Best Student-Teacher Relationships in One Piece

Summary

In the world of One Piece, many significant characters have a mentor or teacher figure of sorts.

Pairs like Franky and Tom, and Tony Tony Chopper and Hiriluk show the impact of mentorship.

Duos like Monkey D. Luffy & Silvers Rayleigh exemplify the importance of guidance and character growth in the series.

Everyone can benefit from a teacher to help them master their craft or a mentor to guide them through life. The same holds true in the world of One Piece. Whether they’re pirates or marines, having a great teacher or mentor can be the key to ensuring they successfully make a name for themselves in their chosen path.

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This list is about some of the most well-known characters in One Piece who are lucky enough to find a great teacher and mentor who helps change their life forever. Some of these characters learns from somebody they accidentally meet for the first time, some learn from legendary figures in their fields, and there’s also somebody who learn from his enemy. With that in mind, here are the 10 best student-teacher relationships in One Piece.
10

Usopp & Heracles

Learning About Strange Plants

First Met in: Boin Archipelago

Story Arc: Amazon Lily Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 408-421

As a sharpshooter, Usopp’s greatest asset is his weapon: a custom-made slingshot called Kabuto. Usopp has made all sorts of modifications to his Slilngshot throughout the years, including installing different types of dials from the Sky Island. Unfortunately, such a weapon is not enough to survive in the New World. He needs an upgrade. The Boin Archipelago and its countless strange plants are exactly the upgrade that he needs. But Ussop doesn’t know anything about plants. And that’s where a local expert named Heracles comes in. This man knows everything about the creatures that live and breathe on this fascinating island. Furthermore, he is somewhat of an inventor himself, which makes him similar to Usopp. Moved by Usopp’s dedication, Heracles agrees to share his knowledge. Two years later, Usopp comes back to the Sabaody Archipelago with a stronger physique, a new and improved Kabuto, and seeds that he can use to produce all sorts of tools and weapons. He calls these weaponized seeds Pop Greens.
9

Nami & Weatheria Scientists

Learning to Manipulate the Weather

First Met in: Weatheria

Story Arc: Amazon Lily Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 408-421

Although Nami is an excellent navigator who can predict an incoming storm while the sky is still clear as day, she has never actually received a formal education in Meteorology, Oceanography, or other relevant subjects to her profession. That’s why when Kuma sent her to the floating island of Weatheria, it was actually a blessing in disguise. Weatheria is an artificial sky island with a population consisting of nothing but old weather scientists. But don’t let their age fool you because they are some of the best scientists in their field. They were reluctant to share their knowledge at first. But once they found out about Nami’s circumstances and how much she wants to help her captain and her crew, they gladly teach Nami everything they know about the weather and how to manipulate it to one’s advantage. Thanks to this, Nami can now use her deep knowledge in weather science both while they are on the sea and in combat as well.
8

Roronoa Zoro & Dracule Mihawk

Learning Sword Techniques from His Archenemy

First Met in: Kuraigana Island

Story Arc: Amazon Lily Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 408-421

Back in the Baratie Arc, Zoro suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Dracule Mihawk, the Greatest Swordsman in the world. So he knows more than anybody else how powerful Mihawk truly is. That’s why, when Zoro found out that Kuma sent him to the island where Mihawk resides, the first thing that came to his mind was to learn the way of the sword from the Greatest Swordsman himself.

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Zoro still considers Mihawk as his greatest enemy, but he also knows that nobody on this planet can teach him better than Mihawk. So he swallowed his pride and asked for Mihawk’s guidance. As for Mihawk, he finds Zoro’s request quite amusing. In fact, he finds the idea of training the man who would kill him in the future quite intriguing. Nowadays, Zoro himself is one of the most powerful swordsmen in the world, just like his teacher. That being said, it’s still unclear who is the strongest between the two.
7

Trafalgar Law & Donquixote Rosinante

Learning About Life from a Marine Spy

First Met in: Port Town of Spider Miles

Story Arc: Dressrosa Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 629-746

When he was small, Trafalgar Law was an errand boy to the Donquixote Pirates. Terrible though it may be, it was in that hellhole that he met the man who would change his life forever—Donquixote Rosinante, Doflamingo’s younger brother. Rosinante was the only one in that criminal organization who truly cared for him. At the time, Law suffered from an extremely rare illness called the White Lead Disease and was predicted to only have three years left to live. So he took the boy from hospital to hospital, but no one could help. Just when things seemed hopeless, they heard of a Devil Fruit called the Ope Ope no Mi. In the hands of somebody with great medical knowledge, this devil fruit is said to be able to cure any kind of disease. Rosinante sacrificed his life to get this devil fruit to Law. This man may never have taught Law any practical skills like combat or medicine, but he taught the young Trafalgar Law how to live as a good man. An important lesson that he will never forget.
6

Kuzan & Monkey D. Garp

Learning Martial Arts from a Marine Hero

First Met in: Ship Graveyard Near Naval Base G-1

Story Arc: Egghead Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 1086-present

Monkey D. Garp is known as the Hero of the Marines. He managed to earn that prestigious title and the influence and admiration that come along with it without using any Devil Fruit power at all. This immense power and achievements are what drew Kuzan, who was still a regular soldier at the time, to ask Garp to be his teacher. Garp initially refused, but Kuzan’s persistence and determination eventually won Garp over. Garp taught everything he knew to his dear pupil until Kuzan eventually became an Admiral. Even after Kuzan has reached a higher ranking than his teacher, they still have a great relationship. At least that is the case until that fateful battle between Kuzan and Sakazuki, which resulted in the Lava Man becoming the new Fleet Admiral while the Ice Man left the Marines. Unfortunately, the next time this teacher-student pairing meets is as enemies. One as the old Marine Hero, the other as the 10th Division Commander of the Blackbeard Pirates.
5

The Nine Red Scabbards & Kozuki Oden

Learning the Way of the Samurai from an Easygoing Daimyo

First Met in: Wano Country

Story Arc: Wano Country Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 1031-1085

Kozuki Oden was a Daimyo who was on track to become the next Shogun of Wano Country. Unlike other Daimyo, however, Oden was a free-spirited man who often disregarded rules and did things in his own way. During his reign as a Daimyo, Oden often helped orphaned children in his territory. He provided them with shelter, food, and education. These children grew up to become the Nine Red Scabbards, the royal retainers of Kozuki Oden.

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Oden never intended for them to be his retainers. He simply helped them because he cared about them and didn’t want them to end up as criminals. But the kids grew up admiring Oden and wanted to do their best to help him. They even learned Oden’s unique two-sword style, though they ended up developing their own styles as they got older. To the Nine Red Scabbards, Oden was their savior, their mentor, and their lord. That’s why they ended up blaming themselves when they failed to protect Oden and his family from Kaidou and Orochi. Thankfully, Oden’s children—Momonosuke and Hiyori—survived. Now, the Red Scabbards dedicate themselves to protecting and aiding Momonosuke as the new Shogun of Wano.
4

Franky & Tom

Learning from the Greatest Shipbuilder

First Met in: Water 7

Story Arc: Water 7 Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 229-263

Similar to the Nine Red Scabbards of Wano, Franky was also an orphan child helped by his mentor, a fish-man named Tom. Tom was not only helping and sheltering Franky, but he was also taking him as his apprentice. You see, even then, Tom was already known throughout the world as a legendary shipbuilder. After all, he was the one who built the Pirate King’s legendary vessel, the Oro Jackson. Tom taught everything he knew to his two pupils, Franky and Iceberg. He was also the one who showed Franky how to live as a manly man who was kind to others and helped those in need. A philosophy that Franky still follows to this day. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Tom was like a father to Franky. Unfortunately, the world at the time was not kind to Fish-men, including Tom. When the World Government unfairly detained and punished Tom on baseless charges, that was the moment Franky lost all trust in the Marines and the World Government.
3

Tony Tony Chopper & Hiriluk and Kureha

Learning Medicine from a Grumpy Doctor

First Met in: Drum Island

Story Arc: Drum Island Arc.

Arc Episodes: Episode 78-91

When he was at Drum Island, Chopper was actually lucky enough to have two different mentors. The first one was Dr. Hiriluk, a quack doctor with a kind heart. He was the only one who treated Chopper like a human, while everyone else shunned him like a monster. In a lot of ways, he was Chopper’s father figure. He believed in Chopper’s potential to become a great doctor till his last breath. The second one was Dr. Kureha, one of the best doctors in the world with vast knowledge of the field of medicine. She was a rude alcoholic, but she was also the only one who was willing to share her medical knowledge with Chopper. Apart from Hiriluk, Dr. Kureha was the one who acknowledged Chopper’s ability as a proper doctor. They rarely get to meet each other nowadays, but Dr. Kureha always smiles and feels proud every time Chopper makes it to the news.
2

Vinsmoke Sanji & Zeff

Learning How to Cook from a Pirate

First Met in: The Cruise Ship “Orbit”

Story Arc: Baratie Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 19-30

Zeff was the one who taught Sanji how to cook. He was the one who raised him from a clueless boy to become a proper young man. Not only that, Zeff was also the one who taught Sanji his iconic kicking techniques. It’s no exaggeration to say that everything we know and love about Sanji, he learned from Zeff.

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Even now, when Sanji has arguably risen above Zeff, both in terms of cooking and combat skills, he still has the utmost respect for the man who has raised him like his own son. To understand how much Sanji cares for and respects Zeff, remember that he was willing to betray the Straw Hats and marry into Big Mom’s family, just to protect Zeff and the people at the Baratie from Germa 66’s threats.
1

Monkey D. Luffy & Silvers Rayleigh

Learning Haki from the Pirate King’s Right-Hand Man

First Met in: Sabaody Archipelago

Story Arc: Sabaody Archipelago Arc

Arc Episodes: Episode 385-405

Like most members of the Straw Hats Pirates, Luffy never really had a proper teacher before he decided to set out to sea. The only times he actually got the chance to experience a proper teacher-student relationship were in the two years after the Marineford War. Luffy spent those two years learning about Haki under the tutelage of Silvers Rayleigh, the Pirate King’s Right-Hand Man. Rayleigh also taught him how to refine his Devil Fruit abilities even further and gave him a crash course in combat strategy as well. From the moment he met Luffy, Rayleigh immediately saw Luffy’s potential and how important it was to guide him in the right direction. After all, Rayleigh saw a lot of similarities between Luffy and his best friend, the late Gol D. Roger. So, he knew exactly how Luffy’s brain works and how reckless he can be. As Luffy’s senior, the least he could do was give Luffy the tools to face the many challenges that lay ahead. That’s why he decided to be Luffy’s teacher and mentor. There are only a handful of people in the world whom Luffy truly respects and looks up to. His grandfather, Monkey D. Garp. His older brothers, Ace and Sabo. His hero, “Red-Haired” Shanks. And last but not least, his teacher and mentor, Silvers Rayleigh. In a way, it’s quite poetic that the man who once supported the last Pirate King is now the one guiding the future Pirate King.

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