OnePiece
Zoro and Rayleigh
same vibe, same scars, same problematic swordsman energy
Discussion
So gaban is sanji?
Yah except he actually pulls
I don't think he pulled out
It's hard to do when your whole body is 5 meters in
That was my risky click of the day.
Ah yes, saddam hussein rule 34
to be fair Sanji have less experience, and also the crew is literally speedrunning getting One Piece Any% and they're on a god run record pace
im sure he can pull once the journey is done and he can actually just chill and maybe settle somewhere
Sanji had a lot of opportunities to get someone but he didn't take it. I think he can pull but decides not to because he doesn't actually care that much. He just likes women but not in a love type of thing
I heard they have peyronie's disease on opposite sides as well.
Sanji pulled wano mouse girl, pudding and viola. He just didnt commit fr and in whiskey peak he pulled
Except Sanji pulls too, when he's not trying too hard.
While i dont remember Zoro being compared to Rayleigh in any chapter. Oda has written Sanji to be compared to Gaban like twice.
The parallels are absolutely there though. While no one explicitly has compared zoro to Rayleigh, they’re pretty clear parallels to each other. Memes aside, them having the same scars is not a coincidence for example
The parallels are absolutely there though. While no one explicitly has compared zoro to Rayleigh, they’re pretty clear parallels to each other. Memes aside, them having the same scars is not a coincidence for example
Which... is the point of my comment. Oda has explicitly compared Sanji Gaban. Never did for Rayleigh Zoro.
In fact Rayleigh's character and traits are also Sanji biased outside of drinking and being a bum.
The second strongest on the crew is a scarred swordsman who’s considered strong enough to be their own captain on any other crew, but is dedicated to their captains dream instead. He’s stoic but loves his alcohol and bumming around despite his overwhelming strength, and is more than willing to throw hands at anyone who insults or threatens those he cares about. He has a rivalry with the 3rd strongest, but is consistently portrayed as just slightly stronger.
You tell me, am I talking about zoro or Rayleigh? Like how explicit do you need the comparison to be here?
Again you missed my point.
No one in the story compared it. I never said they werent comparable.
Sanji gets 1 explicit and 1 subtle comparison.
What is your point exactly? You’re also wrong, they’re both explicitly called the vice captains in universe.
For Zoro? Not really truth. Because while he does write that based off people's reactions to his strength. Oda takes his time to clarify its not.
Seriously. Oda purposefully says hes not. How can i go against him
Barto explicitly calls him the vice captain on dressarosa, and says that’s how people see him. They are both considered the vice captains in universe. It’s not just they’re the second strongest, it’s the accepted perception of the crew
Barto is also just a big fanboy and thus not reliable.
I feel like Oda's words beats a fanboy's words? Just me thinking that an author who actually decides roles and writing the fanboy to be inaccurate... sounds in character?
yes.
Yea I think that’s basically what Oda probably meant
Bro holy shit I never noticed this
This is honestly my favorite one piece meme
Why were you holding out on this info
Damn I lol everytime i see this.
Why doesn't Reddit allow image comments to be marked as spoilers???
Nah it’s not the same, everyone has eyes and arms but only Zoro and Rayleigh has the same scars at the same places
This response to these posts never fails to get a laugh out of me.
I only clicked on this post to see this on the comments lmao. Thank you
Lmfao
Are their scars on opposite sides for a reason? Is it alluding to something?
That they are similar but opposite.
Rayleigh is widely considered to be Roger's First Mate but Zoro has never officially confirmed as such. People both in-universe and out assume that to be the case because he is the second most infamous crew member.
Zoro wants to be the WGS, Rayleigh has no such ambition.
Rayleigh is incredibly wise, intelligent and articulate while Zoro is a stoic dumbass.
Great use of this meme! Hahaha
Zoro is quite literally Luffy's first mate. I get where you're trying to go with that, but there's really no argument there.
I wouldn't call Zoro a dumbass and I think Rayleigh is more stoic than you give him credit for. Zoro is the first to think about the implications of their actions against big threats in the One Piece world. He's also extremely cognizant of the dynamics of morale/order within the crew. He doesn't concern himself with things that don't concern him, but he's anything but a dumbass.
Rayleigh is not meant to be an opposite to Zoro. He is a mirror. An older mirror of Zoro. Does he have the same ambitions? No, of course not. They're meant to be distinct from one another.
Zoro is quite literally Luffy's first mate. I get where you're trying to go with that, but there's really no argument there.
First mate as in first member? No argument there.
First mate officially? Oda disagrees. Hes always referred to as Combatant if anything. And regarding that one pic with King Rayleigh Killer Bepo and Zoro? Its just about the second strongest.
As in title, no. None of the Straw Hats have titles on the ship beyond their occupations, with the exception of Luffy being the captain. This is why he's referred to as a combatant. He doesn't have another occupation. He is Luffy's right hand and fits the role of first mate in his actions. He keeps Luffy in line as captain and maintains a semblance of order and morale on the ship.
Pretty much, just look at what happened at the start of egg island when they met lilith, Zoro quickly took charge, heck even same happened with Neptune when they first met. He always steps up first and does what he needs to do, including reasoning luffy when he absolutely needs to.
I’d argue him and Sanji and maybe even Nami all share that role
And whenever Luffy and Zoro are gone Nami herself defers to Sanji unless it’s an area of her own expertise
Full disagree.
Throughout the series, Zoro has consistently been the only true first mate of the Straw Hat crew.
Case in point: Water 7. After the fight with Usopp, Sanji, Nami, and others still tried to comfort him, giving him medicine and warning him of danger. Zoro, on the other hand, stood firm and said, “It’s heavy, the burden of being captain.” He was the only one who fully understood the weight of what Luffy had to do for the good of the crew.
Later in the same arc, Zoro demands an apology from Usopp before he's allowed back. The others were ready to welcome him without conditions, but Zoro knew that respecting Luffy’s authority as captain was non-negotiable.
Thriller Bark further proves it. When Kuma offered to take Luffy’s pain, Sanji stepped up first—but Zoro stopped him and took it all. He didn’t do it for glory. He did it because he knows his role: to protect the captain at all costs.
Zoro doesn’t seek recognition or leadership. He embodies what it means to support the captain: loyalty, discipline, accountability, and sacrifice. He’s the only one who truly enforces the chain of command, not because he’s a rule follower, but because he knows how fragile a pirate crew can be without it.
There are many other examples, but these are the most obvious.
Yeah don’t get me wrong I think he’s the first one that comes to mind. But the Strawhats are a flexible group. Sometimes Sanji does all of the things you described.
At other moments it’s Nami reeling Luffy in.
Sanji sometimes is the shot caller and secondary leader in place of Luffy.
The three others that genuinely can be said to actually LEAD the crew are Zoro, Sanji, and Nami. All of them have genuine “I’m the captain right now” moments. And they aren’t infrequent.
I hear you, but Zoro is the only consistent first mate throughout the series.
Water 7 is the definitive moment. As I mentioned before, when the crew is fractured over Usopp, Sanji and Nami want to help and comfort him. Zoro refuses. He says, “It’s heavy—the burden of being captain.” He knows that if they undermine Luffy’s leadership, the whole crew will fall apart. And he’s the only one who demands Usopp properly apologize before returning. That’s not cruelty, that’s discipline, loyalty, and structure.
Sanji leaving during Whole Cake Island is another example. Could you ever imagine Zoro doing that? Absolutely not. Zoro has pledged his loyalty to Luffy, and unless Luffy violates that trust, Zoro follows him to the end. He may challenge Luffy privately, but he never strays from his side.
Zoro’s also the crew’s internal compass. He’s the one reminding them of the mission, the stakes, and the need to grow stronger. He doesn't just follow orders—he sharpens Luffy’s leadership. Others pick up Luffy’s slack when he stumbles. Zoro ensures Luffy remains worthy of being captain.
Sanji and Nami (as well as other leaders like Robin and Franky) are important; they bring strategy, empathy, and leadership in their own right. But if we're talking about the "first mate" or "vice captain," the role has always been Zoro’s. Quietly, firmly, and without fail, not due to his physical strength but because of how he engages with Luffy.
I don’t think that Sanji’s moment of weakness (born out of trauma combined with a desire to protect his crew) is evidence that he’s not capable of filling the role of vice captain if necessary.
I agree, Zoro is oddly more disciplined and mature when it comes to certain matters pertaining to pirating, but that’s exactly why I think the Strawhats are such a unique group. In the most crucial aspects, Zoro is undoubtedly the foundation of this crew besides Luffy. But he isn’t good at everything and he can’t do it all.
In all the areas he lacks, Sanji makes up for it in spades. And in matters of navigation, Nami is the real captain. When it comes to honor, respect, and authority, the other members will usually defer to Zoro, I agree.
But when it comes to tactics? Sanji is the one who they are listening to. In Ennies Lobby, Sanji was literally the one who orchestrated Robins rescue. He gave everybody a job and tactically planned ahead and even was there to be the motivator for Usopp, who ended up playing a critical role.
Even prior to that Sanji is routinely issuing orders. Orders.
I think the Strawhats dynamic is so flexible because their captain is unique. There is no rigid “vice captain role”. There is an “unofficial” vice captain, and it IS Zoro. But at times others will fill in and keep the machine moving when it’s needed.
That’s the beauty of it, in my opinion. Because the crew isn’t lost just because Zoro or Luffy aren’t there.
He is Luffy's right hand and fits the role of first mate in his actions
Not really. He keeps LUFFY in check. He doesnt really do much for the others.
If anyone is maintaining semblance and order and morale. Its Nami. Anyone managing money? Nami. Anyone managing ANYTHING ? its nami.
Oda has said already. Zoro isnt first mate. Hes gone out of his way REPEATEDLY to clarify that Zoro isnt first mate, but a combatant.
Keeping Luffy in check is keeping the rest of the crew in check. The shining example of this is after Usopp and Luffy fight. He also constantly reminds the crew of the dangers of what they are doing, taking on yonko crews and the new world. He makes it known when they can't afford to mess around and when they need to cut their losses.
Nami is the navigator, and she loves money. Sanji manages the food, Chopper manages illness/injury, Franky manages the ship, etc. They all have their roles, and many of the first members of the early crew were forced to fit more than their own roles earlier in the story. Is Nami often a voice of reason? Yes, absolutely. Does she manage everything? Absolutely not.
Combatant? So someone that fights? And that to you means he cannot be first mate? That makes absolutely no sense.
Zoro and Sanji are to Luffy what Rayleigh and Gaban were to Roger. It's so painfully obvious that Zoro would be Luffy's right-hand man, which is what people mean when they say he's first mate. To discuss otherwise is ridiculous.
Combatant? So someone that fights? And that to you means he cannot be first mate? That makes absolutely no sense.
No? I just said he isnt first mate because there isnt a first mate. No one is. Everyone leads when they are the ones with the knowledge.
Zoro and Sanji are to Luffy what Rayleigh and Gaban were to Roger. It's so painfully obvious that Zoro would be Luffy's right-hand man, which is what people mean when they say he's first mate. To discuss otherwise is ridiculous.
Oda. Said. He. Isnt.
Thats really it. Youre literally disagreeing with the author himself.
Like I said, when people say "first-mate" they usually mean to refer to him as the vice captain, right hand of Luffy, or simply second in command which he 100% is.
Just because he doesn't have an official title does not mean he's not in any way or capacity one of the captain's "wings" next to Sanji.
Or... he can be right hand without being first mate or vice captain
Nami is fm, traditionally first is the navigator, zoro is more botswain.
Traditionally, first mate does a little of everything, including navigation, safety, overseeing cargo, and taking command in the absence of the captain. The captain is typically the one in charge of navigation. The first mate makes sure everything runs smoothly.
Isn't the "little bit of everything" also Nami's role? There are instances where she takes the lead, keeps the crew in check, navigates, takes decisions etc.
Zoro is kind of an enforcer in some critical moments (like when Luffy fights Usopp and he makes sure Luffy doesn't falter) but I think after Luffy it's mostly Nami who calls the shots.
The problem is Luffy does not fill the role of captain in the traditional sense. He doesn't know how to do anything. Nami often fills more of the role than Luffy does.
Zoro is quite literally not the first mate.
You're downvoted for saying what Oda enforces. Classic zoro fans.
😂😂😂😂 what a vision what a thought
That they are similar but opposite
Ah i was wondering when will Zoro use glasses
Goda, the herald of foreshadow
I want Zoro to get drunk and forget to close his eye, that might be the perfect moment in one piece.
and Rayleigh considers Zoro an idiot.. he was worried that Zoro would not be smart enough to get Luffy’s message.. lol I think Rayleigh would be insulted to be compared to Zoro,lol..
that's anime only btw
Chapter 594, page 15.. Zoro is the last to get Luffy’s message..
But first to show up on saboadoy
I meant Rayliegh calling him slow/dumb also anime exaggerated that last panel too, everyone would have gone through same thought process but oda showed us it through Zorro to explain to readers how they figured it out, yet anime made it look like he needed Peronas help with it.
I think Zoro would also dislike the new era Zoro whenever he pops up.
Nothing irritates you more than a less experienced, arrogant version of yourself.
Wow, almost like they're meant to be parallels or something
OPs going to flip when they find out Luffy and Roger wore similar hats.
The same hat.
Yeah it’s too on the nose, I hope Oda plans something bigger with it
they do not have the same vibe at all. and what about rayleigh screams problematic swordsman to you at this point in the story? He solves problems everywhere he goes
Feels like for personalities, they're flipped so Sanji/Rayleigh are similar and Zoro/Gaban are similar
feel like people just try to cram in parallels where they don't exist. But Gaban is much more like Sanji than the rest of them.
There are parallels. Like Gaban being the missionary of love or how it seems like both pairs have a rivalry going. But it doesn't mean EVERYTHING has to be the exact same between them
Gaban is also compared to Sanji in story though
Bro was like number 2 as he is dying. Big Sanji energy.
Also luffy compared him to Sanji even before knowing who he is.
That's also like Zoro though. Imagine if he was called number 3 after death, he'd come back to life just to set the record straight.
Why did you miss spell Sanji?
Ray’s problematic? But also not the same vibe, Ray’s the smart type while Zoro struggles hard with pattern recognition.
If Zoro dares to open his eye in the fight against Mihawk...
Except Rayleigh has Sanji parallels too, and Zoro is never officially considered the Vice Captain.
Every Zoro fan will swarm me with insults and how I am a regard, but this is a fact. Our Crew is not Roger pirates and comparing everything 1 to 1 is crazy.
Heck Scopper is actually a navigator like Nami. What a fuccin parallel omg.
This.
Oda specifically didnt include a combatant or cook role in the roger pirates.
Also into young women
Old Rayleigh looks better than young Rayleigh
I love how every few years since the time skip this image pops up 😂 in three years the whole "minority hunter zoro" thing will come back too
Ironically I also just noticed the matching scars earlier today.
They lack the big D
Same rizz foo
I think I want a bearded, long-hair Zoro look now.
so zoro is a young rayleigh ? and in the distance future zoro will go back in time and join roger pirate
Holy shit, so roronoa zoro is first mate confirmed ? Oda is a genius
Oda has gone out of his way to only list Zoro as combatant or fighter.
I mean there definitely are parallels between these two, since Luffy is a parallel to Roger, but I wouldn't try to look so deep into the scar placement
Same breast engorgement
Zoro is getting glasses confirmed?
Rayleigh went to Amazon Lily by himself, he even swam most of the way there. Zoro would be lost in a straight line.
Reyleigh was probably able to use armament haki on his eye and that's why he can still see
Next you’re gonna tell us there’s parallels between Luffy and Roger
People think Oda's kink is big boobs, it's actually parallels
Strawhat Pirates are Roger Pirates from different Timeline confirned rofl
Both overhyped, 1 sat on his ass for 20 years didn't even try 2 free odens homeland.
The other relies on odens sword and haki.
Now my question is, why was the first set of pictures here needed? You could've just circled the eye too on the second set of pictures
I would not doubt it honestly. Oda loves doing design parallels between characters.
Their IQ is also mirrored (with respect to the average IQ)
What happen to zoros eye exactly? Was it ever explain?
2nd in command 🫡
Sanji is about to have a rough time with a grease fire or something
So you saying Zoro is left wing of the Pirate King Luffy whereas Ray was right wing ?
Both of them are also terrible navigators. Zoro always gets lost and Rayleigh always gets shipwrecked.
I dont think hes a terrible navigator if he... swam all the way to Amazon Lily
So Zoro is gonna marry a baddie Kuja?
Also alcohol!
All zoro needs now is a brain and sense of direction
And a desire for women.
He will never get that. Luffy wont die. So he wont need to fill the gap in his heart with a woman.
Luffy def either dies or law gives him everlasting life after nearly dying and his adventure continues for all time
I don't know why people think Oda, the guy that says villains don't need to die when they are defeated, will kill the main character of his story.
That's actually exactly why. Also, the majority of deaths in One Piece are heroic deaths.
Even those he comes back later and say the heroes are still alive. Oda has said that he doesn't like to just kill characters, it makes no sense for Luffy go go through all that and save so many people and not enjoy the freedom he created.
Luffy already died. If Oda pulls another bait and switch with him it would be very lame.
If someone will get eternal youth it will be someone else. the last thing I remember is, that law was captured by Blackbeard. I am almost certain he will extract the power so that someone can give him eternal youth. Or he will force law to do it and then extract the fruit for one of his mates. Either way. Law dies
Either way. Luffy won't live too long as he lost a lot of years during impel down.
Bepo saved law and they escaped Blackbeard. As far as we are aware anyways. Blackbeard is the king of off screen feats though so your theory isn’t completely dead but at this point I’d say it’s very unlikely
Law didn’t get captured he and bepo escaped
He was not, Bepo helped him get away
oda himself said the impel down years did not necessarily affect luffys life span
Normal humans in ONE PIECE can live up to 140 years, so even if Luffy lost like 20-40 years throughout the series by forcing himself past his physical limits, he can still live a good 100 years.
That was before we knew he was the next joy boy and had the Nika Nika fruit
Phrasing
I'm in the very small camp that still thinks Tashigi is actually Kuina and they'll reveal it at the end, having Zoro and her finally hook up as rivals and lovers ❤️
Isn't Kuina Zoro's relative?🤣 Zoro would basically be dating his distant cousin🤔
Ah, so it was revealed in an SBS they were distant cousins?
That's disappointing.
I swear the writing was setting up Tashigi to be a long lost Kuina-with-Amnesia.
Ah well. I'd still be ok with that plot twist.
But when he becomes the worlds greatest swordsman he’ll definitely need some new desires
Imagine if it's revealed that rayleigh never had any of these to begin with
Rayleigh makes the round trip of calm belt on one piece planet for 2 years meanwhile luffy leaves in 3 days after marineford to find his nakamas, we miss the timeskip.
the reason Rayleigh took so long to get to Amazon Lily the two time we see it on page/screen(post marineford and post shichibukai disbandment) it is because he has terrible sense of direction
The sense of direction that rayleigh is famous for, wandering around getting lost in bars and slave rings until the plot decided he needed to get somewhere, sounds kinda familiar lmao
And a gambling addiction
Zoro and Rayleigh: The only two people who could get lost in a straight hallway and still end up looking badass doing it.
What u mean by brain zoros isn’t stupid
That's why Rayleigh swims everywhere.
On a round globe you'll get somewhere sooner or later