Speculations Nitpicking: Can Blackbeard ever be the Pirate King?

[MD Zolo]

This is basically nitpicking as the title suggests, but my question is genuine. Can Blackbeard become a Pirate King for short while before Luffy beats him?

Let's see. The definition of Pirate King as provided in the story states that the pirate who reaches Laugh Tale and finds One Piece is the Pirate King. It was not stated to be a strength-based title (this doesn't mean that I deny that strength is required to be the Pirate King).

Now, hidden in this statement is the fact that the first person to do so will be the Pirate King. Roger said that the one who finds it can keep it. So, for Blackbeard to be the Pirate King, no matter how strong he is, he must reach Laugh Tale and take possession of One Piece.

But if Blackbeard takes possession of Roger's treasure i.e. One Piece, then by definition Luffy can no longer have Roger's treasure (the content of the treasure is irrelevant). The treasure is now Blackbeard's and Luffy has failed to find One Piece.

If he later defeats Blackbeard, he will be a stronger pirate than Blackbeard. But the truth that Luffy didn't find One Piece will remain.

So:

1. Can Luffy be called Pirate King if he wasn't the one who found One Piece?
2. Considering that, can Blackbeard become the Pirate King for a short period?

In my opinion, Blackbeard can never be the Pirate King, at least not one who is acknowledged by people or WG. The moment Blackbeard reaches Laugh Tale (before Luffy), Luffy's goal is destroyed because One Piece will be found by Blackbeard. So Blackbeard may declare himself as the Pirate King if Kaido, Big Mom and Shanks were to die/incapacitated, but officially he will never be recognized as the Pirate King in the story.

 

[Garp the Fist]

I very much expect Blackbeard to follow Luffy to Laugh Tale using Shiryu's powers.

That way, we'll, as readers, know that Luffy did it right. He was the one who first got to Laugh Tale, using the Road Poneglyphs, the proper way, which is important. He's the true Pirate King.

So we'll get to see the Strawhats explore the island, get Robin translating the truth of the Void Century... then "Ze ha ha." Blackbeard and his crew ambush the Strawhats, run out of Laugh Tale as "Pirate King" and blow up an island with an Ancient Weapon or something.

 

[Xione]

Two things of course:

-> Blackbeard has to conquer the grandline, aka reach Laughtale.
-> He prior to that, has to establish himself as the top pirate on the seas. Something Roger established himself as prior to becoming the PK.

But how could he do the second one is the question. Maybe he takes down the Red Haired Pirates on his own with his crew, this makes the world think he's the top Pirate on the seas. Then he goes into Laughtale and comes out, making him the Pirate King.


Issue with that for me however is it takes away from the hype moment for Luffy. Which is why I would prefer Luffy establishing himself as the top pirate on the seas, by taking down Teach, before going to Laughtale. Then once he comes out of Laughtale, he'll be recognized as the King of the Pirates.. from there on his focus is shifted towards the Celestial Dragons and what not.

Only good reason for seeing Teach stay around for the Final War is if he turns good and decides to ally with Luffy to take down the Celestial Dragons.

 

[MD Zolo]

I very much expect Blackbeard to follow Luffy to Laugh Tale using Shiryu's powers.

That way, we'll, as readers, know that Luffy did it right. He was the one who first got to Laugh Tale, using the Road Poneglyphs, the proper way, which is important. He's the true Pirate King.

So we'll get to see the Strawhats explore the island, get Robin translating the truth of the Void Century... then "Ze ha ha." Blackbeard and his crew ambush the Strawhats, run out of Laugh Tale as "Pirate King" and blow up an island with an Ancient Weapon or something.

So, basically Blackbeard's Pirate King title would be a deceptive title. But what would be the point of that?! To make people of OPVerse see Luffy defeating the Pirate King?! Wouldn't Luffy finding One Piece would be more hype-worthy for people of OPVerse?

Two things of course:

-> Blackbeard has to conquer the grandline, aka reach Laughtale.
-> He prior to that, has to establish himself as the top pirate on the seas. Something Roger established himself as prior to becoming the PK.

But how could he do the second one is the question. Maybe he takes down the Red Haired Pirates on his own with his crew, this makes the world think he's the top Pirate on the seas. Then he goes into Laughtale and comes out, making him the Pirate King.


Issue with that for me however is it takes away from the hype moment for Luffy. Which is why I would prefer Luffy establishing himself as the top pirate on the seas, by taking down Teach, before going to Laughtale. Then once he comes out of Laughtale, he'll be recognized as the King of the Pirates.. from there on his focus is shifted towards the Celestial Dragons and what not.

Only good reason for seeing Teach stay around for the Final War is if he turns good and decides to ally with Luffy to take down the Celestial Dragons.

Exactly. Luffy has to take down Teach before reaching Laugh Tale or in Laugh Tale. Furthermore, Blackbeard can't be the one to find One Piece. If Blackbeard finds it, by definition, Luffy can't find it.

So, Blackbeard can never be the Pirate King, even for a short moment.

 

[Finalbeta]

If Luffy's plot was put to 0 all could happen

Actually it would be probable

He is just too freakishly powerful and even physically gifted

Also his buddies are beasts as well except for a few

 

[Zara]

Can Blackbeard become a Pirate King for short while before Luffy beats him?

Impossible.

Luffy dream since Chapter 1 was becoming the second Pirate King and that hasn't changed for 900+ chapters. Nobody is getting that title but him. I'm sure Luffy and Blackbeard will meet on Raftel, and Luffy will defeat him then and there.

 

[uyuu]

I expect the plot of Raftel to spiral down to the race between Luffy and Blackbeard, leaving all other contenders behind.

Blackbeard use Pluton, Luffy use Poseidon, they all have their battles in the front gate of Raftel, or at Raftel itself. Blackbeard gets a hold of the One Piece but fails to use it due to not knowing/incapable of doing the method to use it, he stakes got high, Luffy wins and take the treasure with him. Using it it effectively for all its worth, and becomes PK.

 

[MD Zolo]

Blackbeard gets a hold of the One Piece but fails to use it due to not knowing/incapable of doing the method to use it, he stakes got high, Luffy wins and take the treasure with him. Using it it effectively for all its worth, and becomes PK.

What does "using" it means? Besides, the goal isn't to "use" it, it is to find it. If Blackbeard finds it first, then Blackbeard is the PK. Luffy taking it from Blackbeard is not Luffy finding it, it has already been found.

 

[Jew D. Boy]

Teach may go down in Laugh Tale if he shows up at the same time as Luffy, but there’s no way the protagonist in a relatively formulaic shonen manga ISN’T going to achieve their dream when the time comes. Blackbeard is an obstacle, not a blockade.

 

[uyuu]

What does "using" it means? Besides, the goal isn't to "use" it, it is to find it. If Blackbeard finds it first, then Blackbeard is the PK. Luffy taking it from Blackbeard is not Luffy finding it, it has already been found.

"Using it" is my assumption about using whatever function the One Piece serve.

And if finding it means see it, then well Luffy may find it (arrive at the hidden location, see it by his own eyes) first, but in my prediction BB comes following Luffy and he can (have a chance to) grab it first

 

[Finalbeta]

Teach may go down in Laugh Tale if he shows up at the same time as Luffy, but there’s no way the protagonist in a relatively formulaic shonen manga ISN’T going to achieve their dream when the time comes. Blackbeard is an obstacle, not a blockade.

Exactly this was my point all along

I bet so much on Teach becoming pirate king had Luffy not encompassed by a heap of plot armor :)

I fail to see Luffy succeeding in the "real world"

 

[Garp the Fist]

There's absolutely no chance in hell that Blackbeard goes down before or on Laugh Tale. He's playing a huge role in the final arc, he hasn't been built up all these years for anything less than that.

So, basically Blackbeard's Pirate King title would be a deceptive title.

In a way. Pirates don't do things fair, so Blackbeard becoming Pirate King in a sort of unfair way and stealing the title from Luffy? Actually fits quite well.

But what would be the point of that?!

To make Blackbeard the biggest threat in the series.
-for his own individual strength, he's nearly sorted. The only character with two Devil Fruits, both of which are meant to be the ultimate in their class. He's expected to beat Shanks, if we add in him beating Luffy on Laugh Tale that's him firmly established as the strongest in the verse
-his crew are dark reflections of the Strawhats and Whitebeard Pirates, and also Rocks 2.0. Once they all have their Devil Fruits and, again, beat the Red Hairs and Strawhats, biggest threats in the series
-he gets an Ancient Weapon, and his military power can match or surpass the World Gov. Their hordes of soldiers don't matter if Blackbeard can annihilate them all with a world destroying weapon
-finally, he discovers the true history of the world- but comes away from that knowledge with a different idea, like Rayleigh said was possible. We know historical research is his main interest, and given he's a D, that suggests he wants to know what happened in the Void Century.

To make people of OPVerse see Luffy defeating the Pirate King?! Wouldn't Luffy finding One Piece would be more hype-worthy for people of OPVerse?

They'll still end up knowing that Luffy got there first and is the "real" Pirate King.

For the people of the world, the biggest hype will be when in the middle of Blackbeard and the World Gov tearing the world to shreds, Luffy and his crew come out from Laugh Tale and defeat them both and change the world, like Whitebeard prophesied.

 

[LANJI CUCKSMOKE]

the idea bb becomes pk then luffy defeats him to get that title sickens me
Thats not how the pk title is achieved in the first one
you dont get it because you happen to be stronger in combat.

 

[MD Zolo]

To make Blackbeard the biggest threat in the series.

Slapping a title through deception is not going to make Blackbeard the biggest threat. He is already the biggest threat - a false title actually dehypes him.

 

[Garp the Fist]

Slapping a title through deception is not going to make Blackbeard the biggest threat. He is already the biggest threat - a false title actually dehypes him.

I do not see how Blackbeard calling himself the Pirate King after beating Luffy at Laugh Tale would at all dehype him

 

[Formerly Seth]

I don't think so.

I switched my theories about Blackbeard and now I'm on "He will fail due to his constant gaining of the power" kind of thing.

 

[Just a member]

Point is that when you become pirate king you will have your rivals swarming at you for the title. WB was said to be the only man who could fight with Roger on equal terns and that is one of his best hypes and that after Roger died he ruled from below the throne aka the pirate king is also the strongest pirate (just ask the other yonkos and/or Shiki who failed at besting Roger/WB). Then it comes to what really is the One piece, most likely BB and co think it is an ancient weapon or something even better but that would most likely be something different, maybe the story of the void century, don't know. Anyway at that point it will just be another step since Luffy will have to do the work Roger can't because he came to soon and his life was too short aka overthrow IM/the WG but this is maybe already off topic.

 

[davidobandolim]

I think he will achieve it shortly before Luffy