The Rise of the Gorosei: A New Era in One Piece
For over a thousand chapters, One Piece kept the true rulers of the world hidden behind shadowy silhouettes and vague dialogue. Known as the Gorosei, or the Five Elders, these individuals have long operated in the background, manipulating world affairs under the banner of the World Government. For years, fans debated their roles, powers, and even their mortality. But after Chapter 1085, the veil began to lift. No longer just politicians, the Gorosei are now confirmed to be god-like warriors who directly serve Imu, the true sovereign of the world. Their hybrid forms, as seen in Chapter 1110, stunned the fan base and redefined what we thought we knew about the “Celestial Dragons.”
Let’s break down and rank each known Gorosei member, from the weakest link to the one who might very well be the most dangerous force in One Piece's final saga.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter: A Monster Cloaked in Ceremony
When Ju Peter first appeared, he looked more like a bloated bureaucrat than someone you'd expect to see in a battlefield. Sporting a bulbous physique and a crown-like headpiece, he almost felt like an exaggerated parody of political excess. But in Chapter 1110, Eiichiro Oda flipped that image upside down. Ju Peter manifested as an enormous multi-legged demonic beast, complete with tusks and insect-like mandibles. His monstrous form confirms that he, like the other Elders, is no mere mortal. Although the name of his transformed Zoan form hasn’t been officially revealed yet, it shares thematic elements with mythical yokai and hellish deities.
He, along with the other Gorosei, materialized through a bizarre black summoning ritual circle in Egghead, seemingly teleporting from Pangea Castle to Dr. Vegapunk’s lab in real time. And yet, among the Five, Ju Peter has been the least active in terms of combat or dialogue. He hasn’t yet had a one-on-one clash like Saturn or exhibited a unique ability. While still terrifying, he's currently the most enigmatic of the group, which puts him at the bottom of this ranking for now.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn: The First Elder to Bleed in Battle
Jaygarcia Saturn made history as the first Gorosei to step directly into combat, appearing in full during the Egghead Arc. In Chapter 1072, Saturn was summoned to Egghead Island through a mysterious black circle, and unlike the others, he was fully introduced with both name and title: "Supreme Commander of the Scientific Defense Forces." His Zoan form, modeled after the Gyuki, a mythological Japanese ox-demon, features spider-like legs, massive horns, and a grotesque mass of muscle and fangs. He demonstrated regeneration powers, telekinetic-like paralysis abilities, and an uncanny resistance to conventional attacks, including Luffy's Haki-imbued blows.
But what makes Saturn particularly compelling is how grounded his authority is in the scientific manipulation of life. As the overseer of Dr. Vegapunk’s former research division, he is responsible for human experimentation, including the abhorrent Punk Records and possibly the Seraphim project. Despite his brutality, Saturn was the first of the Five Elders to be injured, by Bonney’s stab and Luffy’s Gear 5 attacks, which chipped away at the godlike mythos surrounding the Gorosei. He showed pain, made mistakes, and even lost control of the battlefield. That’s why he ranks just above Ju Peter, dangerous, but beatable.
Saint Marcus Mars: The Elder With a God Complex
Saint Marcus Mars carries himself with the icy silence of someone who doesn’t need to speak to command fear. His first full appearance was in Chapter 1086, during the Reverie flashback involving King Cobra. Mars, along with the other Elders, was seen kneeling before the shadowy Imu, an act that stunned fans, revealing they weren’t the final authority after all. In Chapter 1110, Mars’s Zoan transformation bore resemblance to a massive avian demon, possibly drawing from Suzaku, the Vermilion Bird from Chinese myth, or another Eastern phoenix archetype. His design includes wings wrapped in black flames and a beaked, dragon-like head, suggesting fire-based capabilities or aerial supremacy in battle.
He has not spoken or fought much onscreen yet, but his portrayal alongside the Gorosei in Egghead suggests he’s among the more mobile or offensive fighters in the group. What elevates him above Saturn is the implication of greater restraint; he hasn’t been shown getting injured or making rash decisions. Instead, he hangs in the sky, waiting to strike with terrifying precision.
Saint Topman Warcury: The Shield of the Throne
Topman Warcury, the Gorosei's eldest and largest member, cuts an imposing figure, tall and broad, draped in monk-like robes. He exudes the aura of an immovable object, and that’s exactly what he appears to be. In Chapter 1116, Warcury’s transformed state is depicted as a towering beast with huge tusks and heavy armor plating, resembling a demonic ox or a war elephant. Fans speculate it could be based on the Hindu demon Airavata or a yokai variant of the Minotaur.
Among the five, Warcury is likely the group's defensive powerhouse. He hasn’t spoken much, but when he appears, others fall into silence. In previous chapters, he’s been shown representing the World Government at high-level discussions, such as the Reverie, where his voice carries exceptional weight. Warcury might not have Saturn’s screentime or Mars’s flash, but he seems to be the one who holds the line, both in combat and ideology. His lack of injury or error so far, and the sheer intimidation of his hybrid form, make him feel like the Gorosei’s “tank.”
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro: The Elder Swordsman Who Wields Flames Like Zoro Dreams Of
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro broke the internet the moment he unsheathed his sword in Chapter 1086. While most assumed the Gorosei would wield mysterious powers, few expected a blazing katana-wielding samurai, with hair like a lion’s mane and speed fast enough to outpace Vegapunk’s satellites. His beast form appears feline, possibly based on the Byakko, the White Tiger from Chinese mythology, but it’s Nusjuro’s swordsmanship that really puts him this high on the list. He was seen cutting through entire Pacifistas and Seraphim-like machines in a single stroke, and his blade burns with black flames, suggesting a Haki-infused or even mythical-elemental weapon.
Some fans have even speculated a link between his style and Wano Country, or that his sword might be one of the 12 Supreme Grade Blades. He’s also one of the few Gorosei shown smiling while fighting, suggesting a sadistic enjoyment in violence, one that could rival even Mihawk or Zoro’s thrill for battle. Given that even Vegapunk’s most advanced defenses couldn’t slow him down, Nusjuro’s blend of technique, speed, and firepower makes him one of the most dangerous Gorosei revealed so far.
Saint Garling Figarland: From Holy Knight to Hell’s Enforcer
Before we ever saw the Gorosei fight, we met someone possibly more terrifying than all of them, Saint Garling Figarland. First introduced in Chapter 1086, Garling is not part of the Five Elders, but rather the Supreme Commander of the Holy Knights, and seemingly the father of Shanks. Garling used to be a member of the Figarland family, a noble Celestial Dragon house that Shanks likely hails from. But unlike most Celestials, Garling earned his post through combat. He led the charge in executing King Cobra, ordering the brutal suppression of the Alabasta Kingdom.
He has yet to display his powers, but Eiichiro Oda made it a point to reveal him before any of the Gorosei entered battle. The Holy Knights are described as enforcers even feared by the Marines. If Garling commands them, he may well be one of the most powerful people alive, perhaps even beyond the Elders themselves. The surrounding speculation is endless. Some fans believe he trained Shanks. Others say he’s the final antagonist of the Celestial Dragon arc. What’s clear is that Garling isn’t a politician, he’s a warrior, forged in blood, and his silence in the manga only makes his eventual reveal even more terrifying.
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