The Marineford fight was regarded by both pirates and marines as a battle that would alter the trajectory of the One Piece universe. Whitebeard marshalled his forces against Sengoku, the navy, and the combined might of the Seven Warlords for a spectacle that shocked and horrified onlookers.
While the pirates would ultimately fail in their mission to recover Ace (and lose their captain as a consequence), it’s important to understand the characters who actively contributed to the group’s success and those who did not, or even worse, detracted from it.
10 Useless: Ace Couldn’t Resist Fighting Akainu & Got Himself Killed
Ace’s mantra of “never backing down from a fight” would portend disastrous consequences after he was called out by Akainu. The admiral taunted him over the fate of Whitebeard, causing him to turn around and meet his adversary head-on.
Realizing that Whitebeard’s second may be too difficult of a challenge to defeat expediently, Akainu lunged for Luffy, who was already wounded and couldn’t fight back. Although Ace valiantly saved his brother’s life, he was responsible for putting him in danger to begin with.
9 Useful: Luffy Disabled An Entire Army Using Haki & Served As An Inspiration For The Pirates To Rally Behind
When Sengoku’s executioners prepared to finish off Ace, Luffy accidentally used Conqueror’s Haki to knock them and many of the assembled marines unconscious. This was to the awe of everyone present, including Whitebeard and the admirals.
Not only would his personality and heroism serve as a rallying cry for the other pirates, but it also rendered him a target and potential threat that the navy felt obligated to dispose of. Realizing the danger Straw Hat was in, Whitebeard ordered his own crew to make the boy their top priority.
8 Useless: Buggy Spent Most Of The War Hogging The Only Active Transponder Snail
Buggy contributed virtually nothing to the pirates’ cause, more interested in his own glory than supporting Whitebeard. After the marines deactivated the transponder snails and prepared to brutalize their adversaries, only the one the clown’s men managed to secure remained online.
Despite having the potential to turn public opinion against the Marines, Buggy chose to use his asset instead to broadcast himself – much to the spectators’ frustration. While he did help save Luffy from Akainu near the battle’s conclusion, this was only because most of the other rescuers had already been injured actually fighting the battle he was supposed to partake in.
7 Useful: Crocodile Stopped Ace From Getting Executed & Took On Doflamingo
Although Crocodile began the battle for Marineford attempting to kill Whitebeard, he’d prove a remarkably useful asset to the pirates’ cause. Not only was he directly responsible for saving Ace by dispatching his executioners, he stood up to Doflamingo, a man regarded as one of the most powerful warlords.
He was even intrepid enough to save both Luffy and Jinbei from being incinerated by Akainu when he slashed him apart with a blade of sand. This bought them the time they needed to escape the battlefield and live to fight another day.
6 Useless: Blamenco Was Mostly Idle & Only Took Out A Few Standard Marines
The Whitebeard pirates were supposed to emulate the strongest and most capable warriors of the sea. Marco was skilled enough to contend with Kizaru to the point that the Admiral needed help in order to make progress against him, and Jozu withstood a direct attack from Mihawk to save his commander.
Blamenco, however, was not nearly as valuable. His greatest contribution to the heroes’ cause was by defeating two or three marines – out of the hundred thousand that had been assembled.
5 Useful: Oars’ Body Created A Path For The Pirates To Advance
Little Oars Jr. was a giant in Whitebeard’s service who obliterated much of the enemy forces. Not only was he capable of disposing of the marines’ own bruisers, but he was also the second closest to saving Ace outside of Luffy himself.
Though Oars would be defeated through the combined efforts of Gecko Moria, Doflamingo, and the navy’s artillery, his body prevented the next stage of Sengoku’s plan from working. Since his blood and carcass jammed the gears of an iron gate, the Marines weren’t able to completely wall off the pirates’ advance and subject them to Akainu’s magma barrage.
4 Useless: The Decalvan Brothers Were Active But Ultimately Inconsequential
The Decalvan Brothers were a duo in service to Whitebeard who made use of their razor-sharp claws and acute sense of synergy. Together, they fought dozens of Marines, including even some of the Pacifistas that were deployed to quell the uprising.
However, they never scored a notable victory on their own, especially since Hancock was responsible for crushing the robots intended to blockade the pirates’ retreat. Considering their negligible success against named adversaries, it’s difficult to take the Decalvans as serious allies to the cause.
3 Useful: Jinbei Took On Two Warlords & Saved Luffy’s Life
Jinbei was easily one of the most valuable characters in the battle for Marineford. He defeated Gecko Moria in minutes and was even able to hold his own against Mihawk, enabling Luffy’s survival in his mission to bring Ace back home.
Additionally, he was the only pirate to have Whitebeard’s back when they finally broke into the fortress and would save Monkey’s life again by placing his body in the way of Akainu’s lava fist. Considering these accolades, he has proven a more reliable ally to the Straw Hat captain at Marineford than anyone else.
2 Useless: Squard Dealt The First Major Injury To Whitebeard Because He Bought Akainu’s Lies
Akainu had a brief consideration with Squard where he convinced him that Whitebeard intended to sacrifice his allies so that he could save Ace. Fearful for his life and beginning to doubt the outcome of the battle, the pirate believed his admiral adversary’s lie and took the first chance he had to stab Whitebeard through the chest.
This considerably weakened the commander and lessened his potential before he ever actually joined the fight against the World Government. Regardless of Squard’s treachery, Whitebeard forgave him and continued to embrace him as a son.
1 Useful: Whitebeard Stood His Ground Against The Worst The World Government Had To Offer & Nearly Won
Whitebeard was handily the strongest warrior present at the battle for Marineford, capable of shattering Aokiji and rocking the oceans themselves through the power of the Tremor Tremor fruit.
He was also single-handedly responsible for defeating Akainu and buying his comrades time to make their escape. While he would eventually be gunned down by Blackbeard’s crew upon their surprise appearance, he had already caused damage so severe that the navy was in no position to pursue their targets – especially after Shanks arrived to give him a proper burial.
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