Quote Originally Posted by Augury
Speculation is made on this subject will all have a weak base since we haven't seen anything substantial from the above mentioned candidates. How to be recognized as the Pirate King isn't even spelled out clearly. In my opinion the answer should be left at "one of the four emperors," but I'll have a go at it anyways:

What we know:
1. Roger was the Pirate King and left his treasure, One Piece, "there."

Common Assumptions:
1. One Piece is a tangible object at the last island in the Grand Line, Raftel.
2. Obtaining One Piece is a prerequisite for being the Pirate King
3. Obtaining One Piece is related to a pirate's power

Following this line of thought, the question really almost devolves into another "who is stronger?" type of thread which doesn't really have an answer.

I think there are areas that should be looked at (aka the assumptions may be flawed)
1. Is One Piece necessary for being the Pirate King? We don't know the world's status 22 years ago nor Roger's situation relative to his rivals. Being the Pirate King could be something more intuitive, such as decisively controlling the New World.

2. As some people have stated, there hasn't been a Pirate King for over 20 years, so succession is difficult for one reason or another. If this is related to controlling the seas, then the power question comes in... but if it is related to obtaining One Piece, there could be other barriers. Some theories I've heard are extreme high / low tides or poneglyph-related keys.

3. I think the power-only approach is incorrect, since Oda has placed Whitebeard's past power on par with Roger's. After Roger's execution, common sense logic would follow that someone with the same "level" of power would be able to accomplish the same amount of domination if that was the only thing that was needed.



Bottom line: There isn't enough overall information, and common underlying assumptions are most likely incorrect.


As the creator of this thread. I'll have to agree with you in that all of it is speculation up until this point. However, I'd have to disagree on the front that there is a difficult way to recognize how to become or how to be known (identified) as the pirate king. I think there are ways to recognize him. Or at least when he's getting close to becoming one. I mean don't you think there was a Yonkou of Rogers time? Where the 4 (or whatever number) most powerful pirates ruled a part of the seas? Granted yes, he started a revolution, but that doesn't mean he and his crew were the only powerhouses on the seas.

Now. On the assumptions. I only agree with you on 2 and 3. The reason I agree is because they're the only ones that are related. Which means they make the most sense. Assumption number one has been way way too many things based on theories. And Oda isn't letting us know what any of that is. My guess is though. He probably has it planned out ready to go for Luffy to discover.


On the 3 flawed theories. Heres what I think

1. Agree

Although is isn't yet known if One Piece is needed to be the actual king of pirates. I think it's safe to say that it helps them be known right away as one. Meaning, once the person actually went to Raftel, got their crew there, and attained one piece (whatever it many be) that's it. Basically, once they get, the newspapers will very very quickly make it the biggest story ever, since blackbeard becoming a new Shichibukai. Or Roger becoming the king. And to that effect helping to rule the most powerful, dangerous (final place) in the series. So I do think that the new king can control the world to an extent with it.

2. Disagree

On this topic I have a lot of problems. Succession isn't difficult. It just takes long, and you have to have something special in the OP world that sets you apart. Be it large crew. An extremely powerful large crew. A fruit that no one can stop or is very very hard to be it. I can go on and on but you see my point. On the issue of controlling the seas as factor of being the king. You know what fuck it. It is vital. There I said. But you're thinking of it in a different way than I am. You seem to think of it in a way that is the king being the only one who can control the new world seas in one way or another. Politically or simply by means of sheer fleet power alone. I think of it as king of the hill. In my opinion, the reason Roger became the king was because of two reasons:

a) no one topped his power
b) he got OP first

Obviously B makes more sense to my theory than A. But you see my point nevertheless.

And what the hell do tides have to do with anything? I've never ever heard that theory in my years of reading the manga. The ponyglyph keys are possible. But that would mean that Robin is essential to Luffy's achievement. But, unless they hold some kind of unknown power source that only a reader with all the pieces can unlock, I don't think it has to do with becoming the king much at all.


3. Disagree

It does have to do with sheer power, to a degree. It has too. King itself is based on having the most "power" in the land over other people. Someone before, or while fighting with Luffy is going to do it soon. Oda wouldn't be entering the New World empty handed on the pirate king front. So we'll have a new king soon here.

Bottom line: I agree that there yet isn't enough information to decide on a new pirate kings crowning that can be actually called worthwhile. However. So many people have stabbed in the dark about this thing so many times, that there has to be someone who is very close to discovering what a true theory could be.