Before Luffy shook up the world of One Piece, two names ruled the seas with fear and power: Gol D. Roger and Rocks D. Xebec.
Although Sengoku described Rocks as a brutal monster and the greatest rival to the Pirate King, a closer look reveals that Rocks and Roger are actually two sides of the same coin. Let’s break down the astonishing similarities between these two legends!
1. Heirs of the “Will of D”
The clearest link is the “D” in their names. Both inherit the mysterious will that challenges gods and fate. However, their sources of knowledge differ. Rocks seems to understand history through the bloodline of the Davy family (who have a deep grudge against Imu), while Roger grasped the truth only after reaching the final island, Laugh Tale.
2. Supreme Conqueror’s Haki at a “monster” level
Both Roger and Rocks stood at the pinnacle of Conqueror’s Haki. They didn’t just use it to overwhelm opponents but reached the advanced stage of infusing Haki into their attacks. This level is reserved for only the strongest individuals in the world, like the Four Emperors. In terms of royal aura, they were equals.
3. Swordsmen who never ate Devil Fruits
An intriguing detail is that neither legend consumed a Devil Fruit. They ruled the seas through a combination of peak physical condition, masterful swordsmanship, and advanced Haki. Their power was absolute personal dominance, not dependent on any supernatural abilities.
4. Both reached the highest peak of their eras in One Piece
Before Roger became the Pirate King, Rocks was the sole ruler. He led a crew full of monsters like Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom. After the God Valley incident, Rocks fell, and Roger took the stage, reaching new heights at Laugh Tale. Both symbolize two consecutive eras in history.
5. Personality: Two extremes of wild ambition
Both Roger and Rocks possessed wild ambition, charisma, and an irresistible pull. The biggest difference lies in how they treated their crews. Roger saw his pirate crew as family, built on trust. In contrast, Rocks kept secrets even from his own subordinates, opening up only to a few trusted allies like Harald and Teach.
Two “kings” with two styles of rule: one builds bonds, the other rules alone in the shadows.