Usopp is, without a doubt, the most polarizing member of the Straw Hats. While characters like Luffy and Zoro are quite easy to fan for, Usopp splits the One Piece fandom like no other. To some, he’s a coward—a comic relief who pales in comparison to his crewmates. To others, he’s the most relatable character on the ship, embodying the fears and insecurities that make him undeniably human.
It’s easy to pigeonhole Usopp as a coward, but such a label oversimplifies one of the series’ most complex characters. Beneath his exaggerated stories and moments of hesitation lies a psyche shaped by abandonment, self-doubt, and a deep yearning to prove his worth. Like Luffy and Zoro—who at first seem simple but hide layers of psychological struggle—Usopp’s personality is multifaceted. His journey is as much about facing his fears as it is about surviving the Grand Line and finding the One Piece.
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Maladaptive Daydreaming in Usopp’s Childhood
Usopp’s tendency to fabricate tales of heroism can be seen as a form of maladaptive daydreaming. Left alone after the death of his mother and the abandonment by his father, Usopp’s childhood was defined by loneliness and a lack of stability. To fill this void, he created stories in which he was the brave and daring hero, living the adventurous life he craved.
These fantasies may have initially been a harmless form of escapism but could have spiraled into maladaptive daydreaming as Usopp increasingly relied on them to cope with his reality. Over time, he may have blurred the distinction between his real-life limitations and the heroic persona he constructed in his mind. For young Usopp, these tales were a means of creating an identity he could be proud of, even if it wasn’t entirely true.
As a member of the Straw Hats, Usopp’s insecurities were understandably magnified. Surrounded by extraordinary individuals with superhuman abilities, he often compared himself to his crewmates and found himself lacking. This constant self-measurement deepened his feelings of inadequacy, making him doubt his place among the crew.
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Reality Challenged: Meeting Luffy and Joining the Straw Hats
When Luffy arrived in Syrup Village, he brought with him a vision of reality that clashed starkly with Usopp’s fantasies. Luffy’s actual bravery, determination, and strength stood in sharp contrast to the fictional hero Usopp had portrayed himself as. Joining the Straw Hats forced Usopp to confront situations where his imagined confidence and skill were tested against real-world challenges.
This confrontation with reality likely made it harder for Usopp to maintain the facade. While he wanted to believe he could be a hero, the his crewmates (with their extraordinary abilities) and the dangerous situations they faced, must have only highlighted his own vulnerabilities. His struggles with self-esteem and his growing awareness of his limitations created an internal conflict between the fantasy hero he wanted to be and the reality of who he was.
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Why Water Seven Was Such An Important Arc for Usopp
By the time of the Water Seven arc, Usopp’s illusions had begun to crumble. His attachment to the Going Merry became symbolic of his struggle to hold onto the past and the identity he had crafted for himself. The Merry, much like his imagined persona, had reached its limits. When the crew decided to replace the ship, Usopp’s emotional turmoil came to the forefront.
This wasn’t just about the ship—it was about Usopp’s realization that his efforts to maintain the Merry, much like his facade of being a strong hero, were no longer enough. His fear of being replaced mirrored his deeper fear of inadequacy and abandonment. Confronting this reality led to his emotional breakdown and his temporary departure from the crew.
During this time, Usopp was forced to face the truth: he wasn’t as strong, skilled, or brave as he had pretended to be. This realization shattered his illusions and left him grappling with his sense of identity.
The Persona of Sogeking: Escaping the Weight of Insecurity
Usopp’s low self-esteem came to a head during the Enies Lobby arc, when he briefly left the crew following a disagreement over the Going Merry. This separation forced him to confront his doubts about his own value. In his moment of greatest insecurity, Usopp created the persona of Sogeking—a masked alter ego who embodied the courage and confidence he felt he lacked.
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Sogeking’s mask allowed Usopp to distance himself from his insecurities and step into the role of a hero. Under this guise, he performed acts of bravery he believed he couldn’t achieve himself, such as rallying the crew during the climactic battle against CP9.
How Thriller Bark Shows Usopp Embracing Himself, But Not How You’d Expect
By this point in the story, the disillusionment he experienced during Water Seven and Enies Lobby had left lasting scars. Usopp’s self-deprecating thoughts—once exaggerated fears he could rationalize away—had become fully internalized. But somehow, Usopp ironically found strength in his own cynicism. His insecurities had grown so pronounced and so deeply ingrained that Perona’s powers could not further undermine him—he had already embraced the worst of his self-image.
Yet, despite this bleak self-perception, Usopp displayed a commendable resilience. He understood his limitations compared to his friends, but rather than give in to despair, he fought back with everything he had. Usopp’s creative use of his sniping skills and his strategic thinking in the face of overwhelming odds showcased a determination to prove his worth, even as he carried the burden of his insecurities.
Thriller Bark revealed a Usopp who was painfully aware of his shortcomings but still unwilling to let them define him entirely. While he might have internalized the belief that he’ll never be as strong as Luffy, Zoro, or Sanji, he continued to show that his value lay in his resourcefulness and ingenuity. Even at his lowest, he was still striving to support his crew in his own unique way.
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates’ ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
- Release Date
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October 20, 1999
- Seasons
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20
- Studio
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Toei Animation
- Creator
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Eiichiro Oda
- Number of Episodes
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1122
- MyAnimeList Score
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8.72