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Though once known as the “Pirate Hunter,” Zoro is now a devoted member of the Straw Hats and Luffy’s reliable first mate in ONE PIECE. That arc is emblematic of who Zoro is: He doesn’t tend to play well with others, but once you gain his loyalty, it’s unflinching. And with his masterful sword-wielding skills and determination to never turn his back on a challenge, Zoro is someone you want on your side — even if he can be a bit arrogant and antisocial.
“I think he cares about his swords a lot. I think he cares about protecting his crewmates,” says Mackenyu, who plays Zoro, in the third episode of ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line: Official Podcast. “Zoro can be very emotional.”
Read on to learn more about ONE PIECE’s Roronoa Zoro.
Key info
Name: Roronoa Zoro
Played by: Mackenyu, Maximilian Lee Piazza (young Zoro)
Crew: Straw Hat Pirates
Role: Swordsman and first mate; former bounty hunter
Place of origin: Shimotsuki Village
Weapons: Trio of swords
First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1, “ROMANCE DAWN” (15:54)
Relationships
Crewmates: Luffy, Nami, Sanji, Usopp
Friend: Kuina (deceased)
Special abilities
A master swordsman, Zoro fights with a signature three-sword style. In Season 1, his trio of swords includes the rare blade known as Wado Ichimonji, left to him by his friend and fellow trainee Kuina, as well as two katanas. In Season 2, Zoro adds the Sandai Kitetsu, a supposedly cursed blade, and the Yubashiri, one of only 50 skillful-grade swords in the world, to his belt. Both are gifted to Zoro by a shopkeeper in Loguetown who recognizes his innate abilities.
Motivation
As a boy training at the Isshin Dojo, Zoro was always second best to fellow student Kuina. Though they started as adversaries, the two became friends and pushed each other to improve their sword-fighting skills. But when Kuina tragically died in an accident, Zoro was forced to continue training on his own. Kuina left behind her rare blade, the Wado Ichimonji, and Zoro began using it as he worked toward fulfilling the promise the two made that one of them would become the greatest swordsman or woman to ever live. In his mission to secure that title, Zoro challenges other great fighters, including the warlord Dracule Mihawk, whom he has yet to defeat.
Season 1
- After Zoro, who is working as a bounty hunter, refuses to join the criminal organization Baroque Works and kills one of its agents, Mr. 7, on Sixis Island, he heads to Shells Town, where he meets Luffy, Koby, and Nami. There, he’s arrested for beating up Helmeppo, the son of Marine Captain “Axe Hand” Morgan, and Luffy offers to free him if he joins his pirate crew. Though Zoro initially refuses — he is, after all, a pirate hunter — he, Luffy, and Nami become allies against the Marines and escape the island together.
- When Buggy the Clown attacks the Straw Hats’ ship, Zoro is taken hostage by Cabaji, a member of Buggy’s crew, who is seeking revenge on the swordsman for killing his brother. Zoro is freed by Nami, and together they save Luffy and the townspeople that the clown pirate is holding captive.
- In Syrup Village, Zoro, Luffy, and Nami meet Usopp. He introduces them to his well-off friend Kaya, who may be able to help get them a new ship. While at Kaya’s mansion, Zoro is attacked by her evil butler, Klahadore — aka Captain Kuro. Kuro’s henchmen throw Zoro into a well, but he climbs out and, together with Luffy, defeats Kuro. In their new ship, Zoro sets sail again with Luffy, Nami, and Usopp, but soon the crew battles it out with the Marines.
- The crew stops at a floating restaurant called Baratie, where they meet Sanji. The warlord and legendary swordsman Dracule Mihawk, who was sent by Marine Vice Admiral Garp to track Luffy, also arrives at Baratie. Zoro challenges him to a duel and, though defeated, the young swordsman earns Mihawk’s respect. Zoro vows to continue training hard so he can one day defeat the warlord.
- Greatly injured, Zoro is nursed back to health by Sanji and Zeff in the Baratie kitchen. When he recovers, Zoro pledges his loyalty to Luffy as his first mate. After Nami leaves to work with half-man, half-fish Arlong, Zoro, Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji set out to find her.
- In their search for Nami, Zoro, Luffy, and the remaining Straw Hats arrive at Coco Village. After Nami is betrayed by Arlong, Zoro and the crew fight the fish-man, freeing Nami and the citizens of Coco Village from his rule.
Season 2
- On a stop in Loguetown for supplies, Zoro meets a fellow sword enthusiast named Tashigi, and a local shopkeeper gifts him two new swords, the Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri. Zoro and the crew then face off against Alvida and Buggy, who have joined forces to take Luffy down.
- At the edge of the Grand Line, a whale swallows the Going Merry, with Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and Usopp aboard. Zoro tries to come up with a plan to get them out of the whale, but ultimately, it’s Luffy — with help from a lighthouse keeper named Crocus — who frees them. The crew continues through the Grand Line, now with two captives, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday, who attacked them inside the whale and are members of the criminal organization Baroque Works.
- After Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 escape, the Straw Hats land on Whisky Peak, which turns out to be occupied by Baroque Works. Still training for his rematch against Mihawk, Zoro skillfully fights and defeats 100 Baroque Works agents, including Miss Monday and Mr. 9. When it’s revealed that Miss Wednesday, whose true identity is Nefertari Vivi, Princess of Alabasta, has been working undercover against Baroque Works, the crew promises they will deliver her to safety.
- As Zoro and the others explore Little Garden, Miss Valentine, Mr. 5 — along with two more members of Baroque Works, Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek — track them down. Miss Goldenweek puts Zoro in a giggly trance, and Mr. 3 holds him, Nami, and Vivi captive by encasing them in wax. After being rescued by Usopp, Zoro, Nami, and Vivi fight off Miss Valentine and Mr. 5. Back on the Going Merry, the crew sets course to Alabasta.
- After Nami unexpectedly falls ill, the Straw Hats stop at the nearest island, Drum Kingdom, where Zoro and Usopp work together to fight off the tyrant king Wapol’s army. Once Nami is healed and Wapol is defeated, the crew sets sail for Alabasta with a plan to help Vivi take down the Baroque Works.
