Could Zoro Beat Mihawk Right Now?

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the One Piece manga up to the latest chapters.

The question that has haunted One Piece fans for over two decades: Has Roronoa Zoro finally surpassed his master, Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk?

With Zoro's incredible showing in Wano and his recent power-ups, this debate has reached a fever pitch. Let's dive deep into the evidence and see where these two legendary swordsmen truly stand.

The Case for Zoro

Post-Wano Power Explosion

Zoro's growth during the Wano arc was nothing short of extraordinary. The key developments that put him in Mihawk-tier conversations:

Advanced Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku no Haki Infusion) This is the big one. Zoro unlocked the ability to coat his attacks with Conqueror's Haki during his fight with King—the same technique used by only the strongest fighters in the world. Kaido himself noted that "only a handful of the very strongest" can do this. When Zoro scarred Kaido with his Asura attack, it was specifically because he unknowingly used this advanced technique.

Mastery of Enma Enma isn't just any sword—it's a blade that can forcibly draw out a swordsman's Haki, making it incredibly difficult to control. Zoro's ability to tame this weapon shows his Haki control has reached new heights. The sword that once wounded Kaido is now fully under his command.

King of Hell Three-Sword Style Zoro's new fighting style represents the perfect fusion of his traditional techniques with his newfound Haki mastery. His attacks now carry the weight of Advanced Conqueror's Haki, making them devastatingly powerful.

The Kaido Feat

Let's not forget—Zoro permanently scarred Kaido, something that only Oden had accomplished before. This wasn't just any attack; it was powerful enough that Kaido still remembered it chapters later. Big Mom even warned Kaido to dodge Zoro's attack, showing that even she recognized the threat level.

Speed and Reaction Time

Zoro's speed feats have been consistently impressive. He's kept pace with fighters like King, dodged attacks from Kaido, and has shown reflexes that put him among the fastest characters in the series.

The Case for Mihawk

The World's Strongest Swordsman Title

Mihawk didn't earn this title through politics or luck—he fought his way to the top during the Golden Age of Piracy. He's held this position for decades, which means he's consistently defeated challengers who thought they could take his crown.

The Shanks Connection Mihawk's legendary duels with Shanks are the stuff of legend. These weren't just friendly sparring matches—they were battles that "shook the Grand Line itself." The fact that Mihawk stopped fighting Shanks only after he lost his arm suggests that Mihawk viewed their fights as competitive, not one-sided.

Effortless Power Display

Remember Mihawk's casual sword swing that split the massive iceberg at Marineford? Or how he casually deflected Jozu's diamond-hardened tackle? These weren't full-power attacks—they were demonstrations of his baseline strength. True masters make the impossible look effortless.

Combat Experience and Skill

Mihawk has decades of high-level combat experience. He's faced countless powerful swordsmen, survived the brutal pirate era of Roger and Whitebeard, and maintains his position despite constant challenges. Experience in One Piece isn't just about age—it's about surviving countless life-or-death battles.

The Black Blade Mystery

Mihawk wields Yoru, one of only two known Black Blades in the series (the other being Shusui). The process of turning a blade black is still mysterious, but it seems to require an incredible mastery of Haki over an extended period. This suggests Mihawk's Haki control is at a level Zoro hasn't reached yet.

The Current Verdict: Close, But Not Quite

Zoro is likely in the same tier as Mihawk now, but probably still slightly below him.

Here's why:

Power Level: Nearly Equal

Zoro's Advanced Conqueror's Haki puts him in the conversation with the world's strongest fighters. His raw power output can now compete with Mihawk's.

Skill Gap: Still Favors Mihawk

While Zoro's power has exploded, Mihawk still has the edge in pure swordsmanship technique and battle IQ. Decades of experience aren't easily overcome.

Haki Mastery: Advantage Mihawk

Zoro can use Advanced Conqueror's Haki, but his control isn't perfect yet. During the King fight, he was still learning to manage it efficiently. Mihawk likely has superior Haki control across all types.

Stamina and Endurance: Unknown

This is where things get interesting. Zoro's endurance feats are legendary (Thriller Bark, anyone?), but we haven't seen Mihawk in an extended battle to judge his stamina.

The X-Factors

Zoro's Growth Rate

One thing that can't be ignored is Zoro's incredible growth rate. He went from being completely outclassed by Mihawk pre-timeskip to potentially competitive post-Wano. His growth trajectory suggests he might surpass Mihawk sooner rather than later.

Mihawk's True Power

We still haven't seen Mihawk go all-out. His most impressive feats have been casual displays. When he finally fights seriously, we might discover he's even stronger than we thought.

The Three-Sword Style Advantage

Zoro's unique fighting style might actually give him an edge over traditional one-sword fighters like Mihawk. The unpredictability and multi-directional attacks of Santoryu could pose unique challenges.

Conclusion: The Student Approaches the Master

Current Assessment: Mihawk wins in an extreme-diff fight (55-45 or 60-40 in Mihawk's favor)

Zoro has likely entered the realm where he can give Mihawk a genuine challenge—something that seemed impossible pre-Wano. The gap has narrowed dramatically, and it's possible that in their next encounter, Zoro could actually emerge victorious.

But as of right now, Mihawk's experience, refined technique, and mastery of all aspects of swordsmanship likely give him the edge. However, this is the closest Zoro has ever been to achieving his dream.

The beauty of Oda's writing is that when Zoro does finally surpass Mihawk, it will feel earned. We're watching the final stages of a journey that began in the East Blue, and we're closer to the end than ever before.

What do you think? Has Zoro already surpassed his master, or does the World's Strongest Swordsman still hold the crown? Let us know in the comments below!

What's your take on this power-scaling debate? Are there any feats or abilities we missed? Share your thoughts and let's keep this discussion going!