This article contains spoilers from the Final Saga of One Piece.
When it comes to the Straw Hat Pirates, fans know that not all of them are equally powerful. Some of the Straw Hats are way too weak compared to the others, such as the Weakling Trio made up of Chopper, Usopp, and Nami. Then there are some others who are tremendously powerful, and this includes the likes of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji. Regardless, when it comes to exciting combat, there are two characters that fans often look forward to seeing in battles, and they are Luffy and Zoro.
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Zoro was the first individual that Luffy recruited for his crew, and that was purely because of his reputation as the Pirate Hunter and his demonic personality. Luffy and Zoro form an iconic duo, and together, they have faced many adversities, pulling through from the worst of the odds and defeating even the strongest of enemies. However, while Luffy and Zoro are both incredibly powerful, this does not stop fans from often pitting them against one another. Fans often wonder as to who the stronger one of the two is, and some have even gone on to claim that Zoro is actually stronger than his very own captain. The author of the story, Eiichiro Oda, has already made it clear as to who the stronger of the two is.
Luffy And Zoro Are A Powerful Duo In One Piece
- Zoro was Luffy's first crewmate
- Zoro often fights the second strongest in One Piece
Ever since the beginning of One Piece, Luffy and Zoro have formed a very powerful duo, combining against many strong enemies over the years. Immediately after Zoro joined the Straw Hat Pirates, the two combined to beat Axehand Morgan. Later down the line, in the battle against Buggy, once again, Luffy and Zoro put together their strengths and took down the crew of the Genius Jester. This duo continued to make waves as the story moved forward, whether in the battle against the Krieg Armada or later down the line in Arlong Park.
In Arabasta, both did what they could do and helped in the liberation of the country in their own way, and, of course, in Enies Lobby, Luffy and Zoro were pivotal in rescuing Robin. It is also here in Enies Lobby that both of them ended up receiving their first major power-up. For Luffy, it was the invention of Gears, and for Zoro, it was tapping into Asura.
Let's see who the stronger of the two is…is it the swordsman, or is it the brawler? — Zoro to Luffy, Whiskey Peak
It was in Enies Lobby that some individuals who were traveling with the Straw Hat crew started wondering if Zoro was the captain of the Straw Hats, based on his strength. However, the fact that they thought of Zoro as the captain only goes to show that Luffy is even more incredible of an individual. Regardless, this is where the debates between Luffy and Zoro started, and while some fans clearly see the Straw Hat captain as the stronger of the two, there are some others who believe that Zoro is either equal to Luffy, or even stronger than him, which is quite surprising to see.
Luffy Is Way Stronger Than Zoro Right Now
- There is no comparison between the two
- Zoro's power levels are inferior to Luffy's
Luffy vs Zoro is always going to be an exciting discussion among the fans, but the truth of the matter is that Luffy is leagues above Zoro, and that will always be the case. This doesn't mean that Zoro isn't strong. It simply means that Luffy is in his own league and levels above any other member of the Straw Hat Pirates. For starters, Luffy is a user of a very powerful legendary Devil Fruit and he has access to Gear 5. This gives him limitless creativity and he is only bound by his own imagination. Luffy's recovery rate, as well as his durability, along with much else, is much greater than that of Zoro.
What's wrong, Zoro? Do you need help in battle? — Luffy watching Zoro struggle vs Lucci
Then one comes over to his Haki, and fans know that Luffy is a tremendous user of all three types of Haki, with his specialty being Conqueror's Haki, meaning that he can advance this form of Haki the most. Zoro also has access to all three types of Haki, with his specialty being Armament Haki, and this automatically puts him at a disadvantage against Luffy.
Comparing their current power levels, Zoro is someone who would struggle against Lucci in battle, while Luffy is someone who could easily one-shot someone like him. In a confrontation between Luffy and Zoro, it would not take Luffy more than a couple of minutes to completely dismantle the Straw Hat swordsman, and that is simply the truth of the matter that fans need to accept.
Zoro Is Still Not Yonko Level Yet
Luffy is a Yonko at this point in the story, and it is quite clear that even among the Yonko, Luffy is slowly rising to become the strongest. Zoro is nowhere close to being Yonko-level at this point in time. Of course, that doesn't mean Zoro isn't strong or that he will never reach the level of the Yonko. It just means that he is not there yet, and when he does go on to reach that level, Luffy will most likely be a level higher, because all of them keep progressing at all times.
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For Zoro to reach Yonko level, he will have to put himself through bigger tests and learn to control his powers even better. For starters, Zoro does not even know how to properly control his Conqueror's Haki, and that truly must change in the Elbaf arc of One Piece. Once Zoro learns to control his powers better, he will then stand a greater chance at fighting against Yonko-level enemies, as well as the Admirals of the One Piece world. Until then, Zoro is no match for the top tiers and would greatly struggle against them in battle.
Zoro and Sanji Are Equal Rivals
- Sanji Will Always Be Zoro's Equal
- The Two Form The Wings Of The Pirate King
As far as the equals within the Straw Hat Pirates go, fans should keep in mind that Zoro and Luffy will most certainly never be equal. Instead, Oda has already established Zoro's equal in the crew, and that is Sanji. Both Zoro and Sanji are the Wings of the Pirate King, and no matter what fans think, they will always progress at an equal pace.
Even right now, Zoro and Sanji are both on the same level, and regardless of what fans might think, Sanji will always be neck and neck with him because their rivalry is key to one of the most important dynamics in the entire story. Both Zoro and Sanji are going to progress greatly in the Elbaf arc, with both unlocking the true power of Conqueror's Haki here.
Just as the Roger Pirates had three monsters, the Straw Hat Pirates will have their own three monsters as well. Oda has highlighted on multiple occasions that Rayleigh and Gaban were rivals and that they were equal in terms of strength. Similarly, Zoro and Sanji will also go on to be equal in terms of power, regardless of fan opinion.
Eiichiro Oda's One Piece focuses on the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they sail the seas to lay claim to the grand treasure known as the One Piece. The manga is currently in its Final Saga. One Piece will be featured in this week's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1171 is January 18, 2026. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday, which is 11:00 AM EST, or 8:00 AM PT. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps. Doing so will ensure that fans always support the author.