Worstgen

Xione

I agree on Sabo > Kata. But not on strongest the RA had before he got the mera mera. Personally view Lindberg, Karasu, Morley stronger than pre-mera Sabo. Belo Betty questionable for now.

H

Haoshoku

Even though we still have to see what went down, Fujitora being in bandages is notable. I think that giant (forgot his name) shouldn’t be overlooked. He was a big enough threat to be included on that Throne Wars silhoutte, I know that isn’t saying much and fighting fodder like Peachbeard with help isn’t a good look, though he was relevant enough to included on that panel.

Xione

@Haoshoku They never fought against Peachbeard. Belo Betty specifically stated, "support the citizens", citizens did all the fighting, the commanders took away the weapons from the pirates and strengthened the citizens. This connects to them being "Will of the People", they empower people to defend themselves rather than doing it for them, even if it's a pirate who's more dangerous than somebody like Arlong.

H

Haoshoku

Right, forgot some of the details since it happened so long ago.

Cinera

@Xione I think I'll go with Chief of Staff stronger than the rest. On priors, it would be very surprising for the second highest ranking combatant of a military organisation to not be the second strongest combatant.

Cinera

It's not like Pre Mera Sabo was weak either. He appears to have possessed advanced COA.

Cinera

Ace seems like a suitable analogue, and Marco for all intents and purposes outranked him. WB was grooming Ace to be the next leader, but he didn't make him second in command.

Cinera

So I think your hypothesis that Sabo wasn't the second strongest but was second in command because Dragon was grooming him to take over is extremely unlikely on priors.

Xione

@Cinera Laffitte is the Chief of Staff for Blackbeard pirates. He won't be his strongest. Tsuru was the chief of staff (the Great Staff officer) for the Fleet Admiral Sengoku, she wasn't the strongest after him.

Cinera

Like nothing we know about the One Piece world gives us reason to expect that to be the case.

Cinera

@Xione Tsuru was a Vice Admiral, she wasn't the second in command after Sengoku. The logia trio outranked her.

Cinera

Was Lafitte Chief of Staff of the original Blackbeard Pirates or is he still Chief of Staff of Yonkou Blackbeard Pirates?

Cinera

Lafitte being the second strongest of Blackbeard's original comrades seems plausible.

Cinera

Besides, aside from his role as Chied of Staff, he has been highlighted as the second in command of the RA. I don't think the same was done for Tsuru or Lafitte.

Xione

@Cinera Tsuru was a vice-admiral in her official marine rank. But she was also the "Great Staff Officer" which is a fancier way of "Chief of Staff" to Sengoku. Which would make her 2nd after Sengoku. She simply didn't have the power to be an admiral, as being an admiral requires top tier prowess, something she doesn't possess.

Xione

Chief of staff is what makes him the 2nd in command of the RA. Since Chief of Staff is the officer directly under the commander. Laffitte in the vivre cards (so after TS) is stated to be acting as the Chief of Staff for Blackbeard pirates, making him Admiral Blackbeard's #2.