One Piece: Why Do Zoro and Sanji Fans Fight More and More Over Rayleigh vs. Gaban?

One Piece’s fans have always been inclined to argue over the characters’ strength, but one debate simply won’t die off: between the stronger of Silvers Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban. This sounds like a simple question, but it ignites a massive war, particularly between Zoro and Sanji fans.

One Piece showed us Rayleigh as a member of Gol D. Roger’s crew. He’s not as strong as he used to be, but he’s still pretty powerful. After the Marineford arc, during the timeskip, it was Rayleigh who trained Luffy. Fans often compare him to Zoro because they both use swords and are seen as the second-in-command. That is also why Rayleigh’s feats are used by Zoro fans to hype Zoro up.

They argue that if Rayleigh was so strong and respected, then Zoro, who fills a similar role on the crew, must be just as important and possibly as strong. But in One Piece, there’s another figure, Scopper Gaban, who sailed with Roger and also seemed close to him. While not much is known about him yet, Sanji fans have started to associate him with Sanji's role on the Straw Hat crew.

Since Rayleigh was always seen as Roger’s right-hand man, Gaban is now often linked to the idea of a left-hand man. That’s where things get more heated. Sanji fans want to show that his role is just as valuable as Zoro’s, so they push the idea that Gaban was just as important as Rayleigh, or close.

This debate in One Piece often leads to fights between Zoro and Sanji fans. Both sides want their favorite character to be seen as the true number two in the crew. But because there’s more proof of Rayleigh’s strength in the story, Zoro fans feel more confident.

Sanji fans, however, argue that Gaban might not have been shown much yet because Oda is saving his reveal for a big moment. This lack of information is what makes the argument so intense. Both sides are guessing based on very little, but they’re deeply invested.

In One Piece, it’s also important to look at what Rayleigh has done. He fought Kizaru, one of the Navy’s strongest, and held his own. He’s shown advanced Haki and great experience. There was also that awesome moment when he went against Blackbeard, which showed him in a different light. Zoro fans use this to say that Zoro’s growth path mirrors Rayleigh’s. The sword skills, Haki mastery, cool personality, and humble strength all match.

On the other hand, One Piece has barely shown anything about Gaban in the anime. But we have a couple from the manga in the Elbaph arc. We know he used axes instead of swords and was also extremely strong. There was a little skirmish between him and Luffy in the manga. There was also his battle with Gunko, a World Noble and a member of the God’s Knights.

That opens the door for people to draw their own conclusions. Some Sanji fans say Gaban is being hidden on purpose. They believe that when he finally appears, it will prove that he was just as important as Rayleigh in the Roger Pirates. This would give Sanji fans the argument that Sanji’s role isn’t second to Zoro’s but equal, just like Gaban and Rayleigh may have been.

This argument goes beyond just Rayleigh and Gaban. In One Piece, Zoro and Sanji have a rivalry in the story, but fans often turn it into something more serious. The two characters balance each other. Zoro comes with strength and focus, and Sanji with speed and mechanically enhanced strength. But when fans see one being praised, they feel like the other is being ignored.

How many things can change in One Piece?

As new information is revealed in the manga, this debate grows louder and more personal because it ties directly to how fans view the strength of their favorite Straw Hats. The Elbaph arc is still ongoing, and a lot of new information and fights are bound to happen. The Rayleigh vs. Gaban debate becomes a tool to defend their favorite’s worth in the crew.

At the heart of it, this is what makes One Piece special. The world is so rich that even side characters create strong feelings. Rayleigh and Gaban may not be on screen much, but their connection to Roger lets fans use them to support deeper ideas. Whether it’s power, loyalty, or crew roles, they care because this story gives them reasons to care.

And as One Piece continues to expand and we continue to learn more about Roger’s crew, the debates get even more heated. Despite Oda not stating outright what rank Gaban is or how powerful he is, fans love to take sides, even if it means arguing every day with people online. Some want Zoro to have the clear title of vice-captain, just like Rayleigh. Others want Sanji to be seen as just as key, and they hope Gaban will be used to show that idea.

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Conclusion

In the end, until One Piece gives us a full look at Scopper Gaban, this fight between Zoro and Sanji fans while using these Roger Pirates crew members will likely continue. And as hot as it may get online, it, too, is testament to the love that people feel for the story. They see their favorite characters in the legends of the past and want them to shine just as brightly.

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