Out of all the Big 3 that dominated the 2000s, One Piece is the only franchise that’s currently still ongoing. This means that the Shonen is still introducing new characters to us that surpass old ones or at least go toe to toe with them. That means new character dynamics to explore, and new relationships to be forged. And of course, new character interactions that enable us to pit them against each other, like in the case of Rayleigh and Blackbeard.

At his prime, it would’ve been a no-brainer because Silvers Rayleigh was stronger than Marshall D. Teach, more commonly known as Blackbeard. In Chapter 1059, Blackbeard ran from Amazon Lily solely because he feared Rayleigh from his reputation and didn’t want to face him head-on. However, Rayleigh admits that he is not up to snuff anymore and that, if Blackbeard wanted, he could defeat him with the proper effort. So, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword here.

Older characters acknowledging that the younger characters are probably going to surpass them at some point is a pretty nuanced take for something like One Piece. We’ve seen it happen with characters before as well, and Rayleigh is no different. Despite how powerful he is, known amongst fans as being an exceptional fighter, that doesn’t mean he’s still got the spirit to make it through a long-winded fight.

So, where does Blackbeard play into all of this? Well, he certainly isn’t as old as Rayleigh, but he knows the legacy. Let’s say they did meet in the middle, who do you think would win? That’s exactly what we are here to discuss in Character Versus! This is a segment where we take two of your favorite characters from across anime and manga, only to have them face off to see who would come out on top. Today, it’s Blackbeard VS the Dark King.

Marshall ‘Blackbeard’ D. Teach: A Cruel And Power Hungry Captain

Blackbeard is an enigma. He is part of the Four Emperors aka the most infamous pirates to sail the high seas. But at the same time, he is known for the dichotomy in his nature.

The man is both courageous in some situations and downright cowardly in others. He is extremely intuitive when it comes to certain things, and downright ignorant of others. But one thing that remains a constant? It’s his hunger for power. Blackbeard rarely stops at anything if it means he gains more influence and power over the New World. He is extremely deceptive in every attempt to have things go in his favor.

Blackbeard is extremely determined in his goals and treats his crew well so that they all can achieve them together. In a way, his personality is a lot like Luffy’s, both are voracious with a thirst for adventure. But where Luffy has more morals that protect others, Blackbeard has no inhibitions when it comes to getting what he wants. He’s cruelled enough to make prisoners murder each other to become his comrades, so he doesn’t have the highest moral ground.

Couple that with the Yami Yami No Fruit, which is an insidious Devil Fruit encompassing darkness, and it’s a deadly combo.

Rayleigh was a force to be reckoned with in his heyday. I mean, what else would you expect from someone deemed ‘the right hand of the Pirate King’?

Rayleigh was prolific in his time for his prowess as a pirate and fighter. His control over his Haki is so legendary, that even Luffy went to him for training. His reputation is so frightening that even Blackbeard backed out of confronting him. And as someone who directly answered to Gol D. Rogers, he couldn’t be anything but exceptional.

However, Rayleigh is older now. He often remarks about his body isn’t what it used to be. But that doesn’t mean he still can’t kick butt!

Winner: Despite Running, Blackbeard Would Win?

It sounds like a shocker considering Blackbeard backed down from a direct fight with Rayleigh. But, indeed, Rayleigh isn’t in the prime of his life. Whereas Blackbeard is still working towards his.

They are pretty much equal, but Rayleigh getting older, gives Blackbeard the advantage.

Hell, Rayleigh admitted as much too. He acknowledged that Blackbeard’s fear was cowardice, considering that the man could probably take him on!