Among
the many characters outside the Straw Hat Pirates, Trafalgar D. Water Law is
one of the most popular in One Piece. In the latest official global
popularity poll, Law ranked 5th worldwide with 732,301 points, placing him
ahead of characters such as Shanks, Mihawk, and Crocodile.
Known
as the “Surgeon of Death,” Law is the captain of the Heart Pirates and a member
of the Worst Generation. He is also the user of the powerful Ope Ope no Mi, a
Devil Fruit that allows him to manipulate space within a special area called a
ROOM. The official ONE PIECE character profile lists his bounty at 3
billion Berries.
Why Do
Fans Like Trafalgar Law?
Law
has a personality very different from Luffy.
He is
calm, intelligent, strategic, and usually prefers to think before acting. This
creates an entertaining contrast whenever he is forced to work alongside Luffy,
whose impulsive personality often throws his carefully prepared plans into
chaos.
His
alliance with Luffy became one of the most memorable partnerships of the New
World.
Law
and the Ope Ope no Mi
The
Ope Ope no Mi is one of the most unusual Devil Fruits in One Piece.
Inside
his ROOM, Law can perform surgical-like operations on objects and people. His
abilities include separating bodies without necessarily harming them, moving
objects, manipulating positions, and performing devastating attacks.
The
fruit is also legendary because of its Perennial Youth Operation, which can
grant another person eternal youth at the cost of the user's life.
Law's
mastery of the fruit is one of the main reasons he can compete against
extremely powerful enemies.
Law's
Tragic Past
One of
the biggest reasons fans became attached to Law is his tragic childhood.
Law
was born in Flevance, a country devastated by the Amber Lead disease.
As a
child, Law suffered from the disease and believed he was going to die. His life
changed after meeting Donquixote Rosinante, also known as Corazon.
Corazon
secretly rescued Law from Doflamingo and desperately searched for a cure.
Their
relationship became one of the most emotional stories in the series.
Corazon
ultimately sacrificed himself so Law could escape.
That
experience shaped Law's entire life and became one of the reasons he eventually
sought revenge against Donquixote Doflamingo.
Law's
Alliance With Luffy
Law
first crossed paths with Luffy at the Sabaody Archipelago, where they were both
part of the Worst Generation.
Their
relationship changed dramatically after the Marineford War.
Years
later, Law proposed an alliance with Luffy on Punk Hazard, with the goal of
eventually taking down Kaido.
The
alliance became one of the most important partnerships of the New World.
Despite
constantly complaining about Luffy's reckless behavior, Law repeatedly fought
alongside the Straw Hat captain.
Law
vs. Doflamingo
Law's
confrontation with Donquixote Doflamingo was deeply personal.
Doflamingo
was responsible for Corazon's death and had played a major role in the tragedy
of Law's childhood.
During
the Dressrosa Arc, Law finally confronted him.
The
battle became about more than defeating a powerful pirate.
For
Law, it was about Corazon's will.
His
eventual victory alongside Luffy became one of the most satisfying conclusions
to Law's personal storyline.
Law
and the Defeat of Big Mom
Law
reached another major milestone during the Wano Arc.
Together
with Eustass Kid, he fought Charlotte Linlin, Big Mom.
The
two Worst Generation pirates managed to defeat one of the Four Emperors, an
achievement that dramatically demonstrated how far Law had grown.
Law's
awakened Ope Ope no Mi abilities played a major role in the battle.
His
techniques allowed him to attack from inside his opponents and bypass some of
their conventional defenses.
Why
Law Remains So Popular
Law
combines several qualities that make him appealing to fans:
A
distinctive personality — serious and sarcastic, but capable of hilarious
reactions.
A
fascinating Devil Fruit — the Ope Ope no Mi offers enormous tactical
possibilities.
A
tragic backstory — his relationship with Corazon remains one of the emotional
highlights of the series.
Strong
character development — Law gradually evolves from a mysterious rival into one
of Luffy's most important allies.
An
iconic design — his spotted hat, tattoos, nodachi, and Heart Pirates symbol
make him instantly recognizable.
These
qualities likely help explain his continued popularity. In the 2026 global
WT100 poll, he finished fifth overall, while also ranking among the most
popular characters in the world outside the main Straw Hat group.
Final
Thoughts
Trafalgar
Law is arguably one of the most successful non-Straw Hat characters in One
Piece.
He
started as a mysterious member of the Worst Generation and eventually became a
major ally of Luffy, a central figure in the downfall of Doflamingo, and one of
the pirates responsible for defeating Big Mom.
His
combination of intelligence, tragedy, humor, and overwhelming Devil Fruit
abilities has made him extremely popular with fans.
And
the latest worldwide popularity poll proves just how strong that fanbase
remains:
Trafalgar
Law — #5 in the 2026 WORLD TOP 100.
©SEVENKIX
ANIME