Scratchmen Apoo One Piece: the Musician Pirate Who Betrayed Kid

August 9, 2026

The essentials in 30 seconds: Scratchmen Apoo, captain of the On Air Pirates, is one of the Eleven Supernovas who appeared at Sabaody. His Devil Fruit transforms his body into a veritable orchestra capable of emitting destructive sound waves, even through his own heartbeat. A longtime ally of Eustass Kid against Kaido, he switches sides in the middle of the Onigashima battle to join the Beast Pirates, before becoming one of Blackbeard's fearsome Titanic Captains. A complete portrait of a pirate as unpredictable as his music.

Among the Eleven Supernovas revealed during the Sabaody Archipelago arc, one name is mentioned less often than those of Luffy, Law, or Kid: Scratchmen Apoo. Yet this musician pirate, whose style is as flamboyant as it is unsettling, is among the most fascinating characters of the Worst Generation. Captain of the On Air, and gifted with a unique Devil Fruit capable of turning his body into a deadly instrument, Apoo made his mark on the history of One Piece with a resounding betrayal that upended the balance of power in Wano. In this article, we trace his complete journey: his origins, his little-known sound-based power, his alliance with Kid and Hawkins, his spectacular defection to Kaido's side, and then his joining Blackbeard's crew.

Although the name Apoo immediately evokes music and rhythm, his erratic behavior and constant opportunism make him far more complex than a mere supporting character. With his respect for rhythm, survival instincts, and total lack of loyalty, Apoo embodies an essential facet of the pirate world of One Piece: circumstantial alliances that last only as long as they serve everyone's interests.

Who Is Scratchmen Apoo? A Portrait of an Unconventional Supernova

Scratchmen Apoo is the captain of the On Air Pirates, a crew originating from North Blue. Recognizable by his lanky silhouette, sunglasses, and street-musician-inspired look, he stands in stark contrast to the classic image of the bloodthirsty pirate. His bounty, set at 350,000,000 berries after the two-year timeskip, places him among the most feared Supernovas, alongside figures such as Eustass Kid, Trafalgar Law, and Basil Hawkins.

Apoo first appears at the Sabaody Archipelago, where eleven rookies, each with a bounty exceeding 100 million berries, cause panic within the World Government. This group, known as the Worst Generation (Worst Generation), brings together radically different personalities who share one thing in common: boundless ambition and open disdain for the authority of the Marines. To better understand the power hierarchy in which Apoo fits, our page dedicated to the Four Emperors (Yonko) places these ambitious rookies alongside the true titans of the New World.

What immediately sets Apoo apart from the rest of the group is his particular relationship with music. He sees combat as a performance, punctuates his attacks with growls and hip-hop rhythms, and seems to derive genuine aesthetic satisfaction from the destruction he causes. This contrast between his character's apparent lightheartedness and the brutality of his actions is one of the keys to his popularity among fans.

One Piece Supernova Trio 23 cm Combat Diorama Figurine

Apoo's Devil Fruit: a body transformed into a war orchestra

A unique instrument-body in the world of One Piece

Apoo's distinctive trait lies in his Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, which allows him to transform different parts of his body into musical instruments capable of producing devastating sound waves. His arm can turn into a trumpet spewing a shockwave, his torso can resonate like a drum sending his opponents flying, and his fingers can snap like percussion instruments capable of shattering rocks. This power makes him a formidable long-range fighter, capable of inflicting considerable damage without even making physical contact with his opponent.

The heartbeat that kills in silence

The most chilling aspect of Apoo's power is undoubtedly his ability to use his own heartbeat as a silent weapon. By amplifying the vibrations of his body, he can literally synchronize his opponents' hearts with his own, causing fatal internal ruptures without leaving the slightest visible trace. This technique, as discreet as it is relentless, has been used several times to eliminate opponents undetected, reinforcing the image of a character far more dangerous than he initially appears.

This duality between extroverted sonic spectacle and silent assassination sums up Apoo's psychology rather well: a pirate who loves putting on a show, but who remains above all a pragmatic killer when the situation demands it.

The Musician-Pirate Style: When Combat Becomes a Concert

Beyond his power, Apoo cultivates a genuine “musician pirate” identity. He punctuates his battles with freestyle-style onomatopoeia, moves with a recognizable groove, and views every confrontation as an opportunity to demonstrate his sense of rhythm. This creative choice stands out from the rest of the One Piece universe, where powers are generally linked to natural elements, animals, or objects. By focusing on music, the series explores a new facet of its bestiary of Devil Fruits, in the same original vein as other unusual powers encountered throughout the story. Fans who want to display their taste for sound and pirate aesthetics can also turn to our One Piece headphones and earbuds collection, a direct nod to Apoo’s musical world.

Technique	Effect	Range
Shockwave trumpet	Long-distance projection of the opponent	Medium to long
Body drum	Destructive area sound wave	Short to medium
Digital percussion	Focused powerful strike	Close contact
Synchronized heartbeat	Silent internal damage	Discreet, with no visible contact

The Alliance with Kid and Hawkins: the Supernovas vs. Kaido

After the two-year timeskip, Apoo reappears in full possession of his abilities, now powerful enough to consider challenging an Emperor. It is in this context that he joins the alliance formed by Eustass Kid, alongside Basil Hawkins “the Magician,” with the stated aim of overthrowing Kaido of the Beasts and taking control of Wano. This coalition of three captains with outsized ambitions perfectly embodies the spirit of the Worst Generation: individualistic pirates temporarily agreeing to cooperate to achieve a common goal far too great to face alone. This direct confrontation with an Emperor is also analyzed in detail in our article on Shanks vs Eustass Kid at Elbaf, which shows just how perilous taking on a Yonko remains, even for the most reckless Supernovas.

On paper, this alliance seems solid. But the story of One Piece is full of examples showing that pacts between ambitious pirates often rest on a precarious balance, ready to shatter at the slightest sign of weakness or a more advantageous opportunity.

One Piece TCG Eustass Captain Kid Alternative Art Card

The Betrayal at Onigashima: Why Apoo Joined Kaido

The major turning point in Apoo's story comes during the Battle of Onigashima, the climax of the Wano arc. As the alliance of pirates and samurai launches a desperate assault against Kaido and the Beast Pirates, Apoo reveals his true game: he had in fact secretly negotiated an alliance with Kaido, exchanging his loyalty for the promise of survival and power. He then turns his attacks against his former allies Kid and Killer, simply capturing his former allied captain to hand him over to the Emperor's forces.

This betrayal hardly surprises the most attentive readers: from his introduction, Apoo displayed unstable and self-interested behavior, motivated more by his own survival than by any sense of pirate honor. This strategic choice, cowardly as it may be, illustrates a brutal reality of the world of One Piece: when faced with the overwhelming power of an Emperor, loyalty comes at a price, and not everyone pays it in the same way.

For collectors wishing to revisit this memorable episode, our 18-piece Premium Set TCG card pack brings together several key figures from this pivotal period in the saga, ideal for piecing together Wano's alliances and betrayals, card by card.

Kaido's defeat nevertheless changes everything. Like many opportunists who bet on the wrong horse, Apoo is forced to flee Wano amid the confusion following the Emperor's downfall, leaving great uncertainty about his future.

After Wano: Apoo Joins Blackbeard, a New Chapter

True to his survival instinct, Scratchmen Apoo does not remain without an allegiance for long. He later joins the ranks of Blackbeard's (Marshall D. Teach's) crew, becoming one of his formidable Titanic Captains, a group of elite commanders each leading a ship and their own crew within Blackbeard's fleet. This new chapter confirms the character's opportunistic trajectory: always ready to side with the strongest, even if it means betraying his former companions. Fans of this new captain can also discover our Blackbeard collector's figurine, depicting Apoo's new employer in all his intimidating stature.

This integration into one of the New World's most feared crews has renewed fans' interest in the character, now associated with one of the major antagonists from the second half of the series. It remains to be seen how long this new alliance will last, as Apoo has demonstrated in the past that his loyalty has never been set in stone. To explore the subject further, our page dedicated to Devil Fruits and Haki details the power mechanisms that currently govern the pirate hierarchies, from Blackbeard to the latest Emperors.

Collectors curious to own a memento of this formidable fleet can also take a look at our One Piece poster collection or our Emperors and Legends selection, which brings together products dedicated to the greatest figures of the New World.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scratchmen Apoo

What is Apoo's Devil Fruit?

Apoo possesses a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that transforms parts of his body into musical instruments capable of emitting offensive sound waves, including through his own heartbeat.

Is Apoo part of the Worst Generation?

Yes, Scratchmen Apoo is one of the eleven Supernovas introduced at the Sabaody Archipelago, a group of rookies each boasting a bounty of over 100 million berries before the timeskip.

Why did Apoo betray Eustass Kid?

During the Battle of Onigashima, Apoo chooses to side with Kaido rather than remain loyal to the alliance formed with Kid and Hawkins, preferring to ensure his own survival in the face of the Emperor's overwhelming power.

What happens to Apoo after Kaido's downfall?

After fleeing Wano, Apoo joins Blackbeard's crew and becomes one of his Titanic Captains, confirming his tendency to join the most dominant forces at any given time.

Is Apoo a powerful character in One Piece?

Yes, his 350,000,000-berry bounty and subsequent joining of Blackbeard's crew confirm his status as a formidable fighter, even though he is better known for his opportunism than his honor.

Going Further in the One Piece Universe

Key takeaways

Scratchmen Apoo is far more than a mere secondary Supernova: he is a fully developed character with a unique sound-based power and a path defined by betrayal and opportunism. From his alliance with Eustass Kid to his allegiance to Kaido, and then his joining Blackbeard's crew, Apoo perfectly illustrates the complexity of the power dynamics driving the pirate world of One Piece. He is a character to watch closely, as his future within Blackbeard's crew still promises plenty of twists. To continue exploring the world of the Emperors and the most powerful pirates, discover our selection of One Piece figures, our trading card collection, or our gift ideas for all fans of the Worst Generation.

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