When it comes to the Straw Hat Pirates, speed is an important factor in battle. With some members relying on swift attacks and quick movements, being slow can be a disadvantage. But which Straw Hat is the slowest of them all? Let’s take a look at the candidates and their abilities.
The Contenders
There are a few Straw Hats who could potentially be considered the slowest:
- Roronoa Zoro – While a powerful swordsman, Zoro may lack speed compared to some other crew members.
- Nami – Not a frontline fighter, Nami relies more on strategy and weather manipulation than speed.
- Usopp – Although he can be quick on his feet when needed, Usopp isn’t the fastest Straw Hat in battle.
- Sanji – His strength lies in his powerful kicks, not running speed.
- Tony Tony Chopper – Chopper has multiple forms with varying levels of speed.
- Nico Robin – Her Devil Fruit powers don’t lend themselves to speed.
- Franky – A large cyborg, Franky packs a punch but is slower than some.
- Brook – His swift sword skills partly make up for his lack of running speed.
Evaluating Speed
When determining who the slowest Straw Hat is, we need to look at different aspects of speed:
- Running speed – Linear running speed over a short distance.
- Reaction speed – How quickly they can react to threats.
- Combat speed – Their attack speed in battle.
- Travel speed – How fast they can move over long distances.
While running speed is an obvious factor, the others also contribute to overall speed and effectiveness in battle. For example, even if a Straw Hat is slow to travel or run, they may have swift combat moves or reactions.
Roronoa Zoro
At first glance, Zoro may seem like one of the slower Straw Hats. He often faces taunts from opponents about his lack of speed. However, when examining his full speed capabilities, Zoro is surprisingly swift in many regards.
Running Speed
In terms of pure running speed, Zoro does seem to be on the slower side. He usually takes his time walking place to place. When the crew needs to escape quickly, Zoro hasn’t shown himself to be the fastest at full on sprinting compared to some other members. But he makes up for it in other areas.
Reaction Speed
Zoro has demonstrated extremely sharp reaction time on many occasions. His observation haki allows him to sense attacks and react quickly. He’s swift enough to dodge gunfire and avoid rapid punches. Even when running speed isn’t his forte, Zoro’s reflexes are fast.
Combat Speed
When he draws his swords in battle, few can match Zoro’s attack speed. Once in motion, his sword slashes are nearly too fast to see. Zoro can strike multiple times in an instant, overwhelm opponents with his blinding slash attacks, and counter strikes before they land. His raw combat speed is among the best in the series.
Travel Speed
On long voyages with the Straw Hats, Zoro doesn’t have great travel speed feats. He usually relies on rides from others or transportation. However, he can move deceptively fast in short bursts when needed, such as when launching a long range attack. But sustained travel over distance isn’t Zoro’s forté.
So while Zoro may lack raw running speed, he makes up for it with reaction time and combat speed. He shouldn’t be underestimated in the speed department.
Nami
As one of the crew’s least physical fighters, Nami relies more on intelligence than speed in battle. But she can hold her own when needed.
Running Speed
Nami has proven herself to have good running speed when she really pushes herself. She’s able to outpace slower members and keeps up with the mid-tier runners of the crew. After years sailing with speedy monsters like Luffy and Sanji, she’s developed solid all-around mobility.
Reaction Speed
In terms of reactions, Nami’s observation haki gives her an edge. She can sense attacks coming and dodge accordingly. Her quick wit also lets her respond fast to changing situations when using her Clima-tact and other tools.
Combat Speed
Fighting directly isn’t Nami’s role in the crew. So her combat speed when attacking isn’t the highest. She uses clever tricks and traps to outmaneuver opponents rather than overwhelm them with speedy attacks. Her fighting style doesn’t rely as heavily on raw combat speed.
Travel Speed
On the oceans, Nami may lack the sheer speed of the Monster Trio who can propel the ship faster. But her sailing skills and navigation let her find the quickest routes to traverse long distances. In terms of straight line speed she may not be the fastest, but Nami knows how to get where they need to go efficiently.
As one of the crew’s middle of the pack runners, Nami can hold her own in speed when needed but it’s not her main strength.
Usopp
Usopp is certainly no speed demon, but he can surprise enemies with sudden bursts of speed when pushed into a corner. Let’s examine Usopp’s speed attributes:
Running Speed
When running is the only option, Usopp can certainly hold his own. He’s shown good mid-tier speed in sprints and is by no means a slowpoke. Years of running from scary threats has kept Usopp’s legs nimble.
Reaction Speed
In terms of reactions, Usopp has honed solid observation haki and reflexes. As a sniper, he relies on picking up on attacks before they happen to avoid them. So while not the fastest reactor, he can respond swiftly when focused.
Combat Speed
Combat speed is where Usopp struggles more. He needs time to draw, aim and shoot his diverse arsenal of projectiles. At close range he doesn’t have the raw attack speed of a swordsman or brawler. So he prefers to keep his distance.
Travel Speed
For traveling, Usopp usually needs help from faster crew members or vehicles to traverse long distances quickly. He doesn’t have any major speed boosting techniques. But his endurance does allow him to keep moving at a consistent pace over time without tiring.
So while Usopp is no speed king, he can use his craftiness and bursts of speed to outpace tougher but slower foes. He utilizes his versatility to outmaneuver enemies.
Sanji
With a fighting style dominated by rapid kicks, Sanji incorporates a lot of speed into his techniques. But how does he fare in other speed metrics?
Running Speed
Sanji has excellent running speed, outpacing most of the crew fairly easily. His long legs give him a long stride, letting him cover distance rapidly when needed for escapes or attacks.
Reaction Speed
Thanks to refined observation haki, Sanji has sharp reaction time, enabling him to counter even swift attacks. His body moves instinctively to avoid threats before even thinking.
Combat Speed
In combat, Sanji’s kicks are notoriously rapid fire, overwhelming opponents with a barrage of lower body blows too fast to counter or dodge. He can attack at blistering speed using his strong legs.
Travel Speed
For travel, Sanji can keep pace with even the Monster Trio when using techniques like Sky Walk to fly rapidly over long distances. He can traverse terrain at high speeds.
With few weaknesses when it comes to speed, Sanji is undoubtedly one of the fastest Straw Hats in running, reactions, combat, and travel.
Tony Tony Chopper
With his ability to transform into different forms, Chopper has a wide range of speed capabilities depending on the form he takes.
Form | Running Speed | Reaction Speed | Combat Speed | Travel Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brain Point | Above Average | High | Low | Low |
Heavy Point | Average | Average | Above Average | Average |
Jumping Point | Very High | High | Low | High |
Arm Point | Above Average | Above Average | Very High | Above Average |
Guard Point | Low | Above Average | Low | Low |
Kung Fu Point | High | Very High | Very High | High |
Monster Point | Average | Above Average | Very High | Average |
As the table shows, Chopper has great versatility in speed by transforming. He can excel in certain speed areas depending on the situation. Jumping Point is excellent for running and travel with high jumps and leaps. Arm Point and Kung Fu Point offer swift reaction time and combat speed for battle. Monster Point sacrifices speed for immense power.
So while he may not be the fastest in any one form, by transforming, Chopper can adapt his speed abilities to suit the circumstance.
Nico Robin
Robin’s Devil Fruit powers are more oriented toward maneuverability and grappling rather than raw speed.
Running Speed
Robin has average running speed, able to keep up with the middle of the pack Straw Hats at a steady clip. But she lacks the top gear of the fastest crew members in an outright sprint.
Reaction Speed
Thanks to awakened observation haki, Robin reacts swiftly to danger by sprouting limbs for protection and grabbing threats before they reach her. So her reactions are sharp even if her movement is slower.
Combat Speed
In combat, Robin’ attacks with extra sprouted limbs are limited by how quickly she can cross her arms to bloom them. So against foes with very high speed, this delay can leave her open. Her combat speed is average.
Travel Speed
For travel, Robin can use her powers to grasp onto faster crew members or form wings to fly short distances. But she lacks natural high speed movement techniques for long range travel.
Since her powers are better suited for control and grappling than speed, Robin is one of the Straw Hats on the slower end of the spectrum.
Franky
As one of the largest Straw Hats, Franky is a powerhouse but not the speediest.
Running Speed
When he needs to run, Franky has a steady cruising speed but lacks a top gear. His huge size makes it hard to sustain high speed sprinting compared to more agile crew members.
Reaction Speed
Franky can react swiftly thanks to observation haki, letting him brace for attacks and activate his arsenal of weapons in response. But his bulky body isn’t made for quick evasion.
Combat Speed
In a fight, Franky packs power more than speed in his fists and beams. He overwhelms foes with firepower rather than swift attacks. But once his attacks start firing, they track targets quickly.
Travel Speed
For travel, Franky does have high speed boosting abilities like transforming into a bike. This gives him great transport speed. But his natural travel abilities are limited due to his large size.
As one of the crew’s largest members, Franky sacrifices speed for imposing firepower and durability.
Brook
Despite his nimble, light frame, Brook does have some limits in speed capacity.
Running Speed
Brook can run at a respectable clip but struggles to reach the top running speeds of the crew’s fastest members. Though light on his feet, he lacks raw burst speed.
Reaction Speed
Thanks to awakened observation haki and his many years of experience, Brook reacts swiftly to danger, able to draw his blade in an instant to parry attacks about to hit him. So his reactions are sharp.
Combat Speed
In combat, Brook uses swift fencing strikes to land dozens of slashes in seconds. He flows smoothly from move to move, but can be overwhelmed by especially high speed foes. So he’s limited in raw combat speed.
Travel Speed
For travel, Brook lacks high speed movement techniques, often needing others to give him a ride. He’s not great at covering large distances quickly despite his energetic nature.
So while Brook is quick on his feet as a swordsman, he does fall short in some speed metrics compared to the crew’s fastest.
The Slowest Straw Hat is…
When looking at all the evidence, the Straw Hat who consistently falls short in speed categories is…
Nico Robin
While each Straw Hat has strengths and weaknesses, Robin struggles the most when it comes to pure speed and mobility.
She lacks top tier running speed, often finishing behind most of the crew. In combat, her ability to sprout limbs has a delay compared to the instant attacks of swordsmen and brawlers. For travel, she needs outside help to keep up over long distances.
However, this isn’t a huge detriment thanks to her versatile Devil Fruit powers. What Robin may lack in speed she more than makes up for in maneuverability, range, stealth, and clever tactics. Just because she’s the slowest Straw Hat on paper doesn’t diminish her great value to the crew.
In summary, while Robin may not be the fastest runner, her skills and smarts allow her to keep up in her own way!