Becoming an Emperor (Yonko): How Do You Earn This Title?

September 4, 2026

The essentials in 30 seconds: the title of Emperor (Yonko) is neither an official rank nor an election: it is a de facto recognition granted by the entire world to a captain who commands an exceptional crew, possesses territory on the Grand Line, has an overwhelming bounty, and has the power to stand up to the Marines without ever bending. Since Kaido and Big Mom fell, the seat has been open: Blackbeard has already taken it by force, and Buggy, Shanks, or even Luffy are cited as legitimate contenders for the fourth throne.

In the world of One Piece, few titles are as impressive as that of Emperor, or Yonko in Japanese. Unlike a Marine rank, assigned through a precise hierarchy, the status of Yonko has never been formally defined by a single rule. It is a consensus: one shared by the Marines, the World Government, and the pirate world itself, recognizing four captains as the most powerful on the seas.

But then, what causes an ordinary pirate captain, formidable though they may be, to enter the very exclusive category of Emperors? Do they have to defeat an Emperor in a duel? Control an island? Have a nine-digit bounty? This article breaks down the entire mechanism behind this legendary title, from historical criteria to recent cases such as Blackbeard’s, while addressing the question that has obsessed the community since Wano: who will become the next Yonko?

The status of Yonko, an informal but universally recognized title

The word “Yonko” (四皇, literally “the four emperors”) appears in no World Government law. It is a collective nickname, coined by public rumor and adopted by the Marines for lack of a better category. Unlike the Shichibukai, whose status was based on an official contract, the title of Yonko depends on no outside authority: it is built solely on strength, terror, and territory.

Historically, the four most famous Emperors remain Kaido of the Beasts, Big Mom (Charlotte Linlin), Whitebeard (Edward Newgate), then Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teach), and Red-Haired Shanks. This group has always consisted of exactly four members at a time: when Whitebeard died at Marineford, Blackbeard eventually took his place years later. This precedent proves that a vacant Yonko seat never remains empty for long.

The four criteria that define an Emperor

By analyzing the Emperors who have succeeded one another throughout history, recurring criteria emerge. None is stated explicitly in the manga, but their combination seems essential to attaining the title.

1. Overwhelming combat power, often linked to Conqueror's Haki

All known Yonkos possess Conqueror's Haki, that rare power reserved for those with the soul of a leader. Kaido was nicknamed “the world's strongest creature,” Whitebeard bore the title of the world's strongest man, and Big Mom terrorized the Grand Line with her Soru Soru no Mi, capable of creating Homies from stolen souls.

2. A stable territory or sphere of influence

A Yonko does not merely attack: they control. Kaido ruled Wano with the support of Shogun Orochi, Big Mom possessed the Totto Land archipelago, and Shanks wields diplomatic influence over several areas of the New World. This territory provides resources, recruits, and a rear base against the Marines.

3. A bounty and reputation beyond comprehension

A bounty is not the cause of Yonko status, but its visible consequence. The World Government assesses an individual's danger, and the Emperors' bounties rank among the highest ever recorded. However, a record bounty is never enough on its own: it must be accompanied by concrete deeds and territories.

4. A crew or fleet capable of rivaling an army

No captain, no matter how superhuman, becomes a Yonko alone. Every Emperor relies on exceptional commanders: the Tobi Roppo for Kaido, the Sweet Commanders for Big Mom, and a fleet of titanic captains for Blackbeard. Without this structure, it is impossible to hold territory against the Marines.

Criterion	Historical example	Role in Yonko status
Individual power	Kaido, indestructible and undefeated for decades	Instills fear and deters direct attacks
Territory	Big Mom and Totto Land, Kaido and Wano	Provides resources, recruits, and a strategic base
Bounty	Among the highest bounties ever recorded	Makes the danger visible and official in the eyes of the world
Crew / Fleet	Blackbeard's titanic captains	Enables them to defend their territory over time

How does a crew concretely attain the rank of Yonko?

The case of Blackbeard is the only fully documented example in the manga of someone ascending to the rank of Yonko in real time. After betraying Whitebeard, capturing Ace, and then stealing the Yami Yami no Mi from his dying former captain at Marineford, Marshall D. Teach spent the following years recruiting criminals who had escaped from Impel Down: Vasco Shot, Jesus Burgess, Shiryu, Van Augur, and several others. This fleet of ten captains enabled him to claim territory and gain recognition from the world as the fourth Emperor, officially taking the place left vacant by Whitebeard's death.

This pattern is repeating today on a larger scale. Since Kaido's fall at Onigashima and the defeat of Big Mom during the same arc, two Yonko seats have remained vacant. Blackbeard immediately claimed one by establishing his influence on Hachinosu Island. The second remains contested: Buggy the Clown, propelled almost against his will into the position of Emperor at the head of Cross Guild alongside Mihawk and Crocodile, is an unexpected contender but officially recognized as such by the World Government. Luffy himself, with a bounty of 3 billion berries, is regularly cited by fans as the natural successor, even though the manga has not yet settled the matter.

One Piece Wanted Poster Kaido of the Beasts

The Yonko title in the face of the World Government and the Marines

The paradox of the Emperors is that they are both sworn enemies of the World Government and a tool of its own balance-of-power system. For decades, the Government allowed the Shichibukai and Yonko to prosper according to a simple logic: divide and rule. As long as the Emperors neutralized one another, the Marines did not have to mobilize all their forces on several fronts at once.

This system collapsed with the abolition of the Shichibukai, followed by the simultaneous downfall of two Yonko in Wano. The Marines are now strengthening their admirals and developing Vegapunk's Seraphim, while new contenders take the vacant seats. A Yonko is never safe: the title is earned through strength, but it can also be lost, as Kaido learned against Luffy in Gear 5.

One Piece Shanks the Red-Haired and Luffy Bust

Can you lose the title of Yonko?

Yes, and recent history provides two striking examples. At Onigashima, both Kaido and Big Mom lost their battles against the combined forces of Luffy, Kid, Law, and their allies. Their defeat immediately stripped them of their status as Emperors: a Yonko defeated publicly loses the fear they inspired, and without that fear, no territory remains under their control. This power vacuum allowed Blackbeard to expand his influence and Cross Guild to establish itself so quickly. The title of Yonko is by no means a lifetime achievement.

See our dedicated page on the Four Emperors for a complete overview of every historical Yonko, from their Devil Fruits to their respective territories.

Who could become the next Yonko?

The question has fueled the community since the end of the Wano arc. Several names regularly come up in the most serious theories:

Luffy, with a bounty of 3 billion berries, a formidable crew, and an awakened mythical fruit, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.
Buggy the Clown, already recognized as an Emperor at the head of Cross Guild, despite his leadership style being very different from that of the other Yonko.
The New King of Wano if a descendant of the Kozuki Clan were to unite a fleet powerful enough to exert influence over the Grand Line.
Former Supernovas such as Trafalgar Law or Eustass Kid, whose bounties and strategic alliances already place them at a level close to that of the current Emperors.

None of these theories has been confirmed in the manga to date, but they clearly illustrate the mechanics of the title: all it takes is a sufficiently memorable feat, a sufficiently strong territory, and a sufficiently loyal fleet for the entire world to recognize you as a new Emperor. To explore further the subject of powers that rival the Emperors, head to our collection of official One Piece Card Game cards, featuring most of these legendary captains, or our Wanted posters section to display their bounties at home.

Decor Idea

One Piece Rug - Epic Luffy vs. Kaido Duel

The battle that ended an Emperor’s reign and paved the way for a new order of the seas, also featured in our One Piece rugs collection.

View the product →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the title of Emperor officially bestowed by the World Government?

No. Unlike the Shichibukai, who signed an official contract, the status of Emperor is never granted by a document or ceremony. It is a de facto recognition, born from the fear and respect these captains inspire throughout the world.

Can you be an Emperor without having a Devil Fruit?

Nothing theoretically prevents it, but all known Emperors possess a powerful Devil Fruit: Kaido (Dragon-Dragon Fruit), Big Mom (Soru Soru no Mi), Whitebeard and Blackbeard (Gura Gura no Mi). Shanks remains the exception, dominating thanks to his sword Gryphon and exceptional Conqueror’s Haki rather than a Devil Fruit power.

How many Emperors can there be at the same time?

The title has always referred to exactly four captains at a time, hence the Japanese name Yonko (“the four emperors”). When a seat becomes vacant, as after Marineford or Wano, a new contender eventually emerges to maintain this number.

Can an Emperor lose their title without dying?

Yes, it is even the most common case. Kaido and Big Mom lost their status after their defeat at Onigashima without being killed. It is the loss of territory and credibility, far more than death, that brings down a Yonko.

Is Buggy the Clown really considered a Yonko?

Yes, officially, at the head of Cross Guild alongside Mihawk and Crocodile. This case shows that the title sometimes rewards influence just as much as combat power.

Gift idea

One Piece Slippers - Kaido & Big Mom Design (Emperors)

To keep the two former Yonko from Wano close by, even after returning home.

View the product →

To explore the One Piece universe further

Key takeaways

Becoming an Emperor cannot be bought or proclaimed: it is the rare combination of overwhelming combat power, a solid territory, a reputation that crosses oceans, and a crew capable of standing up to any Marine fleet. Blackbeard proved it by patiently building his fleet, while Kaido and Big Mom proved the opposite by losing everything after a single defeat in Wano. With two seats still unstable and contenders such as Buggy, Luffy, or former Supernovas lying in wait, the world of One Piece may never have been closer to a new upheaval among the Emperors. While we await the manga's continuation, our Emperors and Legends store brings together figures, posters, and collector's items dedicated to these powerhouses, while our selection of One Piece figures and our One Piece gift ideas let you celebrate your favorite Yonko, whether they are on the throne or have already fallen.

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