📖 Part of our One Piece: 40 Strongest Characters series #31–40 · #21–30 · #11–20 (coming soon) · #1–10 (coming soon)
Updated through the Egghead Arc
This is our One Piece strongest characters ranked 31-40 breakdown — the ten names that just missed the top 30 but can still turn a fight upside down. One Piece has already published over 115 volumes and sold more than 600 million copies worldwide, with over 1,500 named characters having appeared across its run. Every single one of them has a past, and many are written with enough depth that they could carry an entire story of their own. Strength isn’t everything in this series, but it’s hard not to wonder who’s actually the strongest.
One Piece is genuinely one of my favorite manga of all time, and it’s not just about the characters. The overall plot and world-building are incredible on their own, but what really gets me is the art. Oda draws with such a wide range of angles and perspectives (sweeping wide shots, extreme low angles, backgrounds rendered in insane detail) in a way you don’t see as often in manga that lean more on close-up character shots panel after panel. I’ve read a huge amount of Shonen Jump over the years, Dragon Ball included, and One Piece still sits at the very top for me. That’s exactly why I wanted to start this ranking series with it. Here’s our ranking through the Egghead Arc.
We’re closing out the full Top 40 with #40 through #31, the round-out spots that still pack a serious punch.
#40 — Coby
Once a timid cabin boy, Coby has become one of the most rapidly improving fighters in the Marines, earning the rank of Captain and mastering Haki, including a rare display of Conqueror’s Haki that put him on the map as a serious talent. His growth arc has been unusually fast even by the story’s standards, and Garp himself has taken a direct hand in shaping his development, which says a lot about how much potential the Marines see in him.
#39 — Hancock (Boa Hancock)
The former Warlord and Empress of the Kuja Pirates wields the Mero Mero no Mi, capable of turning anyone attracted to her to stone with a single touch, an ability that’s proven decisive in more than one major battle. Beyond the fruit, she’s an accomplished physical fighter in her own right, having earned her position among the Kuja through genuine combat skill rather than reputation alone. Her loyalty to Luffy after Amazon Lily only adds to how far she’s willing to go in a fight.
#38 — Queen
The self-proclaimed “genius” of the Beast Pirates, Queen holds the rare distinction of being both a top-tier scientist and a devastating close-range brawler. His Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Pteranodon lets him fly and unleash powerful sonic attacks, and he’s engineered some of the most dangerous weapons the Beast Pirates fielded, including the gas attack that nearly wiped out Onigashima’s population. He held his own against Sanji at his strongest during the Wano raid, which is no small feat against a Straw Hat.
#37 — Magellan
The former head jailer of Impel Down, Magellan’s Doku Doku no Mi lets him generate and control poison on an almost unlimited scale, corroding anything it touches and overwhelming even Devil Fruit users who’d otherwise be untouchable. His toxin proved dangerous enough to nearly kill Luffy outright during the Impel Down arc, and as the warden of the world’s most secure prison, he’s one of the few people the Marines fully trust to contain the most dangerous criminals alive.
#36 — Enel
The self-declared “god” of Skypiea, Enel’s Goro Goro no Mi makes him a living lightning bolt, letting him move and strike at the speed of a lightning bolt while shrugging off nearly all conventional attacks. His overwhelming power on Skypiea made him nearly unbeatable there, and he later demonstrated the ambition and resourcefulness to survive and continue expanding his reach even after leaving the island behind.
#35 — Crocodile
A former Warlord and one-time leader of Baroque Works, Crocodile’s Suna Suna no Mi turns his body into sand, letting him dodge conventional attacks outright while draining moisture from anything, or anyone, he touches. He’s shown he can go blow-for-blow with top-tier opponents when pushed, and his ruthless, calculating nature makes him dangerous even without factoring in the Devil Fruit.
“If you want to revisit his Baroque Works showdown from the very beginning, the East Blue and Baroque Works box set covers the whole arc.”
#34 — Katakuri
The strongest of Big Mom’s numerous children, Katakuri’s Mochi Mochi no Mi combined with a near-precognitive command of Observation Haki made him one of the toughest opponents Luffy has faced one-on-one. He fought Luffy to an exhausting standstill during the Whole Cake Island arc, only losing after Luffy pushed into a new level of Haki mastery, and his discipline and code of honor toward his opponent left a strong impression even in defeat.
#33 — Jinbe
A former Warlord and one of the Sun Pirates’ founding members, Jinbe combines Fish-Man Karate with immense physical strength drawn from his species. He held his own against Big Mom’s forces at Whole Cake Island and later fought through Wano as a member of the Fire Festival raid, all while carrying the weight of steering the Straw Hats as their helmsman. His decades of combat experience and unshakable resolve make him one of the most reliable heavy-hitters in Luffy’s crew.
#32 — Sanji
The Straw Hats’ cook fights exclusively with his legs, powered by Diable Jambe’s fire-based techniques and, since Whole Cake Island, an inherited Devil Fruit ability from his Vinsmoke bloodline. He’s traded serious blows with Judge’s enhanced soldiers and Queen himself during the Wano raid, closing the gap with his crewmates considerably. His refusal to use his fists, a personal code tied to protecting his hands for cooking, makes his fighting style distinctive even among the Straw Hats.
#31 — Ryokugyu (Aramaki)
One of the newer Marine Admirals introduced during the Wano aftermath, Ryokugyu wields the Mori Mori no Mi, letting him generate and control plant life on a massive scale, enough to entangle and overwhelm entire groups of opponents at once. His blunt, aggressive approach to “absolute justice” puts him in the same ideological camp as Akainu, and his introduction alone signaled that the Marines still have untapped strength in reserve even after losing Akainu’s rivals to retirement or defection.
Honestly, this ranking was a tough one to put together. Sanji’s a personal favorite of mine, so part of me wanted to rank him higher, but for where the story stands right now, this feels like the right spot. He’s grown a lot as a fighter, and I think his ranking is only going to climb from here as the story keeps going.
Crocodile and Enel were the trickiest calls in this batch. Their biggest fights are from a while back at this point, but ability-wise they’re both genuinely strong, sharp, strong-willed characters, and honestly I think they could rank above someone like Queen on raw ability alone. The main reason they landed where they did is that it’s been a long time since we’ve actually seen them in action, so it’s hard to gauge how they measure up against everyone else on this list right now.
New to the series? Our pick to start from the very beginning: One Piece Box Set 1 (East Blue and Baroque Works, Vol. 1–23).
Final Verdict: One Piece Strongest Characters Ranked 31-40
That wraps up our One Piece strongest characters ranked 31-40 list — ten names that prove even the “weaker” half of this ranking can still level a city. Next up: #21–30, where things start getting serious.