Since their debut in One Piece, the Blackbeard Pirates have never made a meaningless move. Every action is carefully calculated, seizing opportunities and exploiting opponents’ weaknesses to the fullest. So what makes Blackbeard’s crew so different and fearsome compared to other pirate forces?
1. Veteran Crew with Notorious Backgrounds
Each member of the Blackbeard crew brings a wealth of infamous experience before joining. There’s Laffitte, a former police chief with a dark reputation, Kuzan (Aokiji), a former Marine admiral with terrifying ice powers, and Shiryu, the ex-chief warden of Impel Down prison.
Most other members were recruited from Level 6 of Impel Down, the prison holding the world’s most dangerous criminals. This foundation makes the Blackbeard Pirates not only physically powerful but also highly skilled in psychology, tactics, and battlefield resilience.
2. A Devil Fruit-Powered Army
While most pirate crews have only a few Devil Fruit users, Blackbeard’s crew is building a true army of powers. Nearly all key positions, especially the 10 captains, possess Devil Fruit abilities.
This dominance makes them extremely dangerous in any situation. Their unpredictable array of special powers makes it very difficult for opponents to anticipate or counter effectively during large-scale battles.
3. Practical Strategy: Powers Used Beyond Fighting
Blackbeard understands the fatal weakness of Devil Fruit users: they cannot swim. So the selection of powers for crew members is carefully planned to offset this vulnerability.
A prime example is Van Augur, whose Wapu Wapu no Mi allows instant teleportation. This gives him a huge advantage in helping teammates escape danger or close in on targets in the blink of an eye.
Even their mounts are thoughtfully equipped. Doc Q’s horse Stronger has eaten the Uma Uma no Mi, a Pegasus model, enabling it to fly. This serves not only as transportation but also as a mobile lifeline, ready to rescue Blackbeard in emergencies or when facing the greatest fear of Devil Fruit users: falling into the sea.
4. Strategic Vision and Reckless Boldness
Marshall D. Teach is a visionary. He predicted the path of the Worst Generation after they defeated Kaido and Big Mom in Wano, setting up an ambush to steal a copy of the Road Poneglyph efficiently without wasting effort fighting in Wano.
The crew is also extremely daring. For example, Kuzan and Van Augur infiltrated Big Mom’s Cake Island alone to kidnap Pudding. Despite knowing powerful commanders like Katakuri and Oven guarded the place, Blackbeard believes the greater the risk, the greater the reward.
5. Flexible, Multi-Tasking Structure
The Blackbeard Pirates can split up and operate independently on multiple fronts simultaneously. While Blackbeard himself leads forces to intercept Trafalgar Law, another group stays behind at the Hachinosu base to hold territory.
This divide-and-conquer tactic has proven highly effective, allowing them to expand their influence while still having enough manpower to hold off Marine hero Garp when he comes to rescue Koby.
6. Maximum Efficiency by Dropping False Brotherhood
Unlike the family-like bonds of the Straw Hats or Whitebeard’s crew, Blackbeard’s pirates maintain relationships based solely on mutual benefit. There is no blind loyalty here.
This cold pragmatism allows them to make the clearest decisions. They are ready to sacrifice teammates, betray, or retreat immediately if it’s not advantageous. Removing emotional burdens helps Blackbeard’s crew operate as efficiently and effectively as possible on their quest to conquer the One Piece treasure.