While Akainu and Whitebeard are the primary characters who come to mind at the mention of Marineford War, Crocodile deserves credit for his integral presence.

SUMMARY

The Marineford War Arc of One Piece has many great moments and some characters, who played a key role during the war.
While Akainu undoubtedly played a huge role throughout the war, Sir Crocodile deserves credit for his unhinged efforts that stole the spotlight.
Crocodile sparred with many characters from both sides, which made it difficult to understand his alignment but everything he did was enjoyable nonetheless.

There are war arcs and then there is perfection or as some would call it, the Marineford War Arc. Eiichiro Oda started laying the foundation of the war almost a hundred chapters before it ensued. As we gradually reached the battlefield, the stakes were ramped up with all the big shots assembled in one place.

Throughout One Piece, there are many exciting moments but the hype of Marineford is still unmatched. When one thinks about the true MVP of the Marineford War, Akainu comes to mind for single-handedly restraining many pirates.

Luffy arrives at Marineford in One Piece | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

His contribution to the war made him one of the most hated characters of the series, but most fans would admit that without him, the war wouldn’t have been nearly as enthralling. However, there is another character who played an integral role during the war and could be throned as the true MVP of the Marineford War arc.

The True MVP of the Marineford War isn’t Akainu but Sir Crocodile

The strongest man of One Piece, Whitebeard, had come to save Ace along with his crew. Luffy brought along the criminals of Impel Down. The Navy was stationed to ensure that Ace’s execution wouldn’t get interrupted. From the moment the war began till Shanks’ arrival, Akainu ensured that he handled the warring factions, whether it was the Whitebeard Pirates or the rookies.

Current Fleet Admiral Sakazuki | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

Despite the presence of many strong Marine officers, Akainu had to do many things all by himself. He played a huge role in all the integral developments of the war including Whitebeard and Ace’s death. If it weren’t for the many pirates, he could have killed Luffy as well.

After the Marineford War arc, Akainu became the most hated One Piece villain alongside Blackbeard. Even though fans hated him, they couldn’t undermine his role in the war. However, the best highlight of the Marineford Arc far surpassed Akainu’s menace. Sir Crocodile stole the spotlight from everyone with his glorious comeback and his antics during the war.

Crocodile’s Impressive Comeback and Character Development

Crocodile spars with Mihawk | Credits: Studio Toei Animation
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Crocodile vs. Doflamingo | Credits: Studio Toei Animation
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Crocodile in Alabasta | Credits: Studio Toei Animation
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Crocodile escapes Impel Down | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

Before Marineford, our last interaction with Crocodile was during Alabasta. He was the first villain who managed to overpower Luffy. At that time, Crocodile was stoic and evil. He became the best villain for many fans, but his character experienced a huge turnaround in Marineford. He made a memorable comeback, and from that point, Eiichiro Oda began to show different aspects of his character.

From the almost childish banter with Luffy to not acting up around Ivankov, we saw a completely new side of Crocodile. As soon as he entered the battlefield, he attacked Whitebeard, who was much more powerful than him. His baseless pride was both admirable and foolish to witness. He truly respected Whitebeard, as he became enraged when Whitebeard let Squard stab him.

Crocodile calls out Whitebeard for his weakness | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

He sparred with the Marines as well as the pirates. His brief tussle with Doflamingo was a great insight into how both characters perceived the pirate world. He even believed that he could sneak up on Mihawk, but failed miserably. Even though he continued to make a fool of himself by challenging some of the strongest characters, he also had many admirable moments.

Crocodile’s experience with his Devil Fruit powers was exceptional and it showed when he stalled Akainu successfully. He even helped Luffy escape the battlefield alive. Throughout the war, Crocodile either made us laugh or jump up with excitement as he continued to do what he felt was right. He was truly the most valuable player of the war who ramped up the enjoyment levels with his presence.