Introduction
I have argued consistently due to the information we have gotten about the old generation in recent months that the likes of Roger and Newgate were not the peak of individual strength. I believe that it is a common misconception when people misconstrue accomplishments and legacy to individual strength. One Piece is indeed a shounen and does not mirror real life, but it is worth mentioning that even those who are regarded as the greatest of all time or those who have the greatest legacies were not always the "best" when it came to individual talent or ability. Individual strength and ability speak solely of the individual, but accomplishments and legacy are feats that one cannot achieve alone or through sheer strength. The great legacy left by the old members of the old generation and the one that will be left by Luffy is not a story that can be told by individual strength. Roger's journey in becoming the Pirate King coincided with a considerable amount of luck and with the help of his contemporaries, much like Luffy.
Consequently, I believe that neither Roger nor Newgate were the epitome or the peak of personal power and strength. I believe that two other people hold such distinctions. Specifically, I will be talking about the Woman who, in my mind, without the shadow of a doubt, is surely unbeatable by anyone. Thus, the purpose of this thread is to make the case of why Charlotte "Big Mom" Linlin is the one vs. one King or, at the very least, holds that title with her rival, Kaido. The consistent narrative around Linlin is that people do not want to engage her in battle. Such consistency is likely not a coincidence. I believe it is because she is not someone that can be beaten when she is in the right state of mind. There is a reason why her Empire has been unmoved for Decades.
People Avoid Her
1. Roger: We do not know the full context of their previous engagement, but Roger saw it far better to avoid clashing with Linlin in order to steal her poneglyph. The Logical conclusion is that Roger risked death if he sought to take the Poneglyph by force so, he did the smart thing and stole it from her. Roger was already sick at this point so, engaging in a battle with someone who can manipulate and possibly steal energy and life force was not a prudent choice. Meanwhile, he had no qualms with fighting Newgate for three days because the risk of death was likely lower.
2. Kaido: When she informs him that she was coming to Wano, he threatens her with death. When he learns that she was legitimately coming, he is visibly alarmed.
Now, such a reaction is quite contradictory to Kaido's portrayal of wanting to die. He claims that it would be an all-out war if she came and sought to avoid it. Nevertheless, Kaido's dream and goal are to create a massive war. A full-on clash between two emperors is sure to bring the attention of all significant players looking to gain an advantage. Nevertheless, Kaido displayed clear signs of apprehension. Such a statement is not to assert that Kaido was afraid. However, his reaction to her is contradictory to his goals and persona. He does not want to fight a full-powered Linlin.
3. Strawhats and Luffy: The Strawhats and Luffy spent all of WCI running away from an unstable and weakened Linlin. Luffy felt the need to take down Kaido first before coming back to Linlin. (Now his statement can be interpreted in multiple ways.) Additionally, when she shows up at Udon, Luffy was alarmed and was ready to turn tail, but Hyogoro forced him to stand and defend against her blow.
There are other examples of people merely running away or showing hesitation in fighting, but, these are the most important because they come from the strongest and most important people in the One Piece world.
Before we proceed, we must create a framework for this assertion. That is, I must elaborate on the conditions and parameters that render such a seemingly provocative statement credible.
1. No PIS (Plot Induced Stupidity)
The absence of plot convenience is perhaps the most crucial factor for this argument. In One Piece, characters are usually "dumbed down" or act out of character so that the plot will continue. The Two Clear examples of this are with Luffy's Fights During the Whole Cake Island arc, where he squares off against Cracker and Katakuri. Crackers' initial characterization portrays him as careful and very defensive. It is worth noting that the World Government does not know of Cracker's true identity due to his combat approach and mindset. Cracker methodical and patient in is combat approach. He sits behind an army of soldiers, much like a chess master, as these biscuit soldiers do his bidding for him. Nevertheless, for the plot to continue, he fell victim to PIS in which he uncharacteristically charges at his opponent without his armor and falls. The same goes for Katakuri where against Luffy, he not only drops his spear which had inflicted a lethal injury to Luffy but also decides to injure himself for the sake of "Honor" Not only that, the essentially lets Luffy escape after their final clash. There are many other examples many which feature Linlin herself, but these two stark examples show why PIS is detrimental to an objective analysis of individual strength and should be disregarded in this case.
2. She is Unrestricted
Restrictions are somewhat related to PIS, but, one can credibly argue that Oda has always made an effort to restrict and nerf Linlin for plot purposes. In this scenario, she would have the mindset of fighting to the death. Such a mindset removes the potential for a hunger pang because when one is fighting for their life, food is the last thing on their mind. It is also worth mentioning that Linin is indeed capable of going without food for extended periods.
3. Objective Consideration of Abilities
Objectivity in consideration of abilities is where I take the most issue in Power Level debates. There is an inherent contradiction within the One Piece Fandom. This contradiction is present when fans make blanket statements such as A>B because C. Such statements cannot be taken seriously without surrendering one's self to hypocrisy. The One Piece Fandom routinely claim that "Match Ups Matter" and have often used such a claim as a means of asserting superiority over other Fandoms in which Power Scales are far more transparent and linear. In such systems, we can assume transitivity. That is If A>B and B>C, then A>C. One Piece and the fandom claim that such is not valid in One Piece since abilities are so diverse and somewhat random, C may be able to beat A because C has powers that make him a difficult opponent for A. X>B lacks nuance and such statements must be verified through an objective macro consideration of each character's abilities.
Now that we have established the parameters for this discussion, let us look at Linlin's diverse and powerful arsenal.
Devil Fruit: The Soru Soru No MI
I will mostly focus on the use of the Soul Soul Fruit Against Other Top Tiers.
The Soul Soul Fruit is the reason why I believe that Oda Made Linlin far too powerful to be defeated in the absence of the factors I listed above. The Soul Fruit is far too versatile and provides her with incredible adaptability and Hax, which cannot be overcome by anyone in single combat.
I made a thread regarding why the Soru Soru No MI is superior to all Logia Devil Fruits
Many of the arguments that I presented in that thread still stand but I would like to focus on the primary aspect of her Devil Fruit which are the creation of homies.
Homies made from Linlin's Soul is the single biggest equalizer she has against anyone regardless of their skills. Homies made from her soul have the added benefit of being intangible and can only be hurt by those who possess Soul Powers. Additionally, she can also make homies out of the devil fruit substances of others.
No other top tier that we know of has soul or water powers. So, in a situation where they are fighting her, they cannot interact with the homies while the homies can interact with them and hurt them. Additionally, as shown in WCI, the homies have impressive offensive capabilities. Most characters in the One Piece Verse have average durability, so they cannot take a full-powered homie attack without sustaining substantial damage.
Some people foolishly disregard the homies and their capabilities in a fight. They claim that Homies are nothing more than a nuisance and would only play a minimal role in a fight. Such statements are inherently dismissive and contradictory of what Oda has shown time and time again about the importance of numbers and distractions in a fight. Even if one can magically negate the offensive significance of the Homies in a fight, they are still factors that a combatant must take into consideration. We saw with Katakuri vs. Luffy how a minor interference could give one side a substantial advantage. We also saw this throughout Marineford when members of the WB pirates were only taken down after a distraction. We see this again with Kaido vs. Luffy in which a loss of his wits due to emotions renders Luffy's Observation Haki Useless. Lastly, against Oden and Kaido, we see that a momentary distraction is the difference between winning and losing in a fight with relatively equal opponents.
Whitebeard's Heart Attack leads to this.
In a fight, Linlin's opponent must keep track of all her homies. For those without exceptional durability (99.99% of the verse), they must use armament haki to minimize the damage they may take from their attacks. Additionally, they must also dedicate their Observation Haki and concentration to avoid distractions from the homies. We know that Haki is a finite resource. The presence of her homies substantially increases the Haki expenditure for the opponent. Additionally, the dedication of all this energy does not take into account that the opponent must also focus on Linin and her impressive physical gifts as not to be overpowered.
Also, we must take into consideration the potential interaction the Soru Soru no Mi has with Haki and Devil Fruits. We see in Whole Cake Island that Linlin was seemingly able to force Luffy out of G4 by infusing her DF with her Haki (Flame Pattern). It's unclear if Luffy was forced out of G4 due to her interfering with and draining his Haki or if she simply interacted with the soul of his Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, this adds another dimension to the already immense power of the Soul Soul Fruit. Who wants to fight or who can defeat an opponent who can drain haki or mess with the soul of your devil fruit? I am not sure which conclusion to make in regards to what this effect is but, I think that it is more likely that she is interacting with the Devil Fruit Soul. She has been shown to be capable of infusing her soul into the Devil Fruit substances or abilities of others.
Devil Fruit Conclusion
The Soul Soul Fruit at full potential is arguably the best devil fruit we have seen thus far. This devil fruit is what reinforces the notion of Linlin's strength in single combat. The versatility allows her to adapt to whomever her opponent is. The possible implications of her interaction with haki and the soul of devil fruit further enhance the strength of this devil fruit. No opponent is immune from the effects of the Soul Fruit directly or indirectly. To disregard the importance of having additional allies in a battle in which momentum can shift in the blink of an eye is foolish and shortsighted. Through the effects of the Soul Soul Fruit, Linlin's opponent is situated in a condition in which they must remain vigilant and expend considerable amounts of concentration and energy to keep her homies at bay. At the same time, they must also watch out for Linlin. As I will further demonstrate, even without her devil fruit, she is a force to be reckoned with. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that against weapon users such as swordsmen, she may have the ability to neutralize their primary skill by transforming their weapons into a personal homie.
Part 2
Physical Might
No other character has the portrayal in physical might like Linlin. The only person who comes close is Kaido. The person in third place Kozuki Oden, can be considered a vastly inferior version of her. Since Linlin was a child, her physical strength and body has been at the very top.
Physical Might Conclusion:
It is clear that physical might is not all that matters in a fight but, it is still an essential category. Linlin has highest portrayal and some of the greatest feats in this category. She is above most if not all combatants by both portrayal and feats. Her physical prowess is a significant advantage that she holds over most and should be put into consideration when discussing the individual strength of characters. The very strongest people in the world can hurt her but, she is far more likely to survive their most potent attacks than them surviving hers. We must remember that the likes of Roger, Newgate, Garp and many others are "normal humans". If they are shot by a bullet or a canon, they will sustain damage. The same is not the case for Linlin. They must breach the gap in durability through the utilization of haki which further skews the overall climate of any fight in her favor.
I have argued consistently due to the information we have gotten about the old generation in recent months that the likes of Roger and Newgate were not the peak of individual strength. I believe that it is a common misconception when people misconstrue accomplishments and legacy to individual strength. One Piece is indeed a shounen and does not mirror real life, but it is worth mentioning that even those who are regarded as the greatest of all time or those who have the greatest legacies were not always the "best" when it came to individual talent or ability. Individual strength and ability speak solely of the individual, but accomplishments and legacy are feats that one cannot achieve alone or through sheer strength. The great legacy left by the old members of the old generation and the one that will be left by Luffy is not a story that can be told by individual strength. Roger's journey in becoming the Pirate King coincided with a considerable amount of luck and with the help of his contemporaries, much like Luffy.
Consequently, I believe that neither Roger nor Newgate were the epitome or the peak of personal power and strength. I believe that two other people hold such distinctions. Specifically, I will be talking about the Woman who, in my mind, without the shadow of a doubt, is surely unbeatable by anyone. Thus, the purpose of this thread is to make the case of why Charlotte "Big Mom" Linlin is the one vs. one King or, at the very least, holds that title with her rival, Kaido. The consistent narrative around Linlin is that people do not want to engage her in battle. Such consistency is likely not a coincidence. I believe it is because she is not someone that can be beaten when she is in the right state of mind. There is a reason why her Empire has been unmoved for Decades.
People Avoid Her
1. Roger: We do not know the full context of their previous engagement, but Roger saw it far better to avoid clashing with Linlin in order to steal her poneglyph. The Logical conclusion is that Roger risked death if he sought to take the Poneglyph by force so, he did the smart thing and stole it from her. Roger was already sick at this point so, engaging in a battle with someone who can manipulate and possibly steal energy and life force was not a prudent choice. Meanwhile, he had no qualms with fighting Newgate for three days because the risk of death was likely lower.
2. Kaido: When she informs him that she was coming to Wano, he threatens her with death. When he learns that she was legitimately coming, he is visibly alarmed.
3. Strawhats and Luffy: The Strawhats and Luffy spent all of WCI running away from an unstable and weakened Linlin. Luffy felt the need to take down Kaido first before coming back to Linlin. (Now his statement can be interpreted in multiple ways.) Additionally, when she shows up at Udon, Luffy was alarmed and was ready to turn tail, but Hyogoro forced him to stand and defend against her blow.
There are other examples of people merely running away or showing hesitation in fighting, but, these are the most important because they come from the strongest and most important people in the One Piece world.
Before we proceed, we must create a framework for this assertion. That is, I must elaborate on the conditions and parameters that render such a seemingly provocative statement credible.
1. No PIS (Plot Induced Stupidity)
The absence of plot convenience is perhaps the most crucial factor for this argument. In One Piece, characters are usually "dumbed down" or act out of character so that the plot will continue. The Two Clear examples of this are with Luffy's Fights During the Whole Cake Island arc, where he squares off against Cracker and Katakuri. Crackers' initial characterization portrays him as careful and very defensive. It is worth noting that the World Government does not know of Cracker's true identity due to his combat approach and mindset. Cracker methodical and patient in is combat approach. He sits behind an army of soldiers, much like a chess master, as these biscuit soldiers do his bidding for him. Nevertheless, for the plot to continue, he fell victim to PIS in which he uncharacteristically charges at his opponent without his armor and falls. The same goes for Katakuri where against Luffy, he not only drops his spear which had inflicted a lethal injury to Luffy but also decides to injure himself for the sake of "Honor" Not only that, the essentially lets Luffy escape after their final clash. There are many other examples many which feature Linlin herself, but these two stark examples show why PIS is detrimental to an objective analysis of individual strength and should be disregarded in this case.
2. She is Unrestricted
Restrictions are somewhat related to PIS, but, one can credibly argue that Oda has always made an effort to restrict and nerf Linlin for plot purposes. In this scenario, she would have the mindset of fighting to the death. Such a mindset removes the potential for a hunger pang because when one is fighting for their life, food is the last thing on their mind. It is also worth mentioning that Linin is indeed capable of going without food for extended periods.
3. Objective Consideration of Abilities
Objectivity in consideration of abilities is where I take the most issue in Power Level debates. There is an inherent contradiction within the One Piece Fandom. This contradiction is present when fans make blanket statements such as A>B because C. Such statements cannot be taken seriously without surrendering one's self to hypocrisy. The One Piece Fandom routinely claim that "Match Ups Matter" and have often used such a claim as a means of asserting superiority over other Fandoms in which Power Scales are far more transparent and linear. In such systems, we can assume transitivity. That is If A>B and B>C, then A>C. One Piece and the fandom claim that such is not valid in One Piece since abilities are so diverse and somewhat random, C may be able to beat A because C has powers that make him a difficult opponent for A. X>B lacks nuance and such statements must be verified through an objective macro consideration of each character's abilities.
Now that we have established the parameters for this discussion, let us look at Linlin's diverse and powerful arsenal.
Devil Fruit: The Soru Soru No MI
I will mostly focus on the use of the Soul Soul Fruit Against Other Top Tiers.
The Soul Soul Fruit is the reason why I believe that Oda Made Linlin far too powerful to be defeated in the absence of the factors I listed above. The Soul Fruit is far too versatile and provides her with incredible adaptability and Hax, which cannot be overcome by anyone in single combat.
I made a thread regarding why the Soru Soru No MI is superior to all Logia Devil Fruits
Many of the arguments that I presented in that thread still stand but I would like to focus on the primary aspect of her Devil Fruit which are the creation of homies.
Homies made from Linlin's Soul is the single biggest equalizer she has against anyone regardless of their skills. Homies made from her soul have the added benefit of being intangible and can only be hurt by those who possess Soul Powers. Additionally, she can also make homies out of the devil fruit substances of others.
Whitebeard's Heart Attack leads to this.
In a fight, Linlin's opponent must keep track of all her homies. For those without exceptional durability (99.99% of the verse), they must use armament haki to minimize the damage they may take from their attacks. Additionally, they must also dedicate their Observation Haki and concentration to avoid distractions from the homies. We know that Haki is a finite resource. The presence of her homies substantially increases the Haki expenditure for the opponent. Additionally, the dedication of all this energy does not take into account that the opponent must also focus on Linin and her impressive physical gifts as not to be overpowered.
Also, we must take into consideration the potential interaction the Soru Soru no Mi has with Haki and Devil Fruits. We see in Whole Cake Island that Linlin was seemingly able to force Luffy out of G4 by infusing her DF with her Haki (Flame Pattern). It's unclear if Luffy was forced out of G4 due to her interfering with and draining his Haki or if she simply interacted with the soul of his Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, this adds another dimension to the already immense power of the Soul Soul Fruit. Who wants to fight or who can defeat an opponent who can drain haki or mess with the soul of your devil fruit? I am not sure which conclusion to make in regards to what this effect is but, I think that it is more likely that she is interacting with the Devil Fruit Soul. She has been shown to be capable of infusing her soul into the Devil Fruit substances or abilities of others.
Devil Fruit Conclusion
The Soul Soul Fruit at full potential is arguably the best devil fruit we have seen thus far. This devil fruit is what reinforces the notion of Linlin's strength in single combat. The versatility allows her to adapt to whomever her opponent is. The possible implications of her interaction with haki and the soul of devil fruit further enhance the strength of this devil fruit. No opponent is immune from the effects of the Soul Fruit directly or indirectly. To disregard the importance of having additional allies in a battle in which momentum can shift in the blink of an eye is foolish and shortsighted. Through the effects of the Soul Soul Fruit, Linlin's opponent is situated in a condition in which they must remain vigilant and expend considerable amounts of concentration and energy to keep her homies at bay. At the same time, they must also watch out for Linlin. As I will further demonstrate, even without her devil fruit, she is a force to be reckoned with. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that against weapon users such as swordsmen, she may have the ability to neutralize their primary skill by transforming their weapons into a personal homie.
Part 2
Physical Might
No other character has the portrayal in physical might like Linlin. The only person who comes close is Kaido. The person in third place Kozuki Oden, can be considered a vastly inferior version of her. Since Linlin was a child, her physical strength and body has been at the very top.
- At the age of 5, she is casually capable of killing Giant bears with a slap while holding back.
- She Solo's A village of Giants and kills two legendary giants after breaking their blades on her arm
- She Bullies and Bloodies Big Father with Base Punches
- She Casually walks through steel doors and the ground unimpeded
- Pummels Queen with 2 hits
- Matches Kaido in Speed. The same Kaido that blitzed Bound Man Luffy. The Same Boundman that blitzed Doffy. Also Splits the Heavens with just Physical Strength and Haki.
- Eats a full-powered attack from Zeus and comes out fine.
Physical Might Conclusion:
It is clear that physical might is not all that matters in a fight but, it is still an essential category. Linlin has highest portrayal and some of the greatest feats in this category. She is above most if not all combatants by both portrayal and feats. Her physical prowess is a significant advantage that she holds over most and should be put into consideration when discussing the individual strength of characters. The very strongest people in the world can hurt her but, she is far more likely to survive their most potent attacks than them surviving hers. We must remember that the likes of Roger, Newgate, Garp and many others are "normal humans". If they are shot by a bullet or a canon, they will sustain damage. The same is not the case for Linlin. They must breach the gap in durability through the utilization of haki which further skews the overall climate of any fight in her favor.
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What can I say?
Did you not what I just wrote? IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN SHE NEEDS TO EAT A SPECIFIC FOOD. 
