Luffy will always be the strongest One Piece character but this Marine might prove to be a thorn in his side, despite being his good friend and former ally.

SUMMARY

One Piece has many characters who can rival Luffy’s strength but Koby might prove to be even more difficult, despite being his friend.
Koby the Hero has gotten stronger each time he appears in One Piece, and he has earned his title.
Despite being a Marine Captain, he has a bounty equal to Vice Admirals for his actions and he’s become a significant threat for pirates.

Luffy might be destined to be the most powerful person in One Piece, but there will always be others in his path. It doesn’t matter if they’re a pirate or a Marine, Luffy’s strength can be rivaled by the likes of Akainu, the current Fleet Admiral, or even Blackbeard.

There is one Marine who always had potential, despite his initial impression in One Piece. Koby only grows stronger each time we see him. After all, he was trained under Monkey D. Garp, one of the strongest Marines in history.

Koby from One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

While Koby might not be the one to rival Luffy right now, he’s definitely going to become stronger than we all suspect. He has already exceeded every expectation we’ve had of him ever since he was a slave on Alvida’s crew. However, the lengths he’s gone to to improve are admirable and make him a worthy opponent to Luffy.

Koby has the title of The Hero in One Piece for a reason

Koby uses Honesty Impact in One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

While Garp still takes the title of Hero of the Marines currently, his imprisonment with the Blackbeard Pirates might change it. Koby was rescued and his mentor’s sacrifice might be an incentive to get even stronger to return the favor. This might label him the new Hero of the Marines rather than his current title of just The Hero.

Koby is one of the most empathetic characters in One Piece. He knows what it’s like to be mistreated and at your lowest. Empathy is always key in One Piece. Luffy is a prime example of it. The pink-haired Marine was also the first person Luffy ever saved in the series. He’s proven himself to his old friend that it wasn’t for nothing.

During the Summit War of Marineford, Koby was also the sole Marine who pleaded to stop the bloodshed after his Observation Haki awakened and made him hear the cries of his fellow Marines. He’s kept his integrity, despite being in a broken system.

Koby also symbolizes what Marines are supposed to be, not the corrupt system that it is with Akainu at the helm. The Fleet Admiral might be the one to rival Luffy but Koby will certainly be a thorn in his side.

The legacy Koby has built will only grow in One Piece

Koby before he got stronger in One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]

Even before getting physically strong, Koby has always been brave. He needed that push that he got from Luffy and has been grateful since. There’s no way he won’t come out to be one of the most powerful Marines by the time One Piece ends.

He takes everything he’s been through and only climbs higher. He’s a rare Marine who fights for what’s right. Despite being young, he hasn’t been molded by the corrupt system. He earned his Hero title after the Rocky Port Incident for protecting innocent civilians.

Not to mention, Koby has a huge Marine bounty, courtesy of the Cross Guild. His amount of 500,000,000 berries is equal to a Vice Admiral’s bounty due to his actions. It’s incredible how that tiny prisoner on Alvida’s ship became a true hero, sticking to his morals throughout the series.