Cross Guild's similarities with Rocks Pirates in One Piece all but confirm a key Buggy theory

Modified Dec 22, 2024 11:30 GMT

The Cross Guild, a powerful alliance of pirates in One Piece, has surprising similarities to the legendary Rocks Pirates. Both groups are made up of strong individuals who act on their own goals, rather than working as a team. Their leaders, Buggy the Clown and Rocks D. Xebec, found themselves in charge more by chance than skill.

Buggy’s rise as a Yonko mirrors Rocks’ infamous leadership, adding weight to a popular fan theory. These connections suggest that Cross Guild might share the Rocks Pirates’ chaotic fate, while hinting at Buggy’s unexpected importance in the series’ pirate history by possibly being Rocks D. Xebec's son.

Similarities between Cross Guild and Rocks Pirates in One Piece

Members of Rocks Pirates (Image via Toei Animation)

Both the Rocks Pirates and Cross Guild are unique because they are made up of strong individuals with their own goals, rather than a united team. The Rocks Pirates, led by Rocks D. Xebec, were a chaotic mix of legendary figures like Big Mom, Kaido, and Whitebeard. Each member had their own ambitions, and loyalty to Rocks was shaky at best. For example, Big Mom openly called Rocks untrustworthy and useless, highlighting the lack of unity in the crew.

Cross Guild operates in a similar way. It’s a group of infamous figures who have come together out of convenience rather than loyalty. Crocodile, Mihawk, and Buggy— three powerful pirates— work together, but their reasons are different.

Crocodile wants to fulfill his wish of utopia and doesn’t trust Buggy. Mihawk is simply tired of being hunted by the Marines and seems indifferent to leadership. Buggy, much like Rocks, has found himself in the role of leader more because of circumstances than actual ability.

God Valley on the One Piece map (Image via Toei Animation)

Both groups gain their power and reputation from the fame of their members rather than their teamwork. Cross Guild’s growing notoriety, especially with its system of placing bounties on Marines, mirrors the fear and infamy that surrounded the Rocks Pirates.

It’s easy to imagine Cross Guild meeting a chaotic and dramatic end, just as the Rocks Pirates did at God Valley, and becoming a fleeting but legendary part of pirate history.

Buggy may be the son of Rocks D. Xebec

Buggy Clown as shown in the One Piece anime (Image via Toei Animation)

A fascinating theory by Reddit user @DrAwesomeX from these comparisons is that Buggy might be the son of Rocks D. Xebec. While this might seem unlikely at first, the connections make it believable. Both Rocks and Buggy are seen as “false captains” by their crews. Rocks, while ambitious, was viewed as selfish and barely respected by his team. Buggy, on the other hand, gained his high status by luck, and even his closest allies know he isn’t capable.

This idea fits well with One Piece’s themes of legacy and inherited will. Rocks D. Xebec was a chaotic force, standing in opposition to Gol D. Roger. If Buggy is his son, it would add an interesting layer to his character, making him the unexpected heir to one of history’s most feared pirates.

Members of Cross Guild as shown in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

It could also explain Buggy’s ability to survive impossible situations and attract strong allies— traits that seem ridiculous but might come from his lineage.

Buggy’s presence in important One Piece events, from Roger’s execution to the Marineford War, also fits the idea of a larger destiny shaping his life. If Buggy is related to Rocks, it could tie up many loose ends and turn him from a manga character into someone crucial for the series’ endgame.

Final thoughts

Rocks D. Xebec (Image via Toei Animation)

The similarities between Cross Guild and the Rocks Pirates support the idea that Buggy resembles Rocks D. Xebec as an unlikely leader whose fame outweighs his skills. Both groups, fueled by personal goals rather than teamwork, show how easily legends can rise and fade in One Piece's chaotic world.