This list contains spoilers up to the Elbaph arc in theOne Piecemanga
Summary
For a person to leave behind a stronglegacyafter their death, they need to have lived a satisfying life and gone on to impact others, and maybe even changed the course of the world as a whole. Anyone who’s read or watchedOne Piecewill know all too well that this applies to numerous individuals in the series, though the importance and relevance of their legacies can vary quite a bit.
While there are certainly manyOne Piececharacters who are still alive in kicking that are highly relevant to the overall story, there are also several individuals who have fallen in combat and also proven to be extremely influential, even after their deaths. With all that being said, here aretheOne Piececharacters who managed to leave the biggest legacies in the story.
8Portgas D. Ace
Luffy And The Whitebeard Crew Will Never Forget About Ace
As the son of the infamous Pirate King, Gol D. Roger,Acewas vilified by not just the Marines and World Government, but also by many of the people he would encounter during his adventures. Despite being told over and over again that he was a cursed child who would amount to nothing, Aced pushed through the adversity to eventually become a loyal member of the Whitebeard’s crew, where he became a brother to his crewmates.
Not only that, but Ace would get his hands on theimmensely powerful Mera Mera no Mi fruit, which is another reason why he’s become so well remembered by so many characters. Ace was also at the center of the Marineford War, which had a massive impact on both the Marines and Whitebeard’s crew, the latter of which were officially disbanded after the conflict. Of course, the most obvious aspect of Ace’s legacy is Luffy, who realistically was only able to become a pirate in the first place because of his protective older brother.
7Otohime
Otohime Vouched For Peace Between Humans And Fish-Men
While most Fish-Men are taught to despise humans,Otohimewas always a little different. She believed that the best way forward was to try and establish peaceful relations with humans, rather than wiping them out. While most of her people didn’t agree with her at the time, it’s hard to ignore the impact she has had as a result of her speeches. Otohime tried to convince the residents of Fish-Man Island to gradually make their way to the surface, closer to humans, so that they could live among those whom they had long been fearful of.
While she was unfortunatelykilled for her radical activism, Otohime’s influence can still be felt in the main story. The biggest example of this is how Shirahoshi felt compelled to travel to the surface during the Reverie, and while the humans may not have treated her all that kindly, it was still a courageous first step which was initially recommended by Otohime herself.
6Kouzuki Oden
Oden Sparked The Revolution To Overthrow Kaido
Kouzuki Odenhad a bizarre life as a pirate before the main story even began. Originally a member of Whitebeard’s crew, Oden eventually moved over to Roger when the future Pirate King needed someone who could read the Poneglyphs. This already makes him extremely important, but where his legacy is most prevalent is through the Red Scabbards; a group of courageous but naive samurai who served under Oden as his vessels many years ago.
Oden himself may have been murdered by Kaido, but his dream to one day open Wano’s borders to the world and free the country from theYonko’s tyrannywas one that lived on through his loyal servants. Anytime the Samurai, Minks or Pirates started to question their own resolve, they would always think back to Oden and the dream he had when he was still alive, using this motivation to eventually liberate Wano once and for all.
5Fisher Tiger
Fisher Tiger’s Actions Have Affected Countless Lives
As theOne Piecestory has gone on, more than a few characters have been directly related to the rebellious Fish-Man known asFisher Tiger. For example, it was Fisher Tiger’s attack on Mary Geois that allowed thousands of slaves to be freed from captivity, including none other than Boa Hancock and her two sisters.
Not only that, but Fisher’s death at the hands of the Marines also inspiredArlongto become such malicious and violent bigot towards humans, while, on the other hand, simultaneously inspiring Jimbei to take the role of a captain. This would eventually come in handy after he joined the Straw Hats later on. Needless to say, Fisher Tiger’s legacy can be seen all over the series through a select few important characters.
4Vegapunk
The Smartest Man Who Ever Lived Will Be Remembered For Many Years To Come
As the smartest character in all ofOne Piece,Vegapunkhad a hand in creating almost every device and invention that the Straw Hats come across throughout the story. However, while it was clear that Vegapunk had made his mark on the world through his creations, the extent of his legacy only becomes fully apparent during theEgghead Island arc, where he gets to reveal a lot more about his true goals.
Despite it being forbidden by the World Government, Vegapunk took it upon himself to research the Void Century so that he could uncover what really happened all those years ago, and in turn, where the world is headed. This results in him giving a grand speech where he spills the beans on virtually everything the government had been hiding, including the shocking revelation that the world will soon be underwater if something isn’t done to prevent it. It’s no exaggeration to say that Vegapunk has drastically changed the course of the story, so it’s a shame that he was taken out by the Marines so quickly, as it’s clear he still had much more to learn about the world.
3Rocks D. Xebec
One Of The Most Ferocious Pirates To Have Ever Lived
Only small tidbits of information have been revealed about the infamous pirate captain known asRocks D. Xebec, but what is clear is that his past actions played a big part in establishing the modern playing field. As someone who managed to rally together figures like Whitebeard, Big Mom and Kaido into his crew, all of whom would go on to become Yonko, he essentially molded them all into the powerhouses they would eventually become, resulting in each of them being the government’s biggest targets.
It’s also important to remember that Rocks was able to duke it out with bothGarp and Rogerback in God Valley, which is far from a simple feat. Though he may have been defeated that day, Rocks' legacy has lived on through his crewmates, who have all played important roles in the main story.
2Gol D. Roger
Roger’s Adventure Across The Grand Line Has Inspired A New Age Of Pirates
There were many powerful pirates who had made a name for themselvesyears before Luffy started his adventure, but the reasonGol D. Rogerhas become especially famous is because he was the captain who reached the One Piece treasure first. While he may have turned himself in to the Marines not long after, Roger made sure to announce the existence of the One Piece the world, kicking off the Grand Age of Pirates, which is still ongoing in the story.
Without Roger, Luffy would never have gotten a burst of inspiration to seek out the One Piece in the first place. From a wider point of view, it’s also unlikely that there would have been any resistance to the World Government and the oppressive Marines had pirates not risen back to prominence, meaning the secrets of the Void Century and Joy Boy might have been lost forever if it wasn’t for Roger’s actions.
1Joy Boy
Joy Boy Becomes More Relevant To The Story With Every New Arc
Initially,Joy Boy’sname was only mentioned here and there, usually anytime the Straw Hats came across a Poneglyph. However, as time has gone on, it’s become evident that he has left an incredible legacy which the Marines and World Government have desperately tried to erase. As someone who lived during the mysterious Void Century, Joy Boy is often seen as the very first pirate in the world ofOne Piece.
