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    Roronoa Zoro

    Character » Roronoa Zoro appears in 1140 issues.

    Roronoa Zoro is the swordsman, first member and Vice Captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. He uses the Santoryu-style (Three Sword Style) of sword combat and aims to become the world's greatest swordsman. He has a bounty of 1,111,000,000 berries and is one of the eleven supernova rookies of the 'Worst Generation' of pirates.

    Short summary describing this character.

    Roronoa Zoro last edited by krisbishop on 03/23/23 09:45AM View full history

    Origin

    As a young boy, Zoro had tried to challenge the dojo master at Frost Moon Village, but he offered Zoro to face his young daughter, Kuina, who was only a few years older than himself. Zoro was defeated, and he stayed to train. No matter how hard he trained, he was always defeated by Kuina. When Kuina said that she would eventually lose to Zoro because he is a boy, he hated the idea he's win just becasue of biology. He made a promise that he and Kuina would become the greatest swordsman in the world then decide who was the best. However, Kuina soon died in a tragic accident. They would never get to live up to their promise. After her funeral, Zoro has Kuina's father for her sword, the Wado Ichimonji. He would use her sword to achieve their dream. Zoro trained at the dojo in his Three-Sword Style till he was a man and set out to fight the most powerful swordsmen he could find. He earned his living turning in bounties, and it earned him the nickname "Pirate Hunter Zoro". The man he wanted to face the most was Dracule Mihawk, the worlds greatest sword fighter, rival of a Pirate Emperor and member of the Seven Warlords.

    Creation

    One Piece Volume 1 JPN (Dec 1997)
    One Piece Volume 1 JPN (Dec 1997)

    Roronoa Zoro (ロロノア・ゾロ, Roronoa Zoro) is one of the main characters in the series One Piece that was created by Eiichiro Oda. The series first began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump on August 4, 1997.

    His first appeared in One Piece Volume 1, CH. 3 "Enter Zoro: The Pirate Hunter",

    Zoro was described as the elder brother. In the original design, Zoro was intended to be a villain among the pirate crew of Buggy the Clown. Oda described the crew as a family unit.

    Due to a minor copyright issue, Zoro's name was changed to "Zolo" for the English translations. This was most likely due to the similarity to the classic Zorro character. This required some art changes when his name would appear in the artwork in English.

    Character Evolution

    " I'm going to be the world's greatest swordsman! All I have left is my destiny. My name may be infamous...but it's gonna shake the world!! But if you are making me become a pirate! So if I have to abandon my dream for any reason...then I'm going to make you commit Hara Kiri!!! "

    Roronoa Zoro "One Piece" Vol. 1 Ch. 6

    Zoro's character

    Major Story Arcs

    Shell Town Arc

    A moment of kindness landed Zoro in trouble with Helmeppo, the wimpy son of the Marine captain Axe-Hand Morgan. Zoro joined Monkey D. Luffy's crew after being saved from execution by the Marines, and is now one of Luffy's first crew mates. Still Holding on to his dream of becoming the greatest swordsman in the world he told Luffy he only joined to accomplish his goal, though Luffy doesn't mind - on the contrary, he only sees it natural that the greatest swordsman and the greatest pirate are on the same crew.

    Orange Town Arc

    Luffy had to chase down Luffy, who had been grabbed by a giant bird. He caught up just in time to save him, along with a girl named Nami, from being killed by Buggy the Clown. Zoro was stabbed in the fight, because he didn't realize that Buggy had a devil fruit power that prevents him form being cut. Zoro turned Buggy's cannon toward them, and he carried Luffy in the steel cage as they escaped. After Zoro was resting from his injuries, he fought with Cabaji, who kept exploiting Zoro's wound. After he won, Zoro went to sleep so Luffy could handle the rest. They all had to leave since the Orangetown inhabitants had returned and thought they were the reason for the destruction.

    Island of Rare Animals

    While Nami and Luffy went into the Island of Rare Animals to explore, Zoro stayed a board their ship to sleep.

    Syrup Village Arc

    The gang ran into a long-nosed liar named Usopp on the next island they visited. Luffy wanted to ask Usopp's rich friend, Kaya, for a ship, but the crew got involved in trying to stop the plot of her butler, who was the evil Captain Kuro, from murdering Kaya. They first tried heading off his crew when they landed but were on the wrong shore. The crew was easy enough for Zoro, but two of the crew, Siam and Butchie, threw Zoro off balance thanks to Jango's hypnotism power boost. When Nami retrieved two of Zoro's stolen swords, he easily defeated both. As Luffy fought Kuro, Zoro helped Usopp save Kaya from Jango. As thanks, Kaya gave the crew the Going Merry as their ship, and Usopp joined the crew as the sniper.

    Baratie Arc

    Zoro finally got an opportunity to meet his rival and prove his skill when the crew came across Dracule Mihawk, who was attacking the ship of Don Krieg at the time. Zoro then challenged him to a duel, but despite using his full power, Mihawk easily held him off with a six-inch knife, lamenting that he didn't bring anything smaller with him. Despite being badly wounded, Zoro continued to fight, and impressed by his courage and will power, Mihawk gave him a chance to face his Black Sword. Zoro used his strongest attack at the time, the ultimate technique of the "Santouryuu, Sanzen Sekai" (Three Thousand Worlds), but even so, two of his swords were shattered by Mihawk's following attack, leaving only "Wado Ichimonji" unharmed. From that point on, Zoro swore never to lose to another swordsman again.

    Arlong Park Arc

    Zoro was captured and brought to Arlong, and learned that Nami was a part of his crew. He had his doubts and proved it by jumping into the water while bound. As he though, Nami dove in to save him. She later released him from the cells after Arlong and his men had left. Luffy had soon caught up to them, and he listened as Nojiko, Nami's sister, told them how Arlong had murdered their adoptive mother. Nami had been suffering under Arlong because she was trying to buy the freedom of her village. When Arlong betrayed Nami after she was nearing the promised amount, Zoro joined Luffy after Nami asked for his help.

    Zoro struggled in his fight with the fish-men due to his wounds from Mihawk, but he still managed to defeat many of them. Even Arlong was shocked when he saw the extent of Zoro's wounds and the havoc he had caused. After Luffy was freed from the water he was trapped in, he switched out to fight Arlong with Zoro. Zoro went to sleep outside Arlong Park and woke up after Luffy had won. Zoro finally got his wounds properly treated, and they set sail with Nami as their official navigator.

    Loguetown Arc

    Loguetown was the first destination before they entered the Grand Line. Zoro was in the need of swords and borrowed some money from Nami to get them. Before he found a sword dealer, he ran into Tashigi, a young Navy woman, capturing some pirates. He was picking up her glasses and accidentally crushed them when he noticed she looked just like Kuina. Despite that, she still led him to the vendor she knew of. In the store, he discovered the Sandai Kitestu, a cursed blade. He tested the curse by throwing the sword in the air and holding out his arm. The blade had missed his arm, and the store owner was so impressed he gave Zoro the Yubashiri for free.

    Zoro and Sanji later had to help Luffy from being killed by Buggy and his gang, but the captain got away safe thanks to a sudden lightning bolt. As they were escaping the island from the forces of Smoker, Tashigi was in their path. She now knew he was Zoro and was intent on taking his swords. Zoro defeated her, and she was offended that he didn't kill her. When she accused him of going easy on her because she's a woman, Zoro finally lost his temper and told her to stop looking and acting like his old friend. That only served to offend her more. Zoro still managed to get away and the entire crew set sail as a giant storm was coming in.

    Reverse Mountain Arc

    The crew and ship were swallowed whole by a gigantic whale named Laboon as soon as they entered the Grand Line. In the belly, they met the whale's doctor Crocus. He let them out and told them how the whale has been trying to break down the Red Line with his head to find the pirate crew that left him behind. Luffy stopped the whale by making a promise to return to him. When Crocus gave them a Log Pose, the crew set sail with Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 to Whiskey Peak.

    Baroque Works Saga - Whiskey Peak Arc

    Zoro wasn't fooled by the welcoming the crew got on Whiskey Peak. It only reminded him of bounty hunters he had once heard about. While the rest of the crew were sleeping off their celebration, Zoro fought off the entire village alone. However, Luffy woke up and thought Zoro had gone crazy attacking the villagers. Nami ended their fight and ordered them both to protect Miss Wednesday, who was really princess Vivi from Alabasta, from the two Baroque Works agents. He was forced to follow her orders since he still owed her for the money she lent him. Vivi later told then how she infiltrated Baroque Works to find who was behind the civil war brewing in her kingdom. After she slipped that the mastermind was Sir Crocodile of the Seven Warlords, the whole crew found themselves wanted. Miss All Sunday, Crocodile's second hand, was aboard the ship as they were sailing away. She offered help to guide them but Luffy refused her help.

    Baroque Works Saga - Little Garden Arc

    Zoro and Sanji got caught up in a hunters challenge of who could bring the largest beast in while on Little Garden. The island was filled with dinosaurs, and Zoro was captured by the Baroque Works officer, Mr. 3. He was put into a diabolical trap that was going to kill them by coating him, Nami, and Viv in wax. When Zoro's plan to cut his legs free failed, he opted for striking a heroic pose to die in. Though, they were rescued by Luffy and Usopp. Free of the wax, Zoro cut down Mr. 5. In all the chaos, Sanji returned after the chaos had passed with an Eternal Pose to Alabasta.

    Baroque Works Saga - Drum Island

    Nami had fallen deathly ill , and the crew clashed with a pirate named Wapol as they were searching for a doctor. Zoro stayed aboard the ship to train while the rest searched for the doctor on Drum Island. Zoro fell into the freezing water and was walking through the snow when he found Wapol's men attacking a village. Zoro stole one of the coats of Wapol's men, then joined the attack to the castle atop the mountains, where Luffy was fighting Wapol. They arrived just as the fight had ended, and Luffy convinced the talking reindeer Tony Tony Chopper to join the crew as their doctor. They were now off toe Alabasta.

    Baraque Works Saga - Alabasta Arc

    Smoker and Tashigi were waiting for the Straw Hats when they landed on Alabasta. They escaped with the help of Portgas D. Ace, Luffy's Brother and a commander in the Whitebeard Pirates. They crossed the desert to Yuba, the rebel based; but they had already left. They then went to Rainbase to fight Crocodile after Luffy convinced Vivi to take the fight to him. Zoro got lost in the city and ran away to avoid Tashigi. He wound up back with Luffy in Crocodile's casino, and they all got trapped with Smoker in Crocodile's trap cage. The villain boasted about his plot to trick the nation's people to rip it apart for him to take over, and he planned to kill them by flooding the cells with water. Sanji broke them out, and Luffy ordered Zoro to save Smoker from drowning.

    Luffy had stayed behind while the rest went on to stop the war in the capital. They all tried to separate the Baroque Works officers, but the war still began. Zoro struggled in his battle with Mr. 1, because his body was made of steel and could form blades with his entire body. He was on the brink of defeat till he remembered the teachings of his sensei. He finally reached the level that he could cut steel and defeated Mr. 1. After helping to foil the bombing lot in the plaza, Luffy defeated Crocodile. They rested while Luffy recovered, then made their escape from the island. Vivi saw them off from the shoreline, but they couldn't say goodbye without incriminating her to the Navy chasing them. They turned their backs to her then raised their arms with the X-mark as a sign of their friendship.

    Jaya Arc

    Miss All Sunday, who's real name is Nico Robin, stowed away on the ship and wanted to join the crew. Luffy accepted her despite the crew's objections. Soon after, a giant galleon nearly crashed on top of them. The evidence they scavenged revealed it had come from a sky island. On Jaya, they searched for clues for how to reach the sky island, but they got into a brawl with the Bellamy Pirates. Luffy ordered Zoro not to fight, and they were beaten up until Nami dragged them out. Robin returned with a clue about a man on the other side of the island who could help them.

    Montblanc Cricket quickly befriended the crew and agreed to help them reach the sky islands via the Knock-Up Stream. While they were searching for a South Bird, Cricket and his men were attacked and robbed by Bellamy. Luffy went to get his stuff back, and Zoro explained to Nami why they didn't fight before. Luffy returned just in time, and their whole ship was launched into the white sea.

    Skypiea Arc

    The crew was attacked as soon as they landed, but saved by a knight named Gal Fal. Once they reached Skypie, the crew almost immediately got in trouble with the local authorities They were planning on leaving before causing too much trouble for Conis and her father, but the Going Merry was dragged off with Zoro, Nami, Chopper, and Robin on it to the forbidden Upper Yard, the land of God Eneru. Zoro helped explore the land, and Nami discovered that Upper Yard had once been a part of Jaya just as Luffy and the others caught up.

    Zoro was lost as the crew split up to find Jaya's lost city of gold, and they ended up getting dragged into a war between Eneru's men and the Shandian natives. Zoro first battled with Braham, and later with Ohm, one of Eneru's priest. It was in this fight that he perfected the flying blade attack, 36 Pound Phoenix. Zoro later tried to challenge Eneru, but was quickly defeated by his lightning powers. Zoro woke up just before Luffy went to save Nami and defeated Eneru. They returned to the blue sea after a huge party and raiding the treasure Luffy had found.

    Davy Back Fight Arc

    The whole crew got caught up in a Davy Back Fight game with the Foxy Pirates by Luffy. They lost the first game due to Foxy devil fruit powers to slow people, and it was up to Zoro and Sanji to win the Groggy Fight game. Finally getting fed up with losing, Zoro and Sanji agreed to work together for thirty seconds, and they wont the game. Luffy then won one-on-one duel with Foxy.

    As the games came to an end, they ran into Admiral Aokiji. He was trying to kill Robin and froze her body solid. Zoro's shoulder was frozen by the admiral in the fight, and Luffy ordered them to get away with Robin while he fought Aokiji. Zoro and Sanji defrosted their wounds in the ocean, and returned to find Luffy both frozen and alone. Luffy and Robin were both saved by Chopper, and they sailed on with no sign of Aokiji.

    Water Seven Arc

    Zoro was alone aboard the Sunny when the carpenter Kaku came to evaluate the ship. He told Zoro that the Sunny's keel was damaged beyond repair. He then heard tat Usopp had been robbed of much of the money he had been carrying by the Franky Family. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Chopper banded together to get revenge for Usopp and decimated the Franky Family, but the money was already gone. Usopp refused to accept the Sunny wouldn't sail again. Usopp left the crew and Luffy gave him the ship once he lost his duel with Luffy. The next morning, the Straw Hats were wanted men for the attempted murder of the mayor Iceberg.

    They staked outside of Iceburg's home, and they found Robin was among the attackers, the CP-9. Zoro and Luffy were both thrown from the buildings, and Zoro landed stuck in a chimney near the edge of town. He was able to free himself once Chopper found him and had his sword. It appeared that Robin only helped the CP-9 to protect the crew, and she was being taken to Enies Lobby to be sent to her death. Zoro, the crew, Galley-La workers, and members of the Franky Family all boarded a sea train to chase after them. During the trip, Luffy and Zoro combined forces to blow a hole into a giant tsunami created by the Aqua Laguna storm.

    Enies Lobby Arc

    Despite the plan, Luffy jumped on ahead, then Zoro and the crew fought to catch up. Once aboard the tower, they confronted Robin with the CP-9 and the abducted Franky. Luffy then showed he was ready to declare war on the World Government to free her. On the other side, Fukuro told them that one of the CP-9 had the key to Robin's Sea Prism Stone cuffs. Zoro fought against Kaku, who could transform into giraffe man and was a skilled sword fighter. Unfortunately during the fight, Zoro and Usopp, disguised as Sogeking, were accidentally cuffed together. Zoro had Usopp hold one of his swords so he could fight Kaku and Jyabra. They were freed when Nami had found the key to their cuffs.

    Zoro was now free to fight with Kaku. It was an intense battle, and Zoro overcame using the Nine-Sword Style - Asura attack. With Robin freed, the crew fought off the Navy's Buster Call forces while they waited for Luffy to defeat Rob Lucci. In the fight, the Yubashiri sword of Zoro was destroyed by Captain Shu's Rust-Rust devil fruit powers. When escaped seemed impossible, the Straw Hats were amazed to see the Going Merry sailing in by itself. They all hopped aboard and sailed back for Water Seven. Unfortunately, the Merry split in two before they arrived. They were forced to give the ship a viking funeral, and Iceberg's ship took them the rest of the way.

    Garp, Luffy's grandfather and the hero of the Navy, appeared, and he was accompanied by Coby and Helmeppo. Soon after, Zoro's bounty had gone up, and the whole crew now had wanted posters in the wake of Eneis Lobby. The crew soon after sailed off aboard the Thousand Sunny that Franky had built for them, and joined the crew as their shipwright.

    Thriller Bark Arc

    Zoro vs. Ryuma
    Zoro vs. Ryuma

    The crew ran across a ghost ship, and Luffy came back with a talking skeleton named Brook that he invited to join the crew. The crew was then captured on Thriller Bark, a giant floating island-ship. Zoro and the crew went ashore to find Nami, Usopp, and Chopper, and they were attacked by zombies. On the way, an old man told them how the Warlord Gecko Moria was behind this island and stealing people's shadows to power his zombies. Zoro was captured inside the castle, and his shadow was placed into a zombie along with Luffy and Sanji.

    Zoro joined Brook to get his shadow back from the zombie Ryuma. He fought the powerful samurai and defeated him. Ryuma then passed his Shusui over to Zoro. All that was left was to defeat Oars, the giant powered bu Luffy's shadow, and Gecko Moria to get his shadow back. The crew all struggled against Oars and Moria, but turned the tide when they all united with Luffy's return to the battle.

    Danger wasn't settled with Moria's defeat. Bartholomew Kuma, another of the Seven Warlords, was there for Luffy's head. With most of the crew unconscious from Kuma's shock wave. Zoro knocked Sanji out from sacrificing himself, and Zoro offered his head in place of Luffy's. Instead, Kuma used his powers to remove the pain from Luffy's body in the form of a giant sphere. Zoro accepted this toll and took all of Luffy's pain. Zoro was seriously wounded and found standing among splattered blood. When Sanji found him, Zoro said that nothing had happened. After some rest, Zoro gave the Yubashiri a proper burial on Thriller Bark before they left.

    Sabaody Archipelago Arc

    The crew reached the Red Line and had no way of reaching Fish-Man Island. The Straw Hats had a run in with a mermaid named Camie and got involved in the rescuing of her friend, Hatchan, one of Arlong's former officers. With Nami's approval, they rescued Hatchan and Camie from the men of Duval. Hatchan guided the crew to Sabaody Archipelago out of gratitude to get a coating for their ship that would allow them to reach Fish-Man Island. Zoro went walking on his own and had a run in with one of the Celesital Dragons. He was only stopped from attacking them by Jewelry Bonney. Zoro got lost again, but was picked up by Luffy to save the kidnapped Camie from a slave auction. They crashed in and Luffy punched the Celestial Dragon who tried shooting Zoro earlier. This ignited A Naval attack on the island, and they were led to Shakky's Rip-Off Bar by Silvers Rayleigh, Gold Roger's first mate. It was there he told the crew the truth that Gold Roger had turned himself in.

    Rayleigh told them their coating would take three days. They were all given a piece of Vivre card and planned to split up, but they were cut off but what appeared to be Bartholomew Kuma. It took the entire crew to barely manage to defeat him. However, this was only a cybernetic copy of the original Kuma, and there were more arriving, along with Sentomaru and Admiral Kizaru. Zoro was still suffering from the wounds he got on Thriller Bark so he collapsed during the fight, and he was confronted by the real Kuma, who used his powers to cast Zoro off the island. He did the same tot he rest of the Straw Hats.

    Lost Friends Mini Arc

    Zoro crash landed on Gloom Island, and he was found by Perona, the ghost princess of Thriller Bark. She tended to his wounds, and they found the island swarmed by fighting apes that could use weapons and mimic Zoro's techniques.

    Dawn Island Arc

    Zoro asks Mihawk to train him.
    Zoro asks Mihawk to train him.

    Zoro's combat with the apes ended as they became terrified by the appearance of Dracule Mihawk. The island was his home, and he had just returned from the Paramount War on Marineford. He had some dark news for Zoro. Luffy had been a part of the war, and witnessed the death of his brother Ace before him. Zoro wanted to return to Luffy, but these apes stood in his way. He eventually saw the paper a few days later that had a picture of Luffy and a code written on his arm. The crew were to meet up at Sabaody in two years. After defeating all the apes, Zoro begged Mihawk to train him. Mihawk was reluctant, but agreed when he liked the idea of training the man who was after his head. For two years, Zoro trained under Mihawk to become a stronger sword fighter in preparation for the New World, the second half of the Grand Line.

    Fish-Man Island Arc

    Zoro, two years later.
    Zoro, two years later.

    Surprisingly, Zoro was the first to arrive on Sabaody Archipelago thanks to Perona. A fact he didn't let Sanji, who arrived 9th, not forget. The pair ran into Luffy causing trouble and defeated one of the Pacifista before returning to the Thousand Sunny to set sail.

    While traveling to Fish-Man Island, the pirate Caribou tried attacking them, and Zoro teamed up with Sanji and Luffy to defeat a Kraken that Luffy wanted to tame. The three got separated but arrived in time to rescue the rest of the crew from pirates. Once finally in Fish-Man Island, the crew was separated again. Zoro was brought to Ryugu Palace for a celebration, but he was soon thrown in jail as the Straw Hats were accused of kidnapping mermaids. They threw Zoro in a cell while he was drunk, but he broke out and defeated the royal guard and King Neptune once he heard the fighting outside. This unfortunately aligned with Hody Jones staging a take over. Though Zoro defeated Hody, he used a drug to overpower the crew and Zoro couldn't hold his breath under water. Zoro, Usopp, and Brook were locked in a cage in a room filling with water as a trap. However, Zoro got them free once Brook got him one of his swords.

    Zoro met up with the crew who were going to stop Hody from killing the royal family at Conchorde Plaza. It was a fight of Hody's 100,000 versus the 10 Straw Hats. Zoro fought with Hyouzou, who claimed to be Fish-Man Island's greatest swordsman, but the octopus fish-man was no real challenge for him. The crew celebrated their victory with a party at the royal palace, then Zoro was present as Luffy started a fight with the crew of Big Mom, when they threatened the island's people.

    Punk Hazard Arc

    Zoro defeats Monet
    Zoro defeats Monet

    Zoro joined Luffy ashore with Robin and Usopp on the burning island Punk Hazard in response to a distress call they intercepted. One of the first hazards they came across was a giant fire-breathing dragon. Zoro chopped off it's head and they ate it, and Luffy found a pair of talking legs stuck to the beast. Soon after they discovered the other half of Punk Hazard was covered in ice, they received a call from brook that the rest of the crew had been abducted to the ice side. They robbed the underlings of Brownbeard of their coats once they crossed the frozen lake and joined back up with the already escaped crew, but their minds and bodies had been switched by the powers of Trafalgar Law. Zoro was forced to join Sanji and Brook in the search to Kin'emon to prevent Sanji from doing anything inappropriate while within Nami's body. After the clash with the Yeti Cool Brothers, they found the torso of Kin'emon and retrieved it to complete the samurai's body.

    Zoro and the gang were running form the poisonous gas cloud created by the Slime monster of Caesar Clown and made it inside the facility just in time. Zoro defended Nami and Robin from the snow-snow fruit powers of Monet, and he was joined in fighting her by Tashigi. Zoro was sitting out of this fight as Tashigi struggled against the logia fruit user, but he came to Tashigi's rescue by cutting Monet in half. She was alive but in shock since he didn't use Haki to cut her. Tashigi was the one to ultimately defeat Monet when she tried attacking Zoro from behind. Zoro then carried the injured Tashigi until the reunited with the rest of their friends to escape. With Caesar captured, Zoro finally learned that Luffy had formed an alliance with Trafalgar Law to take down Kaido, one of the Four Emperors.

    Dressrosa Arc

    The mission on Dressrosa was to find the SMILE factory while the others dropped off Caesar as a distraction for Doflamingo. Zoro, Luffy, Sanji, Franky, and Kin'emon were in the party to find the factory, but Shusui was stolen by someone. Zoro chased after the thief and got it back just as he saw who he was chasing.

    Wano Country Arc

    Upon arriving at Wano, Zoro was instructed by Kin'emon instructed to blend in with the Wano citizens in order to recruit allies for the invasion of Kaidou's lair Onigashima. Zoro then used the alias "Zorojuro", but was mistakenly arrested and sentenced to death by Toyama Tsujigiro, who was the true culprit. Zoro noted the stench of blood on Tsujigiro and cut him down.

    While as a wanted man, Zoro rescued Tsuru from a squad of Beasts Pirates and reunited with Luffy. They were then interrupted by Basil Hawkins leading another Beast Pirates squad and started clashing in a fight. They were forced to retreat afterwards to seek treatment for Luffy's sick friend Tama.

    Zoro met a woman in Okobore Town named O-Kiku, who was revealed to be a samurai. After fending off Beast Pirates once more, Luffy and him were berated by Trafalgar Law for causing trouble once again.

    Receiving Enma

    After a night of gambling and fights, Shusui was stolen by a man named Gyukimaru, who was pursued by Zoro and had a duel after Gyukimaru had already returned Shusui to Ryuma's grave, not believing that Zoro obtained Shusui rightfully. They were stopped by a young woman named Kozuki Hiyori and a young girl named Toko begging Zoro to save them from an assassin. Despite defeating him, Zoro was injured by the assassin while he was distracted.

    After being nursed by Hiyori, she requested for Zoro to leave Shusui in Wano, offering Enma, a Meito of the same quality that once belonged to her father, as a replacement. As Zoro tried to wield the blade, it drew a heavy amount of Busoshoku Haki from him. However, he was able to overpower and take control over Enma, regulating the amount of Haki it drew. He then went on to train with it for five days to master his control over Enma.

    Raid on Onigashima

    On the day of the Fire Festival, the Straw Hats sailed to Tokage Port to meet the Heart Pirates and Kid Pirates, and started to take out members of the Beast Pirates as they approached Onigashima.

    After clashing with the likes of Apoo, King, and Queen, the Beast Pirates were betrayed by X Drake in the midst of battle, who requested to aid them. Zoro, being suspicious, started fighting him instead but they formed a temporary truce to take down Apoo when the latter resurfaced.

    After Queen infected the fighters on the Live Floor with his virus, Zoro chased down Apoo and cut him down to seize the cure. Zoro then tried to get up to the roof to join the others in confronting Kaido and Big Mom, and received help from Marco the Phoenix - who held off King and Queen and tossed him to the roof at the exact same time that Luffy, Law, Kid, and Killer arrived.

    In the midst of the savage battle, Zoro jumped in to the resist a combined attack from Kaido and Big Mom for just long enough to allow the Supernovas to escape its impact. In spite of the heavy damage taken, Zoro used the last of his remaining strength and used Nine Sword Style: Asura, inflicting a heavy strike on Kaido that managed to cut and scar him. Kaido then realised that Zoro possessed the Conqueror's Haki and used it in his attack, though Zoro was confused and was unaware. He was then swiftly defeated by Kaido afterwards, before Luffy jumped in and Law teleported him to safety.

    Due to his injuries, Zoro was left bandaged heavily in a splint and was carried by Sanji through the battle. After finally being healed by Chopper, Zoro returned to fighting condition and started taking on King and Queen together with Sanji, noting that this was the next step towards making Luffy the Pirate King.

    After a brief scuffle, Zoro was knocked out of the Skull Dome by an attack from King, where they continued their battle and Zoro had difficulties trying to cut King due to the latter's immense durability. He also started to be crippled by the amount of Haki that the sword Enma was drawing from him. As Zoro thought back to his childhood and everything he had learnt in Wano, he realised that Enma was testing him and decided to stop fighting it, allowing it draw all the Haki it could. This led to Zoro unleashing a wave of Conqueror's Haki, which surprised King.

    Zoro eventually managed to figure out that King's defenses weaken when he puts out his flames and increases his speed, and managed to wait for the right moments to wound his opponent. In a last ditch effort to finish off an injured and tired Zoro, King attacked him with an enormous flame dragon hotter than magma, but Zoro managed to cut right through it, along with half of King's right wing. He then used the last of his strength to push himself back onto Onigashima, where he finally passed out due to his fatigue and injuries.

    Zoro awakened some time after his fight with King, where he was confronted by a vision of a hooded Grim Reaper figure that was about to strike at him with a scythe. He remained unconscious until large sections of Onigashima were destroyed and crumbling due to Big Mom's bombs, where Franky appeared and managed to grab him to safety for Chopper's treatment.

    Powers & Abilities

    Zoro is an extremely skilled and powerful fighter, and is one of the top four fighters of the crew along with Luffy, Sanji, and Jinbei. After the events of Wano, he now possesses a bounty of 1,111,000,000 berries - giving him the second highest bounty in the Straw Hats. After defeating King the Conflagration in Wano and dealing permanent injuries to Kaido himself, he is often considered to be amongst the most powerful non-Emperor characters.

    Three-Sword Style

    Zoro uses a unique fighting style that involves the use of three swords, one in each hand and one in his mouth. Zoro has used this fighting to great effect against many dangerous opponents.

    Flame Rend

    Zoro has copied Kin'emon's fire cutting technique, enabling him to slice Prometheus: a large, sentient ball of flame imbued with a fragment of Big Mom's soul. Additionally, what's more impressive is the swordsman using this skill to cut through Kaido's Boro-breath.

    Zoro cutting Prometheus
    Zoro cutting Prometheus

    Zoro has seamlessly integrated this new style with his own arsenal, shown when he performed flame rend with the Santoryu technique, Crossing of the Six Paths. Foxfire style is effective against explosions as well, evidenced when Kin'emon cut through SMILEY's expandature so it seems this technique counters energy expressions itself, not just fire.

    Haki

    Haki (覇気, Haki) is a power that is possessed by all people, but few can actually use it. It's often unique to those with a strong enough will to control. This power is even strong enough to cancel out the powers of Devil Fruit users, but even they can use this skill. There are two basic forms of Haki and one rare colour. Zoro has been seen to be able to use all three.

    • Observation Haki: The Observation Haki (見聞色, Kenbunshoku) technique is a skill that allows the user to predict an opponent's movements, but only the thoughts directly on the user's mind. This gives them more time to avoid an attack. It can also be used to sense the location or numbers of enemies from a great distance as well as how powerful they are. Zoro has used this type of Haki to sense Caribou on Fishman Island, hone in on a Tontatta who stole his sword and perceive Luffy and Fujitora's battle from some distance away. Moreover, he sensed Carrot's presence on Zunisha and deflected Kaido's invisible wind scythes.
    • Armament Haki: The Armament Haki (武装色, Busoshoku) technique is a skill that surrounded the body of the user like an invisible armor or can even manifest as a black metallic armor. This can also be projected outward when striking to cause even more damage than normal. This power even allows the user to hit the normally intangible Logia Devil Fruit users. Since this power can be extended to the user's weapons, Zoro uses it with his swords. Armament Haki is Zoro's speciality as Oda has said and many of his most impressive feats after the time skip involve the usage of Busoshoku: cutting Pica's Golem, cutting through Pica's Haki, forcing Kaido to dodge and piercing Kaido with Black Rope Dragon Twister.
    • Conqueror's Haki: The Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku) or 'Colour of the Supreme King' is the rarest and most powerful form of Haki. Only one in a million people possess it, with many of the series most prominent characters being among those few. The user exerts their will over others, overpowering their senses to knock them out. It can only be resisted by those with strong will power or those who are physical peers to the user. There is no method of training this Haki directly, instead it grows in tandem with the user's own strength development. Zoro has currently used it to knock out a horde of Beast Pirates, as well as infusing his strikes with it to deal significant damage to Kaido and King.
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    Advanced Conqueror's Haki

    As shown in chapter 1010, a more powerful version of this Haki enables the user to infuse their body or objects with Supreme King energy to exponentially boost their attacks. Zoro subconsciously used Conqueror's Coating with Asura (his most powerful form) to scar Kaido. It should be noted that Zoro performed this attack with all the bones in his body broken.

    According to Kaido, Advanced Conqueror's Haki can only be used by a select few of the most powerful individuals, thus solidifying Zoro's top tier potential.

    Strength

    Zoro has shown to have incredible strength through his intense training. Rather than resting, he can be seen holding gigantic sets of weights in his arms and in his teeth as he exercises. Before the timeskip, he has sliced through a train with ease, cut buildings apart, tossed a huge chunk of a mansion while injured and dying of blood loss and physically stalemated Luffy.

    Zoro cuts the Pica statue
    Zoro cuts the Pica statue

    After the time-skip his strength had increased monstrously. He was able to bisect the upper half of the city-sized Pica without going all out, then vertically cut him in half and chopped up left arm several times, he has sliced through multiple steel shields "as if they were fruit" just from the winds generated from his sword slashes.

    Furthermore, post time-skip Zoro was able to cleanly slice through a Pacifista with a single slash. A feat which would have been impossible before the time-skip because he and his crew mates had to repeatedly hit a Pacifista with their best attacks to put it down.

    Zoro and Sanji destroying a pacifista with single attacks
    Zoro and Sanji destroying a pacifista with single attacks

    Zoro has replicated a feat that his teacher and rival, Mihawk has performed: cutting a Galleon ship in half.

    Speed

    Before the time-skip, Zoro was fast enough to casually dodge bullets even after they were fired, dodge lasers, attack multiple trained marine soldiers before they could react, be too fast for the exceptionally quick Brook to track with his eyes during a sword fight with the zombie samurai, Ryuuma and kept pace with the second fastest hypersonic member of CP9- Kaku.

    Zoro and Ryuuma's blade lock
    Zoro and Ryuuma's blade lock

    He was also fast enough to dodge a barrage of high hypersonic air blasts fired by the Warlord, Bartholomew Kuma.

    After the time-skip, he has been shown to be faster than the stronger than average Fishman, Hody Jones underwater despite the swordsman's limited mobility, just as fast as Luffy and Sanji in combat speed, both of whom can reach re entry level without full exertion and fast enough to engage the marine Admiral Fujitora in a brief sword fight, somebody who is just as swift as the high hypersonic Doflamingo if not more so. Additionally, Zoro scales directly ahead of Brook in combat speed, perceptions and reaction time. Before the time-skip, Brook was decisively beaten by Ryuma, whom Brook notes was too fast, too skilled and was holding back throughout their bout. Zoro however, matches Ryuma going all out and was able to defeat the zombie, claiming his sword, Shusui as a prize. Having gone through tough training by Mihawk, Zoro maintains his superiority to Brook who outpaced and intercepted point blank lightning.

    It should also be noted that Zoro's overall combat speed is augmented when he uses Kenbunshoku Haki and said Haki has enabled him to easily perceive Luffy and Fujitora's fight from a far distance away. Other feats of speed include:

    • Moving faster than Holdem's eyesight
    • Speedblitzing Scratchmen Apoo
    • Grabbing Luffy, moving him out of the way of Big Mom's slash
    • Dodging Queen's lasers
    • Intercepting to deflect one of the most powerful attacks shown thus far- Ocean Sovereignty
    • While heavily injured with his bones broken, able to perceive Hybrid Kaido in motion

    Endurance and durability

    Zoro has shown an extraordinary amount of endurance, even for the Straw Hat's standards. In fact he has the best endurance among his crew mates. This was shown during the 'Thriller Bark' arc in One Piece. Zoro, having just endured a grueling fight with Oars, Moria and the Warlord, Kuma decided to take all of Luffy's accumulative pain on top of his own injuries to save his Captain from Kuma killing him. Kuma accepted the deal, and using his Devil Fruit powers, he extracted all of Luffy's pain and fatigue which manifested as a large pink bubble.

    Zoro then stuck his hands into said bubble and absorbed the damage into his body. Kuma fully expected the young pirate to die, but to the reader's astonishment, Zoro survived and even managed to utter the words "Nothing, nothing at all." In response to Sanji asking him what had happened.

    After the time-skip, Zoro briefly withstood 'Ocean Sovereignty' a combined pressure wave from Kaido and Big Mom. Though with almost all his bones broken, Zoro was still able to continue fighting.

    Furthermore, Zoro took a small mountain sized explosion from point blank, receiving no damage thanks to the Armament Haki he activated in time.

    Weapons and equipment

    Wado Ichimonji

    The Wado Ichimonji (和道一文字, Wadō Ichimonji) is one of the 21 O Wazamono and Zoro's most precious blade. This was the sword that used to belong to Kuina.

    Sandai Kitetsu

    The Sandai Kitetsu (三代鬼徹, Sandai Kitetsu) is one of the Wazamono grade swords, and all it's previous owners had come to a gruesome death due to the curse it holds. Zoro obtained this blade in Lougetown. It was in a discount bin of other swords, because the store owner had wanted to get rid of it.

    Yubashiri

    The Yubashiri (雪走, Yubashiri) is one of the one of the Ryouwazamono 50. This sword was a gift to Zoro from the store owner in Loguetown. Unfortunately, this sword was destroyed by the marine Captain Shu with his Rust-Rust powers, and Zoro gave it a proper burial on Thriller Bark.

    Shusui

    The Shusui (秋水, Shūsui) is the former blade of the legendary samurai Ryuma, and it's considered a national treasure from Wano Country. It was stolen from Ryuma's grave, along with his body and reanimated on Thriller Bark. Zoro earned this sword by defeating Ryuma.

    Enma

    After returning Shusui to its rightful place as a national treasure of Wano Country, Zoro was given Enma, one of the 21 O Wazamono. It is one of two only known weapons to have ever injured the Yonko Kaido and was previously owned by Kozuki Oden. Zoro is told that Oden has been the only person thus far to tame Enma but this information didn't daunt Roronoa. Zoro accepts the sword and after being instructed to cut a tree, he instead cuts a chunk of the cliff off by accident. Enma drew out more Haki than Zoro intended for the slash, causing the swordsman's arm to shrivel up. This didn't last though, with Zoro successfully demanding Enma return his Haki and restoring his arm to full health. Zoro notes that once he masters Enma, he would become more powerful, a sentiment proving true in the battle against Big Mom and Kaido on the giant's skull on Onigashima.

    Other Media

    Anime

    One Piece (1999)

    The One Piece animated series is a direct adaptation of Oda's original manga.. It's produced by TOEI Animation and first began airing in October 20, 1999. Zoro's first anime appearance was in One Piece - Episode 1 " I’m Luffy! The Man Who’s Gonna Be King of the Pirates!".

    He has had separate voice actors for her adult version and another for her child version told in the flash back story in the Japanese and English versions of the series. His standard Japanese voice actor is Kazuya Nakai. The child version of Zoro was voice by Megumi Urawa. For the U.S. dub produced by FUNimation is done by Chris Sabat . There were two actresses to voice Zoro as a child in the FUNimation dubs. Cynthia Cranz voices the child Zoro for episode 2, but any further flashback voice work for the child Zoro was handled by Brina Palencia.

    Films

    Since Zoro is one of the earliest member to join the main cast of One Piece story. He has appeared in some form in ever product based on the series. The fifth movie of the series, One Piece: Curse of the Sacred Sword(2004) was based mostly around Zoro.

    • One Piece - The Movie (2000)
    • One Piece - Clockwork Island Adventure (2001)
    • One Piece - Chopper's Kingdom on the Island of Strange Animals (2002)
    • One Piece - The Movie: Dead End Adventure (2003)
    • One Piece - Curse of the Sacred Sword (2004)
    • One Piece - Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island (2005)
    • One Piece - Giant Mecha Soldier of Karakuri Castle (2006)
    • One Piece - The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventures in Alabasta (2008)
    • One Piece - Episode of Chopper Plus: Bloom in the Winter, Miracle Sakura (2008)
    • One Piece - Strong World (2009)
    • One Piece 3D - Straw Hat Chase (2011)
    • One Piece - Z
    • One Piece - Film Red

    U.S. Manga

    Ninja High School #127 April 2005 with a robotic Zoro and Rock Lee
    Ninja High School #127 April 2005 with a robotic Zoro and Rock Lee

    Two robots with the appearance of Roronoa Zoro and Rock Lee were seen on the cover of the U.S. published series Ninja High School in the April 2005 Issue.

    The Zoro robot has his most iconic outfit and is holding three separate swords, including one in his mouth. The Rock Lee robot is hanging on a volleyball net. It has his classic green jumper, leg weights, bowl-cut dome, and round, beady-eyes. The Millennium Falcon (Star Wars 1977) is seen floating in the background. The artist who drew the cover is Fred Perry, creator of Gold Digger.

    Video Games

    (For a full list of games that feature Roronoa Zoro, see his profile on Giant Bomb. HERE)

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