Are the Red-Haired Pirates really weaker than the other Yonko crews?
Why do they look underwhelming compared to monsters like Kaido or Big Mom?
This thread dives straight into that uneasy feeling fans have had for years.
The discussion originates from a June 2018 post questioning why Shanks’ crew appears less threatening than other Yonko forces. While the Red-Haired Pirates are respected narratively, their visual portrayal, crew size, and lack of Devil Fruit users spark debate among fans.
1: Anonymous Pirate
The other Yonko are straight-up monsters.
2: Anonymous Pirate
The others aren’t exactly normal either.
3: Anonymous Pirate
Every single one of them has lame-looking subordinates.
4: Anonymous Pirate
>>3
Katakuri.
5: Anonymous Pirate
They’re probably all Devil Fruit users by now.
6: Anonymous Pirate
Theory: the Red-Haired Pirates fed Devil Fruits to all their weapons.
7: Anonymous Pirate
Rockstar (lol)
8: Anonymous Pirate
Honestly, I like them.
The guy standing to Shanks’ right looks cool as hell.
9: Anonymous Pirate
What if they settle things with a one-on-one pirate duel over the straw hat?
10: Anonymous Pirate
Still, Shanks has Haki, so…
11: Anonymous Pirate
Losing an arm is kind of a big deal though.
Same with Zoro’s eye—feels too casually handled.
12: Anonymous Pirate
>>11
He bet it on the next generation.
Kizaru:
“No matter what his bloodline may be… there’s one undeniable truth…!!”
“As a pirate… he’s overwhelmingly strong…!!!”
“Almost exactly like Whitebeard in his younger days… though only in terms of raw strength.”—Regarding Edward Weevil
13: Anonymous Pirate
Red-Hair: “The scar Blackbeard gave me still aches…”
So what kind of monster took his arm anyway?
Must’ve been some legendary pirate or officer.
14: Anonymous Pirate
At the end of the day, aren’t pirates supposed to be bad people?
15: Anonymous Pirate
Sea Kings are way too strong.
16: Anonymous Pirate
Some pirates are weak enough that early East Blue Luffy could one-shot them.
17: Anonymous Pirate
Weevil is as strong as prime Whitebeard, right?
18: Anonymous Pirate
>>17
They only said he’s similar in raw strength to young Whitebeard.
19: Anonymous Pirate
Kizaru clearly respected and was cautious around Beckman.
20: Anonymous Pirate
I want Yasopp to have a legit gunfight.
No weird trick shots like Usopp—just pure marksmanship.
21: Anonymous Pirate
Isn’t the Red-Haired crew just too small in number?
Big Mom and Kaido have massive forces.
Blackbeard has captains everywhere.
But Shanks only has one ship, right?
22: Anonymous Pirate
>>21
Probably an elite few.
Same as the Straw Hats.
23: Anonymous Pirate
Wait, that was his name?
Lucky Roux
24: Anonymous Pirate
Maybe the whole crew has no Devil Fruit powers.
25: Anonymous Pirate
Weak-looking…
26: Anonymous Pirate
>>25
Beckman looked huge in early designs lol.
Now everyone else is just massive.
Shanks is probably around 190cm himself.
27: Anonymous Pirate
Executives.
28: Anonymous Pirate
>>27
They only looked weak because it was from kid Luffy’s POV.
29: Anonymous Pirate
They approached the enemy ship and mildly threatened them (intense).
30: Anonymous Pirate
>>29
Better than gathering trash mobs.
Quality over quantity.
31: Anonymous Pirate
Mihawk is equal to Shanks, after all.
32: Anonymous Pirate
>>31
So Shanks is trash since he’s equal to a mere Warlord?
33: Anonymous Pirate
>>32
Other way around.
Mihawk alone carries the entire Warlord title.
Zoro trained under him so he could survive the New World—
that alone says Mihawk is at least Rayleigh-level, if not stronger.
34: Anonymous Pirate
For some reason, Lucky Roux is a favorite of Manga☆Taro.
35: Anonymous Pirate
If Roux is actually strong, that’d be cool as hell.
36: Anonymous Pirate
>>35
What’s he gonna use, a gun or meat?
37: Anonymous Pirate
>>36
Armament Haki-coated bone-in meat.
38: Anonymous Pirate
Lucky Roux = user of the Munch-Munch Fruit.
39: Anonymous Pirate
>>38
So he’s basically Wapol…?
40: Anonymous Pirate
How strong is he now anyway?
Will he even show up again?
41: Anonymous Pirate
During Marineford, when Doflamingo sliced Crocodile’s head off as a joke—
if he’d used Haki, would Crocodile have died?
42: Anonymous Pirate
>>41
If Haki was used, Crocodile probably would’ve taken damage.
He knew he didn’t need to dodge.
(Or maybe it was the Sea Kings’ fault.)
Why the Red-Haired Pirates Feel Weak
Visually smaller crews, fewer exaggerated designs, and limited on-panel combat make Shanks’ group seem less impressive compared to Yonko who rule through overwhelming force.
Quality Over Quantity as a Core Theme
Repeatedly, commenters return to the idea that Shanks’ crew mirrors the Straw Hats: fewer members, but each one elite. Respect from characters like Kizaru toward Beckman reinforces this reading.
Power, Perception, and Narrative Intent
The debate isn’t about actual strength—it’s about presentation.
Oda consistently frames the Red-Haired Pirates as restrained, controlled, and deliberate, which clashes with the bombastic chaos of other Yonko crews.
Final Takeaway
The Red-Haired Pirates don’t look weak because they are weak.
They look weak because they don’t need spectacle to command respect.
And that quiet confidence may be exactly why they’re dangerous.
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