The world of One Piece is mainly dominated by pirates, whose influence has kept growing over the years. Among them, the Four Emperors stand out the most. Each Emperor is dangerously strong and poses a threat to the safety of the world.
Edward Newgate, better known as Whitebeard, was one of the original Four Emperors. He captained the Whitebeard Pirates, and they eventually came to be known as the strongest pirate crew in the world. While Whitebeard is the most well-known member of the crew, there are others who can go toe-to-toe with the strongest One Piece characters.
7 Blackbeard
Blackbeard was recruited by Whitebeard when he was only a kid. The legendary pirate took pity on him and allowed him to join his crew. Blackbeard's aim was to stay in the shadows, as he did not want to attract the attention of other people.
Blackbeard was in Ace's division, and he was offered a promotion, which he declined to accomplish his dream. Blackbeard was seen using a claw-like weapon, but whether or not he had any Devil Fruit powers remains unknown.
6 Ace
Ace joined the Whitebeard Pirates many years after the death of his father. He wanted to make a name for himself, which is why he decided to target the Four Emperors. After ceaselessly searching for Whitebeard, Ace got the opportunity to face his father's greatest rival. The outcome was obvious; however, Whitebeard offered him to join his crew.
Ace joined the crew and eventually warmed up to his new crewmates. Ace's Mera Mera no Mi helped him rise through the ranks, and he was given the position of 2nd Division Commander. Ace was able to use all three types of Haki, but he lacked mastery over them. If he had stayed alive for longer, Ace would have gone on to become one of the greatest pirates in the world.
5 Jozu
Jozu was an absolute mountain of a man who led the fighter division. Like all the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates, Jozu was loyal to his captain. He defended Whitebeard from the attacks of Crocodile and Aokiji.
Jozu specializes in combat. He has great control over Busoshoku Haki, which enabled him to hurt an Admiral and make him bleed out of his mouth. His physical strength is not to be underestimated, as he threw a massive chunk of ice toward the Marines. Despite his size, Jozu is quick, as evidenced by the fact that he blitzed Crocodile. Jozu is also a Devil Fruit user, and his Kira Kira no Mi enables him to cover any part of his body with diamonds. In his transformed state, Jozu managed to withstand Mihawk's strongest slash with literal ease.
4 Vista
Vista used to be the 5th Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. He was considered the best swordsman in the crew. Pirates throughout the world know about Vista's skills, in fact, Mihawk acknowledged his swordsmanship when they were in Marineford.
Vista was strong enough to fight Mihawk without being overwhelmed. He could also use Busoshoku and Kenbunshoku Haki; he used the former to cut Akainu. Vista's true power remains unknown, and fans might never get the opportunity to see him go all out.
3 Marco
Marco was one of the oldest serving members of the Whitebeard Pirates. He started as an apprentice and, over time, became Whitebeard's right-hand man. Following the Emperor's death, Marco led the remnants of the crew against the Blackbeard Pirates; however, they suffered a crushing defeat.
Marco did not appear in the story until the Wano Country arc, where he joined the alliance to help them take down Kaido. Marco managed to hold off both King and Queen by himself, which is a huge testament to his skill. He also fought Big Mom for a short period of time. Marco's Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix allows him to transform into a phoenix at will. He can use the blue flames to heal himself and other people.
2 Kozuki Oden
Kozuki Oden is a legendary samurai from Wano. He was a troublemaker with a great sense of freedom. Oden wanted to explore the world outside Wano, but his poor navigation skills prevented him from leaving the country. When the Whitebeard Pirates crashed onto the shores of Wano, Oden rushed to meet them.
Following his tussle with Whitebeard, Oden begged to join the crew. Initially, Whitebeard refused, but Oden kept at it until the former finally gave in. Oden was an elite swordsman who wielded Ame no Habakiri and Enma. With the help of the two blades, Oden gave Kaido a massive scar across his torso.
1 Whitebeard
Whitebeard is unquestionably the strongest member of the crew. He founded the Whitebeard Pirates after the God Valley Incident. He did not care about titles and riches; his crew was all that mattered to him. Whitebeard was very protective of his crew, and he would never let anyone harm them.
He possessed the Gura Gura no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. It allowed him to create tremors that caused widespread destruction. Whitebeard also had access to all three types of Haki, which only added to his immense strength. Given his outstanding arsenal, it is hardly surprising why he was given the epithet "Strongest Man in the World." Unfortunately, Whitebeard's life came to an end in the Marineford arc.