The One Piece is real, and everyone is racing toward it at a breakneck pace. Pirates, mercenaries, and the Navy all are set to battle it out before the final island of Laugh Tale. Considering One Piece’s lengthy run, fans may have gotten a little rusty on everyone involved in the story. So, while it might be a basic question to ask about the main characters, who are the Straw Hat crew, and what are their goals?
Of course, to understand the Straw Hats one first has to know the history of One Piece. Twenty years before Luffy’s story, Pirate King Gold Roger is led to execution. His final words: he had left his entire treasure at the end of a stretch of ocean called the Grand Line. Now, a new generation of pirates has set sail, with the winner crowned the new King of the Pirates!
Luffy
- Role: Captain, Emperor of the Sea
- Specialty: Fighting and eating
- Powers: Nika-Nika no Mi Devil Fruit, all three Haki
- Dream: Unknown, find the One Piece.
The fearless, stupid leader of the Straw Hat pirates is as strong as he is stubborn. When he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit as a child, nobody expected the scrappy rubber boy from East Blue to become a wanted man, much less an Emperor! Luffy set out with his dream to be Pirate King, urged on by a promise to Shanks to return the straw hat one day. Now, years later, Luffy has found that his Devil Fruit was hiding a life-changing secret not just for him but everyone under the World Government and Celestial Dragon’s thumbs.
Luffy is proficient in Supreme King, Armament, and Observation Haki which makes him the best Straw Hat to have in a fight. Combined with his Devil Fruit powers and boundless imagination to create an attack, Luffy has become everything the Celestial Dragons fear by following in the footsteps of Pirate King Gold Roger. He cares about his crew and friends, willing to die for them, and will do anything to help those too weak to fight back themselves. This usually leads to the other Straw Hats being dragged along into some type of revolution, but they follow Luffy with great devotion, and he protects them in turn.
Zolo
- Role: First Mate, Wing of the Pirate King
- Specialty: Fighting, drinking, and getting lost.
- Powers: Three Sword Style, Conqueror, and Armament Haki.
- Dream: To become the greatest swordsman in the world.
The longest serving crewmate in the Straw Hats, riding with Luffy even before they had a real ship. Originally a Pirate Hunter, Zolo was a fearsome sight in the East Blue, only strengthening his reputation upon reaching the Grand Line. Now, he’s slashed through everything from steel to solid stone and perfected his version of the Three Sword Style called King of Hell. Zolo often becomes his own worst enemy though, his terrible sense of direction often leading him to the opposite destination as the other crew. He’s the only Straw Hat that requires the buddy system.
As bad as he is at directions, he’s even more powerful in a fight. The only other crew member besides Luffy so far to have Conquerer’s Haki, he uses it and Armament Haki to great advantage. Combining the two and infusing them into his swords, while heavily draining him, allows Zolo to cut through anything and fell even the toughest opponent. His mission has evolved now, still striving to be the world’s greatest swordsman, but now also completely devoted to getting Luffy the title of Pirate King.
Usopp
- Role: Engineer and Sniper
- Specialty: Weapon crafting and lying.
- Powers: Advanced Observation Haki. Great liar.
- Dream: To become a brave warrior of the sea!
The character progression from Usopp the Liar to God Usopp is some of the best in the series. While he first appeared in Syrup Village as a cowardly liar, Usopp has proved that he can more than stand his ground in a fight since the Sunny reached The New World, saving the day more than once in Dressrosa. Though unintentional as some of it may have been, his skills and reputation have made him a threat to the Navy worthy of the Straw Hat name.
His powers are exceptional with tactics to match, using multiple plant-based attacks with quick-growing plants. He developed exceptional Observation Haki in Dressrosa, able to sense the presence of people and their next movements. While his lying gets the better of him, he’s leveraged it to the Straw Hats’ advantage, and earned the God title in Dressrosa. Usopp is even notable as an engineer, making Nami’s weather baton weapon and improving on it throughout. While his efforts as a carpenter on the Sunny didn’t work out so well, he did what he could.
For sure, he’s already made fantastic progress on his mission to become a brave warrior of the sea and is only set for more fame (exaggerated or not).
Sanji
- Role: Cook, Wing of the Pirate King
- Specialty: Fighting, cooking, and perving.
- Powers: Enhanced Strength, near-impervious exoskeleton, Advanced Observation, and Armament Haki.
- Dream: Find the All-Blue!
Sanji is the faithful cook of the Straw Hats, feeding the ever-insatiable crew. On occasion he stops them from eating poison too. Seriously, the first moment Sanji was away from the Sunny Luffy ate toxic fish. Not content to stay in the kitchen, Sanji’s a hell of a fighter, and raised by the infamous ‘Red Shoes’ Zeff on the Baratie. He was taught to fight with his legs, never using his hands as they’re tools to create art in the form of food.
He lights his legs on fire for special moves though, and they get through fights totally fine. Sanji has a particularly advanced use of Observation Haki, able to sense people over vast distances. Add in his Armament Haki, Germa-engineered exoskeleton and enhanced strength, and his Sky Walk ability for the obvious reasons why he’s one of the ‘Wings of the Pirate King’ along with Zolo. His dream to see All Blue is still in progress, but sure to come about by the end.
Nami
- Role: Navigator. Most sane Straw Hat behind Jimbei.
- Specialty: Stealing, drawing maps, making money.
- Powers: Weather Baton and Zeus
- Dream: To map the entire ocean
Nami has been with Luffy almost as long as Zolo. First, she took advantage of the two to steal money so she could save her village. Once Luffy took down Arlong and saved them, Nami never doubted Luffy when it came to his promises. The most rational of the Straw Hats, which leads to her temper flaring up, but Nami really does care. That doesn’t stop her from extorting them for all the money they have, though.
Her powers have only grown since her first real 1v1 fight in Alabasta. Her weather baton, upgraded with Zeus, Big Mom’s former Homie enhances her already extensive weather knowledge. Nami’s gotten the Straw Hats out of more situations than she can remember at this point, from stealing keys to steering the Merry Go or Thousand Sunny away from dangerous seas. Her dream of drawing an entire world map is well on its way, getting closer with each new island.
Chopper
- Role: Doctor and Straw Hat mascot.
- Specialty: Medical Support.
- Powers: Human-Human Fruit
Poor Chopper couldn’t be taken seriously as a Straw Hat by the public for so long, usually only referred to as a mascot or pet on his bounty posters. The naive, caring reindeer has one of the more tragic backstories of the Straw Hats, shunned by everyone. The crew has become his family now, Chopper particularly looking up to Zolo and Nami as his big siblings. His medical abilities are second only to Dr. Vegapunk himself. Moreso, Chopper will always make it a point to do what he can for anyone he finds is sick.
His Human-Human Fruit abilities allow him to change into various forms, shifting his body size and shape as needed. Chopper developed different forms, each a different specialty, but lately he’s stuck to Kung-Fu Point which is a little boring. His go-to ability is still Monster Point, finally overcoming the blind rage like the Hulk and Bruce Banner merging. Chopper’s quest to find a cure for every disease is getting incredibly close, more now with the arrival of Vegapunk.
Nico Robin
- Role: Translator, Historian, Crew Pessimist
- Specialty: Vast historical knowledge. Can read Ponegliffs.
- Powers: Bloom-Bloom Fruit. Armament Haki. Fish-Man Karate.
- Dream: Uncover the truth of the Void Century.
Nico Robin is the tragic, shut-off survivor when she first joins the Straw Hats. Even after Skypeia she kept them at a distance. She left the Straw Hats willingly for Cipher Pol 9 to protect her friends. After her declaration at the Gates of Justice, crying “I want to live” as the rest of the crew got ready to rescue her or die trying is one of the most iconic moments of the long story. Robin is the cool aunt of the Straw Hats, often answering questions from the others in the grimmest way possible. Can’t blame her, she saw her mom and the entire island slaughtered by the World Government for their research.
Robin’s powers of the Bloom-Bloom Fruit allow her to grow body parts anywhere she pleases. Sounds cool, but she uses it to break enemies in half. In the New World she’s Awakened her fruit, allowing her to create more complex growth combinations and larger limbs. Combined with her discipline in Fish-man karate and Armament Haki, Robin lives up to her name as the “Demon Child of Ohara”. Her dream is nearing its realization as well, with Laugh Tale holding the final key to the Void Century’s mystery.
Franky
- Role: Shipwright
- Specialty: Tech expert
- Powers: Cyborg, multiple built-in weapons, and mech suit.
- Dream: Build a ship that can sail the entire Grand Line!
First the “villain” of Water 7, Franky proved to be a caring, kind cyborg when he joined the Straw Hats. His fight against CP9 to rescue Robin endeared him to fans, but his goodbye at Water 7 made him a Straw Hat. He’s been a faithful shipwright for his masterpiece ever since. His excellent craftsmanship improvements on the Thousand Sunny allow the Straw Hats to cross any oceans.
His cyborg transformations, while comical at first when he debuted the Franky Centaur, have grown to massive destructive power. Franky designed weapons even as a kid when his name was Cutty Flam, nothing like MechaFranky though. These make him strong, but his bond with the rest of the Straw Hats is stronger. Luffy even trusted enough in Franky to offer him the Flame-Flame Fruit, now a remembrance of his brother, Ace. Can be immature, but Franky is the backbone of the adults on the Straw Hats with Robin, Brook, and Jimbei.
Brook
- Role: Musician. Soul King
- Specialty: Advanced Musical Expertise. Skeleton Jokes.
- Powers: Revive-Revive Fruit.
- Dream: Fulfill his promise to Laboon the whale.
The first Straw Hat that could rival Sanji in perviness is also the oldest of the crew. Brook ate the Revive-Revive Fruit when he initially sailed with the Rumbar Pirates. After drifting, his shadow captured by Gecko Moria, he was finally freed by Luffy and joined the crew. He’s a caring, kind skeleton now thanks to his Fruit. He’s even light enough to counter the Devil Fruit’s weakness of water, so light he can run on top of the ocean.
Brook gained a reputation as the Soul King throughout the Grand Line. An accomplished musician and skilled swordsman, Brook utilizes both to put enemies to sleep or even freeze them solid. His constant skeleton jokes at his own expense and ridiculous attitude make him a unique addition to the Sunny. Brook’s dream of reuniting with Laboon is his most endearing characteristic. That dream is closer to fruition as well, and Brook has one hell of a story to turn into a song.
Jimbei
- Role: Helmsman, Former Captain of Sun Pirates. Former Warlord of the Sea. Former First-Mate of Fishman Pirates.
- Specialty: Expert in sailing and water-based combat.
- Powers: Advanced Fishman Karate. Advanced Armament Haki. Most rational Straw Hat.
- Dream: Bring Fishman Island to the surface world.
The First Son of the Sea is the latest addition to the Straw Hat crew (until Yamato officially joins). Jimbei is much more tactful than the rest of the group, choosing to go in diplomatically at first rather than by brute force. He considers himself indebted to Luffy after being freed from Impel Down. Jimbe truthfully believes Luffy’s the Pirate King and successor to Joyboy the Fishmen have been waiting 800 years for. He’s still getting accustomed to the unique sailing conditions of the Thousand Sunny (half the crew are total idiots) but is proud to help steer them toward Laughtale.
His power and abilities finally balance out the Straw Hat crew’s Devil Fruit users. He’s able to offer a much quicker save if they fall into the ocean. Jimbei’s skill as a helmsman, as well as Fishman Karate, helped to save the Thousand Sunny when escaping Big Mom on Whole Cake Island, which would have burned before sinking without him. Jimbei’s ambition to carry on Fisher Tiger and Queen Otohime’s dream to bring Fishmen to the surface is admirable, and following the Pirate King is bringing it ever closer.
Honorary Straw Hat Pirates
There are a couple of characters that sailed with the Straw Hats and are considered somewhat honorary members. The crew also consider the Merry Go and Thousand Sunny as crew members. Merry even showed up on its own to save them during Enies Lobby.
Nefertari Vivi sailed with the Straw Hats through Alabasta, only leaving to help her country recover after Crocodile was defeated. She’ll likely be back in the next arc of the manga, as she was just saved by Sabo from the Celestial Dragons.
Vegapunk is currently sailing with the crew in the manga. Right now he seems aligned with their mission to uncover the Void Century. He’s still a bit of a mysterious figure though, so time will tell if he stays with the Straw Hats. Those are all the members of the Straw Hats, though! Plenty of pirates are out on the Grand Line, with other interests hunting either the Straw Hat Pirates or the One Piece. So, only time will tell who could join up with the crew by the end!
