Marshall D. Teach, better known as Blackbeard, is the embodiment of everything a true villain represents in the world of One Piece. Cunning, merciless, and terrifyingly ambitious, Blackbeard’s rise to power has been paved with betrayal, manipulation, and shocking violence. He’s not just a typical pirate—he’s a man who plays the long game, pulling strings from the shadows and striking when least expected. With two of the most powerful Devil Fruits in existence and a terrifying intellect to match, Blackbeard has left chaos in his wake every time he’s appeared. These ten moments are a brutal reminder that Blackbeard isn’t just a threat to Luffy—he’s a threat to the entire world.
#10: Blackbeard betrays and murders Thatch for the Yami Yami no Mi
Blackbeard’s journey into infamy began with cold-blooded betrayal. As a member of Whitebeard’s crew, Teach lived among the men of the 2nd Division, sailing under one of the most respected pirates in history. But the moment Thatch, the 4th Division Commander, discovered the Yami Yami no Mi—a Devil Fruit Blackbeard had long coveted—Teach didn’t hesitate. He murdered Thatch in cold blood, took the fruit, and fled the crew he had served for decades. This wasn’t just a selfish act; it was a masterclass in delayed treachery. Blackbeard had hidden in plain sight, waiting for years until the opportunity to claim his ultimate weapon arose. The ruthlessness here lies not just in the murder, but in the calculated patience. Teach didn’t lash out in a fit of rage—he planned and waited. In a world where loyalty among pirate crews is often strong, this moment proved that Blackbeard would destroy anyone, even a comrade, for his ambition.
#9: Blackbeard turns Ace in to the Marines
After killing Thatch and going rogue, Blackbeard didn’t just go into hiding—he went hunting. When Portgas D. Ace, Whitebeard’s second division commander and one of the most beloved characters in the series, tracked him down for revenge, Blackbeard defeated him in battle and handed him over to the Marines. This wasn’t for justice—it was calculated. Teach used Ace as a bargaining chip to gain the position of Shichibukai, a Warlord of the Sea. The consequences were catastrophic. Ace’s capture led directly to the Summit War at Marineford, Whitebeard’s death, and Ace’s own execution. It was a domino effect of death and destruction, all set into motion by Teach’s cold ambition. The fact that he betrayed both Ace and Whitebeard—two men who had trusted him—shows the full scope of his villainy. He didn’t just hurt people physically; he shattered the emotional core of the series’ strongest crew.
#8: Blackbeard humiliates and brutalizes Ace in battle
Before Ace was captured, he faced Blackbeard in a one-on-one battle that revealed the true horror of the Yami Yami no Mi. Blackbeard’s Devil Fruit nullifies the abilities of other Devil Fruits, allowing him to physically grab and hurt Logia users like Ace. But it’s how Teach enjoys the fight that cements his villainy. He taunts Ace, laughs as he drags him through debris with his black hole powers, and emphasizes the “pain” that comes with his fruit’s ability. The fight isn’t just about winning—it’s about domination. Ace puts up a noble fight, but Teach’s glee in torturing him shows a sadistic streak. He doesn’t just want to win—he wants his enemies to suffer. It’s one of the earliest signs that Teach isn’t just dangerous—he revels in being cruel.
#7: Blackbeard arrives at Marineford and finishes off Whitebeard
The Battle of Marineford was already reaching its tragic conclusion when Blackbeard made his entrance, but what followed solidified him as one of the most sinister villains in One Piece. As Whitebeard lay dying—having been stabbed, burned, and shot—Teach and his crew surrounded him. With no sense of honor, Teach ordered his men to gang up on the legendary pirate. It was a cowardly ambush on a man already on the brink of death. The symbolism couldn’t be more brutal: a once-loyal subordinate finishing off the man who treated him like a son. But Teach didn’t stop there. He covered Whitebeard with a black tarp and somehow extracted the Gura Gura no Mi from his corpse, making himself the first known person in history to wield two Devil Fruits. This grotesque theft of power, done moments after a dishonorable kill, was monstrous even by pirate standards. It wasn’t just murder—it was sacrilege.
#6: Blackbeard declares the age of Whitebeard is over
After obtaining the power of the Gura Gura no Mi, Blackbeard wasted no time making a dramatic statement. With the war still echoing in the air, Teach used his new power to unleash earthquakes on Marineford, laughing and shouting, “This is the new era!” In that moment, he didn’t just announce his strength—he spit on the legacy of Whitebeard. The image of Blackbeard standing amid rubble, mocking the world while causing mass destruction, is pure villain energy. It marked the birth of a new terror in the pirate world. While others fought for justice, revenge, or loyalty, Blackbeard fought only for himself. And in that moment, he made it clear: the old world had died, and he would burn the new one into shape with darkness and earthquakes.
#5: Blackbeard massacres Bonney’s crew and toys with her emotions
Though Jewelry Bonney is a strong and spirited pirate in her own right, her encounter with Blackbeard reminds everyone just how cruel and opportunistic Teach can be. In the brief but chilling exchange seen in the Reverie arc, it’s implied that Blackbeard attacked Bonney’s crew without mercy, capturing her and potentially killing or scattering her subordinates. What’s especially ruthless is the way Teach doesn’t just defeat his enemies—he mocks them. His reputation as someone who crushes dreams is reinforced by how casually he treats Bonney’s suffering. To Blackbeard, people are tools or trophies, nothing more. He doesn’t make threats—he acts and then smirks at the ruin he leaves behind. Even other pirates fear crossing him, not just because of his strength, but because of how easily he can reduce allies and rivals alike to collateral damage. His treatment of Bonney, a member of the Worst Generation, shows that no one is safe from his games, and that he’ll crush anyone if it means advancing his chaotic agenda.
#4: Blackbeard invades Amazon Lily
The invasion of Amazon Lily is one of the boldest and most aggressive moves in Blackbeard’s campaign to rise through the ranks. With the Marines also attacking to capture Boa Hancock, Teach uses the opportunity to insert himself right in the middle of the conflict—because nothing delights him more than disrupting others’ plans for his own gain. What makes this moment truly villainous is how he uses fear as a weapon. He threatens the lives of Hancock’s people, holds hostages, and tries to force her into giving up her powerful Mero Mero no Mi Devil Fruit. He even manages to briefly overpower her before being stopped by the arrival of Rayleigh. The moment shows that Blackbeard isn’t just a strategist—he’s a conqueror. He targets powerful enemies when they’re most vulnerable and doesn’t care who he has to destroy to get what he wants. This siege of Amazon Lily isn’t about territory or ideology—it’s about the cold-blooded acquisition of power, and it shows that even the most formidable empresses aren’t safe from Blackbeard’s hunger.
#3: Blackbeard turns Pirate Island into a lawless fortress
Pirate Island, or Hachinosu, has long been a den of thieves and criminals, but under Blackbeard’s control, it has evolved into a capital of chaos. Unlike other pirate captains who maintain order through loyalty or charisma, Blackbeard lets violence rule, encouraging his men to act on greed and brutality. His fleet is made up of sadists, murderers, and lunatics, many of whom were broken out of Impel Down during his infamous raid. By gathering the worst of the worst and giving them free rein, Teach has created a haven for absolute villainy. But what makes this so chilling is that Blackbeard doesn’t just tolerate this behavior—he orchestrates it. He lets the world’s scum thrive because he knows chaos is the perfect cover for his moves. Pirate Island isn’t a refuge—it’s a power base. And its existence is a reminder that Blackbeard isn’t building a pirate crew—he’s building a dark empire.
#2: Blackbeard hunts down Road Poneglyphs with brutal force
In the post-Wano era, Blackbeard begins hunting the Road Poneglyphs—the key to reaching Laugh Tale and the One Piece—with terrifying efficiency. While Luffy, Law, and Kid seek the Poneglyphs through alliances, hardship, and inherited will, Blackbeard takes a different route: brute force and ambush. He targets weaker yet resource-rich pirate crews and intelligence sources, attacking them suddenly and violently. His assault on Trafalgar Law’s crew, the Heart Pirates, showcases this perfectly. Despite Law being one of the most tactically brilliant pirates in the New World, Blackbeard’s raw power, double Devil Fruits, and overwhelming numbers nearly crush the Heart Pirates entirely. Teach’s method is simple: let others do the hard work, then take what he wants. He is the anti-Roger—someone who doesn’t care about legacy or freedom, just power. His pursuit of the Poneglyphs isn’t just a quest—it’s a hostile takeover of the pirate dream itself.
#1: Blackbeard steals Whitebeard’s Devil Fruit power
Without question, the single most defining—and most horrifying—moment in Blackbeard’s rise is when he became the first person in the history of the One-Piece world to wield two Devil Fruits. After ambushing Whitebeard during the Battle of Marineford, Teach’s crew covered the fallen Yonko’s body, and when the cloth was removed, Blackbeard emerged with the Gura Gura no Mi—the power to cause world-shattering earthquakes. No one had ever seen anything like it. How he did it remains a mystery—some speculate it’s tied to his unusual body, others to the Yami Yami no Mi—but the result is chilling. Blackbeard didn’t just take Whitebeard’s life—he took his power, something that should have died with him. And the way he gleefully demonstrates his new strength by destroying parts of Marineford moments later makes it all the more disturbing. It wasn’t enough to betray, kill, and desecrate his former captain—Teach had to go further. He had to break the natural law of the world and laugh while doing it. This act isn’t just evil—it’s world-shattering. Literally.
From backstabbing comrades to declaring war on Emperors, Blackbeard has proven time and time again that he’s not just a pirate—he’s a monster in human form. His actions reshape the world of One Piece every time he moves, and his ruthlessness knows no limits. He isn’t chasing a dream like Luffy or upholding ideals like Whitebeard. Blackbeard is a conqueror through and through, a manipulator who sees opportunity in chaos. These moments show exactly why Teach isn’t just one of the most dangerous pirates alive—he’s the truest villain the Grand Line has ever known.
