One Piece’s world is brimming with mystery over past events and characters who have left an indelible mark on the seas, whether pirates or Marines.

One such character is the legendary Rocks D. Xebec, who was such a threat to the World Government that they thought erasing him from the annals of history was the best course of action. Although little is known about him, his legacy lives on through some of the greatest pirates of today.

Rocks was also tied to the infamous God Valley incident, where the primary forces of the Marines, Rocks Pirates, Roger Pirates, and Celestial Dragons clashed. Although this is where Rocks met his end through the combined efforts of Roger and Garp, there are some theories that suggest that this is not the case, as they say he still lives on in some way. So, let’s take a look at how he may be one of One Piece’s most important characters.

Who Was Rocks D. Xebec?

The Leader of the Most Infamous Pirate Crew

First Mention: One Piece, Chapter 957, “Ultimate”

Date: September 30, 2019

Story Arc: Wano

At the current moment, next to nothing is known about Rocks D. Xebec despite his standing as the most infamous and powerful pirate before Roger’s time. This is mainly due to the World Government destroying every detail of him and the mysterious God Valley Incident, which was likely his most important battle as well since it was there that he was defeated by the combined forces of Garp and Roger.

However, what is known about Rocks is still incredibly vague. Only that his crew was perhaps the most powerful pirate crew in history since it contained powerhouses like Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaido, the former two of which were in their prime at this stage. Due to this, the Rocks Pirates were essentially the strongest force on the seas and by far the biggest threat to the institution of the World Government, and Rocks himself was likely the strongest of them all, which is why Roger and Garp had to come together to defeat him.

His Importance To The Greater Story

Why Rocks Is Still So Important to this Day

It is largely believed that in the God Valley Incident, Rocks was defeated by Garp and Roger and seemingly died, which is why it was easy for the World Government to erase him from the collective memory in just 38 years and why he had never been mentioned before Wano despite being such an important character. However, many in the fandom believe that he may still be alive or, even if he is not, he has a far greater role to play than just being a villain that was defeated decades ago.

If he is still alive, then it is most likely under a different name, or he could also be kept at a level of Impel Down that is not known to anyone other than the top brass of the World Government. It is said that prisoners kept on Level 6 are to be erased from history, so it already works for what the Government wanted for Rocks, but due to his notoriety and insane strength, he was kept on a level made especially just for him. Although this is just wishful theorizing for now, it is definitely something that could have happened.

Their captain, Rocks, aimed to become Pirate King. And he bared the fangs of his crew at the World Government, almost like a terrorist organization.

However, more importantly, and realistically, it is imperative to note that Rocks’ will still lives on through Blackbeard. During Sengoku’s monologue telling the Marines about the pirate, he states that Rocks wanted to be the King of the World, which is the same ambition shared by Blackbeard. Both pirates also represent the ‘dark’ side of the main pirates of their age; Roger for Rocks and Luffy for Blackbeard, who fundamentally oppose these pirates and what they want to do.

Blackbeard has always been connected to darkness and has always been a strange figure, even by One Piece standards, and this is mostly because of his unique body. Although it is currently a mystery, Blackbeard’s body is the subject of a lot of debate among fans, since it allows him to house multiple Devil Fruits within himself. A prevailing theory is that Rocks has something to do with this too.

Not only does Rocks’ will live on through Blackbeard, but many fans believe that Rocks himself does too, which is why Blackbeard can use multiple Devil Fruits. It should be remembered that both Zoro and Luffy said ‘they’ when speaking about Blackbeard after their first meeting with him, implying that Blackbeard may be multiple people in one body. It remains a mystery how Rocks would play a part in Blackbeard’s journey but it’s a feasible theory.

If this theory about Rocks does end up being true and he has influenced Blackbeard’s journey and motivations for all this time, then it would undoubtedly prop him up as the series’ most evil and captivating antagonist. By making himself the center of a decades-old plan, Rocks may just be one of One Piece’s most important characters.