Summary
- Luffy's ability to protect his friends' honor sets him apart as the best captain in One Piece.
- Luffy never allows his crew to lose face in front of others, showing great awareness of their emotions.
- Luffy's dedication to protecting his own extends to friends outside of his crew, attracting others to his shining light and personality.
Being a captain of a crew in One Piece means taking on a huge role and leading possibly thousands of pirates, depending on the size of the crew. There are many amazing captains that fans have fallen in love with, but Luffy proves himself to be the best in a very important way.
From his charming personality to his excellent picks of trusted crewmates, the Straw Hat Pirates are now among the world's most powerful and infamous pirate crews under the leadership of the beloved rubber man. Of course, Luffy hand-picked his companions based on their dreams, personalities, and his own feelings, which created an unbreakable boond.
Still, Luffy stands out even in a world full of powerful, beloved, or feared captains such as Shanks, Whitebeard, or even Blackbeard. There are many qualities that put Luffy among the most competent captains, but the way he protects his friends' honor is what truly sets him apart and makes him One Piece's best captain.
One Piece's Creator Redeemed The Villain That Fans Hate The Most
Author Eiichiro Oda explained why the villain of One Piece's most controversial arc might have stood out in a story filled with well-defined foes.
Luffy Is The Guardian Of His Friends
One Piece created by Eiichiro Oda
The Straw Hats are no strangers to humiliation and embarrassment on their way to such an ambitious goal, but that rarely flies in the presence of Luffy. The best example is in episode #15 of the anime, when Usopp declares that he will not give up trying to protect Kaya after being violently beaten up by Juro, to which the crew of Juro laughs at how pathetic and delusional he sounded. Without uttering a word, Luffy picks up a huge boulder and hurls it at the men laughing and, in a burst of anger, asks them why they are laughing.
Another famous instance is when Zoro faced off against Mihawk for the first time. Although Zoro was almost killed in front of his eyes, Luffy did not intervene, knowing well how much Zoro would be humiliated if he were to be rescued in his most important fight. From beating up Arlong for breaking Nami's promise to allowing Jimbei to stay behind and stop the Big Mom Pirates, Luffy never lets his people lose face in front of others. Despite being a dimwit most of the time, he has great awareness of his friends' emotions and what makes them tick.
There are many great examples of amazing captains who lead their underlings well and lay down their lives for them, such as Gol D. Roger, Eustass Kid, or Trafalgar Law, but all of them pale at how much Luffy protects his own, not just physically but also emotionally. Interestingly, he also stands up for people who are his friends but not of his crew, which explains why people are attracted to his shining light and personality. The rise of One Piece's Straw Hats crew can be mainly attributed to Luffy, the incredible captain who united them all and continues to lead them to their individual dreams.
