Is Luffy a Yonko? Does he deserve to be one?

Luffy’s emergence as the Fifth Emperor of the Sea and his increase in bounty came as a pleasant surprise to fans of the series.

After this, Luffy is one step closer to fulfilling his goal and becoming the Pirate King. However, is Luffy strong enough to face a Yonko? Does he deserve this title? Or is it all just rumors fanned by the press?

1. Is Luffy a Yonko?

Luffy is not considered a Yonko but the Fifth Emperor of the sea. While it may sound similar, it is different. Luffy’s title as the Fifth Emperor means that he has a lot of influence and is capable of becoming a Yonko by replacing one in the future.

is luffy a yonko? is he the fifth emperor
Monkey D. Luffy

Right now, his title highlights his potential and feats, and not his current strength. While Luffy might indeed not be at their level yet, he’s undoubtedly getting closer.

His battle against Kaido might be the decisive factor in him becoming a Yonko. However, whether it be now or later, Luffy will indeed become a Yonko, and then, the Pirate King.

2. Will Luffy become a Yonko?

Having already been declared as the Fifth Emperor of the Sea, Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hats, is closer to becoming a Yonko than anyone else.

He has acquired a bounty of 1.5 billion berries, and, right now, he is at Wano Country intending to take Kaido, one of the Four Emperors of the Sea, down.

While Luffy might indeed not be at their level yet, he’s undoubtedly getting closer. His battle against Kaido might be the decisive factor in him becoming a Yonko.

However, whether it be now or later, Luffy will indeed become a Yonko, and then, the Pirate King.

3. Why is Luffy considered the fifth?

Luffy is not considered a Yonko but the Fifth Emperor of the sea. While it may sound similar, it is different. The Yonko are the four most notorious and powerful pirate captains in the world. Their position and number are indomitable and fixed.

Is Luffy a Yonko in One Piece?
Yonko | Source: One Piece Wiki-Fandom

Luffy’s title as the Fifth Emperor means that he has a lot of influence and is capable of becoming a Yonko by replacing one in the future. Right now, his title highlights his potential and feats, and not his current strength.

4. What episode does Luffy become the Fifth Emperor?

It was the 878th episode of One Piece in which Luffy was recognized as a Yonko. The title of the episode was: “The World is Stunned! The Fifth Emperor of the Sea Emerges!”

After the events at the Whole Cake Island, Morgan, a reporter, announced Luffy’s feats to the whole world through the newspaper and presented him as an Emperor.

5. Does Luffy deserve to be the fifth Emperor?

Luffy does indeed deserve to be the Fifth Emperor. Not in terms of strength but in his ability to make and gather strong allies wherever he goes.

Even when we talk about strength, while he may not be as strong as the other Emperors, he will only grow stronger and stronger as the series progresses.

Let’s take a look at all of Luffy’s accomplishments so far.

Is Luffy a Yonko in One Piece?
Strawhat Pirates | Source: TOEI Animation

Luffy has defeated three Warlords of the sea, Doflamingo, Gecko Moria, and Crocodile. He has even made allies with six of them, including Trafalgar Law, Crocodile, Boa Hancock, Buggy, Jinbei, and Kuma.

Among them, Jinbe even went on to join the Straw hat pirates. As for the Straw hat pirates, Luffy commands a group of strong individuals with astonishingly high bounty values.

Despite not traveling together, his extended crew consists of 7 well-established pirate crews as well as 5000 members. All of them are collectively called the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.

Luffy is also the only one who has invaded all three of the major facilities of the World Government. He launched a full-scale attack on Enies Lobby, which resulted in its destruction.

In the history of the prison, there has been only one mass breakout, which was done by Luffy and his allies at the Impel Down.

He also participated in the Paramount War to save his brother, Ace. In that war, he faced three admirals and warlords of the sea, including the World’s Greatest Swordsman, Mihawk.

He even infiltrated Big Mom’s territory, Totto Land, where he defeated Sweet Commanders Charlotte Cracker and Charlotte Katakuri.

Luffy vs Katakuri

He also attempted to assassinate Charlotte Linlin and, after failing to do so, created a prompt alliance with Germa 66, the Sun Pirates, and the Fire Tank Pirates and ended up successfully escaping.

Other than these tangible achievements, Luffy’s name itself is fearsome. He is surnamed “D” and is the son of the most wanted man in the world, Monkey D. Dragon.

He is also the grandson of Monkey D. Garp, who is the greatest hero of the Marines to have ever lived.

On top of that, he is a sworn brother to both the late commander of the second division of the Whitebeard Pirates and the son of Gol D. Roger, Portgas D. Ace and the Revolutionary Army Chief-of-staff, Sabo.

Though the press slightly exaggerated his capabilities, his achievements were great enough for him to be unofficially titled the “Fifth Emperor of the Sea”.

6. Is Luffy on the level of other Yonko’s?

Despite being declared the Fifth Emperor, Luffy is still not on the other Yonko’s level. The other Emperors have ruled over the seas for years and have built up their power and influence slowly and steadily, with the exception of Blackbeard.

While Luffy has grown stronger through his battles and adventures, he is still ways off from fighting a Yonko head-on.

Is Luffy a Yonko in One Piece?
Yonko | Source: One Piece Wiki-Fandom

He himself realizes this as he does not provoke Kaido alone but understands the need to team up with other powerful allies to defeat him.

However, even though he is not exactly on Yonko’s level, sooner or later, he will be. There is speculations that Luffy might become strong enough to face one by the end of Wano.

7. What were the other Yonko’s reactions to this?

After his latest ventures, not only does Luffy have a high bounty, but he is being proclaimed as the Fifth Emperor of the Sea.

While Luffy’s 5th Yonko status was made public, the other Yonko’s had a subjective reaction to this news.

Kaido, the king of the beasts, became infuriated; Big Mom got enraged after seeing that the article made it look like Luffy had won against her right-hand-man, and Blackbeard thought that it is still early for Luffy to be a Yonko.

However, when Shanks saw the newspaper, he said that he’d be seeing Luffy soon enough.

8. About One Piece

One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997, and has been collected into 95 tankōbon volumes.

One Piece

The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it.

Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!

Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece.

With his diverse crew joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.

Vansh Gulati

Vansh Gulati

Meet our very own Hinata Shoyo! - There is no anime or manga that he’s not aware of. Also the go-to guy for all things Epic at EML. He’s on a journey to discover life one bottle of sake at a time!
Ps...anime is not a cartoon!

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