Are Any of the Straw Hats Replaceable?

The Straw Hat Pirates are at the core of what makes One Piece great, but can any of them be replaced? While they’re certainly an impressive bunch, there’s no shortage of talented adventure-seekers sailing the Grand Line. It surely couldn’t be that difficult to swap out one of the Straw Hats with another who is just as, if not more, capable of fulfilling their role.

Is the success of Luffy’s crew simply due to him choosing the right people for the right jobs, or is it deeper than that? Some One Piece fans might even wonder if a swap or two could potentially improve the lineup. A little change couldn’t hurt, right? Merry was replaced, after all.

Each Straw Hat and Their Role

Luffy began his pirating journey at the age of seventeen. After departing from Dawn Island on his own, the young pirate began gathering allies as well as a sea-worthy ship to take him to the Grand Line. True to his prediction made in the first chapter of the manga, Luffy has gathered a crew of ten, including himself. While each of these members has contributed a great deal to the crew’s benefit, they’re far from the only capable people with a soft spot for Luffy. During his journey, Straw Hat has amassed a wealth of allies.

From the unbelievably strong Tralfalgar Law, to the weak, but resourceful Tama. With such a pool to pull from, it may be possible to replace at least one of the crew members without upturning the whole operation. For this argument, only characters previously established as allies of the Straw Hats will be considered, excluding other captains or members of the Marines. That being said, who would be the best candidates for each trade?

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Who’s It Gonna Be?

Zoro for Yamato

It’s hard to imagine the Straw Hat Pirates without Luffy’s original recruit and first mate, Roronoa Zoro. Not only is he arguably the strongest crew member under their captain, but his devotion to the future King or Pirates is second to none. For someone to replace him, they would have to have a sense of loyalty that’s even heavier than their swing. This brings a certain character to mind right away. Not only is Yamato strong enough to contend with an Emperor, but he has demonstrated an allegiance to Kazuki Oden so strong that he even adopted his name. Pair this commitment with his affection for Luffy’s brother, Ace, and you have the makings of a dependable nakama.

Nami for Bepo

Nami is another tough member to replace. While she’s not the strongest in a fight, the former member of the Arlong Pirates has been a linchpin of the crew since she first joined. With navigation and cartography skills that are second to none, the Straw Hats would literally be lost without her. If anyone stands a chance of filling her shoes, it’s Bepo. While his navigational skills may not be on par with the red-headed beauty, what he can bring to a fight may be enough to tip the scales. Not to mention how cute he’d look sunbathing on the deck under the tangerine trees.

Usopp for Baby 5

Usopp is one of the crew’s most versatile members. While he’s known for his sniping, the charming liar was the ship’s original repair man and inventor, not to forget his artistic talent. Post-timeskip, the man even picked up gardening. To replace him, his substitute would need to be just as flexible. Baby 5 is the poster-girl for adaptability. With the ability to transform any part of her body into a weapon, this lady can make it work in any situation. Considering her unique personality, she could even stand in for Usopp with comic relief.

Sanji for Sabo

Sanji is more than just a fighter. He’s the one who takes care of the crew. On top of preparing delicious meals, the blonde also sees to other domestic responsibilities around the ship. Coupling that with his immense strength makes another difficult exchange. Sabo seems to be a suitable stand-in, and not only because he’s blonde and wears a suit. While he may not be a chef, Luffy’s older brother has a history of looking after him, being the more level-headed of the siblings. It wouldn’t be all that surprising if he took up the mantle of caretaker at all. Even if he didn’t, his flames could certainly replicate the Diable Jamble.

Chopper for Marco

The cutest member of the gang, Tony Tony Chopper fills a vital role on the ship. His quick-thinking and timely care have saved his nakama time and time again. Only someone with comparable expertise could take his place and play doctor. Luckily, Luffy can count Marco as one of his allies. Whitebeard’s former caretaker can not only dole out medicine, but powerful attacks as well. It’s just too bad he doesn’t wear any fun hats.

Robin for Pudding

Nico Robin is possibly the most difficult to replace of all of Luffy’s teammates. She’s not only a demon in a fight, but her knowledge spans even to the mysterious scripture adorning the poneglyphs. If she hadn’t invited herself aboard in Alabasta, Luffy’s search for the One Piece may have just led him in circles. Now, Charlotte Pudding may not be able to read poneglyphs now, but if she manages to awaken her third eye, she may just find herself on the government’s most-wanted list beside Robin. Perhaps a little encouragement from her former fiancée could push her skills to new heights?

Franky for Vegapunk

Franky is another vital companion to Luffy and the others. He not only built the Thousand Sunny, but he maintains it. Pair that fact with his countless inventions as well as upgrades to himself and his friend’s weapons, and his value becomes obvious. There aren’t many geniuses on the cyborg’s level, so maybe it would be best to look above. Dr. Vegapunk is at the top of his field. His genius is known throughout the seas, even spurring Franky to study from materials in one of the old man’s abandoned laboratories. His age and inability to fight might be a hindrance, but fortunately, he comes with a whole squad of punks that could stand in for a brawl.

Brook for Uta

The Sunny’s resident musician can do far more than just perform a rockin’ concert. This skeleton-man can cut a foe down in one frigid slice, or perform reconnaissance with the powers gained from the Yomi Yomi no Mi. While his is a peculiar set of skills, there is another who can match his tempo. The world’s greatest diva, boasting even more rabid fans than Soul King, also brings a powerful devil fruit power to the table. She may not do much fighting herself, but with the ability to transport her opponents into another world, she’s not an opponent to take lightly.

Jinbei for Reighleigh

Sure, Jinbei is an incredible fighter, but with so many heavyweights on the team, it’s another quality of his that makes him stand out among the rest. Jinbei has experience. Brook may be older, but the majority of his life was spent alone and largely inactive. Jinbei brings wisdom to the team in a way no other member can match. Because of this, he could only be replaced with someone with a life just as well-lived. Who better than Gol D. Roger’s former first-mate, Silvers Rayleigh? His combat skills may not be what they used to be, but this old man is not one to trifle with. His understanding of the Grand Line would be an invaluable asset to the crew.

In Conclusion

Any of these switches would presumably suffice, but there’s something missing. While these picks seem perfect on paper, there’s one thing these options all lack: devotion to Luffy’s dream. Every hand-selected member of the Straw Hat Pirates supports their captain with every fiber of their being. Any one of them would sacrifice not only their own dream, but their very lives for their leader. While many of these possible replacements might come close to that level of devotion, they all have reasons for not joining up already.

Whether it’s an important obligation, a person, or a principle, all the aforementioned characters have something holding them back from giving as much as Luffy’s closest nakama offer him readily. In short, yes, in theory, any of the members of Luffy’s crew could be replaced, but it’s pretty much guaranteed that they would not only refuse to go, but Luffy would raise hell to keep them. They’re not just a crew. The Straw Hats are a family.