10 most influential but mysterious One Piece characters

The world of One Piece is a perilous one. There is a constant power struggle between different forces, all vying to achieve their own goals. There are the World Government, the Revolutionary Army, countless powerful pirate crews, and even entire kingdoms.

Amidst this constant chaos, certain individuals exert a profound influence on the world, controlling its affairs and shaping history — some parts of it, at the very least. But despite their impact, some of these characters remain shrouded in mystery. Here are ten powerful and influential characters who we know little of.

Imu

At the top of the global hierarchy lies Imu, the enigmatic figure who controls the entire World Government from the shadows. Imu’s existence is known to only a select few, yet the influence Imu wields is unmatched. The Five Elders, who may have thought to make important major decisions, are nothing more than Imu’s lackeys. They must consult Imu for any decision, and Imu’s commands are always absolute.

As the story reaches its final arc, some information about the World Government’s true puppeteer comes to light. Imu was revealed to be St. Imu of the Nerona Family, who was part of the original 20 aristocratic families that established the World Government eight centuries ago. Other than that, nothing else is known about them, including their true appearance.

Monkey D. Dragon

The Revolutionary Army is the main force whose only goal is to obstruct and dismantle the World Government. At the forefront of the organization is Monkey D. Dragon, the son of Monkey D. Garp and the father of Monkey D. Luffy. It has recently been revealed that Dragon was acquainted with Dr. Vegapunk right before he established the Revolutionary Army. At the time, the Revolutionary Army was a smaller force called the Freedom Fighters.

Despite Dragon’s feats, however, little is known about his power. It can be assumed he is a mighty warrior, given his background and position, but his combat abilities are yet to be shown. There are theories speculating he can manipulate or at least affect weather, though these are still pure speculation. Furthermore, his partner’s identity (Luffy’s mother) remains one of One Piece’s biggest mysteries.

Red-Hair Shanks

One of the Four Emperors and captain of the Red-Hair Pirates, Red-Hair Shanks is one of the most infamous pirates sailing the seas. His title alone allows him to declare certain islands as his territory, keeping them safe from many invasion attempts. However, his recent activities may be hinting that this Emperor is more than just a pirate.

Despite being one of their worst enemies, Shanks was able to set a meeting with the Five Elders. The Five Elders also noted that such a meeting was only feasible due to Shanks’ status, hinting that he may be of noble status. In fact, there is even a theory hypothesizing that Shanks is of Celestial Dragon descent.

Benn Beckman

While second only to their respective captains, a pirate crew’s first mate still holds formidable influence. This is especially true for the most notorious ones. For instance, Silvers Rayleigh, as Roger Pirates’ first mate, still holds considerable notoriety even years after retirement. The same can be said about the first mates of the Emperors.

Interestingly, Benn Beckman is the only first mate of an Emperor, both former and current, that we know so little about. Other than supposedly being the smartest man in East Blue, nothing is known about this man. We don’t even know how powerful he is.

Rocks D. Xebec

Rocks D. Xebec is undeniably one legendary pirate. He, after all, managed to form one of the strongest pirate crews that sailed the seas of One Piece — the Rocks Pirates. Even after disbandment, most of Rocks Pirates’ members had made a name for themselves, such as Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, and Shiki. Furthermore, he was considered as Gol D. Roger’s greatest rival.

Despite his legacy, almost nothing is known about Rocks. We only know he’s strong, given that it took Roger and Garp’s cooperation to take him down. As to how strong specifically, we are not sure. We don’t even know his villain origin story or his lack thereof.

The man with a burn scar

The man with a burn scar is a mysterious individual who is said to hold the last Road Poneglyph, the key to reaching Laugh Tale and discovering the One Piece. There are numerous rumors and hearsay about his identity and location, but little is confirmed.

Since he holds a piece of the key pointing to Laugh Tale, many forces are seeking him out, especially the pirates. According to Blackbeard Pirates’ Lafitte, the said man has the power to create vortexes to swallow enemy ships. Of course, even that is nothing more than unverified hearsay.

St. Figarland Garling

As the leader of God’s Knights, St. Figarland Garling is a high-ranking Celestial Dragon with the primary responsibility of keeping the World Nobles safe. His debut surprised many, raising questions about his role in the story and his potential connections to other powerful figures like Shanks. But at this point, fans can only grasp at straws regarding his character. After all, we only know of his status and a bit of his personality. We don’t know to what extent his influence reached, as well as the full extent of his power.

Marshall D. Teech (Blackbeard)

Marshall D. Teech, better known as Blackbeard, is one of the Four Emperors and a former member of the Whitebeard Pirates. His rise to power has been meteoric, marked by the acquisition of not one but two Devil Fruits — a feat previously thought impossible.

Despite his prominence, many aspects of Blackbeard’s character and past are unclear. Specifically, what drives him to such lengths and how he can wield two Devil Fruits are questions that still need answers.

The unknown silhouette from Chapter 1211

In Chapter 1211, an unknown silhouette is introduced, seemingly vying for the legendary treasure. This figure’s identity is shrouded in mystery, but their sudden appearance at such a critical point in the story suggests they are someone noteworthy.

Given that only the silhouette is revealed for now, the room for speculation is outrageously big. It may be some old character making a resurgence, a new important character, or maybe even the man with the burn scar. As for the answer to that, only future chapters of One Piece can tell.

Joyboy

Joyboy may have been from the very distant past, yet his name continues to make echoes in the present timeline. According to Dr. Vegapunk, Joyboy is the very first pirate ever to sail the seas. He is also the World Government’s greatest enemy and is deeply connected to the Void Century, Ancient Weapons, and the mysterious Poneglyphs.

In spite of his significance and these recent revelations, Joyboy’s character is still shrouded in ink, literally. We still have no clear idea what he really looks like, as we’ve only seen silhouettes of him. We also don’t know of his combat abilities, though they are likely the same as Luffy’s Gear Five. Nonetheless, we need to unravel more to get to know this legendary figure fully.