The Straw Hat Grand Fleet has been a force across the New World since their founding after the Dressrosan Revolution. So far, ten different crews exist under the Straw Hat banner, and more are likely to follow as things gather steam in the Final Saga. One Piece is due to expand, so who could still join the Straw Hat Grand Fleet?
Warning that this article contains spoilers for One Piece through chapter 1094. The manga is available online from Viz and MangaPlus, so read there before catching up here!
What is the Straw Hat Grand Fleet?
An alliance of captains for various pirate crews and even an entire country’s Navy, the Straw Hat Fleet all follow Luffy. After he saves their lives in Dressrosa, feeling that they owe him, they all drink from the sake cups signifying their new bond. This includes everyone from Orlumbus to Bartolomeo the Cannibal, who are all now under Luffy’s command and at his call.
Recently some of the Straw Hat Fleet have been causing some trouble around the New World. Namely, Barto, it’s actually all Barto, if we’re being honest. He’s taking down flags in the Red Hair Pirates’ territory, and Shanks is just taking it as fun for Luffy’s sake at the moment, but it’s getting old. There’s no telling what may happen in the race for the One Piece, but the fleet is definitely going to expand before Laughtale.
10. The Red Hair Pirates
Probably the longest shot on this list since Shanks is more of the mentor to Luffy and final rival of sorts, but it would be cool. The Red Hair Pirates are all incredibly powerful, even Lucky Roux, so it would be a massive power boost to the Straw Hat Fleet if Shanks does eventually team with them to fight the World Government. That’s not to say anything of how it will look for one Emperor’s crew to absorb another.
Shanks is already considered one of the strongest in the Grand Line, completely in control of his territory at all times. On occasion, he’ll lead raids for territory against other Emperors, usually Kaido as Shanks tries to help those under his subjugation. Most battles end in a draw thanks to the borders of Wano though, until Luffy infiltrates and takes Kaido down. Shanks could likely join them by the end of Laughtale, especially with how things are beginning to reach a boiling point with the Gorosei.
9. Heart Pirates
More likely than a lot of others, as Law himself is already very well acquainted with the Straw Hat Pirates. He goes into the alliance in Punk Hazard never expecting to make it out alive, but now he and Luffy share a bond of battle, and look out for each other. Though it’s more of Luffy finally evening out their scores after Law saves him at the Marineford War two years ago. After the most recent showing of Law, it’s more likely than ever that he’ll end up in the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.
When last seen, there was an incredibly intense battle between Law and Blackbeard. Law was fresh off taking down Big Mom, so he definitely thought he had the advantage, but Blackbeard proved too much for him. Assuming that Law is still alive, there’s every likelihood he joins the Straw Hats again to reach Laughtale now that his Polar Tang is destroyed. At least, everyone is hoping he’s alive, because he’s still got a lot to play into the story.
8. Fallen Monk Pirates
There has to be some way for Urouge to play into the overall story of One Piece before everything is over. Hopefully, it finally happens in the final saga, because Urouge has had an interest in Luffy for quite some time. Plus, he’s one of the few sky islanders that feature in the story of the New World, which is really rare to see at this point in the story. Skypiea was the last time any were really seen, and it’s such a cool element of the story to just leave out for all this time.
There’s also some strange prophecy that Urouge is going for, as implied by his monk status. He’s convinced there’s something involving Luffy and a man marked by flames, but it’s still unclear as to what that means entirely. It could be referring to Luffy or Sabo at this point, but there could be someone else introduced later on that meets the description as well.
7. Sun Pirates
They’re already somewhat a part of the Straw Hat Fleet by virtue of being Jimbei’s former crew. Though he’s left now, they are still a functioning crew under their own free will again instead of Big Mom’s rule. They have a huge part in the escape from Whole Cake Island, and they’re an incredibly formidable fighting team that excels in naval battles. There’s going to be a lot of Fishmen taking part in the final saga, and no doubt the Sun Pirates will fall in behind their former captain with no questions asked once the time comes.
6. Whitebeard Pirates (Remnants)
Even though Whitebeard dies during the Paramount Wars, he still lives on through the remnants of his crew. Many of them went into battle against Blackbeard not long after Marineford, and there were heavy losses. Still, many members have appeared recently, namely Marco the Phoenix and Izo, two former Division Commanders for the Whitebeard Pirates. Though Izo passes during the Raid on Onigashima, he’s proud knowing that he does his part in freeing his homeland from tyranny.
After Marco’s involvement with the Raid on Onigashima, especially in the medical relief efforts thanks to his Phoenix flames, While he’ll obviously return, there are still other Commanders like Vista and Jozu that would contribute greatly to the final conflict.
5. Saruyama Alliance
While the name might not sound familiar right away for most, this is the alliance of Montblanc Cricket that was trying to find Shandia. Look, Cricket could definitely handle himself in a fight, and he’s got the stamina to dive as deep as he was hunting for relics. The two captains that help him are incredibly powerful too, each with their own ship and crew that are experts in underwater scavenging. They can probably do a lot of work for the Straw Hat Fleet just by gathering supplies from sunken ships.
4. The Giant Pirates
Okay, the Straw Hat Fleet already has the NEW Giant Pirates, led by Hajrudin, but what if they got the original pirate crew back together? Dorry and Broggy are back on Elbaph after their incredibly long grudge match was finally over, and they’re last seen helping Shanks. This could, of course, come along with the help of the Red Hair Pirates joining the Straw Hat Fleet, but imagine Dorry and Broggy pledging their allegiance for the Straw Hats’ help so long ago in ending their feud.
They’re both just so good-natured and happy it’s hard not to see them aligning with the Straw Hat Pirates before long. They obviously have their bond from back in Little Garden with Luffy’s crew, not to mention the promise with Usopp to meet up on Elbaph one day. No doubt Dorry and Broggy both have heard about his reputation now as God Usopp, and they’re ready to hear his tales of battle and glory. Usopp is going to be happy to oblige them too, whether he keeps it true or not.
3. Bonney Pirates
Yeah, this one is more likely than most at this point, though it remains to be seen if Bonney still has a crew. it seems that they were wiped out when the Blackbeard Pirates initially capture her, and likely that she’s been working solo since then. When she encounters the Straw Hats on Egghead Island, she’s all alone with no crew to speak of, so that seems to be the case for the most part. If she ever had a pirate crew to begin with of course.
Right now Bonney herself seems to be stuck with the Straw Hats much like Law after Punk Hazard. She’s trying to escape Egghead Island with them alongside Vegapunk, but they’re being attacked in the latest chapter by a Gorosei himself. Jay Garcia Saturn transforms into a mysterious Zoan Awakening, and Bonney’s first action is to straight up stab him! If that’s not worthy of the Straw Hat Fleet, what is?
2. Kuja Pirates
Luffy wouldn’t even need to ask, as Boa Hancock would jump at the chance to serve the Straw Hat Fleet. She wants to be Luffy’s endgame, queen of the pirates to his king, but Luffy barely knows what romance is much less how to go about it. Still, she’ll make an amazing addition to the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Plus the sooner Luffy makes the distinction that the Kuja Kingdom and Amazon Lily are his territory, the sooner they’ll stop being attacked at all times.
The best part is that the Kuja Pirates are no longer subject to the World Government, so have no obligation to uphold peace with them. Hancock will be an incredible ally along with her sisters, and the women of Amazon Lily are insanely strong. A huge fleet of ships will definitely arrive to help the Straw Hats because Hancock is pissed about everyone attacking her homeland now, and hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned.
1. The Marines
The most crackpot theory there is about the Straw Hat Fleet. If, and a big ‘if’ factor here, the Marines join the Straw Hat Fleet, it may not be all of them. There’s every indication the Marines are heading for a schism, and the groundwork was already laid for it back at Punk Hazard. Sure, they’ve been corrupt since the beginning from Ax-Hand and Nezumi to Greenbull and Vergo, but they overall did some good. Now though, Akainu is seeing just how awful the World Government can be, and his sense of justice is starting to blur because of it.
Then there’s every possibility that Koby could end up leading the Marine faction that joins alongside Luffy. It’s not outside the realm of possibility, because Koby has been trying to change the Navy from within alongside Garp for his entire career. If he does end up in charge, he would easily team with Luffy to stop a major threat like the Gorosei or Blackbeard, just like their heroes Garp and Roger did decades ago.
Again, there’s no doubt the Straw Hat Grand Fleet will grow massively by the time the series ends. Even though they’re already one of the biggest fleets on earth thanks to Orlumbus. Luffy is always gathering allies like Infinity Stones though, so he’s going to have even more friends backing him up than the Gorosei can handle. The Straw Hat Fleet is just starting to take control, and when they do, things are going to get a lot more chaotically gleeful for everyone.
