Smartest One Piece Characters

One Piece is known for its incredibly detailed world-building and storytelling. There is hardly any mangaka, who can match Eiichiro Oda’s craft. As a shonen series, the manga is also packed with several powerful characters who possess very interesting powers.

Most of these characters rely on their physical and devil fruit abilities to get the better of their opponents. Such characters never fail to capture the attention of the fans, but sometimes physical strength alone isn’t enough to win a fight or get out of a tricky situation. In such cases, the smartness of a character comes into play. Needless to say, there are many knowledgeable characters in One Piece, but not all of them are smart.

Updated on October 9, 2024, by Suzail Ahmad: One Piece is currently focused on Elbaf, the land of giants. For years, viewers speculated that the Straw Hat Pirates would end up in Elbaf and how they would uncover some of the biggest secrets in the world.

All the new characters who have featured in the first two arcs of the Final Saga have proved that strength alone isn’t enough to achieve one’s goals. Aside from having ridiculous physical strength, they are highly intelligent. The combination of the two things makes them extremely dangerous. With that in mind, the list has been updated to include the smartest characters in One Piece.

26 Dr. Hogback

One Of The Best Surgeons In The World

Dr. Hogback was introduced in the Thriller Bark arc as one of Moria’s henchmen. Dr. Hogback used to be a famous surgeon who was known throughout the world. Ultimately, he ended up in Moria’s service and began creating zombies for him.

Dr. Hogback was not adept at fighting, but he could still do a decent job against a bunch of nobodies. Hogback’s true skill lay in surgery. As a renowned surgeon, Hogback had extensive medical knowledge, which allowed him to perform the most precarious operations without any problems. In fact, his skill was compared to the user of the Ope Ope no Mi.

25 Clou D. Clover

Managed To Decipher The Poneglyphs

Clou D. Clover was the leader of the Ohara scholars. As the head of research, Clover was arguably the smartest person among them. He oversaw the research involving the Poneglyphs, and he also learned to decipher them.

When he was young, Clover was an adventurer who traveled around the world. He was fascinated by the Void Century and wanted to learn about it. This led to him dabbling into information that was considered forbidden by the World Government. In fact, he was caught several times by the Marines but managed to escape every single time. Ultimately, Clover was successful in his mission, and he learned about the Void Century.

24 Perospero

Had A Great Tactical Mind

Perospero was the eldest son of Big Mom. He was the Minister of Candy, so he oversaw everything related to it. Like most members of the Big Mom Pirates, Perospero was a strong fighter, capable of fighting against skilled combatants. Perospero ate Pero Pero no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allowed him to turn anything into candy.

While most people would consider the Devil Fruit useless for combat, Perospero proved that it could be used as a lethal weapon. Using the Devil Fruit, Perospero trapped the Thousand Sunny, thus preventing the Straw Hats from escaping. When he lost his right arm, he used the Devil Fruit to create another. Another instance where Perospero proved his smartness was when he prevented the Vinsmokes from escaping using his candy.

23 Kuro

Made A Nearly Immaculate Plan

Kuro was a major antagonist in the East Blue Saga that the Straw Hats encountered in Syrup Village, the hometown of Usopp. At the time of introduction, Kuro came off as a normal butler who was in the service of Kaya, the sole heir to a massive fortune.

The truth, however, was significantly different. Kuro had concocted a plan to stay hidden until he was ready to steal Kaya’s fortune and resume his journey as a pirate. Kuro’s plan was nearly flawless, and nobody would have suspected a thing if Luffy and his friends hadn’t stopped in Syrup Village. While he lost the fight, Kuro proved that intelligence was a valuable skill.

22 Akainu

Extremely Manipulative

Akainu may be the most hated Marine in the series, but it is hard to deny that he stands among the strongest One Piece characters. He is the current Fleet Admiral of the Marines, a position that he obtained after defeating his fellow Admiral, Aokiji, in a brawl in Punk Hazard.

Akainu is considered a brute, but the reality is that he is a cunning individual. During the Summit War, Akainu manipulated Squard and turned him against Whitebeard. He stopped Ace from escaping by badmouthing Whitebeard. Akainu is shrewd, and he can sow seeds of discontent among people, causing them to make foolish decisions.

21 Rob Lucci

One Of The Greatest Assassins In The World

Rob Lucci was originally a member of CP9, but he was promoted to CP0 sometime during the time skip. Due to his upbringing, Lucci is nearly perfect in every department. He has very few weaknesses, which makes it almost impossible to overwhelm him.

Lucci is a smart person, as evidenced by his ability to figure out the mechanism behind Luffy’s Gear 2nd in next to no time. In order to fulfill his mission in Water 7, Lucci took up carpentry and became a master carpenter in five years. Furthermore, he managed to send a report to the Marines while being surrounded by the Straw Hats and the satellites of Vegapunk. All these things prove that he is a cunning man.

20 Kuzan

Former Admiral With A Great Deal Of Experience

Kuzan used to be a Marine Admiral before he left the organization. He departed after losing the fight against Akainu on Punk Hazard. Not long afterward, Kuzan joined the Blackbeard Pirates and became one of the Ten Titanic Captains.

At the moment, there is very little reason to doubt Kuzan’s loyalty towards the Blackbeard Pirates, but it is unwise to rule out the possibility entirely. He also seems to have ties with the Underworld, which makes his decision to leave the Marines even more interesting. A person of his stature would normally have no connection with the Underworld, unless there was something that he was specifically looking for. There is a chance that he joined a Yonko’s crew because he wanted to bolster his chances of achieving that specific goal, in which case he would be using Blackbeard.

19 Clover

Lead The Scholars Of Ohara

Clover was the leader of the scholars of Ohara. He headed the research on the Poneglyphs, which enabled the scholars to learn about the true nature of the World Government. Considering he was able to decipher the language used on Poneglyphs, it is safe to assume that Clover was an extremely intelligent man. Furthermore, the fact that the other scholars trusted him completely is another testament to his skills. Clover’s life came to an abrupt end when he disclosed his findings to the Five Elders, who ordered him to be shot immediately.

18 ​​​​Enel

Came Up With The Idea To Create Ark Maxim

Enel was the main antagonist of the Skypiea arc. He came to the island after razing his homeland to the ground. He possesses the Goro Goro no Mi, a Logia-type Devil Fruit that has enough power to kill a person almost instantly. Enel combined his Devil Fruit power with Kenbunshoku Haki, which made him seem omnipresent.

Enel was also a skilled engineer, as he managed to design the Ark Maxim, a massive ship with intricate machinery. Enel was even able to fix any damage done to it. He was also smart enough to see through Nico Robin, a former assassin who survived by deceiving others.

17 Nico Robin

Has Great Knowledge Of The World

Nico Robin is the archaeologist of the Straw Hat Pirates. She is by far the most knowledgeable member of the crew, thanks to the time she spends reading books.

Robin is able to apply her intelligence in battle, which helps her overwhelm physically superior foes. She is also extremely perceptive and can quickly figure out her opponent’s abilities. Robin would have never survived her brutal childhood without her intellect.

16 Caesar

Vegapunk’s Rival

Caesar used to be a member of the illegal science group MADS. Even after the group was dissolved, Caesar continued to work with Vegapunk on various projects. Caesar was jealous of Vegapunk’s success and tried a lot to eclipse him, but failed almost every single time.

However, there is no denying that Caesar is a capable scientist in his own right. He has created numerous weapons of mass destruction, which have earned him great renown throughout the world. Caesar was also able to create SAD, an ingredient that is crucial for the production of SMILEs.

15 Ben Beckman

Smartest In East Blue

Ben Beckman is Shanks’ right-hand man. In contrast to his captain’s easygoing attitude, Ben Beckman appears much more serious. Combat-wise, Ben Beckman is considered second only to his captain, and he is highly respected.

Ben Beckman has a high IQ, which has been confirmed by Oda to be the highest in East Blue. Bearing that in mind, Ben Beckman is bound to be smart. However, just like the rest of the members of the Red Hair Pirates, Ben Beckman is yet to show his real powers, leaving him with no real feats.

14 Franky

Talented Shipwright Who Can Create Almost Anything

Franky is the shipwright of the Straw Hat Pirates. From a young age, Franky dared to go beyond the realm of the ordinary. He created battleships that were unorthodox, although they were not as effective as regular ones. These creations reflected his ingenuity.

With time, Franky’s creativity only improved, and it enabled him to create other incredible machines. Franky may appear dumb at times, but he is extremely innovative. He has shown that he can outfox his opponents and take them down with his amazing gadgets.

13 Whitebeard

Almost Outfoxed The Marines

Whitebeard was considered the “Strongest Man in the World,” before Roger became the Pirate King. He was the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates and one of the Yonko. Whitebeard could use all three types of Haki, and he had the Gura Gura no Mi at his disposal.

Whitebeard was physically superior to most of the characters in One Piece, and one would hardly think of him as a smart character. However, in the Marineford arc, Whitebeard proved that he was very sly. He managed to outfox Sengoku at his own game and made sure that the Marines wouldn’t gain the upper hand in the war.

12 Queen

Created Powerful Scientific Weapons And Killer Virus

Queen was one of the All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates. Prior to his career as a pirate, Queen was a member of MADS, an elite science group that consisted of Vegapunk, Caesar, Judge, and Stussy. During his time as a scientist, Queen learned a lot about genetic modifications.

He utilized this information to alter his body and make it more durable. Queen also added all the abilities of the Vinsmoke kids, which made him a formidable opponent. Queen also had a reputation for creating lethal viruses that could wipe out an entire population with ease.

11 Chopper

Able To Create Antidotes In The Blink Of An Eye

Chopper joined the Straw Hats after the Drum Island arc. He was born a reindeer, but he developed the ability to talk and walk on two legs after eating the Hito Hito no Mi. Furthermore, Chopper also became highly intellectual.

Chopper wants to become a great doctor and find the cure for every sickness. Chopper has already proven himself to be capable of creating various kinds of medicine. He created a pill that allows Minks to enter their Sulong even during the day. Chopper also invented the rumble balls that enabled him to modify his body. He is also able to create antidotes to lethal viruses within minutes. All these things prove that Chopper is one of the smartest One Piece characters. So far, he has shown that he can develop antidotes in a very short period of time.

10 Monkey D. Dragon

Always One Step Ahead Of The World Government

Monkey D. Dragon is the leader of the Revolutionary Army. He founded the Revolutionary Army many years ago in an attempt to overthrow the World Government, and he has successfully managed to help several nations to free themselves.

Dragon is a very smart person as he managed to create an organization so powerful that it can oppose the World Government. He has managed to stay out of their grasp, and his previous base, Baltigo would have remained hidden if Burgess had not led Blackbeard to the location.

9 Sengoku

Nearly Outsmarted Whitebeard

Sengoku is one of the Navy’s veterans, and he served them for a very long time. Years prior to One Piece’s storyline, Sengoku managed to get promoted to the position of Fleet Admiral, which gave him absolute authority over the Marines.

Sengoku led the Marines to a very important victory over the Whitebeard Pirates, and it wouldn’t have been possible without his planning. He lured the Whitebeard Pirates and even created quakeproof walls to nullify Whitebeard’s power. Seeing that the Whitebeard Pirates managed to put up a great fight, Sengoku even tried to move up the time of execution.

8 Trafalgar Law

Formed The Plan That Forced Doflamingo To Rely On CP0

Trafalgar Law is the captain of the Heart Pirates and one of the members of the Worst Generation. After the time skip, Law formed an alliance with the Straw Hat Pirates. The main purpose of the alliance was to take down Donquixote Doflamingo.

Law was aware that Doflamingo wouldn’t be an easy target, so he crafted a brilliant plan to ensure his fellow Shichibukai’s downfall. He helped to destroy the factory on Punk Hazard, and then he backed up Luffy in his bid to defeat Doflamingo. With Doflamingo gone, Kaido was unable to buy more devil fruits for his crew. This effectively started the downfall of the Emperor.

7 Sanji

Only Straw Hat Who Is Both Smart And Strong

Sanji is a very intelligent character, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to call him the smartest Straw Hat Pirate. He is a culinary genius, who knows about all kinds of ingredients and their benefits. Sanji’s intelligence can also be seen in and out of fights.

During the Alabasta arc, Sanji managed to fool Crocodile, which gave him enough time to save the Straw Hats. He destroyed the machinery of the Ark Maxim, slowing down Enel and giving Luffy ample time to defeat the villain. While everyone was busy fighting at Enies Lobby, Sanji cleverly altered the mechanism of the Gates of Justice so that the crew could escape. These are just a few examples of Sanji’s smartness.