In the world of One Piece, swordsmen are as abundant as the seas are vast—but none carry the presence, power, and unwavering will of Roronoa Zoro. As the right-hand man of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hats’ combatant, Zoro has cut down enemies, stood unflinching before death, and sworn an oath to surpass all others with the blade. From his first battle to his most recent clashes in Wano, Zoro has proven again and again that he’s not just aiming to be the world’s greatest swordsman—he’s already walking that path with unmatched intensity. Here are ten of the most epic moments where Zoro showed the world, he’s the future (and maybe current) king of the sword.
#10: Zoro defeats Mr. 1 with sheer willpower
During the Alabasta arc, Zoro faced Mr. 1 (Daz Bones), a killer with the power of the Dice-Dice Fruit, allowing him to turn his body into steel blades. For most swordsmen, a body of steel would be a death sentence. But for Zoro, it was a challenge. Bloodied, exhausted, and outmatched in physical durability, Zoro tapped into a moment of transcendent clarity and achieved what he once believed impossible cutting through steel. The battle was more than just a physical victory; it was a breakthrough in swordsmanship. For the first time, Zoro began to grasp the path Mihawk had told him about, a path of serenity and intuition. With this fight, Zoro went from a strong swordsman to a master in progress, foreshadowing the heights he would eventually reach.
#9: Zoro one-shots Killer
In the midst of the chaos on the Wano rooftops, Zoro squared off against Kamazo the Manslayer, later revealed to be Killer, one of the most notorious members of the Worst Generation. Zoro had been gravely wounded, had only two swords at the time, and was still able to one-shot Killer with a single devastating strike using borrowed weapons. This moment reminded fans that Zoro’s raw power was terrifying even when he wasn’t at full strength. Killer wasn’t a weak opponent—he was fast, lethal, and known across the seas. Yet, Zoro cut him down without breaking a sweat once he found his opening. This fight proved that Zoro’s ability to end a battle instantly with precision and power was on par with the best, and his instincts in battle were honed beyond belief.
#8: Zoro absorbs all of Luffy’s pain
Perhaps the most emotionally devastating and quietly badass moment in all of One-Piece history came at the end of the Thriller Bark arc. After the battle against Gecko Moria and Oars, Kuma appeared and was ready to take Luffy away. Zoro, understanding what was at stake, made a deal with Kuma—he would take on all of Luffy’s pain in his captain’s stead. Kuma accepted, extracting all the agony Luffy had endured and forming it into a massive bubble of concentrated suffering. Zoro didn’t flinch. He stepped into the pain, took it all, and remained standing. When Sanji found him shortly afterward, covered in blood and barely breathing, he asked what had happened. Zoro simply responded: “Nothing happened.” This wasn’t just strength of body—it was strength of will, loyalty, and spirit. The moment is a testament to why Zoro isn’t just a powerful swordsman, but the very backbone of the Straw Hats.
#7: Zoro scarred Kaido
Kaido is a creature of legend—an Emperor of the Sea and supposedly the strongest being in the world. When Zoro entered the fray on Onigashima’s rooftop alongside Luffy, Law, and Kid, he did more than just fight—he made Kaido bleed. Using his newly mastered Enma, a blade once wielded by Kozuki Oden himself, Zoro unleashed a flying slash that left a visible scar on Kaido, shocking even the Yonko. Kaido’s reaction wasn’t one of mockery—it was respect. He recognized that Zoro bore the will of someone worthy of legend. Though Zoro fell shortly after, having tanked a combined attack from both Kaido and Big Mom, he had accomplished what few could. The scar wasn’t just physical—it was symbolic. Zoro had reached the level of monsters and held his own.
#6: Zoro unlocks Conqueror’s Haki
The reveal that Zoro possesses Conqueror’s Haki was as epic as it was long overdue. During his intense battle against King, the strongest commander of Kaido’s Beast Pirates, Zoro was pushed to his limits. King’s Lunarian durability made him almost invulnerable, and his speed and ferocity matched Zoro’s every move. But as the battle climaxed, Zoro heard the voice of his swords, accepted the challenge of Enma, and unleashed a black lightning-infused barrage that marked the awakening of his Conqueror’s Haki. With this new power, Zoro not only broke through King’s defenses but did it with style and dominance. Conqueror’s Haki is reserved for kings and conquerors—Zoro didn’t just show he was strong, he showed he was destined to be among the greatest.
#5: Zoro defeats Pica with sheer size-defying power
In the Dressrosa arc, Zoro faced off against Pica, a gargantuan stone manipulator whose size alone would have intimidated most fighters. As Pica merged with a mountain-sized golem, it seemed like Zoro would be outmatched in scale. But Zoro didn’t care about the odds. He sprinted through the air, used Haki to cut through mountain-sized obstacles, and finished the fight with one of the most visually satisfying swords strikes in the series. The sheer scale of the battle—cutting a giant in half with precision and no wasted motion—made it clear that Zoro wasn’t bound by physics or fear. He didn’t just cut his enemy—he cut through expectations of what a swordsman could do.
#4: Zoro trains with Mihawk
After the traumatic events of Marineford, Zoro made a decision that most proud warriors wouldn’t dare consider—he humbled himself. He approached Dracule Mihawk, his sworn rival, and begged for training so he could become strong enough to protect his crew. Even more shocking, Zoro bowed his head and asked sincerely. This moment was as much about internal strength as it was about martial ability. Zoro put aside ego, rivalry, and pride in pursuit of his goal. Mihawk, initially amused, saw the fire in Zoro’s eyes and accepted. The two years of training that followed turned Zoro into a weapon in human form. By choosing humility and discipline, Zoro proved he had the mindset of a true master.
#3: Zoro blocks a blast from Big Mom and Kaido
On the rooftop of Onigashima, Kaido and Big Mom combined their might into a dual Emperor-level attack meant to wipe out the Worst Generation. As the energy surged toward the crew, it was Zoro who stepped forward. Channeling every ounce of strength and will, he used his swords to temporarily block the blast, giving his allies precious seconds to escape its full force. Though he was overwhelmed and injured, the fact that Zoro could withstand such an attack, even momentarily, proved his durability and fearlessness. Facing down two Yonko and surviving to fight on is no small feat—it’s something only a future world-class swordsman could do.
#2: Zoro cuts Monet without touching her
In Punk Hazard, Zoro faced Monet, a Logia user made of snow. She was ruthless and arrogant—until Zoro, with absolute precision and intimidation, cut her so deeply psychologically that her body split before the blade even touched her. He didn’t even need to use Haki. This wasn’t just about slicing—it was about overwhelming someone so completely with killing intent that they believed they had been defeated before the attack even landed. It was a moment that sent chills through the audience. Tashigi, who watched it unfold, couldn’t believe what she saw. Zoro didn’t kill Monet—he broke her. And that takes a kind of mastery no ordinary swordsman possesses.
#1: Zoro’s promise to Kuina
The foundation of Zoro’s entire journey as a swordsman rest on a promise made in childhood—to become the greatest swordsman in the world for Kuina, his fallen rival. That promise has driven him through every battle, every near-death moment, and every step toward greatness. It’s the moment that humanizes his relentless pursuit of strength. Zoro doesn’t seek fame. He doesn’t seek fortune. He seeks to honor the memory of someone who shared his dream. The fact that he’s held onto that vow with unwavering devotion, even when it meant risking his life over and over, is what makes him the strongest. Not just in skill—but in spirit.
Zoro’s journey from a lone bounty hunter to the man who can scar emperors and awaken legendary Haki is one forged in steel, sweat, and sacrifice. Every cut, every wound, and every victory has brought him closer to his goal—and anyone who’s followed his path knows he’s not just trying to become the world’s greatest swordsman. He already is in everything but title.
