14 Impressive Fan Theories About Blackbeard From 'One Piece'
Vote up the most compelling fan theories about Blackbeard.
- 1195 VOTES
Drum Island Is His Homeland
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Twitter user @abhidrama:
Dalton says that it was good in some way that Blackbeard attacked [Drum Island] because it freed them from King Wapol's rule and his TYRANNY has come to an end as it will be start of a new journey for the country. So, you want to know why he did that? Because it's the HOMELAND of Blackbeard and, yes, there is even a specific place where he was born.
…In Drum Island, Luffy [was] told [by] a man in the bar that the people of Snowy Island die when they sleep…Buggy told Shanks that Blackbeard didn't sleep for a whole 3 days and 3 nights, [not] for even a single minute and he is like a monster…It was Shanks at that bar who told Luffy about the Snow Island theory and it was specially meant for Blackbeard. Shanks knows the secret of Blackbeard and even told Whitebeard that there is something different with Blackbeard and to [stay] away.
…The name of the birthplace of Blackbeard is "GYASTA"…It's the same place we never went to, but it was shown to us just for a single short [moment]. Vivi and Usopp were stoped by an avalanche while going to GYASTA, and why would Oda mention such a place and then send the characters there just to return them back to Bighorn without any reason?
Oda himself started that our Blackbeard is inspired by the real Blackbeard and he was also known as DRUMMOND. MOND means MOON. Yes, Blackbeard is the MOON who was born in DRUM. Luffy is the SUN as they are parallels to each other. Blackbeard went to GYASTA, which is his hometown in DRUM, and kicked out Wapol…to free people from him.
- 2212 VOTES
He Ate Another Devil Fruit Prior To The Dark-Dark Fruit
Photo: Yassine_Bouriga / RedditFrom Redditor u/Yassine_Bouriga:
One of the secrets of One Piece is how Teach was able to eat two Fruits. The answer would be with a question: What if Teach had eaten a Devil Fruit before, so he could eat two [more] fruits? Now, you will wonder what this fruit is. You will be shocked if I tell you the answer is in Teach's laugh:
As we know, many characters in One Piece, the way they laugh is taken from the name of their fruit…Teach's laugh is "ZEHAHAHA." What fruit applies to his laughter?
Answer: There is a mythical creature called Bai-Ze, and it is called in Japan, Hakutaku. If we combine the first and last letters of [the creature's] names…we will get ZEHA, which is Teach's laugh, and the strange thing is that this creature has many things that literally apply to Teach.
The Bai-Ze is a spiritual being that is described as a tiger, sheep, or lion…It has several horns and has three faces: one on the front and two on the sides. Each face has 3 eyes. If you notice, the flag of Teach's crew is three skulls. A skull on the front and two skulls on the sides, and he also has three guns. According to the legend, Bai-Ze has three souls, and this explains why Teach ate two extra Fruits. Each demon from a Fruit has a soul!
The most common belief is that the Bai-Ze tiger has [lived for] several centuries, and this explains why Shanks said that he was surprised at how Teach managed to scratch his eye. So maybe Teach transformed into the Bai-Ze (the tiger) and surprised Shanks.
If this theory came true, Teach would be able to collect mighty Fruits of each of the three types:
- Zoan Fruit: Bai-Ze Fruit
- Logia Fruit: the Darkness Fruit
- Paramecia Fruit: Earthquake Fruit
- 3225 VOTES
His Body Is Constantly Changing
Photo: Mistborn_First_Era / Reddit - 4113 VOTES
He's Similar To Cavendish
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Reddit u/Tasty_Tones:
So I’ve seen all these theories about [Blackbeard] having two souls, three hearts, or maybe eating a Fruit that allows him to take a form to have multiple Fruits.
But here’s what I propose, Blackbeard is like Cavendish. We’ve been told that Blackbeard has a weird body and, more importantly, that he does not sleep. Why doesn’t he sleep? Maybe because if he does, everyone will find out about his secret persona which is his trump card.
Whenever we’ve seen him in a fight he is getting his ass kicked, even a pre-time skip Luffy was able to hurt him in Impel Down and Magellan straight up destroyed him. So how did someone so weak beat Ace and, more importantly, go toe-to-toe with one of the Four Emperors and permanently scar him? My guess is that his true strength lies within the hidden persona, just like Cavendish. Shanks also warned Whitebeard, “you do not know the true Teach.”
I imagine his second persona would also be the secret as to why he is able to hold two Devil Fruits since they may count as two separate people. We’ve seen Cavendish have a perfect split between himself and Hakuba, showing a light and a dark side. Almost like a parallel to BB using the Tremor Fruit and Darkness Fruit at the same time, white and black visuals.
- 583 VOTES
He Was Vegapunk's Test Subject As A Child
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Twitter User @TypicalJAnt:
Let's begin with one of the things we're all aware of, Blackbeard's ‘abnormality’…As Marco said at Marineford, it seems to be this, 'abnormality', that allows him to eat more than one Devil Fruit without dying…One of the clues that many people have picked up on, is that Blackbeard never sleeps…This idea, that people from snowy countries in particular never sleep, has raised the likelihood that Blackbeard is from a winter island…
Blackbeard is from Karakuri, the same island as Vegapunk. It was here that he was born alongside two sisters. This detail will be important later. Blackbeard initially lead a happy life, but eventually he was orphaned, how? And what happened to his sisters? This may well connect back to the highly disputed dialogue, “It's not 'he', it's ‘they’” from Jaya. This line has been argued by many to signify that Blackbeard has 3 distinct personalities and that this is the significance of his jolly roger. I don't believe in the theory of 3 distinct personalities, or really in the theory of 3 souls. I think that Blackbeard has spliced genetic code of 3 people.
How could this happen? You've probably guessed by now. Blackbeard was a test subject. But to what end? Most likely, to prove the Devil Fruit Transfer Theory, as mentioned by CP9. "Grandline scientists already proved Devil Fruit transfer theory." Interestingly, in this same conversation, they mention that eating more than one Fruit should destroy a person, saying, "A greedy idiot will destroy himself." This perhaps, hints at the limitations of Blackbeard's 'abnormality'. This experiment would connect back to his sisters and give us an explanation for what happened to them. They died in this experiment. The experiment was a success but at the cost of the lives of children.
This perhaps, is why Vegapunk is now opposed to experimenting on children, he carries this guilt with him. As for Blackbeard, this would be how he became orphaned. Having become a Frankenstein, Vegapunk abandoned him…His genetic makeup is corrupted to the point where remaining away is probably necessary for the genetic code to not fall apart. Spliced DNA being held together by constant brain activity.
- 6109 VOTES
He Attacked Drum Kingdom In Search For The Human-Human Fruit
Photo: One Piece / Viz MediaFrom Reddit u/Callsign_Bastion444:
…I came across the information that Blackbeard and his crew attacked Drum Kingdom early on in the manga. They were the ones that drove off King Wapol originally. So Blackbeard must have had some objective that he wanted to fulfill in Drum Kingdom…In Chapter 650, Jimbei explains to the Straw Hats that Blackbeard is searching the world for Devil Fruits and that he is actively pursuing people with DF powers.
Chopper reacts to Jinbe's news that the Blackbeard Crew is hunting DF Users in an interesting way, by assuming that they will come for him as well. It gets played off as a joke with the way Usopp reacts to it, but I think we receive a critical piece of information here…I assume that most of you are aware that Blackbeard has something wrong with himself in various ways. Many suspect that he might have a split personality, or multiple souls and there definitely seems to be something to these theories.
Teach is not a normal human. We do not know exactly what is different about him, but there is definitely something going on with him…So my theory is, that Blackbeard might think of himself as some kind of monster too…This is most likely a hint to him not being able to sleep, however, I personally interpret this as him being desperate and sad about him being abnormal in some way. So what did he want in Drum Kingdom? Blackbeard might have been looking for the Human-Human Fruit…He probably only had the information that the Fruit was located on Drum Island and was not aware that Chopper had already eaten it, so he left without ever being able to find it.
It would also make sense since, so far, Blackbeard has acquired two kinds of Devil Fruits. A Paramecia (Whitebeard's Gura-Gura no Mi) and a Logia ( Yami-Yami no Mi). Besides the split personality that his Jolly Roger could be interpreted as, this could also be connected to the three kinds of powers that he would connect to each part of his soul/personality. Missing would only be a Zoan Devil Fruit and seeing as how the Human-Human Fruit falls into the Zoan category, this might also fit this theory.
- 795 VOTES
He Ate A Mythical Zoan-Type Devil Fruit Before Joining The Whitebeard Pirates
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Redditor u/grramramram:
So my theory is that Blackbeard already owns a third Devil Fruit, in the form of a Mythical octopus Fruit: Tako Tako No Mi, Model: Kraken, or Model: Akkorokamui (Japanese Kraken)…As you all know, octopuses have a really strange body, even for invertebrates…Most octopuses have 8 arms, 3 hearts, and a very well-developed nervous system…Apart from this, octopuses are known to be very intelligent, they can camouflage within their surroundings, they shoot ink. Another interesting things about them is that they rarely sleep, and even when they do, it's in a safe space for them.
So, how does this relate to Blackbeard? Ever since his introduction in Jaya, we've been given hints that BB's body is not normal, finally being confirmed by Marco at the end of Marineford. It's possible that BB ate a Tako Tako No Mi before joining the Whitebeard Crew. While a bit of a stretch, it is not impossible for Teach to have hidden his power for 20 years.
This is also why his body is so weird. He is still a human, but because of his DF, his body changed. Most Devil Fruit users are affected by the Fruit they consume, because they modify their Lineage Factor (DNA)….Because his body composition is different than that of a normal person, it is possible this might be the sole reason he can sustain using more Devil Fruits at the same time. One DF for each of his hearts.
The Jolly Roger of the BB pirates features 3 skulls (reference to 3 hearts/leads to what Luffy and Zoro said at Jaya) and 8 bones (tentacles). It's also interesting how his other 2 Devil Fruits play into the theme of an octopus/Kraken. Krakens could supposedly create whirpools, and change the sea surface when they appeared (Gura Gura no Mi). The Yami Yami no Mi could clearly represent the ink an octopus produces.
Blackbeard wearing camo pants pre-time skip, possible reference to how octopuses camouflage. His post-time skip pants also have a similar pattern to an octopus changing color.
- 8110 VOTES
He's Part Of An Unknown Race
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Redditor u/Ok_Bee6186:
When Big Mom speaks to King, in chapter 951, she tells him 3 races are missing from her kingdom. One is King's race, Lunarians. Second are giants, since she has a feud with them. Third, we don't know of - it has yet to be confirmed.
Keep in mind, that if this third race is a race that we have already seen or heard of, why would Oda keep it a secret and add it to the already big list of mysteries of One Piece and not just confirm it and be done with it? In other words, it is a race that we do not know of as of yet.
Big Mom mentions that ONE of them may have been lost to the sands of time, and she obviously meant the third race. If she was referring to King's race, why wouldn't she say “I thought YOUR race was lost to the sands of time”? What if Blackbeard is possibly the last member of that third race? A race that is capable of eating more than one Devil Fruit and one which requires no sleep and are highly endurable even without Haki. Such a race would surely prove to be the most dangerous to the World Government, so they tried to dominate them, like they always do, but failed so they (almost) wiped them out and erased memories of them (perhaps this took place during the Void Century). Only influential people like the Yonkos, Gorosei, Rocks, and Roger know such a race once existed.
- 953 VOTES
He Is After Whole Cake Island
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Twitter User @TypicalJAnt:
[Blackbeard] says that he wants to obtain something before it 'falls into the hands' of the Navy, implying that they are perhaps not aware of a potential prize. This also tells us that his target must be something that is also being targeted by the Navy. At face value, this would mean either the Warlords or Wano, as these are the only two things we know to be Navy targets at the moment. However, if we consider all of the possibilities of the Warlords, it does not seem likely that Blackbeard wants or needs anything from them…Then we consider Wano and it seems even less likely that Blackbeard would want to take such a risk…
So what makes it any more likely that Blackbeard would target WCI?…So far the cover story has been focusing on the subject of science & the Big Mom Pirates' attempts to acquire Germa technology. This subject gives us the reason why the Navy & Blackbeard would target WCI. With [this idea] in mind, we are reminded of a curious detail mentioned during WCI which has not yet shown its consequences: Big Mom made a replica of Vegapunk's Punk Hazard lab!
It was only recently that the WG became aware that there was still an active lab at Punk Hazard…So the Navy are aware that there was until recently an active lab at Punk Hazard but they are not necessarily aware that Big Mom has a replica. It would 'fall into their hands', as Blackbeard said. This would also be one of the reasons why Blackbeard is intent on taking WCI. Gaining such a significant piece of territory before anyone else realizes it's up for grabs would set him up with a significant advantage in the coming conflicts.
I'm not entirely sure how exactly it could be that Blackbeard has intel on the fact that Big Mom has this replica of Punk Hazard, but I think he is entirely capable of having obtained that information unnoticed. One possibility is that he captured Caesar. So if Blackbeard were to be targeting WCI then he would not only gain significant territory, he would also gain a replica of Vegapunk's lab, capable of reproducing perfected artificial Devil Fruits & likely many other things. The cherry on top is he would also get Germa's tech.
- 1064 VOTES
He Was Able To Obtain His Second Devil Fruit By Fusing It Into An Object
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Reddiotr u/Ok_Bee6186:
Since Blackbeard's intelligent, he figured out how to fuse a Devil Fruit into an object. As far as we currently know, this technique is kept secret by the World Government, and he fused Whitebeard's Fruit into one of his rings and can indirectly access the Devil Fruit's power. This would explain why he put a blanket on Whitebeard, so other nearby pirates, maybe even including his own crew, won't see how the fusion process works and copy it for their own gain, resulting in Blackbeard losing his advantage against other pirates. However, this theory doesn't explain the strange remarks Blackbeard has been getting throughout the story (hence my second theory). Although, it could be boiled down to classic Oda misleading fans and can be explained away easily. For example, how Blackbeard's incapability of sleeping is just something he was born with or gained later in life, as a result of some ordeal.
- 1152 VOTES
The Real Name Of His Devil Fruit Is The Void-Void Fruit
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Reddit u/SBThunder:
So to start off, as we all know, the Gorosei have a Devil Fruit that they fear whose name they've changed to hide it from public knowledge…the Dark-Dark fruit is a Logia fruit which Blackbeard ate after killing his captain and betraying Whitebeard. So, what's so special about it? First, let's go over the abilities we've seen so far:
1. Places pools of darkness which can absorb anything, be it alive or not
2. The darkness seems to also have a tangible form, being able to be used as a projectile or grab opponents
And now, the abilities that stick out to me the most:
3. Draws people into said pools like a blackhole, which can be used in even small volumes as demonstrated by Blackbeard grabbing Luffy and Ace
4. Nullifies other Devil Fruit abilities
As I was re-reading the Ace vs. Blackbeard fight, Blackbeard said something that stuck out to me…As Blackbeard states, he doesn't ‘nullify’ Devil Fruit abilities, he ‘absorbs’ them using darkness…The fabled fruit whose name was changed by the Five Elders due to fear of its power is the Dark-Dark fruit and it's true name is actually ‘Void-Void Fruit’. If Blackbeard's true Devil Fruit is actually the Void-Void Fruit, then it would explain his gravity -elated abilities a lot better, as he would be making a ‘void’ that absorbs and crushes gravity around it. It would also explain its unexplained ability to nullify other Devil Fruit abilities, as he would be making them ‘void’, if you get what I mean.
…Imagine how powerful the awakened ‘Void-Void Fruit’ would be like that. It can already swallow an entire small town as we've seen, so in an awakened state, it's entirely plausible that it could swallow entire islands and take down armies alone. A Fruit like that poses an immense threat not only to the government but the very world itself.
- 1249 VOTES
He May Be After Orochi's Devil Fruit
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Reddit u/karasudruyaga93:
I came across something that sounded eerily familiar. I present to you Apophis, the great serpent. It just so happens that Apophis was an enemy of Ra, the Sun god, and it was associated with Darkness, Earthquakes and, well you guessed it, Snakes. Now let's see, Blackbeard currently has the Yami Yami no Mi, a Logia Fruit that allows the user to create darkness, he also utilizes the powers of the Gura Gura no Mi, a Paramecia Fruit that allows the creation of Earthquakes, now what else is missing? That's right, a Zoan type Devil Fruit. Isn't there a certain Shogun on Wano who ate a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit that turns him into a multi-headed snake? I hope by now you see where I'm going with this. What if Blackbeard acquires Orochi's DF? As far as we know, maybe some of his men are hiding on Wano and waiting for their chance to go DF collecting. It might be a reach, but it's something I wanted to throw into the ring as a potential possibility.
- 1339 VOTES
He'll Go After Law's Devil Fruit Power Next
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Reddit u/ReaperParadise:
Ever since [Blackbeard stole Whitebeard's Devil Fruit], people have been wondering if he's ever going to steal someone else's Devil Fruit and use it - creating plenty of posts speculating who could potentially be Blackhead's next target…Blackbeard is inspired by a real pirate by the name of "Edward Teach"…instead of really focusing on the person, I would like to focus on a flag that is frequently associated with him - widely thought as the flag that was used for his ship. The flag consists of a black background, showing a horned skeleton holding up a chalice and making a toast to the devil himself... While stabbing a red heart with a spear... And coincidentally the Ope Ope no Mi, the Devil Fruit of Law, resembles that of a Red Heart.
…Now let's take a look at two of the Yami Yami no Mi's main weaknesses:
1. While using the Fruit, if the user fails to absorb an attack in time, then the user will be hurt like any other normal being or possibly even more than that.
2. In order for the user to nullify a Devil Fruit user's powers, the Yami Yami no Mi user needs to make and maintain physical contact with the other Devil Fruit user or else they will begin to regain their abilities. If Blackbeard ends up stealing the Ope Ope no Mi, he would be able to counter both of those weaknesses…Not to mention that the Ope Ope no Mi is extremely powerful and useful on its own, even being able to partially replicate the power of Observation Haki due to the user being able to sense the presence of other people inside the room. That Observation Haki example actually brings me to my next point, as there seems to be a pattern with Blackbeard's Devil Fruit with each of them them being able to replicate the effects of Haki…
So, with all of this evidence in mind, Blackbeard has every reason to want to seek out and take the Ope Ope no Mi from Law by force with him, most likely, at some point trying to do so - and knowing how powerful Blackbeard is with both the Gura Gura no Mi and the Yami Yami no Mi, I think he could potentially win and take it.
- 1452 VOTES
He Will Die By Drowning
Photo: One Piece / Toei AnimationFrom Reddit u/AnvilPro:
The scariest thing about Blackbeard in-universe isn't that he has a crew of S-Rank criminals or that he was able to scar Shanks, it's that he somehow has two Devil Fruit abilities. He could even be gaining more as time passes with him offscreen, so by the time he re-enters for the final battle, he could be a true monster in terms of abilities.
So, as a man with many Devil Fruits, what would be a better way to exit than with the Devil Fruit's biggest weakness: drowning. It doesn't matter how powerful a Devil Fruit is, you end up in water you're going down and not getting back up by your own power. So, I think that the ultimate irony would be that Blackbeard did everything in his power to get the Dark Dark Fruit, then do even more to steal Whitebeard's Quake Quake Fruit, but in the end it was the Devil Fruits he was so intent on stealing that would result in his death.
