Complete Rocks Pirates Who Started Crews in March 2026
When I first discovered the existence of the Rocks Pirates during the Wano arc, my entire understanding of One Piece’s power structure shifted dramatically. Here was a crew so powerful that it took both Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp working together to defeat them—something I never thought I’d see in this series. After diving deep into every manga chapter, SBS volume, and the recent Rocks Pirates revelations from chapters 1154-1157, I’ve compiled the definitive guide to every former Rocks Pirate who went on to start their own legendary crew.
The disbandment of the Rocks Pirates following the God Valley incident didn’t just scatter these powerful pirates—it fundamentally reshaped the entire One Piece world. What fascinated me most during my research was how many of these former crewmates not only survived but went on to become some of the most feared captains in pirate history. In fact, three of the original Four Emperors (Yonko) were former Rocks Pirates, which really puts into perspective just how insanely stacked this crew was.
Let me break down every confirmed Rocks Pirate who started their own crew, including some lesser-known members that many fans overlook. I’ve spent countless hours cross-referencing manga panels, analyzing Oda’s subtle hints in recent chapters, and even diving into Japanese forums to piece together the complete picture of these legendary pirates’ post-Rocks careers. For more insights into how these One Piece reveals changed gaming, check out my comprehensive analysis of story developments that impacted video game adaptations.
The Legendary Rocks D. Xebec: The Captain Who Started It All
Before I dive into the crew members who branched off, I need to address Rocks D. Xebec himself. While technically he didn’t start a “new” crew after the Rocks Pirates (since he presumably died at God Valley), understanding his leadership style helps explain why so many of his subordinates became successful captains themselves. From what I’ve gathered through careful analysis of Sengoku’s exposition in Chapter 957 and recent flashbacks, Xebec ruled through pure strength and ambition rather than loyalty or camaraderie.
This created an environment where the strongest thrived independently, learning to rely on their own power rather than teamwork. It’s no wonder that when the crew dissolved, these pirates were already prepared to lead their own organizations. The Rocks Pirates were less of a traditional crew and more of an alliance of future legends—something I find absolutely fascinating from a narrative perspective.
Edward “Whitebeard” Newgate: From Rocks to Family
When I think about the most successful post-Rocks captain, Whitebeard immediately comes to mind. Edward Newgate didn’t just create a crew; he built a family that would dominate the New World for decades. The Whitebeard Pirates became everything the Rocks Pirates weren’t—united by genuine bonds rather than just strength.
What strikes me most about Whitebeard’s transformation is how he completely rejected Xebec’s philosophy. While serving under Rocks, he witnessed firsthand what pure ambition without loyalty created. After the crew’s dissolution, Whitebeard formed his own crew with a radically different approach. He called his crew members “sons” and created a family structure that prioritized protection and loyalty over conquest.
The Whitebeard Pirates grew to become one of the largest and most powerful crews in One Piece history, with 16 division commanders and numerous allied crews. During my playthrough of One Piece Pirate Warriors 4, I was amazed at how the game captured the sheer scale of Whitebeard’s influence—something that originated from his time learning what not to do under Rocks.
His crew included legendary figures like Marco the Phoenix, Portgas D. Ace, and Diamond Jozu. The fact that Whitebeard managed to maintain the title of “World’s Strongest Man” while leading such a massive organization speaks volumes about his growth from his Rocks Pirates days. According to our One Piece character rankings, Whitebeard consistently ranks in the top tier of all characters, and his crew-building success plays a huge part in that legacy.
Charlotte “Big Mom” Linlin: Building an Empire Through Fear and Family
Charlotte Linlin’s approach to forming the Big Mom Pirates fascinates me because it’s such a twisted combination of Rocks’ might-makes-right philosophy and Whitebeard’s family concept. After leaving the Rocks Pirates, she created what I can only describe as a pirate empire built on forced family bonds and territorial control.
The Big Mom Pirates are unique in that they’re literally a family operation—most of the crew consists of Linlin’s 85 children and their spouses. When I first learned about this during the Whole Cake Island arc, I realized Big Mom had taken the concept of crew loyalty to an extreme that even Whitebeard wouldn’t have imagined. She ensures loyalty through blood ties and fear, creating a crew that’s both incredibly powerful and deeply dysfunctional.
What’s particularly interesting about Big Mom’s crew formation is how she used her experience with the Rocks Pirates to establish Totto Land. She created an entire nation centered around her crew, something that goes beyond what most pirates ever achieve. Her Sweet Commanders—Katakuri, Smoothie, and Cracker—represent some of the strongest pirates in the New World, each commanding their own forces within the larger organization.
During my recent rewatch of the Whole Cake Island arc, I noticed how Big Mom’s management style still echoes her Rocks Pirates days. She rules through overwhelming strength and demands absolute obedience, much like Xebec did. However, she’s added her own twisted family dynamic that makes desertion not just treasonous but a personal betrayal.
Kaido of the Beasts: From Apprentice to Emperor
Kaido’s journey from being an apprentice on the Rocks Pirates to founding the Beast Pirates is perhaps the most dramatic transformation I’ve seen in One Piece. When I discovered that Kaido was only an apprentice during his Rocks days (revealed in Chapter 1049), it completely changed my perspective on his character development.
The Beast Pirates represent Kaido’s vision of a crew built entirely on strength—a philosophy he clearly inherited from his time under Rocks. His crew operates on a strict hierarchy based on power, with the strongest members becoming the All-Stars (King, Queen, and Jack) and the rest organized into the Gifters, Pleasures, and Waiters based on their Devil Fruit status.
What I find most intriguing about Kaido’s crew-building approach is how he weaponized Devil Fruits through SMILEs, creating an army of Zoan users. This strategy likely stems from witnessing the diverse Devil Fruit powers within the Rocks Pirates. He took that concept and industrialized it, partnering with Doflamingo and Caesar Clown to mass-produce artificial Devil Fruits.
The Beast Pirates grew to become one of the Four Emperor crews, controlling Wano Country and maintaining a standing army of over 20,000 members. During the Onigashima Raid, I was struck by how Kaido’s crew structure reflected lessons learned from the Rocks Pirates’ downfall—he created multiple contingency plans and fail-safes to prevent the kind of sudden collapse that befell Xebec’s crew. For more analysis on the most important One Piece characters in gaming, Kaido consistently ranks among the top picks for his versatility across different game modes.
Shiki the Golden Lion: The Flying Pirate Fleet
Shiki’s post-Rocks career is fascinating because he’s the only confirmed former member who directly challenged the World Government’s power structure after forming his own crew. The Golden Lion Pirates represented a different approach to crew building—focusing on massive fleet warfare rather than individual powerhouses.
After escaping from Impel Down (making him the first person to ever successfully escape), Shiki spent 20 years building a crew that could destroy East Blue. His approach differed from his fellow former Rocks Pirates in that he focused on long-term planning and scientific enhancement of his forces, as seen in the Strong World film (which Oda confirmed as canon for Shiki’s character).
What impresses me about Shiki’s Golden Lion Pirates is their sheer scale. During the Edd War, he commanded a fleet of dozens of ships against Roger, showing that he learned from the Rocks Pirates’ defeat that numbers and strategy matter as much as individual strength. His Float-Float Fruit power allowed him to create a truly unique crew structure with floating islands as bases—something I’ve never seen replicated in One Piece.
Captain John: The Tragic Tale of Greed
Captain John’s story serves as a cautionary tale about what happens when a pirate captain fails to properly manage their crew. After the Rocks Pirates disbanded, John formed his own crew and became legendary for accumulating one of the greatest treasure hoards in pirate history.
However, his obsession with treasure—likely intensified by witnessing the wealth the Rocks Pirates accumulated—ultimately led to his downfall. His own crew murdered him in a mutiny, which I find deeply ironic given that internal conflict was one of the factors that plagued the Rocks Pirates. John learned the wrong lessons from his time under Xebec, focusing on treasure over crew loyalty.
When I encountered John’s zombie in Thriller Bark, controlled by Moria, it really drove home how far he’d fallen from his days as a Rocks Pirate. His treasure remains one of the most sought-after prizes in the One Piece world, with Buggy actively searching for it using Captain John’s armband.
Wang Zhi (Ochoku): The Ruler of Hachinosu
Recent manga revelations have shed new light on Wang Zhi, also known as Ochoku, who took control of Hachinosu (Pirate Island) after the Rocks Pirates disbanded. This is particularly significant because Hachinosu was the Rocks Pirates’ former base of operations, making Wang Zhi’s claim a direct continuation of the Rocks legacy.
What I find compelling about Wang Zhi’s approach is that he essentially tried to maintain a piece of the Rocks Pirates’ empire rather than starting completely fresh. He ruled Pirate Island until Blackbeard defeated him during the Rocky Port Incident (with help from Koby and Law), which shows he maintained significant power for decades after the crew’s dissolution.
Wang Zhi’s strategy of controlling a strategic location rather than building a massive crew represents a different philosophy from his fellow former Rocks Pirates. He understood the value of holding territory in the New World, something that would later become crucial to the Yonko system. This connects to the broader patterns I’ve analyzed in my guide to God Valley matchups, where territorial control played a crucial role in the legendary battle.
Silver Axe: The Mystery Captain
Silver Axe remains one of the most enigmatic former Rocks Pirates, but recent clues suggest he also formed his own crew after the God Valley incident. While Oda hasn’t revealed much about Silver Axe’s post-Rocks career, the fact that he’s mentioned alongside other legendary figures implies he achieved significant notoriety as a captain.
Based on my analysis of how Oda typically handles these legendary background characters, I believe Silver Axe’s crew and their fate will be revealed in future chapters, possibly connected to the final saga’s revelations about the Void Century and the God Valley incident.
The Lesser-Known Crews and Unconfirmed Captains
During my research, I’ve found hints that other Rocks Pirates may have formed smaller crews that didn’t achieve Yonko-level fame. Given that the Rocks Pirates attracted the strongest pirates of their era, it’s likely that even unnamed members went on to captain their own ships. The sheer number of powerful pirates who emerged in the post-Rocks era suggests a diaspora of former members spreading across the seas.
Comparing the Success of Post-Rocks Crews
When I analyze the various crews formed by ex-Rocks Pirates, clear patterns emerge about what made some successful while others failed. The most successful captains—Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido—all became Yonko, fundamentally shaping the balance of power in the New World. Their success came from learning different lessons from their time under Xebec.
Whitebeard learned that loyalty beats fear, creating a family-based crew that would die for him. Big Mom combined fear with forced family bonds, creating an empire that’s both powerful and self-sustaining. Kaido focused on military might and hierarchical strength, building an army capable of conquering nations. Each approach reflected their personalities while incorporating lessons from the Rocks Pirates’ eventual downfall.
The less successful captains, like Captain John, failed because they didn’t learn from the Rocks Pirates’ mistakes. John’s greed-driven leadership led to the same kind of internal conflict that plagued Xebec’s crew. This pattern suggests that the Rocks Pirates’ dissolution wasn’t just due to external pressure but also internal structural problems that some members perpetuated in their own crews. Understanding these character dynamics has proven valuable when analyzing wasted One Piece characters and how their potential could have been better utilized.
The Rocks Legacy in Current One Piece Events
What amazes me most about studying these former Rocks Pirates is how their influence still shapes current One Piece events. The defeat of Kaido and Big Mom in Wano marked the end of an era that began with the Rocks Pirates. Blackbeard’s acquisition of Hachinosu and his crew’s structure (with multiple ship captains under one admiral) mirrors the Rocks Pirates’ organization, suggesting he’s trying to recreate their power structure.
The recent revelations about pirate vs marine conflicts at God Valley have also highlighted how the World Government fears another Rocks-level threat. The fact that they’ve hidden the God Valley incident from history shows how profoundly the Rocks Pirates and their successor crews have threatened the established order.
For gamers interested in exploring these dynamics further, I’ve found that understanding the characters inspired by Luffy provides excellent context for how different leadership styles emerged from the chaos following the Rocks Pirates’ disbandment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the strongest Rocks Pirate who formed their own crew?
Based on their achievements and titles, Whitebeard was likely the strongest, earning the title “World’s Strongest Man” and maintaining a Yonko position for decades. However, Kaido as the “World’s Strongest Creature” and Big Mom with her indestructible body were incredibly close in power level.
Did any Rocks Pirates remain loyal to each other after disbanding?
There’s no evidence of lasting loyalty between former Rocks Pirates. In fact, they often came into conflict, with Kaido and Big Mom’s alliance in Wano being a rare exception—and even that was temporary and filled with mutual distrust.
Why did so many Rocks Pirates become successful captains?
The Rocks Pirates attracted the strongest individuals of their era, and serving under Xebec taught them valuable lessons about power, crew management, and survival in the New World. Their individual strength combined with these hard-learned lessons made them natural leaders.
Are there any current pirates connected to the Rocks Pirates?
Yes, Blackbeard has strong connections to the Rocks legacy, having claimed their former base of Hachinosu and structuring his crew similarly. Additionally, Katakuri and Yamato are children of former Rocks Pirates (Big Mom and Kaido respectively).
Will we learn more about the Rocks Pirates in future chapters?
Almost certainly. Oda has been gradually revealing more about the Rocks Pirates, especially regarding the God Valley incident. With the series in its final saga, these revelations will likely play a crucial role in understanding the One Piece world’s true history.
The Enduring Impact of the Rocks Pirates Diaspora
After analyzing every former Rocks Pirate who started their own crew, I’m struck by how one crew’s dissolution created multiple legendary pirate organizations that would dominate the seas for decades. The Rocks Pirates were essentially a breeding ground for future Yonko and legendary captains, each taking different lessons from their shared experience.
The variety in their approaches—from Whitebeard’s family to Kaido’s army to Big Mom’s empire—shows that there was no single formula for success after leaving the Rocks Pirates. What mattered was learning from both Xebec’s strengths and his failures, then adapting those lessons to create something sustainable.
For One Piece fans looking to understand the series’ power structure and history, studying these former Rocks Pirates and their crews is essential. They represent a connecting thread between the old era of Rocks and Roger and the current era of Luffy and Blackbeard. As we move toward One Piece’s conclusion, I expect these connections to become even more significant, potentially revealing why the World Government feared the Rocks Pirates so much that they erased them from history.
The story of the Rocks Pirates and their successor crews is ultimately one of ambition, power, and the different paths pirates can take to achieve their dreams. Whether through family, fear, or force, each former member carved their own legendary path across the Grand Line, forever changing the world of One Piece in the process.