Seven Swordsmen Who Surpass Zoro in One Piece’s Final Saga
James Whitfield
3 min read
Roronoa Zoro has established himself as one of the most formidable swordsmen in One Piece, with his ambition to surpass Dracule Mihawk now within realistic reach. However, the final saga of the series introduces and features multiple warriors whose blade mastery and overall combat abilities currently exceed Zoro's level. Before he can claim the title of world's strongest swordsman, Zoro must overcome several significant obstacles.
Among the most immediate threats is Fujitora, one of the three Admirals selected during the two-year time skip through the World Military Draft. Beyond wielding Yakuza Kasen, a Supreme Grade sword, Fujitora commands the Zushi Zushi no Mi Devil Fruit, granting him control over gravity itself. This power extends to his blade, transforming it into a gravity weapon. As a member of the Navy's elite, Fujitora operates on a tier far above Zoro's current standing, though the swordsman's trajectory suggests he will eventually surpass the Admiral.
Garling Figarland represents a more recent and considerably more dangerous threat. Introduced as a Five Elder member following the Egghead arc, Garling possesses an Abyssal Covenant that grants him immortality, regeneration, and superhuman strength, potentially accompanied by Yokai abilities. Creator Eiichiro Oda has explicitly confirmed Garling's exceptional swordsmanship, placing him well above Zoro's present capabilities. Zoro's recent struggle against Saint Sommers underscores the vast gap between his power and Garling's.
Shamrock Figarland, Garling's son, presents an even more formidable challenge. Wielding the legendary blade Cerberus and maintaining a Depths Covenant with Nerona Imu, Shamrock matches Shanks in skill and reportedly surpassed him fourteen years ago due to his covenant powers. His confidence extends to believing himself superior even to the giant Loki. Given that Zoro currently falls short of Shanks' level, Shamrock remains decidedly out of reach.
Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors, wields Gryphon and fights with a style emphasizing overwhelming force rather than precision cutting. His attacks, which mimic the techniques of his former captain Gol D. Roger, deliver hammer-like impacts capable of eliminating formidable opponents in single strikes. Zoro would suffer immediate defeat in a direct confrontation with Shanks, requiring substantial growth to approach the Emperor's strength.
Dracule Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman and Zoro's ultimate goal, operates at an entirely different level. Wielding Yoru, the world's strongest black blade, and commanding exceptional Haki, Mihawk's technical proficiency with the sword exceeds even Shanks'. His previous victory over Zoro would be replicated effortlessly if they fought during the current Elbaf arc.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, a Five Elder member, wields the Shodai Kitetsu, a blade forged by Wano's legendary samurai. His Abyssal Covenant grants him superhuman strength, immortality, and regeneration, while his ability to transform into the Bakotsu Yokai provides additional combat versatility. Proficient in all three forms of Haki, particularly Conqueror's Haki, Nusjuro exists on a plane of power significantly above Zoro's current capacity.
Finally, Nerona Imu, though not traditionally classified as a swordsman, demonstrated overwhelming superiority during the Elbaf arc. Despite using a blade at times, Imu commands far greater abilities beyond swordplay. When Zoro descended upon Elbaf, Imu casually stopped him with a tail strike, essentially one-shotting the swordsman without exerting full effort. As the strongest character currently existing in One Piece, Imu represents a power ceiling that Zoro may never reach, even by the series' conclusion. Notably, Zoro can still achieve his dream of becoming the world's strongest swordsman despite Imu's superior overall strength, as the distinction between swordsman and warrior remains meaningful.
