The Blackbeard Pirates are far from ordinary pirates. They are a group of cold-blooded villains, willing to do anything without conscience to achieve their ambition of domination. From brutal betrayals to world-shaking attacks, Blackbeard’s crew has spread terror and permanently altered the landscape of One Piece.
Here are the eight greatest crimes committed by the Blackbeard Pirates, acts that reshaped history and ushered in a new chaotic era in the pirate world.
1. Killing Thatch and Seizing the Yami Yami no Mi: The Beginning of Darkness
All chaos began with one of the most brutal acts: when Teach was still a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, he murdered Thatch, the captain of the 4th division, to steal the Devil Fruit he had long coveted, the Yami Yami no Mi.
This act was not only a ruthless betrayal of the “family” that took him in but also showed Teach’s willingness to trample all morals to seize power. It made him a target of the entire Whitebeard crew and marked the first step toward the world-shaking power he would later wield.
2. Defeating and Handing Over Ace, Becoming a Shichibukai: Sparking War
After escaping, Teach confronted Ace, who was hunting him for revenge. Using the terrifying dark power of the Yami Yami no Mi, Teach defeated Ace in a fierce battle on Banaro Island.
He then handed Ace over to the Navy, a cunning move to prove his worth and officially become a new Shichibukai. This act ignited the Marineford War, leading to the tragic deaths of Ace and Whitebeard, and ushered in a new chaotic era for the entire world. From an unknown pirate, Blackbeard rose to become a formidable force on the global stage.
3. Freeing Dangerous Prisoners at Impel Down: Building a Monster Crew
Although Luffy sparked the riot at the underwater prison Impel Down, it was Teach who fully exploited the opportunity to recruit the most dangerous inmates, turning them into core members of the Blackbeard Pirates.
Thanks to this, the Blackbeard Pirates quickly grew from a small group into one of the strongest and most feared pirate crews in the world. While this news wasn’t widely publicized, Blackbeard’s possession of the strongest prisoners from Impel Down made him an undeniable threat.
4. Killing Whitebeard and Stealing His Devil Fruit: Unmatched Power
At Marineford, after Whitebeard was weakened and near death from battle, the Blackbeard Pirates appeared. They brutally attacked Whitebeard, killing him in front of the world, and somehow stole the power of the Gura Gura no Mi, a power capable of destroying the world.
This unprecedented act shocked both the One Piece world and its fans, as no one had ever been known to possess two Devil Fruits simultaneously. Blackbeard officially became the sole wielder of one of the most terrifying powers.
5. Taking Over Whitebeard’s Territory: Expanding the Empire
After Whitebeard’s death, Teach quickly conquered nearly all the territories formerly controlled by the Whitebeard Pirates. Except for Fish-Man Island, occupied by Big Mom (now under Luffy’s control), and Sphinx, which remains outside the Four Emperors’ reach, Blackbeard dominated a vast region.
He also took over Hachinosu, a pirate island once ruled by Ochoku, overthrowing him and turning it into the crew’s headquarters. Blackbeard’s ambition didn’t stop there, he even planned to transform Hachinosu into an officially recognized kingdom by the World Government.
6. Attacking Amazon Lily: Challenging the Pirate Queen
After the Shichibukai system was abolished, the Blackbeard Pirates seized the opportunity to attack Amazon Lily. Their goal was to steal the Mero Mero no Mi from Boa Hancock, daring to face both the Kuja Pirate Queen and the Navy forces newly arrived on the island.
This attack demonstrated the crew’s ruthlessness and recklessness, willing to invade the most dangerous and inaccessible areas just to increase their power.
7. Kidnapping Koby and Garp: Striking the Navy
During the Amazon Lily attack, the Blackbeard Pirates not only targeted Hancock but also kidnapped Koby to use as a bargaining chip against the World Government.
They went further by trapping and capturing “Navy Hero” Monkey D. Garp on Hachinosu Island when Garp and his forces tried to rescue Koby. Although Koby was eventually freed, Blackbeard gained a far more valuable hostage: Garp, one of the Navy’s most powerful symbols.
8. Kidnapping Charlotte Pudding: Plotting for the Poneglyph and the Void Century
Beyond craving power and physical strength, the Blackbeard Pirates are also desperate for information. They kidnapped Charlotte Pudding, Big Mom’s daughter, likely because she possesses special eyes that can read the Poneglyphs.
By capturing Pudding, they hope to uncover the secrets of the One Piece treasure and decode the mysteries of the Void Century. With help from Kuzan (most likely), the Blackbeard Pirates successfully infiltrated Big Mom’s territory (then leaderless) to carry out this daring mission.