Smartest Villains In The Series

Might is not the be-all end-all in One Piece. Time and again, it has been consistently shown that strength itself is only as good as the intellect to properly apply it. A truly terrifying evil requires a certain level of brainpower to execute.

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From knowing what exactly to deprive people of in exchange for their obedience to understanding the behaviors of any enemies you may have made over the years, a simple bit of thought will twist the knife much deeper than brute force alone would otherwise. All of these villains are more than up for the challenge.

5

Caesar Clown

Chemically Imbalanced

• Current Crew: NEO MADS
• A scientist who specializes in creating dangerous chemical compounds

Caesar Clown was one of four scientists of note affiliated with MADS, an illegal research institute, that made groundbreaking, albeit often unethical, inventions during their time together. Clown’s own confirmed area of expertise tends to be the creation of various chemical compounds. His research led to the creation of SAD, an essential ingredient in SMILEs, artificial Devil Fruits utilized by Kaido to build up his crew. He is also capable of creating various toxins, such as Smiley, a poisonous blob which he made even more dangerous by “feeding” a Zoan Devil Fruit, giving it a level of sentience.

His innovations are often characterized by a level of apathy toward his test subjects. Aside from his wholly destructive compounds, he is willing to experiment on children to transform them into artificial giants, at the cost of their lives, and his SMILEs are largely defective, with the majority of them forcing their subjects to permanently smile rather than being given artificial zoan powers. He was also responsible for helping further modify Chopper’s Rumble Ball, allowing him to maintain his Monster Point for up to half an hour, at the cost of him temporarily transforming into what can only be described as a baby who speaks like an elder. His skill in science, mixed with his willingness to advance it at any consequence, firmly positions him as an intelligent villain.

4

Queen

A Mechanical Menagerie

• Current Crew: Beasts Pirates
• A scientist who converted himself into one of the most cutting-edge cyborgs, also well-versed in virology

Scien, better known by his alias, Queen, is Kaido’s left-hand man. He was also a MADS affiliate, though at present he seems largely aligned with the Beasts Pirates. His own form of scientific expertise seems to be focused on cybernetic modifications and viruses. Queen notably modified his own body, giving himself laser beams and a gatling gun as part of his ensemble. More impressively, he is capable of replicating the abilities given to the modified humans of Germa 66, which he attributes to having heavily researched the kingdom.

Queen is also skilled at the creation of viruses, with this likely being responsible for his moniker “The Plague.” His Ice Oni is considered by him to be his masterpiece virus, causing victims to freeze to death within an hour of infection. Using a transmission device known as excite bullets, he is able to further weaponize this virus by literally shooting it at people.

3

Vinsmoke Judge

The Patriarch

• Current Crew: Germa 66, NEO MADS
• A scientist who unlocked an army from the lineage factor, also well-versed in the technology of his kingdom

Vinsmoke Judge is the current ruler of the Germa Kingdom, a heavily militarized seafaring kingdom. He also has a background as a scientist, having been a member of MADS alongside Caesar, Queen, and Vegapunk. While his kingdom is noted for its impressive military technology, Judge also shows skill in various forms of gene manipulation. MADS is collectively said to have created Stussy, the first human clone. That said, Judge is one of the two scientists who have since independently succeeded in cloning living beings.

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Beyond duplicating the lineage factor, Judge went further in his augmentation of it, attempting to prenatally modify his five children to become super soldiers. His wife, Sora, took a drug that had fatal complications to prevent this but largely failed in doing so. Although Judge’s fourth child, Sanji, was considered a failure at first, the dormant potential within him awakened upon contact with his raid suit. He has recently reformed MADS alongside Caesar Clown, with new innovations all but certain to follow.

2

Donquixote Doflamingo

Deeply Resourceful

• Current Crew: Donquixote Pirates
• A pirate and underworld broker who has dealt in arms, slaves, and other goods such as SMILEs, skilled at exploiting the weaknesses of others, and generally good at executing certain strategies

Donquixote Doflamingo was born into a gilded cage of privilege as a World Noble. However, before he aged into adulthood, he lost it courtesy of his father, Homing, who observed him becoming a spoiled brat as a result. From there, all he had was his Conqueror’s Haki, a Devil Fruit, a gun, and four subordinates who followed him unquestionably. He steadily grew these resources into a more threatening ensemble over the years, eventually ruling over the kingdom of Dressrosa after a hostile takeover.

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Ultimately, Doflamingo has grown into someone capable of making the most out of whatever he’s offered. For example, his longtime subordinate, Sugar, has a Devil Fruit that can turn people into toys and erase their memory. Doflamingo used this to take over Dressrosa by turning the toys into slave labor and allowing them to placate the populace, ensuring a level of negative stability in his rule. He was also capable of connecting Kaido with Caesar Clown to proliferate the trade of Wano’s precious weapons in exchange for the SMILEs Kaido desired for his goal of an all-Zoan crew.

In general, Doflamingo has always been great at using what he has in terms of resources to enrich himself. Even now, as he rots away in a cell, one cannot presume he is finished with his reign of terror just yet.

1

Blackbeard

Stupid Smart

• Current Crew: Blackbeard Pirates
• An Emperor (one of the top four most threatening pirates to the government) who is particularly good at pulling off the long con. His intimate knowledge of Whitebeard was utilized to supplant him.

Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, is one of the most evil pirates in the series but also likely one of the most intelligent. One of his hobbies is said to be conducting historical research, with Oda noting archeology would be his calling were he not a pirate. Beyond these hidden depths, his intellect can be seen in the effort he put into canvassing the Whitebeard Pirates from the inside.

As a child, Blackbeard had the goal of sailing with the Whitebeard Pirates to obtain the Yami Yami no Mi. He spent many years getting familiar with the crew and its territories. His acclaim was such that he was even offered a position as a division commander, which he refused. Instead, he killed Thatch, the division commander who found his coveted Devil Fruit and fled the crew. From there, he was able to provoke the anger of Ace, his former superior, and capture him in exchange for a Shichibukai position. He then sacrificed this role to recruit from Impel Down, giving himself a few more ruthless crewmates.

Once freed, he managed to kill Whitebeard, steal his Devil Fruit, and subsequently claim enough of his former captain’s territories for himself, due to the many years he spent learning about them with the crew. Although his tendency to take risks may make him seem stupid, the payoff for the majority of them gives his planning an air of unmatched intelligence, especially due to the time and effort needed to execute his strategies.