Shanks – Threat in Silence
The fact that Shanks is one of the few pirates allowed to enter Mariejois directly raises questions about his political connections with the World Government. His casual appearance before the Five Elders shows that he is not just a pirate.
Scenes where Shanks fights without a weapon and defeats his opponents using only Haki suggest that the majority of his power comes not from technique, but from “willpower.” Shanks' rise to Yonko status even after losing his left arm proves that physical losses are no obstacle for him and that his strategic intelligence surpasses even brute force. He is the only Yonko in the One Piece universe who has risen “slowly but steadily.” He is the only person to have risen from the ranks of the Pirate King's crew to establish his own empire.
Blackbeard – A Rise Shrouded in Contradictions
Blackbeard's body can hold the power of two Devil Fruits, which is impossible for a single person. This has led some fans to theorize that his body contains multiple souls or is “anomalous in structure.” The fact that he survived Magellan's attack during the Impel Down raid, despite being poisoned, demonstrates that his endurance is beyond that of an ordinary human. Some sources suggest that his body does not perceive pain in the same way as others.
When he was draining power from Whitebeard's corpse, a curtain was drawn over him. This detail may hint at a dark ritual underlying both the narrative and visual censorship. The fact that Blackbeard is highlighted by moonlight from the moment he first appears is interpreted as an artistic sign that Oda consciously built his character around the theme of “duality” (light-dark, right-wrong).
Big Mom – Family Empire and Psychological Instability
Big Mom's control over her children resembles that of a classic mafia family. Even their marriages are turned into political strategies, and births are systematized like military production. Charlotte Linlin's childhood incident of having a rage attack and “unconsciously” eating her friends shows that she has had an uncontrollable destructive potential since a young age.
Big Mom's way of connecting with memories points to post-traumatic psychological fractures. Her obsession with the “Mother Carmel” figure reveals that she is trying to fill a void not only physically but also emotionally. The people of her sweet kingdom, Totto Land, pretend to love the queen out of fear. This can be interpreted as an allegory of peace established through dictatorship.
Kaido – A Monster Trying to Die
Kaido's repeated attempts at suicide reveal not his strength, but his inner collapse. He is the only character in the One Piece universe who wants to die so badly, which suggests that his psychology cannot cope with “invincibility.” The technique Kaido uses to transform into his dragon form is an obvious reference to dragon-god figures in Chinese mythology. Oda designed this character to be both a physical and symbolic “force of destruction.”
He carried out his invasion of Wano not by negotiating with the local people, but by completely psychologically and economically destroying them. In this sense, Kaido resembles a dictator who employs systematic destruction rather than brute force. His origins in the former Rocks Pirates crew indicate that his roots lie in the darkest chapters of piracy. Unlike Shanks and Big Mom, Kaido comes from a past directly defined by “destruction.”
The Yonko System – Chaos Kept in Balance
The fact that the Yonko generally avoid direct conflict with one another suggests that there is a “silent agreement” behind the scenes. Each of them functions as an element of balance in the world order; when one falls, stability in the seas is shaken. The void created by Whitebeard's death after the Marineford War paved the way for Blackbeard's rise. This shows that there is no natural succession among the Yonko; a power vacuum turns into a “hunt.”
Each of the Yonko establishes their authority through different types of “fear.” Shanks through respect, Kaido through fear, Big Mom through oppression, and Blackbeard through the unknown... These different strategies keep the system appearing balanced, but in reality, each is like a powder keg ready to explode.
The True Face of the Yonko Crews
Kaido's Beasts Pirates crew does not number its members, but classifies them directly according to “beast types.” This structure has transformed his organization into a caste system based on biological superiority. The Big Mom Pirates operate more like a “family business” than a pirate crew. The blood ties between crew members create a sense of genetic obligation rather than loyalty. Even his children fear him as much as his enemies.
The fact that very little information has been revealed about the Red Hair Pirates suggests that Shanks' power comes not only from his individual Haki level, but also from the “secret cards” that make up his crew. The fact that Shanks' crew has never been shown at full strength in a fully equipped battle scene could be a deliberate strategy by Oda. Blackbeard's crew is composed of individuals with the most “criminal pasts” compared to all other Yonko crews. This makes the crew the structure closest to classic piracy; a criminal network operating in chaos.
Political Background: The World Government and the Yonko Balance
The World Government, which does not want the Yonko system to collapse, tried to create an indirect pressure on these emperors by maintaining the Shichibukai system. However, this plan failed, especially with the collapse of Doflamingo. It is still unknown who Shanks was referring to when he said, “I want to talk about a certain pirate,” during his meeting with the Five Elders. However, this dialogue suggests that he may not only be a threat to the World Government, but also someone they consult.
Wano's isolation from the World Government gave Kaido years of “free rein.” This situation shows that the system does not work equally for all countries in the seas, and that some islands are left to their fate, open to outside intervention.
Mythological and Cultural References
Kaido's dragon form draws not only from Chinese mythology but also from the Japanese “oni” (demon) figure. His horns, alcohol addiction, and massive build contribute to this cultural blend. Big Mom's “food obsession” is a reference to cannibal figures in Japanese folk tales. The similarity to the “oni woman” and “giant mother” figures ensures that the character remains frightening without being caricatured.
Blackbeard's dark power is similar to the Christian image of the “hell-eater.” The Yami Yami no Mi's ability to extinguish light is a metaphorical portrayal of evil through “light hatred.” Shanks' elegant yet deadly demeanor aligns with the philosophy of “perfect control” in Japanese martial arts. His rare but decisive combat style, where he changes the outcome with a single strike, embodies the teaching of “ending a battle with a single sword stroke.”
Traces of the Ancient Era: Rocks D. Xebec and the Roots of the Yonko
The fact that Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard came from the same crew—the Rocks Pirates—shows that there was a period in the history of the seas that was “more savage than the current Yonko system.” This crew is an example of anarchy shaped by the pursuit of absolute power. Although it is not explicitly stated that Rocks D. Xebec's goal was not only to become Pirate King but also to overthrow the World Government directly, the God Valley Incident implies that this idea was put into practice.
The fact that Shanks was found as an orphan after the God Valley Incident and was taken in by Roger reveals both a historical and emotional burden in his character. He is not just a captain, but a “witness” carrying the secrets of ancient times. Fans often claim that Blackbeard continues Rocks D. Xebec's ideology and is even his “ideological heir,” not biological. The connection between characters bearing the letter “D” and fate becomes even deeper at this point.
The Fragility Beneath the Myth of Invincibility
Although Kaido appears invincible in almost every fight, his personality changes before and after drinking, revealing that he has an unstable psychological structure. These ups and downs make him physically strong but strategically unpredictable. Scenes where Big Mom experiences memory loss and her character completely changes during these moments suggest that her power is linked to mind control. This connection between memory and power implies that the character survives on his “memories.”
Blackbeard, despite his apparent victories, acts as if he knows that all power comes with a curse. The pain and lack of control he experiences when using his Devil Fruit abilities show that his power is still evolving. Shanks's rarity in battle reveals that he is feared not only for his strength but also for his strategy. For viewers, this is the embodiment of the philosophy that “the threat you don't see is the most dangerous.”
The Meaning of Symbolic Objects and Details
Shanks' sword Gryphon, which he always carries with him, serves more as a metaphor for a “weapon that strikes with intent” than a symbol of his physical strength, despite little being known about it. This sword, though not flashy, symbolizes his leadership through its effectiveness. Kaido's kanabo (a massive spiked club) reflects his battle philosophy: overwhelming power with minimal technique. For him, victory is achieved not through elegance, but through oppression and violence.
Big Mom's talking hat, named Napoleon, represents her obsession with both physical and verbal control. She doesn't just give orders; she creates objects that speak for her. This detail reflects her desire to turn the world into a “toy of control.” Blackbeard's character is constantly emphasized by his tendency to remain in the shadows and lie in wait. Instead of taking center stage, he is always the man who comes after the destruction. This likens him to the final move in a game of chess.
Empires Built Not on Power, but on Stories
The biggest difference between the Yonko is not how much land they have, but how much “story” they have accumulated. Big Mom built Totto Land on her own past and her children, while Kaido turned Wano into a hell for the oppressed. Shanks' unknown past has led to the creation of a myth surrounding him. This myth may be more frightening than his physical strength. Everyone wonders not what he will do, but “when” he will do it.
Blackbeard, on the other hand, is like a classic antihero, trying to shape his future rather than his past. As he accumulates power, he fills the void of his past with darkness. His empire draws its strength from the unknown.
The Yonko's Impact on the World: Global Economy, War, and Public Psychology
Kaido's rule in Wano has established not only a political but also an economic system of exploitation. The people of Wano are starving to keep Kaido's war industry afloat instead of feeding themselves with their own resources. This shows that pirates can rule not only through war but also through the economy.
Big Mom's “tax” system in Totto Land, which appears to operate through sweets and food, is actually based on a collection system that preys on people's souls. The fragments of people's lives taken by her form the foundation of her psychopathic regime. This system ensures the people's loyalty to the queen while creating a form of spiritual enslavement.
Blackbeard strengthens his power at sea not only through war but also through information smuggling. In the One Piece world, “information” is as valuable as devil fruits. Blackbeard's actions after Impel Down and Marineford show that he is not a pirate of war but a pirate of crises. Shanks's refusal to actively participate in battles positions him as a “shadow who maintains balance” among the people. The idea that he controls the world according to his own order under the guise of protecting peace makes him the most trusted but least known power.
How They Choose Their Enemies: Who Targets Whom and Why?
Kaido only takes those who show physical strength seriously as enemies. Strategic enemies are insignificant to him because his battles rely on brute force. This makes him the Yonko most vulnerable to defeat by underestimating his enemies.
For Big Mom, anyone who threatens her family order or her memories is a threat. Her authority is not physical but emotional. The main reason Luffy angers her is because he caused her to experience a “food disappointment”—meaning that even the reason for the battle is not rational, but emotional. Shanks' choice of enemies is very selective. The room has shown that Shanks has either helped or remained neutral toward everyone he has not explicitly marked as an enemy. This suggests that he is not an enemy, but a threat balancer.
Blackbeard's choice of enemies is entirely opportunistic. He picks the strong but tired, exploiting the system's weaknesses. For him, timing is more important than morality. This turns him into an ethical hunter.
Role Distribution in the Four-Way System: The Balance Game Among the Emperors
Kaido acts with physical strength; Big Mom with psychological pressure; Shanks with political influence; Blackbeard with chaos. None of these four characters follow the same path, but each threatens the system in their own way. If all four were to disappear at the same time, it is believed that even the World Government would be unable to maintain order in the seas. This is because this system represents a peace based on the balance of evil.
The Yonko system affects not only the balance between pirates, but also all the balances above and below the sea. Places such as Fishman Island, Wano, and Dressrosa are changing their destinies due to the direct or indirect influence of these characters.
The Yonko from the perspective of fans and theorists
The theory that Shanks is actually directly connected to Im-sama rather than the Gorosei has been supported by some visual clues in recent manga panels. Details such as the “throne shrouded in shadow” and Shanks being the only pirate who can reach it are particularly noteworthy.
The theory that Blackbeard has “three separate personalities” is supported by the three skull figures on his flag. According to this theory, Teach actually harbors three different selves: past, present, and future. Kaido's suicide attempts are linked by some fans to the “disappointment of not being able to become Joy Boy.” He fills the void not only with war, but also with a “desire to be defeated.” This makes him a victorious loser.
The fact that the scene of Big Mom eating Mother Carmel is not shown directly leaves open the question of “cannibalism or destruction?” The lack of a clear explanation of this event further increases the element of fear in her character.