Rhode

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Rhode (罗德)
Alias(es)	The Ripper
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Blood Hand Pirates (Captain); subordinate of the Golden Lion Pirates
Occupation/Role	Pirate captain
Bounty	150,000,000
Status	Unknown; critically injured by Louis and thrown into the sea 47 48
First Appearance	Chapter 29

Background / History

Rhode captains the Blood Hand Pirates, a crew subordinate to Admiral Golden Lion Shiki. He set sail after being inspired by Golden Lion’s legends and reveres Shiki’s power, regarding the pursuit of strength and status as more meaningful than freedom or family. 29 31

He recruits Louis, operating under the identity of “Mario,” after being impressed by the newcomer’s enthusiasm for piracy and willingness to fight. Rhode personally introduces Mario to Haki training and comes to see his constant exercise as proof of exceptional potential. 29 30 36

During the Golden Lion Pirates’ campaign against the Roger Pirates, Rhode supports Shiki’s cause and leads his crew in the search for Roger. He values comrades willing to share life and death, promising to protect Mario after Flog threatens him. 32 33

After First Mate Baro is found murdered and mutilated, Rhode is consumed by grief and immediately blames Flog, his long-standing rival. He leads the Blood Hand Pirates against Flog and later executes him after Flog’s attempted assassination of Golden Lion—unaware that Louis arranged Baro’s death and manipulated Flog into attacking Shiki. 37 38

Rhode is badly injured during the battle against the Roger Pirates but is rescued from the sea by Louis. When he insists on returning to fight for Golden Lion, Louis ambushes him, reveals himself as a spy, and leaves Rhode critically wounded before throwing him overboard. 46 47 48

Appearance

Rhode is a tall, middle-aged man with a powerful build. He is thirty-five years old and typically wears steel gauntlets fitted with sharp claw-like fingertips. 30 33

• Uses steel gauntlets capable of piercing flesh and tearing opponents apart. 30
• His combat style and gauntlets earned him the epithet “the Ripper.” 30
• His Armament Haki manifests as a black coating over his body and weapons. 47

Personality

Rhode is boisterous, passionate, and deeply romantic about piracy. He believes the sea represents adventure and sees Golden Lion as the ideal sea hero: a man who commands both sky and ocean through overwhelming power. 29 31

As captain, he is protective of his crew and readily places himself between his subordinates and danger. He values mutual trust above laws or morality, believing comrades who share life and death are the only people worth relying on. 30 32

His loyalty becomes destructive when Baro dies. Rhode abandons caution in favor of revenge, accepting circumstantial evidence against Flog because he is too enraged to consider another explanation. 37 38

Abilities & Skills

Haki

Rhode possesses both Armament Haki and Observation Haki, though his Observation Haki is less developed than his Armament Haki. He teaches Louis the basics of both during their voyage under Golden Lion. 30 32

• Armament Haki — Coats his neck, claws, and attacks in a hardened black layer, allowing him to block Louis’s Rankyaku and overpower Tekkai-based defenses. 47
• Observation Haki — Senses danger at a proficient level, though it is insufficient to predict Louis’s Kami-e movements or prevent his ambush. 30 32 47

Close-Quarters Combat

Rhode is a veteran New World pirate with exceptional physical strength, speed, and body techniques. He can launch himself like a cannonball, clash with Zoan user Flog, and remain dangerous even after suffering severe injuries. 30 37 47

• Fights primarily with clawed gauntlets and powerful hand-to-hand techniques. 30 47
• Uses rapid movement and explosive leaps in combat. 37
• Can withstand attacks that would incapacitate ordinary fighters, including injuries sustained during the battle against the Roger Pirates. 46 47
• His Haki-enhanced defenses are still vulnerable to Rokuogan’s internal shockwaves. 47

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Steel gauntlets — Clawed hand guards used to pierce, tear, and slash opponents. 30 47
• Baro’s ashes — Carries his first mate’s ashes in a small box before scattering them at sea. 39

Relationships

• Louis / “Mario” — Recruited Louis into the Blood Hand Pirates, mentored him in Haki, and trusted him as a comrade; Louis ultimately betrays and defeats him. 29 30 36 47
• Baro / Cutter Barlo — First mate and close partner. Baro manages much of the crew’s practical affairs, while Rhode trusts his judgment despite teasing his suspicions. 30 36 39
• Golden Lion Shiki — Rhode’s admired superior and personal ideal of a sea hero; Rhode is willing to die for Shiki’s ambition. 31 46
• Flog — Rival pirate captain under Golden Lion. Their mutual hostility escalates after Baro’s death, ending with Rhode executing Flog. 31 37 38

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment of “Mario”

Rhode meets Louis in his pirate disguise and welcomes him into the Blood Hand Pirates. He encourages Mario’s ambition, teaches him about Haki, and regards him as someone born to be a pirate. 29 30

Golden Lion Grand Fleet

Rhode brings his crew to Golden Lion’s floating base and participates in the effort to locate the Roger Pirates. He defends Mario from Flog’s recruitment attempt and threat, reinforcing his belief that captains must protect their comrades. 31 32 33

Baro’s Death and Flog’s Execution

Baro’s murder devastates Rhode. Convinced that Flog is responsible, he attacks his rival and later kills him after Flog attempts to assassinate Golden Lion. Rhode never learns that Louis engineered both Baro’s death and Flog’s downfall. 37 38

Battle Against the Roger Pirates

Rhode commands cannon support during Golden Lion’s assault on Roger’s fleet and orders Louis into the boarding battle. He is later thrown into the sea after being injured by Roger’s forces. 40 41 46

Betrayal by Louis

After Louis rescues him, Rhode demands to return to the battle for Golden Lion. Louis refuses, ambushes him with Finger Gun and Rokuogan, reveals his identity as a spy, and condemns Rhode’s ideals as hypocrisy before casting him into the sea. 46 47 48

Notable Quotes

“On the sea, nothing is reliable. Morality, laws, rules—only comrades, comrades who share life and death, are the most trustworthy!” 32

“I am willing to fight for Golden Lion's ambition until my death!” 46