Whenever you fail upwards, it means that despite a failure you manage to advance. This can be in life, a career, or in something else. Despite how contradictory it might seem, this can happen in real life. But it is a lot less frustrating whenever it happens in anime, doesn’t it? One Piece has plenty of characters who seem to keep getting thrown ever higher despite their mistakes.
Some of these get done as gags, other characters fail upward to show character growth. More instances of this allow characters to achieve true heroism in the face of new challenges. But all of these characters who fail upwards are fun to analyze to see just how they got into their position.
4. Bon Clay (Mr. 2)
Bon Clay first encountered the Straw Hats as a member of Baroque Works. He was saved from drowning by the Straw Hats and he proved to be grateful. While he amused Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp with his antics, he would later leave to rejoin his crew. Despite their friendship, he battled Sanji and got kicked into defeat.
Despite this, Bon Clay would sacrifice himself for the Straw Hats to allow them to escape. He was later sent to Impel Down. Despite being a prisoner, he would be one of Luffy’s strongest allies. Eventually, he would be the one to open the Gates of Justice and was later seen alive in the prison. Acting as the new Queen to a group of cross-dressing prisoners. It seems that you just can’t keep this dancer down!
3. Alvida
For a one off character designed to be defeated by Luffy to show his resistance to blunt attacks, Alvida’s life improved after that. She would later eat the Sube-Sube no Mi (Slip-Slip fruit) and would become slender and beautiful. After that, she would team up with Buggy in an attempt to seek revenge on Luffy. Despite the plan falling, she would act as the leader of the Buggy Pirates while the clown was in Impel Down.
Once the pair reunited yet again, they would form the organization Buggy’s Pirate Dispatch Company. The company would find some success. Before they got integrated into the Cross Guild under Crocodile. With her new standing and her surprisingly useful Devil Fruit powers, Alvida keeps on rising up.
2. Galdino (Mr. 3)
Another agent of Baroque Works, his powers and tactical mind allowed Mr. 3 to rise up the ranks. However, he got defeated by a kick from Sanji early in the operation. He was able to escape Arabasta, but got sent to Impel Down. His powers were of a great help to the escapees and eventually he was able to join in the escape.
His greatest method of falling upward was when he hid from the Sumit War at Marineford. He continued to hide but eventually donned an executioner’s cloak and was one of the men set to execute Ace. When Luffy arrived at the platform, Mr. 3 revealed his identity. He created a wax key to Ace’s handcuffs when the original broke. After the battle, he joined the Buggy and Alvida Alliance and later the Cross Guild.
1. Buggy The Clown
This guy is the king of failing upwards. If you noticed a pattern, the majority of the characters on this list have fallen upwards too. Often because they have a connection to him in some way! Buggy The Clown has found luck and success in situations where he shouldn’t have. He’s managed to blunder and bluster his way through the consequences for sure.
Everything started when the clown went to Impel Down. He managed to find a crew of prisoners who idolized him due to his past connection to Shanks and Gol D. Roger. Capitalizing on this, he managed to somehow continue to earn their respect and support. Even though many of his brave and heroic actions were in reality acts of cowardice.
Post-War and Post-Warlord
While he managed to become a Warlord of the Sea and formed Buggy Dispatch Company, he soon found trouble. The Warlord system was abolished and Marines came after him. However, Crocodile showed up and saved his life. With the company he founded absorbed into the Cross Guild, another problem soon arose. Buggy’s crew created flyers for the guild that showed Buggy as the leader. The powerful Crocodile and Dracule Mihawk got painted as his subordinates.
While Buggy was able to talk himself out of that issue, he was made a Yonko. Mihawk and Crocodile were able to continue running the business while Buggy acted as a frontman. He even successfully outwitted both of them. All by getting the crew of the Cross Guild excited to hunt for the One Piece.
Buggy Has Some Skills
Buggy might seem like a comic relief character who has gotten by by the skin of his bright red nose. However, he is a very component pirate. He knows how to work a crowd, both gathering the support of his old crew and the Impel Down crewmates. In Impel Down, he had already broken out of his shackles and his cell by the time Luffy came calling. He is also able to spin situations to his advantage, no matter how dire. He’s inspired his crew by going with their misinterpretations of his cowardice. With his mouth, he has even managed to outwit powerful characters.
He also has the ability to fight himself when he really needs to. With knives, Buggy balls, Muffy balls, and his Devil Fruit abilities, he is a strong fighter. But more than that, he isn’t afraid to fight dirty and use every trick he has to outwit and escape his enemies. He’s a character that thrives on others underestimating him, and manages to improvise his way out of a great many situations.
Buggy Might Become The Next Pirate King
As he keeps failing upwards, now that Buggy wants to look for the One Piece, he might have a shot. He’s got a powerful and utterly loyal crew, two former warlords nearby, and a reputation that vastly precedes him. Especially now that he is a Yonko.
If he can manage his luck and continue to keep the situation together, then he might just become Buggy the Pirate King!
