One of the most fearsome forces of destruction that can be unleashed anywhere in the world of One Piece. The Buster Call is something feared not only by those about to experience it, but even by the low-level Marines that have to carry it out. Ships will blast entire countries from the map overnight, killing anyone who so much as thinks anything that the World Government deems dangerous. With the sheer destructive force, we’ve only seen three Buster Calls in the story of One Piece so far, but there are doubtless many more.
This article contains spoilers for One Piece. Catch up on Viz or MangaPlus before reading further!
What is a Buster Call?
When the World Government finds that someone has been researching their sins, they allow a Buster Call. The Marines will usually only allow an Admiral or above to initiate one though. So even Cipher Pol is out of luck depending on what they want to do without their blessing. There’s a reason they gate keep the destructive power though, because any average Buster Call will easily annihiliate a small country at the simple wave of a hand. When some poor country does incur the full wrath of the World Government, a golden Transponder Snail is the signal for doom.
Once the button is pressed, dozens of ships will surround whatever country or island is the subject. Upon the signal from whoever is in charge, whether it be Admirals or Vice-Admirals, Cipher Pol, or Gorosei themselves, everyone begins to fire. Cannon fire, bombs, and destructive Devil Fruit powers rain down upon the unfortunate souls who are victims of the World Government’s ire. Together, this all provides a way to make anything they don’t want to exist, simply cease, with the World Government covering up any history about the place afterward. Even the island of Ohara no longer exists on the map thanks to a Buster Call.
Ohara
The Scholars of Ohara are some of the most knowledgeable historians in the world, with incredible wisdom. Unfortunately, they fly too close to the sun, researching the forbidden Void Century. Worse, somehow letting that information slip to the World Government. They’re always on the lookout for anyone trying to pry into their business. Now upon finding Nico Olivia, they know that Ohara is the next site in their crosshairs. Though the island gets a slight warning in the form of Jaguar D Saul washing up, only Nico Robin knows that he’s there, and he has no idea he’s on Ohara.
When Cipher Pol 9 arrives led by Spandine, it’s over. The Vice-Admirals in the ships off of Ohara’s shore are determined to bomb the country flat. Meanwhile, others like Vice-Admiral Akainu won’t even let the escaping citizens go. He’s bombing them right out of the water with his Magma-Magma Fruit. It’s a scene of absolute carnage as the scholars and citizens of Ohara are massacred. All for a few people studying a long-lost piece of history from eight hundred years ago. The only survivor of Ohara is Nico Robin, a young girl subsequently named the Demon Child of Ohara, and a recurring character in major Buster Calls.
Enies Lobby
Cipher Pol 9 finally comes for Nico Robin in Water 7, taking her back to Enies Lobby to face justice. The only way she goes with them is under the threat of Buster Calling the entirety of Water 7. It doesn’t matter whether people are there, or the Straw Hats for that matter. The fun part begins once they’re all at Enies Lobby together. Spandam being the idiot he is presses the button on accident. Now, a Buster Call falls right down on the center of justice in the Grand Line, right at Enies Lobby. There’s already a massive battle going on in the town and in front of the Gates of Justice. Now the situation only gets worse from there as bombs begin to fall.
Eventually, the Straw Hat Pirates are able to get away from Enies Lobby with everyone intact. With quick thinking by Sanji, new abilities from Luffy, Nami’s navigation skills, and Robin’s newfound life, they make it out. The actual island of Enies Lobby isn’t so lucky though. As the Buster Call leaves it a mess of rubble and dust after it’s over. Despite all this, the small town on the other island of Enies Lobby still stands. Now the survivors there are now somewhat free of the World Government breathing down their necks.
Egghead Island Incident
The greatest Buster Call in history is currently in progress in the One Piece manga. Egghead Island is the epicenter of a massive showdown between the World Government and Straw Hat Pirates. It’s all because Vegapunk was studying the Void Century. To keep the world’s smartest man and any information he’s learned doesn’t escape, the Gorosei call in a Buster Call. Now with even more firepower than ever necessary. Backed by Admiral Kizaru and Saint Jay Garcia Saturn himself, they also bring along ten Vice-Admirals with two dozen battleships. Seriously seems like overkill, especially since they weren’t aware of Straw Hat Luffy’s presence before leaving for Egghead.
Saturn has just begun to order the Buster Call fire down in the current chapter, and it’s going hard already. The Marines have all been evacuated, with only the Straw Hats, Vegapunk, Kizaru, Saturn, Bonney, and Kuma. They’re not going to go down easy though. Kuma’s last-minute interference has definitely given Saturn all the more reason to destroy everything on the island. Now Luffy is getting back in shape with nothing a Buster Call could possibly do against the Sun God Nika. There’s a good possibility he turns the entire island to rubber and bounces the cannonballs right back.
Nico Robin: Three-Time Survivor
By far the best ratio of Wins to losses in the One Piece world is just how often Nico Robin survives Buster Calls. She was present at Ohara for the first one, only surviving thanks to the mercy of Vice-Admiral Aokiji. Even then, she survives only to be taken to Enies Lobby by Cipher Pol 9 before they unwittingly call down yet another Buster Call. It’s a testament to Robin though, as her second close encounter with the ultimate destruction gives her a new resolve to live and save those she loves. She’s about to have another chance to show it too, because Egghead is going to need some protection from this current Buster Call.
While they’ve always been the most terrifying force of destruction in One Piece, the time of the Buster Call draws near. The Gorosei have a new weapon present in the Mother Flame, which leaves massive holes in the ocean where it hits. Even better, they now do not need to bring Marines into the equation, allowing them to operate with total secrecy as they erase conflicts before they arise. The Buster Call is falling by the wayside as an archaic method of execution for whole nations, but will live on as the terror that once was.
