10 Best Bounty Hunters in One Piece, Ranked
For the most part, One Piece is centered around powerful pirate crews and the ranks of the World Government's Navy. Pirates and Marines are the two main factions, but One Piece 's world is more nuanced than black-and-white good vs evil antics. One Piece 's excellent worldbuilding carves out space for those factions floating in the gray area, with bounty hunters being the perfect example of a group that's neither all good nor all bad. If fans include One Piece 's filler content, then the ranks of the anime's bounty hunters become quite impressive.
With one major exception, none of the current or former bounty hunters seen in One Piece are anywhere near the power levels of high-ranking Navy officers or Pirate Captains, but they are still entertaining to watch. Even the weakest bounty hunters fill in an essential gap in this predatory anime world, chasing wanted individuals in exchange for money as practical yet ruthless workers. Whether because of their merits, impressive combat skills, entertaining personalities, or compelling character composition, One Piece 's best bounty hunters offer plenty for fans to enjoy about this relatively overlooked faction of the cast.
Johnny is a Low-Ranking Bounty Hunter Who Zoro Quickly Surpasses
Johnny's Role in the Baratie Arc & the Arlong Park Arc is More Funny Than Frightening
Johnny and his friend Yosaku both made their debut in the Baratie Arc in One Piece 's East Blue Saga. Johnny has no special powers of his own, such as Haki or a Devil Fruit, but that was acceptable at the time. During the Baratie Arc, hardly anyone had Devil Fruits anyway, not even the villainous Don Krieg. That was a battle dictated by weapons and reckless bravery instead.
In such a context, even a mediocre bounty hunter like Johnny can stand a chance in battle. He wielded a fine sword when facing his various foes in both the Baratie Arc and the Arlong Park Arc, but he and Yosaku tended to need help from the tiny Straw Hats crew. It's admirable enough how Johnny is a loyal ally of Zoro's, but he was definitely overshadowed by Zoro in those arcs. That's one reason why Johnny ranks last among the most worthwhile bounty hunter characters in One Piece .
Yosaku is Only a Slightly More Fierce Bounty Hunter Than Johnny
Yosaku Lends a Hand to the Straw Hats at the Baratie & Arlong Park
Yosaku was a friend of Zoro's introduced in the Baratie story arc. In many ways, Yosaku was like Johnny in that arc and the Arlong Park arc, being an old bounty hunter ally of Zoro's, which helped explain why Yosaku and Johnny even bothered to support the Straw Hats in arcs like those. It was an early example of Luffy always having third-party allies in fights against arc-defining villains.
Yosaku isn't particularly powerful or memorable, but he did his job just fine in the Baratie story arc, at least. It helps that at the time, hardly anyone was using the Haki combat system or Devil Fruits, so Yosaku could keep pace with what everyone else was doing. Yosaku is also rather knowledeable about the world, such as identifying Momoo as a sea cow and knowing who the Warlords of the Sea are.
Daddy the Father is a Wild West Outlaw in Anime Form
One Piece Filler Doesn't Get Better Than Daddy the Father
Daddy Masterson, better known as Daddy the Father, is an amusing example of One Piece filler content having fun with all kinds of creative ideas, such as emulating the Wild West. Though One Piece is primarily a pirate story, its expansive world has plenty of room for Wild West elements of bounty hunters and roving outlaws, which led to the creation of characters like Daddy the Father. In particular, Daddy the Father emulates Clint Eastwood in both appearance and outfit.
In particular, Daddy Masterson is a bounty hunter living in Loguetown, which means he was bound to cross paths with the small Straw Hats crew at some point. True to his Wild West aesthetic, Daddy was a skilled marksman, to the point that the Navy graciously recognized his abilities. Notably, Daddy the Father has a soft side as a bounty hunter, having quit the Marines years ago to ensure his daughter Carol could live in safety, and he only hunts small-time criminals as a bounty hunter.
Abdullah Meets Luffy in Dressrosa's Corrida Colosseum
Bounty Hunter Abdullah Didn't Stand a Chance at Winning the Flame-Flame Fruit
One of Abdullah's greatest feats is blowing up a World Government building alongside his ally Jeet, and it's one sign of what a formidable bounty hunter and warrior Abdullah is. What is more, Abdullah and his ally Jeet were among the most notable entrants in the Corrida Colosseum tournament, and it's not easy to get recognition like that in the New World.
Abdullah isn't exactly One Piece 's strongest bounty hunter, but he's still a dangerous fighter with those two pitchforks and his powerful body. During a typical fight, Abdullah will act as the brawn of the duo, allowing Jeet to outmaneuver the enemy before Abdullah can stab them with his pitchforks. However, it wasn't enough to make Abdullah truly competitive in the race for the Flame-Flame Fruit.
Anime-Only Shuraiya Bascud Fights By Any Means Necessary
One Piece The Movie: Dead End Adventure Features a Surprisingly Dangerous Bounty Hunter
Shuraiya Bascùd made his debut in the non-canon One Piece movies, a man determined to avenge his parents and sister after the villain Gasparde caused their deaths. What's most interesting about Shuraiya is that he has a flexible fighting style, willing to use any weapon or item to battle his foes. It's a refreshing change of pace in One Piece , with most other characters having one signature weapon or move, such as Mihawk's sword Yoru.
Shuraiya immediately demonstrates his worth as a bounty hunter by keeping pace with the Straw Hats during the beginning of their showdown. The feat marked Shuraiya as quite the fighter, and later he put those skills to work once more in the battle against Needless. At one point in Shuraiya's tragic story, it felt like he had lost his reason to live, only for his younger sister's surprising return to make all the difference for the grieving Shuraiya.
Jean Ango Fought Hard at Dressrosa's Corrida Colosseum
Jean Ango is a Mediocre Bounty Hunter at Best
Over time, as the power levels of One Piece 's anime kept rising, characters like bounty hunters got phased out since they couldn't keep up. Bounty hunters hardly ever had the powers and skills needed to stay relevant, but despite that, a few of them appeared in the epic Dressrosa saga. That was where fans spotted the bounty hunter Jean Ango, noted for his cactus-like sombrero.
Jean realistically didn't stand a chance of winning the anime tournament for the Flame-Flame Fruit, but it's still impressive how Jean made it that far. He proved himself able to survive and thrive in the competitive New World, and he even captured escapees from the Impel Down prison as a bounty hunter. In battle, Jean contradicts his statement of being a sniper, instead using a four-bladed metal claw and a variety of stolen weapons. Jean's remarkable skills and fun aesthetic ensure his mediocre status among One Piece 's best bounty hunters.
Zambai Followed Franky's Lead to Save the Straw Hats
Zambai Walks the Line Between Hero & Villain
Zambai made a fairly strong first impression in the Water 7 saga as the right-hand man of the mighty Franky. At first, Zambai and his allies weren't terribly friendly to the Straw Hat crew and even tried to steal from them, but the actions of true villains like the members of CP9 changed things. By the time the mighty Rob Lucci was in action, Zambai was ready to start fighting alongside the Straw Hats.
Zambai didn't do a whole lot in his capacity as a One Piece bounty hunter. However, he did fight hard to support the Straw Hats during the great battle against the World Government on Enies Lobby, and later, Zambai was quite emotional as he watched the Straw Hats depart on the Thousand Sunny . That made Zambi, along with Franky, a fine example of a ruffian turned lovable hero when it came time for him to step up as a hero.
Mr. 1 Terrorized Zoro With Razor-Sharp Devil Fruit Powers
Daz Bones is a Top One Piece Bounty Hunter
Daz Bonez definitely ranks among the strongest and coolest bounty hunters in One Piece thanks to his remarkable Devil Fruit and cool personality. Daz Bonez was never very sympathetic or deep, but anime fans still enjoy characters who have that calm killer vibe about them. It definitely helped Daz Bonez stand out from his fellow Baroque Works agents, such as Bon Clay and Mr. 3.
Daz Bonez, once going by the code name Mr. 1, challenged Zoro in a big way during the climax of the Alabasta saga. In an Alubarna city street, Daz Bonez pushed Zoro to the limit with his Dice-ice Fruit's abilities, and he almost won. However, Zoro overcame that challenge by learning to slice through steel, making Daz Bonez an essential part of a fan-favorite hero's growth.
Franky's Cyborg Body & Shipbuilding Skills Overshadow His Past
Some One Piece Fans Have Forgotten Franky's Bounty Hunting Background
By this point, Franky isn't really known for being a bounty hunter, though at some point, that was indeed his occupation. The One Piece anime didn't spent much time on that aspect of Franky's character, instead emphasizing his skills as a shipwright. In fact, Franky's old mentor Tom had a connection to the Pluton Ancient Weapon, though Franky could never stomach the thought of building such a thing.
At first, Franky and his fellow bounty hunters were hostile to the Straw Hats in the Water 7 saga, but Franky changed his tune when CP9 made its move. Franky and the Straw Hats set aside their differences to battle the World Government together, and after that, Franky accepted the offer to join the Straw Hats. Franky's bounty hunting days are over, replaced by the pirate power of friendship and his expertise in crafting the Thousand Sunny .
Roronoa Zoro Was the Best Bounty Hunter Before the Greatest Swordsman
Zoro's Bounty Hunter Reputation Still Follows Him in the Egghead Arc
By a wide margin, Roronoa Zoro is the most compelling and powerful of the bounty hunter characters in One Piece , past or present. When he first appeared in Shells Town, Zoro was a bounty hunter held captive in Captain Morgan's base, a pirate hunter who rejected Luffy's offer of friendship. Then, Zoro changed his mind and joined forces with One Piece 's rubbery hero, ironically going from a pirate-hunting bounty hunter to a pirate himself.
Zoro has come an incredibly long way since then as the first crewmate to join Luffy's team. Zoro has seen and done almost everything, from forming a rivalry with Sanji and training with Mihawk to absorbing Luffy's punishment on Thriller Bark and learning to use Haki. Above all, One Piece fans are confident that the late Kuina would be hugely proud of who Zoro has become, as opposed to the mere bounty hunter he once was.
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