In the world of One Piece, Marine Captain is a rank that sits comfortably in the middle. They are not as common as regular soldiers, but not as rare as Admirals either. The same thing can be said about their strength. Captains are far stronger than average soldiers, but they are still way below the Admirals.
Unfortunately, unlike soldiers and Admirals who frequently appear in the series, Captains are rarely seen. Therefore, this topic will include not only characters who are currently Captains, but also those who have previously shown to held the rank. Furthermore, it’s hard to judge how powerful somebody is when they’ve only made a brief appearance on screen. That’s why this list will only consider Captains who get the chance to properly showcase their prowess.
7 Morgan
A Tyrannical Strong Man
- Status: Alive
- First Appearance: Episode 2
- Current/Last Rank: Captain
Morgan is the first major enemy in the series. He is the father of Helmeppo and the one who apprehended Zoro. Morgan used to be known as a strong and brave Marine until he was corrupted by his power and influence. By the time Luffy meets him, he has become a shell of his former self. The gallant soldier has been replaced with a tyrannical captain.
With his towering height and muscular build, Morgan is a hulking figure. Not only that, but he has also replaced his right hand with a giant axe to maximize his offensive power. His innate strength combined with his massive axe resulted in a great destructive force that can easily send a regular man flying with one swing. That being said, while Morgan is certainly much stronger than the average Marine, he is still weaker than the other Captains on this list.
6 T Bone
A Zombie-like Swordsman
- Status: Deceased
- First Appearance: Episode 255
- Current/Last Rank: Vice Admiral
T Bone is one of the antagonists in the Water 7 Arc. He was a Captain at the time and then went on to become a Vice Admiral around the Egghead arc. Unfortunately, T Bone lost his life due to the big bounty that the Cross Guild put on his head.
Despite his zombie-like appearance, T Bone is one of the Marines’ finest swordsmen. In fact, he earned his nickname, «Ship Cutter» T Bone, because of his ability to cut a large ship in half without breaking a sweat. When he meets the Straw Hats aboard the Sea Train, T Bone nearly destroys the train with his slashing attacks before Zoro eventually stops him.
5 Hina
The Captain Who Can Cage Anyone
- Status: Alive
- First Appearance: Episode 127
- Current/Last Rank: Rear Admiral
Hina first appeared during the Arabasta arc. She was a Captain at the time, but was promoted to Rear Admiral after the Marineford War. Due to the nature of her Devil Fruit power, Hina prefers to capture her enemies rather than engage in a prolonged and violent battle.
Hina ate the Bind-Bind Fruit. This devil fruit allows her to create metal cages that can bind numerous targets at once. It doesn’t matter how big or small the target may be, as long as Hina can physically touch them, she can generate an unbreakable cage that fits the target’s body in a matter of seconds. This ability earned her the nickname «Black Cage» Hina.
4 Tashigi
Marine’s Most Graceful Swordfighter
- Status: Alive
- First Appearance: Episode 48
- Current/Last Rank: Captain
Tashigi is a Captain who works under Smoker in the Marine G-5 Branch. She was still an Ensign when the Straw Hats met the G-5 during the Arabasta arc. But after the time skip, Tashigi is promoted to the rank of Captain.
Tashigi is undoubtedly one of the best swordfighters in the Marines. From slashing through thick concrete walls to deflecting incoming cannonballs, she can do anything with her sword. Similar to Zoro, Tashigi is also a sword nerd and is extremely protective of it. After all, her trusted sword is called Shigure, a special sword that belongs to a rare group of blades called the Grade Swords.
3 Koby
The Bright Future Of The Marines
- Status: Alive
- First Appearance: Episode 1
- Current/Last Rank: Captain
Koby was just a little boy when Luffy met him at the beginning of the series. The Straw Hat Pirates didn’t even exist back then, and Luffy was nothing more than a young man with a big dream. They didn’t spend a lot of time together, but that encounter left a huge impression on Koby. And just like Luffy, he too decided to chase his dream and joined the Marines.
Alongside Tashigi, Koby is one of the few Captains who ushered in a new age of fighters for the Marines. They have a great sense of justice, compassionate hearts, and the power to back up their ideals. Under the tutelage of Vice Admiral Garp, Koby managed to become a strong and reliable Marine. And just like Garp, Koby is armed only with his innate strength and immaculate control of the three colors of Haki.
2 Smoker
The Iconic Rugged Marine
- Status: Alive
- First Appearance: Episode 48
- Current/Last Rank: Vice Admiral
Apart from the Admirals, the most iconic Marine in this series has to be Smoker. He was still a Captain when he, along with Tashigi and the rest of the G-5, met the Straw Hats at the Arabasta Kingdom. But just like other Captains, Smoker was eventually promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral after the Marineford War.
Smoker has two weapons within his arsenal. First is his Devil Fruit power that allows him to turn into smoke. The second one is a Jitte that is made out of a rare mineral called the Sea Stone. The Sea Stone is the embodiment of the ocean itself, which is why it can bypass a Devil Fruit user’s ability and directly weaken them upon contact. Those two weapons are the reasons why Smoker is such a formidable fighter, even when he was still just a regular Captain.
1 Vergo
The Undisputed Master Of The Armament Haki
- Status: Deceased
- First Appearance: Episode 597
- Current/Last Rank: Vice Admiral
Vergo is a member of Doflamingo’s family who infiltrates the Marines to become Doflamingo’s spy. Vergo had already become a Captain when Doflamingo took over Dressrosa. By the time the Straw Hats meet him in Punk Hazard, Vergo is already a Vice Admiral.
Vergo is one of the best users of Armament Haki in the world. He has mastered both the hardening and imbuement effects of this type of Haki. That’s why Vergo can easily deflect Tashigi’s sword with his hardening and defeat Smoker with a regular bamboo stick imbued with his Armament Haki. And he does it all without even using his full power. Considering Vergo and Smoker held the same rank, it’s safe to say he was also stronger than Smoker when they were both Captains. That’s why Vergo is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, captains in One Piece.
