Usopp may never shine again in One Piece, and it's Oda's fault

Modified Oct 11, 2024 14:30 GMT

One Piece author Eiichiro Oda might have ruined Usopp's character (Image via Toei Animation).

One Piece fans have always had a lot of hopes for Usopp's character and expected that he is going to shine and get better through each arc but that hasn't been the case. While a lot of people are hoping that the current Elbaf arc is going to do wonders for his character, there is an argument to be made that author Eiichiro Oda may have ruined him forever.

It is because Usopp's character in One Piece had the arc of "Faking it until you make it" but that was taken by Buggy, with his current Yonko role working with that approach. Therefore, the role of Buggy has proven to be a lot more efficient for this archetype and Usopp has been pushed to the waysidep, which has hurt the latter throughout the years.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

Explaining why Buggy is a major reason for Usopp's struggles in One Piece

Buggy as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation).

Buggy has taken Usopp's role as a gag character who ends up winning and rising through the ranks because of their lies. The truth of the matter is that Buggy's role as a captain has made his running gag a lot more compelling, which is why his character is fairly popular in recent years, and the idea of him becoming a Yonko by faking his way to the top is something that the Straw Hat member doesn't have.

On the other hand, Usopp doesn't have the position of captain and cannot rise through the ranks, which is why he feels stagnant. Moreover, his constant sense of fear and having to rise to the top is something that cannot be as notorious as Buggy, which is why his character has not been as notorious as it was before the time skip.

There is another fact that Eiichiro Oda has made the battles a lot more Haki-focused in recent arcs and Usopp's lack of handling of that power makes a bit of a liability in that regard. Therefore, when considering this is a series where a lot of conflicts are resolved by fighting, this character doesn't have the tools to stand out.

More issues with Usopp's character

Usopp as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation).

The main issue with Usopp's character in One Piece is that he has become harder to utilize throughout the story when there is an ensuing conflict and very little dialogue is used where he can shine. This manga has become a lot more plot-driven in recent arcs and there is a little room for interactions, which has reduced him to a shell of his former self.

Furthermore, as he came back from the time skip as a braver and more experienced version of himself, the following arcs didn't do him any favors. Dressrosa and his use of Haki is an exception and a high point for his character but it is hard to disagree with those fans who claim that Elbaf is his last chance to shine in the story.

Final thoughts

There is no denying that Usopp's character has seen a steady decline throughout the years and elements such as Buggy's rise have been major factors for that to happen. In that regard, it is likely that Eiichiro Oda has damaged the character in One Piece for good, although the Elbaf arc might be his last chance to shine.

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Edited by DEEPALI