One Piece's Seven Warlords Explained: Identities, Powers & Marine Immunity (2024)

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Netflix's One Piece season 1 and the anime.

Netflix’s One Piece season 1 references the Seven Warlords of the Sea’s story through Mihawk, who is described as the world’s greatest swordsman. Although Netflix’s One Piece only covered the East Blue saga, much of the world portrayed in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga has already been set up in the live-action series. From the pirate bounty posters to deep-cup namedrops, some of the most important One Piece characters and organizations were acknowledged in the show. This includes the Seven Warlords of the Sea, also known as the Shichibukai, most of which do not appear in One Piece season 1.

One Piece season 1 covered roughly 50 episodes of the anime, which currently consists of 1071 episodes. As such, it is safe to say that it would take quite a while for the live-action show to catch up with the most recent One Piece arcs. That said, the Seven Warlords of the Sea should be an important part of One Piece season 2, namely through Crocodile. Dracule Mihawk was the only of the Seven Warlords to appear in One Piece season 1, although a couple of other members were referenced. Feared and respected, the Shichibukai were once essential to keep One Piece’s world balanced.

Who The Seven Warlords Are In One Piece

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The Seven Warlords of the Sea’s lineup has changed throughout One Piece, with some members being revoked and others resigning from the organization. The Shichibukai’s connection to the World Government itself has recently changed in the manga, although it would take several seasons before the live-action show covered this portion of the story. As of the events of Netflix’s One Piece season 1, which matches the manga’s East Blue saga, the Seven Warlords of the Sea are:

• Dracule Mihawk
• Crocodile
• Gecko Moria
• Boa Hanco*ck
• Jinbe
• Donquixote Doflamingo
• Bartholomew Kuma

Most of these characters will likely not appear in One Piece season 2, which, based on the source material, would cover the introduction of the Baroque Works, Princess Vivi’s storyline, and the arrival of Chopper. Assuming One Piece season 2 adapts roughly 50 other episodes of the anime, even characters like Donquixote Doflamingo and Bartholomew Kuma would still be far away from appearing. One Piece season 1’s ending sets up the next step of the Straw Hats’ journey, during which Crocodile plays a significant role. As such, Crocodile is sure to be introduced if One Piece returns for a second season.

Why The Marines Don't Hunt The Seven Warlords

The Seven Warlords of the Sea are highly dangerous pirates, yet the Marines do not hunt them. This is because the Seven Warlords have an agreement with the World Government, which allows the Shichibukai to operate freely in the seas as long as they collaborate with the Marines whenever necessary. This is why Mihawk answered Vice-Admiral Garp’s call in One Piece episode 5 and took on the mission to capture Monkey D. Luffy. The Seven Warlords system helps the World Government contain piracy activity, as the Marine alone would not be able to deal with it.

In return for their work, each of the Seven Warlords of the Sea had their bounty frozen. The Marines now had some of the most powerful pirates in the world fighting other pirates that would not play by the rules, such as the Four Emperors. The dynamic involving the Marines, the Seven Warlords, and the Four Emperors kept One Piece’s world balanced for several years. Whereas the Four Emperors are unpredictable and respond to no one, the Shichibukai represent a power that the World Government could keep on a short leash.

The Seven Warlords do not consider themselves paws of the World Government. However, they are perceived as such by a lot of other pirates. For example, Arlong mentioned his despite toward Jinbe, the Fish-Man Shichibukai, in One Piece episode 7. From Arlong’s perspective, Jinbe is a sellout. This relationship between the Marines and pirates like Mihawk left Koby disappointed, as he could not understand why the Marines would work with pirates. Garb’s explanation as to why the Seven Warlords are allowed to operate freely revealed the nuances and the gray areas of the One Piece universe.

How Powerful One Piece's Seven Warlords Actually Are

One Piece’s Seven Warlords of the Sea are among the most powerful and skillful pirates in the world, which is why their collaboration was so important to the World Government. The Shichibukai helped balance the power scale of that world, offering a response to what the Four Emperors represented. Of the original Seven Warlords of the Sea, only Jinbe and Mihawk are not Devil Fruit eaters. Crocodile has the power of the Suna Suna no Mi, which makes him into a Sand Man that is almost invulnerable. Gecko Moria has eaten the Kage Kage no Mi, or Shadow Fruit, and can use shadows as a weapon.

Boa Hanco*ck has the powers of the Love-Love Fruit, which gives her the ability to turn a person into stone as long as they fall in love with her. Donquixote Doflamingo ate the Ito Ito no Mi, or String-String Fruit, allowing him to create strings from his fingertips and control them. Lastly, Kuma ate the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, or Paw-Paw Fruit, which gives him the power to repeal anything or anyone that touches his hands. Mihawk does not have a Devil Fruit gimmick, yet he is the strongest of the Warlords. Likewise, while Jinbe never ate a Devil Fruit, he has mastered Fish-Man Karate and is incredibly strong.

The Seven Warlords Will Be Way More Important In One Piece Season 2

Mihawk did not have a lot of screen time in One Piece season 1, and his role in the story was limited to fighting Zoro and later meeting with Shanks. However, another member of the Seven Warlords will be very important in One Piece season 2 – Crocodile. Zoro’s introduction in One Piece episode 1 featured the first live-action appearance of the Baroque Works through the original Mr. 7. Mr. 7’s design was one of the One Piece Easter eggs in the Netflix show, as Oda once drew a doodle of what the previous Mr. 7 looked like. Zoro refused to join the Baroque Works, but the organization will return.

Related: What Is Baroque Works? One Piece Season 2 Villain Tease Explained

The first major One Piece arc following the East Blue saga sees the Straw Hats fighting the Baroque Works, a criminal organization whose leader is unknown by most people. The Baroque Works consists of several bounty hunters, and their public goal is to build a better world. However, the Baroque Works’ real mission has to do with its leader, Crocodile, who wants to conquer the kingdom of Arabasta. The importance of Arabasta, why Crocodile wants to conquer it, and how the Straw Hat pirates are caught in the middle of this conflict are expected to be the main storylines from One Piece season 2.