One Piece what-if: Who would win if Mihawk and Ryuma could battle each other?

There are times in the world of One Piece where we are introduced to characters who leave an impact on fans to such an extent that they end up feeling a sense of loyalty towards them. Because of this comes the start of power scaling debates, and in this article, I will be talking about two characters who are famously associated with their swordsmanship.

And when it comes to having debates in terms of this scaling, it has been historically noticed that these do not die down easily. Especially when the topic comes down to arguing over who would be the better swordsman. On top of this discussion have been two characters who rarely share the same sentence in canon: Dracule Mihawk and Shimotsuki Ryuma.

On paper, this fight can never happen. Ryuma lived over 400 years ago, while Mihawk is the current era’s benchmark for swordsmanship. Yet One Piece thrives on legends, inherited wills, and titles that echo across centuries. So the question remains irresistible: if Mihawk and Ryuma existed in the same era, who would win? There’s no definitive answer, but that has not stopped fans from choosing sides.

The case for Mihawk

I believe that it is easy to make a case for Mihawk because we have seen him in battle. In One Piece, he has shown his power when he easily split a massive iceberg in half during the Marineford. It was as if he cut paper. Most importantly, he was once a rival to Red-Haired Shanks, a man whose presence alone can stop wars.

Mihawk in One Piece also carries the official title of World’s Strongest Swordsman in the current era, an era defined by the Great Age of Piracy, where competition is fiercer than ever. Admirals, Yonko, legendary pirates, and elite warriors all coexist in the same chaotic world, and Mihawk stands uncontested at the top of swordsmen within it.

Moreover, he has forced his sword to become a black blade. This is a kind of feat that not many people can achieve. It takes a lot of discipline, skills, and strength. Ryuma may be legendary, but Mihawk’s power is visible, measured, and acknowledged by the world.

The case for Ryuma

Yet when it comes to talking about Ryuma, it is important to note that he is called “Sword God.” Someone getting this title would mean that there has to be some value behind it. He single-handedly made the world fear Wano Country. During his lifetime, the World Government and outside forces avoided Wano entirely, not because of armies or politics, but because Ryuma existed. That level of deterrence is staggering. Ryuma is Zoro’s ancestor, the original owner of Shusui, and the symbolic peak of the Shimotsuki sword lineage. Zoro’s journey in One Piece is not just about beating Mihawk rather it is about surpassing history.

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Final verdict: Who would win this battle in One Piece

In the end, when it comes to choosing who could potentially be stronger if they ever ended up in a battle, then Mihawk would have the upper hand because of how he has continuously shown us what his abilities are. But legend matters in One Piece. And Ryuma’s legend is unmatched. I side with Ryuma.In the end, that’s why this debate never ends. Mihawk represents proof. Ryuma represents possibility. And in One Piece, possibility has a way of rewriting history.

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