Summary
For many, the Straw Hats are arguably the most beloved central group in all of anime. This ragtag bunch of adventurers each brings something to the tablethat simply can’t be replicated by anyone else in the entireOne Piecestory, whether they be incredible warriors who rank among the strongest characters in the series or just the best at whatever specialization they have within the crew itself.
However, in the eyes of some, Usopp is a non-essential member of the crew who simply isn’t as important as the others, nor will he ever be in the future. However, in this article, let’s go over whyUsopp is, in fact, one of the best charactersin the entirestory and why this sentiment is ultimately wrong, since Elbaf will prove to be the arc that will finally bring him to the forefront ofOne Piece.
Story Arc
Syrup Village
As the sniper of the Straw Hats, Usopp’s role seems to be the most non-essential at first glance. However, he is indispensable due to the humanity and normalcy he brings to the table. In a crew filled with absolute monsterssuch as Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, who can each take on the strongest characters in the series, Usopp is noticibly weaker, and while this may seem like a bad thing, such an inclusion offers some fantastic context to the story.
For many fans ofOne Piece, the Enies Lobby/Water 7 arc remains the best in the franchise due to it being the most emotionally charged. Usopp played a central role here, where this aspect of his character arc was shown by him realizing his lack of strength compared to everyone else, as well as his indeterminate role within the crew at the time. This led to deep insecurity within him which was amazing to see due to how human his attitude and reaction were to the entire ordeal.
I’ve thought about it. I knew… that I would never be able to catch up to any of you!
However, towards the end of the arc, he realized his true calling as the sniper through Sogeking, which made fans cheer with delight as it showed one of the most captivating arcs in the entire series. This remains one of the highlights ofOne Piece, and it’s safe to say thatthe Enies Lobby/Water 7 arcwouldn’t have been close to being as good as it was if it didn’t include Usopp’s development. Many argue that, after the time skip, however, Usopp has gone back to his old ways.
However, Oda is very deliberate with all of his narrative choices, and Usopp’s character arc is not going to be an exception. Similarly to Enies Lobby, the Elbaf arc is poised to put a lot of importance on Usopp due to his connections to the Giants, Elbaf itself, and his dream of becoming a Brave Warrior of the Sea, which will likely provide just as poignant of a story arc as he has had in the past.
Elbaf Will Be The Arc Where Usopp Shines The Most
Ever since Little Garden, Usopp’s dream on the Grand Line that he wishes to achieve is to finally become a Brave Warrior of the Sea, which he decidedupon meeting Dorry and Brogy. Because of this, many have speculated about how important Usopp will be in the Elbaf arc, since visiting this island was close to the top of the list of things he wants to do on his adventures.
The Elbaf arc is well underway, though Usopp currently seems to be far less useful during it as some had previously thought due to being captured by the Gods' Knights. However, there is seemingly much of the arc to go, where he will likely get the opportunity to do great things, which may have been implied in Chapter 1150, where he was the one who was pleading with Dorry and Brogy to stop destroying the land after they had been turned into demonic versions of themselves due to Imu’s Domi Reversi.
Many have taken this to mean that, somehow, Usopp will be the one to knock the Giants of Elbaf back to their senses andlead them against Imu’s forces. Of course, this is all speculative, but it would make for an incredible narrative regarding the character and the land that means so much to him. In doing this, he may just become the Brave Warrior of the Sea that he has always strived to be, making him the first Straw Hat to achieve their dream.
Conversely, there is a rather old and popular theory which states that Usopp will eat the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Giant Devil Fruit on this island, or maybe even the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Elbaf, since we know the island is named after the Warrior God of the Giants. This would also be perfect for his character arc as such a huge power-up would bring him to the forefront of things and would be the best way to get him ready for the Final War.
