One Piece: Oda confirms the 5 most legendary pirates from the Old era

Time of India

10-06-2025

Now that One Piece has stepped into its Final Saga, creator Eiichiro Oda is finally starting to reveal the truth about those really, really bad pirates from way back—the ones who crisscrossed and pillaged the seas long before our fearless protagonist, Monkey D.
Luffy, had even hatched. As great as those mythical figures were in shaping the world and laying the groundwork for all the drama taking place today, most notably in the unraveling Elbaf arc that is unfolding before our eyes right now,
For viewers who may be unfamiliar with One Piece, these aren't just tough bad guys—they're the huge, mythical, legendary giants of the pirate age. Whether you've been watching anime for decades, or you're just ready to figure out why everyone seems to be raving about this greatest-of-all-time series, here's your guide to the illustrious top-five most infamous scallywags of the Golden Age, as recently corroborated by Oda himself.
1.
Gol D. Roger
– The true pirate king
A
t the top of the list is Gol D. Roger, the man that fully conquered the Grand Line and was the very first Pirate King. Like Gol D. Roger, he possessed the mythical treasure, One Piece, and ignited the Great Pirate Era with his dying declaration. In pure strength, he had no equal in his prime and even at the peak of his days on the ocean, he was crewmates with two of the strongest men you could ever imagine in Rayleigh and Gaban.
Oh Joy Boy… I'm so jealous you got to be born in that era. – Gol D. Roger.
Roger's influence can be felt even to this day, and no pirate in all of history has inspired so much romance, peril, and intrigue as he.
2.
Whitebeard
– The world's strongest man
Edward Newgate, better known to most by his moniker of Whitebeard, was Roger's equal in battle, and was The Strongest Man in the World. He had previously sailed under Rocks D. Xebec before forming his own crew and then achieving ascendance as a Yonko (one of the four pirate emperors).
The world feared Whitebeard's might and revered his crew. His passing on Marineford marked the true end of an era. His impact, mostly via his Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability that could literally cause islands to explode.
3. Rocks D. Xebec – The hidden monster
Rocks D. Xebec was one of the coolest, most dangerous, most stylish tutorial stage crushingest, neatest, deadliest pirates to ever live. His vision didn't end at ruling the waves. His crews were later inspirations for legends on the sea like Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard.
So strong even, that it took Roger and Garp side by side to beat him at God Valley.
In spite of the fact that he himself has largely disappeared into obscurity, Rocks was at one time Roger's greatest rival and arguably the most dangerous pirate who ever lived.
4. Silvers Rayleigh – The dark king and right hand of Roger
Silvers Rayleigh was the first mate to Roger. Even in retirement though, his power is as shocking as it is real. Much like Zoro, he trained Luffy during the time skip and is one of the extremely few characters in all of One Piece that can go toe-to-toe with an Admiral and keep them at a standstill.
As late as May of this year, series creator Eiichiro Oda confirmed that Rayleigh was one of the three strongest crew members of Roger's crew, only behind the Pirate King himself.
5. Scopper Gaban – Roger's left hand and a silent legend
Though his name is less widely recognized than Rayleigh's, Scopper Gaban was just as much a top-notch member of Roger's crew. Alongside Rayleigh, the three were known as the Wings of the Pirate King — a title that perfectly depicts their overwhelming strength and loyalty.
As misused as Gaban has been in the show up to this point, Oda all but solidified his status as a legend by the confirmation. Fans are betting on him taking up a key position in the next acts of the Final Saga, as we called for in 10 Cut Content Elements That Would Make The Final Saga Even Better.
Bonus Mention: Joy Boy – The pirate who came before everyone
Joy Boy Perhaps the most fabled figure mentioned by the great pirates of the past, Joy Boy is a possible candidate and alt.
His personal story becomes linked very deeply to the larger mysteries of the Void Century and the One Piece treasure itself.
Fast forward to today and as the story approaches its climax, fans are finally learning how Joy Boy's legacy relates to Luffy's own destiny.
One Piece legends still shape the present
One Piece is credited as one of the greatest character driven stories of all time. These five mythical pirates from the Golden Age are in a realm of their own.
Whether it be Roger's ideology, Whitebeard's power or Rocks' insanity, all of them contributed significantly to the creation of the pirate world as we know it today.
Readers will need to hold out until One Piece Chapter 1152, releasing on June 25, 2023 if the schedule stays as is, to find out. Even at this point, fans are super pumped to find out more about the history. One thing's for certain though, even in passing, these legends continue to be an influence on the Final Saga and the Straw Hats' future.