Many pirates fade into vague history, but One Piece’s Blackbeard Pirates are not one of them.
Proving to be one of the most powerful antagonists in the On Piece universe, nobody need question who exactly are the Blackbeard Pirates. They have quickly become legendary, and any true fan can see why. That said, we cannot help but sink our scurvy riddled teeth into the story of one of One Piece’s most infamous pirate crews.
Why Do The Blackbeard Pirates Matter?
The Blackbeard Pirates’ emergence as major players in the One Piece world has added complexity and tension to the series’ overarching narrative. Their ruthless pursuit of power and their ominous presence make them a compelling and formidable force that protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his allies must face. One of the central habits of the pirate crew is their proclivity to take powers away from their foes. Because of this, it makes sense to dive into empowering events and key strengths of the Blackbeard Pirates.
The Formation Of A Network
The Blackbeard Pirate crew’s ruthless nature and unpredictability have earned them a terrifying reputation.The Pirates excel at gathering intelligence and information. In essence, it ends up allowing them to make informed decisions and capitalize on weaknesses. This resourcefulness is evident in their infiltration of Impel Down and the way they scouted potential recruits.
What Happens In The Impel Down Arc?
The Blackbeard Pirates’ infiltration of Impel Down, a notorious underwater prison, is a significant and audacious event in the One Piece series. Led by Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard, the crew’s actions in Impel Down flaunt their resourcefulness, strategic planning, and unyielding ambition. The crew’s primary objective is to rescue their fellow member, Portgas D. Ace, who has been imprisoned in Impel Down. This mission stems from Blackbeard’s larger goal of accumulating power. Ace’s capture could potentially grant him the advantage of a powerful ally or leverage over Whitebeard. Him being one of the Four Emperors at the time.
The infiltration begins with Blackbeard’s elaborate scheme to use the cover of the war at Marineford. The idea was to divert the attention of the Marines and Navy Admirals. This strategic distraction allows the Blackbeard Pirates to breach Impel Down’s defenses with relative ease. The crew’s infiltration plan involves multiple stages. Them being the prison’s various levels, encountering powerful enemies, and releasing dangerous criminals to bolster their ranks.
The Blackbeard Pirates demonstrate their cunning by manipulating both the prison’s staff and the inmates to further their goals. They release several notorious criminals. If memory serves, this includes the likes of Shiliew of the Rain and Sanjuan Wolf, adding to their growing strength. Their actions lead to chaos within the prison and put the entire facility on high alert. Blackbeard’s leadership and charisma come to the forefront. He confidently strides through the prison’s corridors, instilling fear and respect among the inmates. Finally, Blackbeard’s ability to inspire loyalty and maintain control is evident as he navigates through dangerous situations and gains the upper hand.
Marshall D. Teach and The Marineford War
As stated, Blackbeard starts as a subordinate on Whitebeard’s ship. This ultimately sets him off on his own path of piracy with his crew, the Blackbeard Pirates. Blackbeard’s character embodies ambition, cunning, and a desire for power. As stated, the hunger makes him a significant antagonist and counterpoint to the series’ main protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy.
The soon-to-be captain’s most notable action occurs during the Marineford War. This is where he orchestrates a strategic assault to capture the powerful Gura Gura no Mi Devil Fruit after its user, Whitebeard, dies. In a way, this moment is Blackbeard’s baptism.
One of Blackbeard’s defining traits is his ability to wield two Devil Fruits. It’s an anomaly that was previously thought to be impossible due to the deadly effects it would have on the user’s body. Blackbeard’s actions and motivations highlight his unorthodox approach to power, going against established norms and pursuing strength at any cost.
What Do The Blackbeard Pirates Want?
If not clear already, the Blackbeard Pirate’s general desire is to attain unparalleled power. All so Teach can claim the title of Pirate King in the One Piece world. Their ambition drives their actions and shapes their strategies, setting them on a course of conquest and dominance.
Blackbeard’s obsession with power stems from his belief that the path to becoming the Pirate King requires amassing overwhelming strength and knowledge. He rejects the conventional notion of the Pirate King as someone who merely possesses a great treasure. Blackbeard believes instead that true supremacy lies in mastering the world’s mightiest forces. As stated, this is why he is so obsessed with stealing Devil Fruit abilities from the enemy. In away, one can respect this goal, which is why so many follow him.
Recent Events: Blackbeard vs. The Heart Pirates vs. Monkey D. Garp
Over the course of the entire series, The Blackbeard Pirates have left devastation in their wake, putting an end to some of One Piece’s most memorable crews. In this case, Blackbeard and a group of his Titanic Captains set up an ambush near an island situated northeast of Wano Country. This tactical move was predicated on the expectation that either the Straw Hat, Kid, or Heart Pirates would navigate through those waters following Kaidou and Big Mom’s departure. The Blackbeard Pirates aimed to acquire their Road Poneglyph etchings, resulting in a climactic confrontation on Winner Island with the Heart Pirates.
In the ensuing struggle, despite the Heart Pirates’ valiant efforts, they succumbed to the might of the Blackbeard Pirates. As Law faced defeat, Blackbeard contemplated seizing Law’s potent Devil Fruit, intending either to profit from it or attain immortality. This was a terrifying prospect because Blackbeard could possibly collect it, while it is not clear if others could achieve such a feat. However, Bepo ingested a substance that triggered his Sulong transformation, allowing him to fend off the pirates and facilitate Law’s escape, thus enabling them to retreat into the depths of the sea.
Following these events, a massive fight broke out with the Marines. Koby, who had been held captive by Blackbeard, managed to escape in the middle of the struggle. With the help of Kuzan – one of Blackbeard’s current Titanic Captains and an ex-Admiral – they did manage to surround Monkey D. Garp on Hachinosu. After a brutal stabbing and signal failure, Garp is currently presumed dead.
The Future Of The Blackbeard Pirates
This was a complex subject to cover, but our hope is that the address shed a light on the strength of Teach’s Blackbeard Pirate crew. As for predictions, it’s clear that Blackbeard and the rest of the Titanic Captains are only getting stronger. Their clashes with both pirates and marines don’t seem to stump them in the long term, and their hunger for domination grows by the day. If they continue to gather momentum, it’s hard to envision a future where they go out quietly.
