit power, which was key to defeating Big Mom. Since then, he’s continued to sail the seas and even managed to escape an attack by Blackbeard. This indicates Law still has a significant role to play in the story, and despite his brief time as a Warlord, his influence is far from over.
3) Donquixote Doflamingo
Donquixote Doflamingo, the main villain in the Dressrosa story arc, was the last of the Warlords the Straw Hat pirates had to defeat. He was an incredibly powerful figure, with more political influence than any other Warlord in the world of One Piece. His cunning and manipulative nature made him an even more formidable opponent.
Doflamingo’s Devil Fruit powers were a clear reflection of his personality, and he was one of the first characters to fully unlock their potential. His tragic past explained how he became a villain, ultimately leading to his defeat. This defeat prompted the World Government to end the Warlord system, worried about the dangers of such powerful individuals. Many fans believe he might return, and are excited to see what happens next with his character.
2) Blackbeard
Blackbeard, whose real name is Marshall D. Teach, is likely the most powerful person on this list. His appointment as a Warlord caused significant political problems. It was later discovered that he only accepted the position to get access to the Impel Down prison, where he released many dangerous criminals. This also led to Ace being captured, which eventually caused the deaths of both Ace and Whitebeard.
Blackbeard is likely responsible for more harm to the World Government than any other Warlord. His power keeps increasing, suggesting he’ll be a hugely important figure as the story of One Piece comes to a close. However, the very first Warlord ever introduced remains the most powerful of them all.
1) Dracule Mihawk
Dracule Mihawk was the very first Warlord shown in One Piece, and he quickly stood out as exceptionally powerful. As the world’s strongest swordsman, Mihawk became a Warlord simply to have a peaceful life and find skilled fighters, a desire that grew after Shanks lost his arm.
After the Warlord system was dissolved, Mihawk rose to prominence in the Cross Guild, making the organization even more dangerous than the Warlords ever were. He remains a key player in the story, and fans are eager to see what happens next for him. Throughout One Piece, Mihawk’s influence as a Warlord was unmatched – his very presence contributed greatly to the system’s power and intimidating reputation.
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2026-01-19 03:15