Garp

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Garp is a renowned Marine hero who refused promotion to admiral rather than cater to the Celestial Dragons. He previously pursued Pirate King Roger across the world and is publicly credited with helping Roger defeat Rocks at God Valley. Garp later rejects the simplified version of that history, explaining that the God Valley incident involved cleaning up the Celestial Dragons' atrocities and their “private Paradise,” where vast numbers of enslaved people died. 1 2 6 598

He is the father of Dragon, whom he had trained to become a righteous Marine. Dragon later left the Marines and founded the Self-Defense Army, placing father and son on opposing sides of the World Government. Though Garp initially pursued Dragon as a criminal, he ultimately allowed him to continue his cause after reconsidering the nature of justice, oppression, and his own resistance to the Celestial Dragons. 20 21 41

Garp later became responsible for protecting Dragon's children. He delivered the infant Ace to Curly Dadan to be raised in secret and eventually accepted custody of baby Luffy when Dragon entrusted the child to him. 166 328

Appearance

Garp is a middle-aged, sturdily built man standing close to three meters tall. Even the 1.9-meter Mu Chen appears small beside him. 1

• Wears a distinctive dog-head hat. 1
• Commonly wears a Marine cloak of justice. 8 40
• Commands a massive Dog-Head Battleship with a dog-shaped prow. 4
• By the time Ace sets out to sea, he has white hair and continues to wear a Vice Admiral's justice coat. 440

Personality

Garp is loud, carefree, and remarkably thick-skinned. He destroys Mu Chen's office door, carries the embarrassed major over his shoulder, and throws him onto his warship without seeing any issue with his behavior. 1 4 He is also intensely possessive of his rice crackers, becoming immediately distressed when Mu Chen threatens to eat the last pieces. 6 7

Behind his antics, Garp is devoted to protecting civilians and to the justice he personally believes in. He explains that Marineford's defenses safeguard both Marines and their families, and that many Marines were rescued from pirates themselves. 7 His conviction does not make him unquestioningly loyal to the World Government: Mu Chen's arguments about oppression and resistance lead him to reconsider his pursuit of Dragon. 21 41

Garp places the safety of those he loves above formal obedience. He deliberately fabricated an injury to justify letting Dragon escape, theatrically threatened to resign when CP9 targeted Mu Chen, and later allowed Luffy and Ace opportunities to flee Marineford despite his Marine duty. 42 131 132 533 544 His outward recklessness can also conceal calculated intent; Sengoku recognizes that Garp's apparent resignation over the CP9 dispute was an act meant to protect Mu Chen and confront the World Government's interference. 132

Although he initially reacts to Ace and Luffy's pirate ambitions with fury, Garp's anger stems from fear for their safety and the danger attached to their bloodlines. He remains unable to abandon them even when their choices directly conflict with the Marines. 440 448 533

Abilities & Skills

Immense Physical Strength

Garp possesses overwhelming physical power and casually treats Mu Chen as if he were weightless.

• Smashes through Mu Chen's office door with the “Fist of Love.” 1
• Carries Mu Chen over one shoulder and throws him from the harbor onto his warship's deck. 4
• Is regarded as strong enough to have chased Roger around the world. 4 6
• Shattered Golden Lion Shiki's enormous Floating Island with the “Fist of Love,” then dispersed much of its falling debris with a second punch. 62
• Defeated the weakened Golden Lion after saving Marineford from the falling island. 62

Genjutsu Resistance

Garp was briefly affected by Mu Chen's Sharingan Genjutsu, but recovered almost immediately.

• Broke free after roughly a second when caught off guard. 3
• States that Mu Chen's Genjutsu would not normally succeed against him in a real fight and estimates he could break free within about half a second. 5
• Recognizes that even a momentary illusion can be fatal in a battle between high-level fighters. 5
• Was able to recognize the danger of Genjutsu after experiencing an illusion of being trapped in a vast pool of blood. 4

Tactical Judgment

Despite his usual foolish demeanor, Garp can accurately assess high-level combat and strategic threats.

• Recognizes that Shiki's attack threatens Marineford's vast civilian population and abandons his pursuit of Dragon to return. 40 41
• Correctly assesses that Sakazuki can contend with King of the Three Calamities, while Mu Chen's defeat of Queen makes a clash between Mu Chen and Sakazuki difficult to predict. 138
• Understands that Mu Chen's actions during the Marineford War prevented greater chaos, including Blackbeard's potential disruption of the balance of the seas. 555

Talent Recognition and Mentorship

Garp takes a strong interest in promising Marines, particularly Mu Chen.

• Investigates Mu Chen's combat ability, red eyes, and reputation as “Blood Eyes.” 1
• Offers him admission to the Elite Training Camp, rapid promotion, and a possible Devil Fruit reward. 2 3
• Personally brings Mu Chen from Loguetown to Marineford despite repeated refusals. 3 4
• Publicly praises Mu Chen as rare talent and supports him during his training-camp sparring match. 9 12
• Protects Mu Chen from World Government suspicion and remains one of the strongest supporters of Mu Chen's later leadership of the Marines. 131 132 555 556

Equipment / Personal Items

• Dog-Head Battleship — Garp's large personal warship, marked by a dog-head prow. 4
• Rice crackers (senbei) — His favorite snack; Mu Chen repeatedly steals them. 4 6 7
• Military Den Den Mushi — Used to identify his warship at the Gates of Justice and communicate with Marine personnel. 5 7
• Justice coat — His Marine cloak, which he briefly throws down during his staged resignation before Sengoku returns it to him. 131 132

Relationships

• Adrian Mu Chen — Recruit, sailor, and protégé figure. Garp identifies Mu Chen's potential, forcibly brings him to Marine Headquarters, and later demands that the Marines protect him from possible Celestial Dragon interest. He continues to defend Mu Chen against CP9, catches Mu Chen misusing Kamui to steal senbei, and supports Mu Chen's eventual appointment as Fleet Admiral. 1 3 5 17 131 132 163 555 556
• Dragon — His son and a former Marine. Garp initially seeks to confront and capture him for founding the Self-Defense Army, but ultimately lets him continue pursuing his cause. Their relationship remains affectionate but volatile, with Dragon still terrified of Garp's anger despite their ideological divide. 20 21 41 42 602
• Sengoku — Fellow senior Marine and frequent target of Garp's teasing. Sengoku initially dismisses Mu Chen's potential, while Garp insists that he has found exceptional talent. The two also cooperate to shield Mu Chen from CP9, with Sengoku seeing through Garp's feigned resignation. 5 8 14 131 132
• Zephyr — Fellow Marine leader and Mu Chen's instructor. Garp trusts Zephyr's strength against Golden Lion Shiki but also mocks his confidence in Tokikake. Both remain fiercely proud of Mu Chen's growth. 12 17 136
• Kong — Former Fleet Admiral who orders Garp to return to Marineford when Golden Lion's attack becomes imminent. Kong is frequently exasperated by Garp's disregard for decorum and fixation on Devil Fruits and senbei. 40 77
• Gol D. Roger — Former rival whom Garp pursued across the world. Their shared involvement at God Valley became legendary, though Garp later describes the incident as a response to the Celestial Dragons' crimes rather than a straightforward battle against Rocks. 1 6 598
• Golden Lion Shiki — Major pirate threat to Marineford. Garp declares that Shiki will not leave Marineford alive if he attacks, later saves Marineford from Shiki's falling Floating Island and defeats the weakened pirate. 17 62
• Portgas D. Ace — Garp's adopted grandson and Roger's son. Garp secretly entrusts the infant Ace to Dadan, later panics when Ace becomes a pirate, and sends Mu Chen to retrieve him. His concern for Ace persists even during the Marineford War. 166 440 448 512 518
• Monkey D. Luffy — Garp's grandson. Dragon entrusts baby Luffy to Garp for protection, and Garp attempts to raise him as a Marine. However, Garp ultimately cannot fully oppose Luffy's attempt to save Ace at Marineford. 328 440 533
• Curly Dadan — Mountain bandit entrusted with raising Ace. Garp alternates between threatening to arrest her and desperately pleading for her help, and Dadan ultimately accepts Ace. 166
• Vice Admiral Tsuru (He) — Longtime fellow Marine of Garp's generation. Alongside Garp, she reassures Sengoku that Mu Chen is capable of leading the Marines after the war. 556
• Douglas Bullet — Shichibukai candidate and battle maniac who selects Garp as the first powerful Marine he wishes to challenge, viewing him as the Marines' strongest fighter. Garp is pleased by the recognition. 234

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Loguetown recruitment — Garp finds Mu Chen slacking at the Loguetown branch, investigates his unusual eyes, and attempts to recruit him for Marine Headquarters. 1 2
• Forced journey to Marineford — After Mu Chen rejects every offer, Garp physically takes him aboard the Dog-Head Battleship and learns about his Blood Spirit Eye and Genjutsu. 3 4
• Elite Training Camp placement — Garp champions Mu Chen before Sengoku and Zephyr, then celebrates when Mu Chen defeats Tokikake through Genjutsu. 5 9 13
• Dragon pursuit — Garp leaves Marineford to confront Dragon, but Mu Chen's views on justice and oppression change his approach to his son. 20 21 41
• Golden Lion crisis — Garp abandons his personal mission and returns to Marineford to help defend its civilians from Golden Lion Shiki's approaching Flying Fleet. He saves Marineford by destroying Shiki's falling Floating Island and then takes Shiki to Impel Down. 40 42 62
• CP9 confrontation — Garp openly challenges CP9's investigation of Mu Chen, points to Dragon as his own son, and stages an angry resignation to reject the World Government's political pressure. 131 132
• Ace's guardianship — Garp secretly places baby Ace in Dadan's care, then later orders Mu Chen to intercept Ace after the teenager sets sail as a pirate. 166 440
• Luffy's custody — Dragon entrusts baby Luffy to Garp, who accepts responsibility for protecting his grandson despite Dragon's status as the Revolutionary Army's leader. 328
• Ace's departure — Garp argues with Mu Chen after Mu Chen allows Ace to pursue his own pirate path, though Mu Chen promises to bring Ace back if he makes a name for himself. 447 448
• Seven Warlords formation — Garp supports Mu Chen's proposal to publicly frame selected Warlords as “adventurers” and later becomes the first Marine challenged by Shichibukai candidate Douglas Bullet. 214 234
• Marineford War — Garp stands behind Ace's execution platform in visible conflict, allows Luffy to strike and pass him, and later permits Ace and Luffy to escape amid the battlefield chaos. 518 533 544
• Postwar succession — Following the Marineford War, Garp and Tsuru argue that Mu Chen possesses the judgment needed to become Fleet Admiral, despite his outwardly slacker personality. 555 556 557

Notable Quotes

“We became Marines to carry out the justice we believe in. Save whoever can be saved.”
— Garp 7

“Just a mere Golden Lion. If he dared come, we wouldn't let him walk out of Marineford alive!”
— Garp 17

“The reason I never became an Admiral is because I didn't want to wear that Justice cloak and become a dog that the Celestial Dragons could order around at will.”
— Garp 598