One Piece: Why Gol D. Roger is still stronger than Joy Boy

Time of India

17-05-2025

The REAL story of
One Piece
's fabled Pirate King– and how
Joy Boy
doesn't even come close.
The vivid anime and manga universe of One Piece is filled with exotic characters and legendary pirates, as well as a rich history that has fascinated fans for more than twenty years. Another candidate who has become a hot topic name in the narrative is Joy Boy, an enigmatic character connected to the distant past. However much mystery and purpose might surround Joy Boy, there's one man who remains taller still in the One Piece world —
Gol D. Roger
, the
Pirate King
.
In this piece, we unpack who Gol D. Roger is, how he became one of the most legendary figures to walk the earth, and what—and why—even by Joy Boy's standard—Roger is still the strongest pirate to ever live.
The legend of Gol D. Roger: One Piece's greatest pirate
To appreciate Roger's strength though, you must first understand who he was in every sense of the word.
Gol D. Roger became the only man in history to conquer the Grand Line and discover the final island, Laugh Tale, which is believed to hold the world's greatest secrets. That journey made him the Pirate King. Even more impressively, Roger did all this without the use of a single
Devil Fruit
power, something all the top tier characters in One Piece seem to have.
His ambition, charm, and strength immediately earned him powerful allies including
Silvers Rayleigh
and Scopper Gaban. These men didn't work for Roger because they were afraid or because they were getting paid because they believed in him. His ability to draw together such fierce fighters and lead them to the outermost limits of the known world speaks to his nature.
Roger conquered the seas without a devil fruit
Unlike most premier level pirates, Roger never consumed a Devil Fruit. Instead, he did it just using Haki, a versatile and potent energy-based ability that's become a hallmark of most characters in the One Piece world. Roger even mastered all three forms of
Haki
including Advanced Conqueror's Haki, allowing him to fight opponents without even making physical contact.
He didn't just fight, he fought and went toe to toe with the most powerful beings of his era—including:
Whitebeard
(the world's strongest man)
Monkey D. Garp (
Marine Combat Hero
)
Sengoku (retired Fleet Admiral)
Rocks D. Xebec (a legendary terror who once commanded Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard at the same time)
Even as the leukemia that eventually claimed him progressed, Roger was still able to go toe-to-toe with Whitebeard in a three-day-long slugfest and came out on top. That's the type of power we're discussing.
Joy Boy vs. Roger: The major differences
Joy Boy, a legendary figure from the mysterious Void Century—an ancient time shrouded in secrets. He had profound access to seven types of Devil Fruit powers and Haki. He's tied to the world's ultimate prize of the great One Piece treasure and ancient weapons. Some consider Joy Boy's reincarnation to be none other than the series current protagonist Monkey D. Luffy.
As critical as Joy Boy is to the whole narrative's past, we've never seen him conquer the world like Roger did. We have no clue whether he ever fought like legends like Whitebeard or Garp. Roger didn't just win history—he won against history.
Roger's crew proves his power
Choosing to mana to Roger's crew offers further evidence of his unparalleled power. His second in command, Silvers Rayleigh, was able to stand toe to toe with Kizaru, one of the Navy's top tier Admirals. That means Roger was actually superior to Rayleigh—likely superior to most of the Yonko (Emperors) we see in the present.
Scopper Gaban, another elite fighter on Roger's crew, was said to have been an absolute monster in battle. If these were his followers, just think, how formidable Roger had to be to shepherd them.
The pirate king's greatest feat: Winning while dying
Roger's greatest accomplishment may be this — he did all of it while dying. Though afflicted by a terminal plague, he nevertheless bested terrible wizards, navigated the stormiest oceans, and unearthed the world's deadliest mystery.
Roger is the one who carried it across the finish line. That's what makes him the fiercest pirate the world has ever known.
Roger's will still shakes the world
Even after his death, Roger's name lives on. Marines fear him. Pirates idolize him. His execution sparked the Great Pirate Era, where thousands of pirates set sail in search of his treasure, the One Piece.
Joy Boy may be the key to the world's secrets, but Roger is the one who came closest to unlocking them. Without Devil Fruits, without full health, and without ever backing down, Roger proved that he was built differently.
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