The world of One Piece is filled to the brim with overwhelmingly powerful individuals and formidable organizations that control the balance of forces in the seas. And the group that most evidently represents the World Government’s authority over the Grand Line by executing the orders of those in power are the Marines. A terrifying military force that serves as one of the series’ overarching nemesis, the Marines maintain law and order through various ruthless means, from hunting down pirates to annihilating entire islands via a Buster Call.
The third highest rank within the Marines, positioned right after the Fleet Admiral and the three Admirals, is the Vice Admiral, a title of great prestige and influence within the military only the best officers can claim. To become a Vice Admiral, one has to demonstrate outstanding abilities, leading to some of the strongest characters in the entire series representing this class of officers.
2:38

Related
The 30 Strongest One Piece Characters At The End Of The Series
One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy has fought a lot of tough contenders, but as the anime reaches its endgame, some characters rank stronger than others.
15 Dalmatian Possesses a Peculiar Canine Devil Fruit Power
First Appearance: Chapter 553; Episode 462

Related
What This Recent One Piece Episode Revealed About Zoan Fruits
Recent episodes of One Piece have shown the true powers of Zoan Fruits, and the risks that their users must face when powering up.
While not a particularly prominent Vice Admiral in terms of narrative relevance, Dalmatian clearly wields impressive power and authority. Dispatched alongside other Marines to fight the Summit War of Marineford, Dalmatian demonstrated himself as a capable fighter and a potent Devil Fruit user, his Zoan-type transformation granting him the powers of the dog he shares his name with.
The combination of Dalmatian’s Devil Fruit power-up and his excellent Rokushiki skills allowed him to even pierce Luffy’s rubber body at Marineford, a feat only few could boast about. Even though little is known about Dalmatian’s accomplishments as a Vice Admiral, it’s safe to assume he holds a considerably high position within their ranks.
14 Doberman Was a Part of Countless Important Marine Undertakings
First Appearance: Chapter 420; Episode 302
Another Vice Admiral with a dog-associated alias, Doberman is a Marine veteran whose ruthless devotion to Absolute Justice allowed him to perform splendidly within the military. While few specifics are revealed about his combat skills, Doberman represents the Marines during multiple crucial operations, including the Egghead Incident and the Enies Lobby Buster Call.
Leading a Buster Call, one of the Marines’ most extreme and fearsome attacks, is not a feat that would be entrusted to an incompetent officer, proving that Doberman’s authority within the military force is quite substantial. He was also one of the many Vice Admirals dispatched at Marineford, his combat prowess allowing him to survive the war with only minor injuries and continue to serve the World Government.
13 Doll Possesses Both Incredible Physical Strength and Mental Fortitude
First Appearance: Chapter 1061; Episode 1090

Related
10 Most Hype Moments in One Piece’s Egghead Arc
Egghead is arguably the most exciting One Piece arc since the timeskip, with many earth shattering reveals that heavily impact the story.
A former subordinate of Jaguar D. Saul and the current Commander of the G-14 Marine Base near Egghead, Doll is an experienced Vice Admiral whose stern personality and superhuman strength allowed her to get far as an officer. Doll’s incredible power was demonstrated during the Egghead Incident, as she was one of the nine Vice Admirals to take part in the attack.
A masterful user of Armament Haki, Doll can hold her own against opponents who, at first glance, may seem overwhelming, including giants and Pacifista robots. However, her physical strength is not the only asset Doll can rely on, as her fierce will is substantial enough to withstand Joy Boy’s Conqueror’s Haki, something only truly exceptional people can do.
12 Jaguar D. Saul Was a Rare Giant Within the Marines’ Ranks
First Appearance: Chapter 392; Episode 275
While wielding considerable authority over the seas, the Marines are far from a morally upstanding organization, their ruthlessness leading to Jaguar D. Saul, a former Vice Admiral, deserting the military. However, Saul’s refusal to follow the Marine’s Absolute Justice, as well as his soft-hearted, timid personality, do not indicate him as a weak individual.
Being a giant, Saul is considerably stronger than an average human, and even within his race, he is considered outstandingly powerful, easily withstanding direct cannonball blasts and lifting a Marine battleship with his bare hands. Most impressively, Saul managed to survive being completely frozen by Vice Admiral Kuzan, escaping to Elbaf with the forbidden books he managed to save after the Ohara Buster Call.
11 Onigumo’s Devil Fruit Gives Him Advantage as a Swordsman
First Appearance: Chapter 420; Episode 302
One of the five Vice Admirals to lead the Buster Call on Enies Lobby, Onigumo is one of the most merciless and cold-blooded officers within the Marines’ ranks. His devotion to the concept of Absolute Justice overpowers his camaraderie with other Marines and his belief in the value of other people’s lives.
Onigumo’s most notable strength comes from his unnamed Zoan-type Devil Fruit power, which allows him to grow six additional arms, akin to a spider. Favoring sabers over the katanas preferred by most Marines, Onigumo masterfully wields eight weapons at the same time, which makes him one of the most unique and deadly swordsmen in the force.
First Appearance: Chapter 907; Episode 887
While originally created as a joke character proposed by a fan in an SBS question, Gion, also known by her alias Momousagi, ended up becoming a considerably strong Vice Admiral, her skill with the sword almost securing her the Admiral position. Momousagi’s outstanding swordsmanship is rarely shown on-screen.
However, it’s safe to assume that only the best Marines could’ve been selected as Admiral candidates, outlining Momousagi as an extraordinary officer with superior skills. Gion’s physical prowess matches her fiery, fierce personality, as she never holds back when speaking her mind and prides herself on following her own moral code over the Absolute Justice promoted by the Marines.
9 Chaton’s Lack of Respect Within the Marines Didn’t Stop Him from Almost Securing the Admiral Title
First Appearance: Chapter 907; Episode 887
Similarly to Momousagi, Tokikake, better known by his alias Chaton, comes from an SBS and wasn’t originally created as a serious character. However, he was also once considered for an Admiral promotion, hinting at his outstanding abilities. Regrettably, fans don’t get to see many of Chaton’s feats, leaving his true strength up for debate.
A laid-back and flirtatious individual who managed to stay calm even when discussing an impending team-up between two Emperors, Chaton is not well-liked among the Marines. However, civilians have a favorable view of the Vice Admiral, which might have contributed to his potential promotion.
8 Vergo Cunningly Deceived the Marines’ Forces for Years
First Appearance: Chapter 671; Episode 597
A formidable Vice Admiral who was, in reality, a pirate who infiltrated the ranks of the Marines under Donquixote Doflamingo’s order, Vergo is both incredibly powerful and terrifyingly clever, his deceptive, sly nature allowing him to effortlessly fool countless of his supposed allies. Vergo wields an unorthodox weapon – a Haki-infused bamboo stick, which can be used as both a close combat arm and an explosives-shooting blowgun.
Vergo’s immense strength lets him overwhelm such powerful opponents as Trafalgar Law and Smoker with ease, and injure an agile fighter like Sanji without much difficulty. However, his physical abilities pale in comparison to his truly frightening artfulness as an undercover agent.
7 Momonga Is an Excellent Swordsman Unafraid to Use Unconventional Methods in Battle
First Appearance: Chapter 420; Episode 302
A man of outstanding influence and unmatched combat intuition, the G-1 Base Commander Momonga is one of the most underrated Vice Admirals in the Marines. However, his lack of recognition doesn’t translate into combat inefficiency. A terrific swordsman experienced in both Rokushiki and at least two types of Haki, Momonga possesses enough strength to effortlessly kill a Sea King, one of the most powerful creatures in the Grand Line.
One of his greatest combat assets is Momonga’s swift thinking under pressure, as demonstrated by his stabbing his own hand to avoid falling victim to Boa Hancock’s Devil Fruit ability. Collected and clever, Momonga is an excellent leader who relies on more than just crude power.
6 Smoker Combines Outstanding Physical Power with a Unique Devil Fruit Ability
First Appearance: Chapter 97; Episode 48

Related
The First 10 Devil Fruit Users In One Piece, Ranked By Strength
One Piece fans have met many Devil Fruit users over the years, but the first ten users still stand out.
The most prominently featured Marine officer in the entire series, Smoker came a long way from the rebellious captain fans first met in Loguetown. Currently, one of the strongest Vice Admirals in the force, Smoker underwent a fascinating journey of improvement, all while remaining one of Luffy’s oldest rivals. Much of Smoker’s advantage in combat comes from his Devil Fruit, Moku Moku no Mi, which lets him create, control, and transform into smoke.
A useful power for unpredictable, fast-paced combat, Smoker’s Devil Fruit ability belongs to the Logia type, known for being equally rare and powerful. However, the Vice Admiral’s strength doesn’t come exclusively from supernatural aids, as his physical force, swordsmanship, and mastery of at least two Haki types are just as crucial to Smoker’s standing as a formidable Vice Admiral.
5 Tsuru Is a Legend of the Marines with Decades of Experience Behind Her Back
First Appearance: Chapter 234; Episode 151
One of the most experienced veteran Vice Admirals in the force, Tsuru has been in the Marines for as long as Garp and Sengoku. However, even in her old age, Tsuru remains a formidable fighter and is feared by criminals all across the Grand Line. In terms of strength, Tsuru’s Devil Fruit, Woshu Woshu no Mi, doesn’t appear particularly formidable at first glance.
A hilarious power, Woshu Woshu no Mi lets Tsuru “wash and dry” people and objects as if they were pieces of cloth. Nevertheless, this absurd ability is quite effective against pirates, not only immobilizing Tsuru’s opponents but also washing away some traces of evil from their souls.
4 Kuzan Used to Be the Marines’ Lovable Rogue Before Switching Sides
First Appearance: Chapter 303; Episode 225

Related
Would Luffy Survive In These Anime Universes?
Would Luffy survive encounters with the likes of Vegeta, Sasuke, or Chainsaw Man’s Devils?
Kuzan, better known during his service as Aokiji, might no longer hold the title of Vice Admiral, currently acting as one of Blackbeard’s captains. However, in the history of the position, Kuzan stands out as one of the force’s strongest Vice Admirals, almost securing the position of Fleet Admiral prior to leaving the Marines. A notoriously laid-back and slothful individual, Kuzan doesn’t fit the profile of a typical Marine.
Yet, his Lazy Justice didn’t stop him from climbing the force’s ranks, his progress signaling just how strong Kuzan truly is. His Devil Fruit, Hie Hie no Mi, suits his cool demeanor exceptionally well, granting him control over ice, which can be utilized for everything from crafting swords and spears to preventing falling to the Devil Fruit users’ notorious water weakness by freezing it over.
3 Borsalino Uses the Powerful Properties of Light to Overwhelm His Opponents
First Appearance: Chapter 504; Episode 398
Another former Vice Admiral and the only remaining Admiral of the original trio, Borsalino, commonly known as Kizaru, is a man who doesn’t take most things in life seriously. However, his laid-back attitude is deceiving, as stopping Kizaru in combat is nigh-impossible even when he is fighting lightheartedly. Even prior to being promoted to Admiral, Kizaru was already recognized as one of the Marines’ greatest assets, much of his notoriety coming from his Devil Fruit ability.
Pika Pika no Mi allows Kizaru to control light, a force he mostly uses to travel at the speed of light. The user of one of the series’ most overpowered Devil Fruits, Borsalino stands as one of the strongest individuals not only in the Marines but the entirety of One Piece.
2 Sakazuki Represents the Most Ruthless of the Marines’ Ideals
First Appearance: Chapter 397; Episode 278
Of all former Vice Admirals in the series, Sakazuki progressed the most in his military career, currently standing as the highest-ranked Marine and leading the entire force with his code of Absolute Justice. Sakazuki’s extremist views and merciless hatred of all pirates make him a nigh-impossible character to like.
However, the Fleet Admiral’s strength and competence cannot be dismissed. An incredibly efficient leader possessing both outstanding intelligence and frightening physical prowess, Sakazuki is rightfully considered one of the strongest characters in all of One Piece. On top of his already impressive skill set, Sakazuki also wields a terrifyingly overpowered Devil Fruit power, his Magu Magu no Mi granting him Logia-type control over magma.
1 Garp Is the Strongest Marine in Both Mind and Body
First Appearance: Chapter 92; Episode 68
The living legend of the One Piece world and one of the only people capable of going toe to toe with Gol D. Roger, the Hero of the Marines Monkey D. Garp exists on another level when it comes to strength. Capable of effortlessly overpowering such monstrous fighters as Don Chinjao, Kuzan, and Whitebeard’s right-hand man, Marco the Phoenix,Garp is close to undefeatable in direct combat despite consciously refusing to advance in the Marines’ ranks.
Even more impressively, Garp seemingly achieved all his impossible feats without relying on a Devil Fruit power, his superhuman strength resulting from strenuous training and years of experience. It’s only logical that a man who trained the future Pirate King Monkey D. Luffy would be one of the series’ strongest characters.

One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, the One Piece franchise explores the adventures of pirate Luffy D. Monkey and his crew, the Straw Hats. Since the manga first debuted in 1997, One Piece has been adapted into an ongoing anime that has seen multiple movies. Most recently it was adapted into a live-action series by Netflix.
- Created by
- Eiichiro Oda
- First TV Show
- One Piece (1999)
- Latest TV Show
- Netflix’s One Piece
- First Episode Air Date
- October 20, 1999
- Cast
- Mayumi Tanaka , Kazuya Nakai , Colleen Clinkenbeard , Christopher Sabat , Kerry Williams , Kappei Yamaguchi , Sonny Strait , Hiroaki Hirata , Eric Valette , Ikue Ootani