Once part of the Three Great Powers that maintained stability in the oceans of One Piece, the Seven Warlords of the Sea — or the Shichibukai — served as major antagonists in some of the most memorable story arcs and sagas in the series. Aside from how incredibly powerful each of these characters were, they also stood out with some of the most intriguing character designs to come from Eiichiro Oda's pen.

From the theme of animal motifs which tied all these characters together, to the sheer aura of extravagance ingrained into the appearances of such influential individuals, each of the Shichibukai brought something unique to the table. With this in mind, let's dive into the question of which of the Seven Warlords of the Sea in One Piece had the best design?

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Motifs In The Character Designs Of The Seven Warlords

When first introduced by Yosaku, the silhouettes of the Seven Warlords in both the manga and anime had little relation to their appearances once they were actually revealed, with the sole exception of Dracule Mihawk who had already debuted at the time. Since then, the designs of each of the Seven Warlords have undergone quite a few changes prior to and after the time skip in One Piece.

For the purpose of this comparison, it is perhaps best to restrict evaluations to story arcs where each of these characters had a prominent role, since that would equate the playing field with characters who have not featured as often. For instance, Donquixote Doflamingo's original appearance was reasonably memorable, but it was nowhere near as well-defined and iconic as it would grow to become by the time of the Dressrosa Arc.

Similarly, Boa Hancock has also undergone a few changes in her character design, as have Crocodile and Jinbe. By comparison, the designs of Warlords such as Gecko Moria and Bartholomew Kuma have remained consistent throughout nearly all of their appearances, with only minor differences that crop up due to narrative and situational forces.

Which Warlords Are Worthy Of Being Considered?

In terms of character designs, each member of the Seven Warlords of the in One Piece Sea has an instantly recognizable silhouette, in large part due to how much their individual physiques can vary. That being said, there are still a few who are more memorable than others. Bartholomew Kuma's design consists of a high-collared black jacket and spotted pants. Subsequently, he is easily the most reserved of the seven, and although it does mesh well with his character arc — as revealed in the Egghead Arc — he does not stand out as much as some of the others in One Piece.

Next comes Gecko Moria, who possesses a demon-like appearance, with pointed horns and pale blue skin, which are contrasted by his relatively dapper and elaborate attire, consisting of a fishnet shirt, a fur cape, and elaborate ornaments, which were later altered after the time skip. On one hand, this design is an intriguing, edgier take on the steampunk aesthetic, but it does not match up to those of the other Warlords in One Piece.

In a similar vein, Jinbe's design resembles a cross between a whale shark and a sumo wrestler, with a decidedly stocky build. He is generally garbed in brightly colored kimonos adorned with varying patterns, which have become a trademark of his personal style. Naturally, his design is quite unique among the Warlords, since despite his relatively subdued attire, he is the only one, apart from Moria perhaps, who belongs to a race other than the humans of the One Piece world. However, his design still may not be as iconic as the remaining four members of the original Seven Warlords of the Sea, who are the ones that make the final cut for consideration.

Donquixote Doflamingo

Besides his magnetic personality, Doflamingo also has an extremely striking character design among the Seven Warlords in One Piece. When split apart into its constituent elements, his attire is not the most complex, but its pure flashiness and coherence with his character is beyond compare. His trimmed blond hair, muscular physique, and impressive stature, also contribute to the overall impact of his design, which inspires both fear and awe whenever he is on-screen.

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Combined with his enthralling presence and immense charisma, Doflamingo's attire conveys his larger-than-life persona, but still radiates the regality of his noble descent. It features a simple unbuttoned white shirt, pink striped pants, dress shoes, and his trademark pink feathered coat, which is a very literal reference to his flamingo animal theme. His thin curved glasses are also a signature feature, deftly suggesting how he conceals his true emotions beyond the sadistic smile that often spreads across his face.

Boa Hancock

Revered as the most beautiful woman in the world, Boa Hancock is also a strong contender, due to the imperious elegance she radiated in each of the various outfits she has donned throughout One Piece. Embodying all the grandeur expected of the Empress of Amazon Lily, Hancock's original design featured a red, deep cut V-neck blouse, alongside a sarong and a white cape.

Following this, Hancock wore a purple dress throughout the Marineford War. Both outfits featured symbols of the Kuja Pirates emblazoned across them. She is also always seen alongside her Snake Weapon Salome, reflecting her snake-based animal theme. Her exceptional beauty, alongside her relatively stoic and commanding demeanor are augmented quite well by her incredibly attractive character design, which can be intimidating or delicate depending on the situation.

Dracule Mihawk

Merging aesthetic references to medieval Spanish swordsmen and religious imagery including crucifixes of varying size and ornamentation, Dracule Mihawk's design oozes a mysterious, menacing tone. His distinctive wide-brimmed hat with a plume, pointed beard, elaborate open black coat, and the presence of his oversized sword Yoru on his back, imbue his appearance with a sinister air that feels almost out-of-place in One Piece.

Indeed, when he first appeared during the Baratie Arc, Mihawk was a character whose presence felt unnatural in the waters of the East Blue, which was said to host the weakest combatants across all the major oceans in the world of One Piece. Mihawk's stern, focused, eyes are also an iconic element in his design, featuring concentric rings in his pupils which resemble the eyes of a hawk — acting as a nod towards his animal theme. All in all, Mihawk's appearance radiates strength, dynamism, and a touch of the occult, which perfectly aligns with his character.

Crocodile

The first Warlord to decisively defeat Luffy, Crocodile's design is rooted in the character archetype of an Italian mob boss, with his Marineford arc outfit standing out in particular. Complementing his powerful build, broad shoulders, and refined, slicked back hair, Crocodile is always seen smoking a cigar, and bears prominent scars across his body, including a line of stitches running horizontally across his face.

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His attire consists of a black shirt, green scarf, dark gray pants, polished shoes, and a black overcoat with fur trim, carrying an eloquence that virtually no other antagonist in One Piece can really match. Always dressed to impress, Crocodile's design taps into everything that a sophisticated modern villain is supposed to look like, to produce one of One Piece's most beloved characters.

Who Among The Seven Warlords Had The Best Design?

It is definitely hard to pick a single favorite from this impressive lineup of characters, each of whom is an exceptional example of how design is as important as characterization itself, in making fictional individuals more significant within the worlds they inhabit. Within a group as exuberant as the Seven Warlords of the Sea in One Piece, it is no mean feat for a character to stand out based on their design alone, but each of these four individuals succeeded in doing so.

Boa Hancock and Crocodile are two immensely iconic characters in the One Piece canon, and their influence on the story is quite monumental among the series' incredibly massive cast. They played important roles in Luffy's journey and made decisive contributions to the Battle of Marineford. Unfortunately, neither of them make the cut when compared to Doflamingo or Mihawk, who are potentially some of the most iconic characters in all of One Piece, despite not being members of the main cast comprising the Straw Hat Pirates.

Doflamingo's flamboyance and Mihawk's refined charisma are incomparable within the world of One Piece, and it remains to be seen whether anyone will be able to supersede their designs once the Final Saga concludes. Choosing a winner between the two is nigh on impossible, since their designs are ideally suited to their respective personas, and selecting any one of them over the other would be a disservice to the quality of Eiichiro Oda's efforts. That being said, there may be areas where both outdo one another.

Doflamingo's design is definitely more on-the-nose, which gives him an edge with respect to how ludicrous the One Piece world can be, but Mihawk's is the perfect subversion of expectations, tinged with the same air of mystery that hangs over some of the series' most important pieces of lore. Hence, both characters have a claim to this throne, embodying the best of what One Piece's character designs have to offer.

One Piece is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

One Piece (1999)

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga's popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Studio

Toei Animation

Creator

Eiichiro Oda

Number of Episodes

1082+

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Netflix , Hulu

See at Hulu