The Straw Hat Crew from One Piece now consists of 10 members. Some of them show how important they are, especially with their powerful abilities. However, according to MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes, the biggest loser of the crew is underestimated.
Readers first met Usopp in Chapter 23 of One Piece back in 1998. I first started with the anime on RTL2, which is why I got to know the sniper in Episode 9. To this day, Usopp is one of the weakest pirates in the New World. One could even easily argue that he is the weakest of the Straw Hats.
Unlike fan favorites like Zoro, Luffy, or Sanji, Usopp does not make it easy for the fans. He constantly lies, runs away from opponents, and is actually afraid of all enemies. Moreover, his abilities are not particularly impressive compared to the many characters that are as powerful as demigods
.
But exactly these traits are the great strength of a character like Usopp, which makes him the best member of the Straw Hats for me.
An average guy in a world where he doesn’t fit in
From his first appearance, Usopp was at a disadvantage compared to Luffy and Zoro. Equipped with his slingshot, he had a talent for aiming. Despite a 2-year training gap during the timeskip after the battle in the Sabaody Archipelago, that’s still true today, especially considering that Nami received quite an upgrade through the cloud Zeus.
Usopp has to resort to tricks and sometimes lies to defeat most of his opponents. Therefore, fleeing is often an option for him. Compared to characters like Zoro, this may seem ridiculous, but what else should Usopp do? It’s all the more rewarding when Usopp actually fights and faces seemingly unbeatable enemies to protect his friends. He demonstrated this in the Arlong Arc when he fought against KISS and defeated him with a trick.
I like to think of his fights because they are often creative, and that’s an aspect I miss in modern One Piece. Instead of countering the opponent and defeating them with an idea, most fighters rely on strong attacks. While that is visually impressive, Usopp’s fights with gadgets are much more fun.
That’s why his fight with Chopper against Mister 4 and Miss Merry Christmas is one of my absolute favorite fights. Usopp fights with Chopper up to his limits and overcomes his fears to defeat the opponents. This aligns with a big dream. Unlike his colleagues who want to become Pirate King or the best swordsman, Usopp’s dream of becoming a brave warrior of the seas is more abstract.
This very dream fits his personality. He is fearful and often weak, and with every leap over his shadow to face an opponent for others, he gets closer to this goal. This is especially evident in Enies Lobby. After his fight with Luffy, he helps Robin, a person he hasn’t known for long. He disguises himself, swallows his pride, and confronts the World Government, even though it is unclear if he will return to the crew.
One should not forget what Usopp does in the background. The Reddit user Gravel_Roads summarizes it well. He helps injured people or supports them in fleeing while the monster trio of the crew deals with the big fish. That’s what makes a crew, and especially chaotic ones like Luffy and Zoro need capable people in the background.
What I love even more about Usopp is his dynamics with the crew.
The dynamics are not just about fights
Usopp joined Luffy early on, and despite his role as a supporting character, the sharpshooter has a lovely dynamic with many parts of the crew. Sanji and he had a nice unit in Enies Lobby, especially regarding Usopp’s return, and with Franky and Chopper, every scene is comedic gold. However, I would like to pay special attention to the dynamics with Nami and Luffy.
Especially after the timeskip, Nami and Usopp are almost best friends. They both run away as cowards from their enemies and almost seem like siblings who have known each other since childhood. But no wonder: They are the weakest members and rely on tactics instead of strength. One should not forget that Usopp upgraded Nami’s weapon in the Grand Line twice. They are a nice anchor point for readers and viewers because they contrast with the Devil Fruits and Haki abilities. Moreover, the two provide many funny moments, which is a core element of One Piece.
His relationship with Luffy is also special, as the captain seems not to care that Usopp is weaker. He respects him, which is why he also fights him in Water 7. Here, Usopp also showed that he can stand up for his beliefs, in this case for his beloved ship, the Going Merry. At the same time, he is as loyal to Luffy as Zoro and would defend him, even though he is significantly weaker.
I can understand that many fans want to see more from Usopp, but not in the form of a drastic power-up. Usopp must remain weak, because otherwise his character would no longer work. He has to become a brave warrior someday, but he can only do that by overcoming his weakness and turning it into his strength, not by becoming the new super pirate who can defeat an admiral.
It is much braver and more exciting when a weakling still tries to defeat a demigod
than when Zoro, Sanji, or Luffy unleash strong attacks.
But what do you think of Usopp? Do you like him or are you rather averse to this coward? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. Currently, things don’t look so good for the Straw Hats, especially when even Luffy has big problems: “Pathetic”: One Piece shows that Luffy is still a rookie and has to be saved by an old guy
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