Ace

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Ace is the son of Pirate King Gol D. Roger and Portgas D. Rouge, whose surname he uses. Rouge carried him for twenty months to conceal his existence and died of exhaustion after giving birth. Garp took responsibility for him as an infant and entrusted his upbringing to the mountain bandit Dadan 265 270.

Luffy later joined Dadan’s household and persistently followed Ace until he earned his acceptance. Together with Sabo, they hunted, fought, and eventually became sworn brothers using liquor Ace stole from Dadan. The hostility Ace encountered toward Roger and his possible descendants led him to resent his father, question his own existence, and resolve to surpass Roger rather than be defined by him 307 384.

Appearance

• Freckles: A distinguishing feature repeatedly noted in descriptions of him 186 338.
• Cowboy hat: Wears an orange cowboy hat 186 392.
• Golden transformation: His Gold-Gold Fruit can give his entire body a gleaming metallic appearance 51.
• Golden Giant: Can enlarge his transformed body to dozens of meters in height 447.

Personality

Ace is proud, competitive, and reluctant to openly admit his attachment to Lott. He initially excuses calling Lott “Master” as an offhand remark, and later dismisses him as someone who likes acting impressive—even while visibly taking pride in being his disciple 8 145.

His loyalty can become recklessness. He insists on pursuing Teach after Thatch’s murder, but later feels responsible for the casualties suffered by those attempting to rescue him. His harsh demands that Luffy leave Marineford are an attempt to protect his younger brother, not a rejection of him 186 266 269 272.

Despite his reputation, Ace is playful around Luffy and awkward in romance. He wrestles and trades childish insults with his brother, yet becomes distracted and bashful around Yamato. His crewmates also regard him as humble, reasonable, quick-witted, and responsible enough to lead them 330 347 350 393.

Abilities & Skills

Gold-Gold Fruit

Ace possesses a Logia Gold-Gold Fruit that allows him to transform his body into gold and control gold offensively 13.

• Elemental transformation: Changes individual body parts or his whole body into gold, including liquid gold and gold dust 13 144 295.
• Weapon formation: Creates spikes, swords, thorns, and a spiked club from gold 144 295 338.
• Mobility: Slides on liquid-gold legs and seeps underground as droplets to reposition beneath an opponent 295.
• Poison resistance: His elemental state allows him to remain unharmed inside Kurazakura Paiko’s poisonous mist 295.
• Defensive reshaping: Turns the point of impact on his forehead into gold when Kalong Bamboo thrusts a Haki-coated bamboo weapon through it, then immediately counterattacks 453.
• Restraint weakness: Remains captive while bound in seastone; Lott must remove the restraints before he is freed 290.

Documented Techniques

Haki

Ace trains under Lott and later demonstrates all three types of Haki 6 7 144 295 453.

• Armament Haki: Hardens his golden fists and weapons to strengthen attacks 144 295 453.
• Observation Haki: Anticipates Paiko’s venom spray and responds by elementalizing 295.
• Conqueror’s Haki: Releases pressure accompanied by scarlet lightning, knocking nearby Marines and agents unconscious. Dart Frog withstands this pressure 453.
• Conqueror’s Haki coating: Applies it to a golden sword during his fight with King 338.

Close Combat and Movement

• Pipe fighting: Uses a pipe to defend against Lott during their first encounter 4.
• Hand-to-hand combat: Exchanges dozens of blows with Lott during their reunion, although he ultimately loses 144.
• Shave: Uses the high-speed movement technique to close the distance against King 338.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Pipe: His weapon during his first confrontation with Lott 4.
• Small Yacht: The vessel he uses to leave the Moby Dick in pursuit of Teach 186.
• Teach’s photograph: Carries it while investigating Teach’s route through Fish-Man Island 213.
• Gold-created weapons: Forms his own swords, spikes, thorns, and clubs rather than relying solely on carried weapons 144 295 338.

Relationships

• Lott — Master, benefactor, and rescuer. Teaches Ace Haki, gives him the Gold-Gold Fruit, and frees him at Marineford. Ace’s pride often disguises his gratitude 7 13 145 290.
• Luffy — Younger sworn brother and fellow disciple. Ace regularly praises him to others and tries to drive him away from Marineford to keep him safe 254 272 275.
• Sabo — Sworn brother, long believed dead. Sabo returns during Ace’s execution crisis; Ace later leads his own crew into battle to rescue him 275 447.
• Whitebeard — The man Ace recognizes as his father and initially wants to make Pirate King. Whitebeard shelters him, entrusts him with the captaincy, and remains aboard after retiring 265 296 392 393.
• Garp — Adoptive grandfather who protects and follows Ace’s development from infancy. Ace calls him “Grandpa” for the first time on the execution platform 269 270.
• Dadan — Foster guardian. Though outwardly harsh, she regards Ace, Luffy, and Sabo as her children 270 313.
• Gol D. Roger — Biological father. Ace resents the stigma attached to Roger’s bloodline and rejects being defined by his inheritance 265 307.
• Portgas D. Rouge — Mother, whose surname Ace carries. Her prolonged pregnancy conceals him from those searching for Roger’s child 265.
• Yamato — Romantic partner and Wano’s shogun. Ace introduces her as his wife, although she subsequently clarifies that they are not yet married; Whitebeard offers to arrange their wedding 347 390 391.
• Marco — Fellow commander who worries about Ace’s pursuit of Teach and later supports his succession as captain 186 393.
• Thatch — Crewmate whose murder motivates Ace to pursue Teach 186.
• Marshall D. Teach — Former subordinate and enemy. Murders Thatch, defeats Ace, and trades him to the Marines for a Shichibukai appointment 147 186 259.
• Tama — Young friend in Amigasa Village. Ace reunites with her and promises to remain until the villagers have enough food 324.
• Jinbe — Friend to whom Ace frequently speaks affectionately about Luffy; joins the effort to rescue him 254.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Training Under Lott

• Ace and Luffy first encounter Lott after eating his roast meat without paying. Their coordinated attack fails, but Lott ultimately lets them leave without payment 4.
• A month later, Ace respectfully asks Lott to explain Haki and then requests instruction. Their training consists of repeated, punishing sparring sessions 6 7 8 145.
• Before departing for the Grand Line, Lott gives Ace the Gold-Gold Fruit. Ace promises to surprise him when they next meet 13.

Rise as the Gold Emperor

• As captain of the Spade Pirates, Ace becomes known as the Gold Emperor. A newspaper calls him the world’s second-richest man and reports the World Government’s interest in recruiting him into the Shichibukai 51.
• He challenges Whitebeard, loses despite already possessing Admiral-level strength, and joins the Whitebeard Pirates as Second Division Commander 147 392.
• His admiration for Lott remains evident in the newspapers and wanted posters he keeps in his room. Their reunion exposes their teacher–student relationship to the crew, followed by another decisive sparring defeat for Ace 80 144.

Pursuit of Teach

• After Teach murders Thatch and steals the Dark-Dark Fruit, Ace insists on avenging his crewmate and departs despite Marco’s concerns 186.
• He traces Teach through Fish-Man Island, where the royal princes report that Teach has headed toward the first half of the Grand Line 213.
• Teach initially fears confronting his former commander, but eventually defeats him and hands him over to the Marines 231 246 259.

Marineford

• The Marines schedule Ace’s public execution. Sengoku broadcasts both his identity as Roger’s son and his connection to Lott 246 265.
• Ace struggles with guilt as his family and crewmates risk their lives for him. Lott confronts his resignation and prompts him to openly declare that he wants to live 266 269 288.
• While Kuro occupies Sengoku, Lott reaches the execution platform and melts Ace’s seastone restraints 290.
• Once free, Ace kills Kurazakura Paiko with a golden thorn and destroys the body using Golden Hellfire 295 296.
• Ace begs Lott to save Whitebeard and later kneels in gratitude. Both brothers leave Marineford alive 310.

Wano and Yamato

• Ace returns to Amigasa Village, explains the devastation caused by Kaido’s factories, and renews his promise to help Tama 324.
• During the conflict with the Beasts Pirates, he attacks King with a Conqueror’s Haki-coated golden sword 338.
• After Kaido and Orochi’s defeat, Lott assigns Ace to guard Yamato during her inspection of Wano. Their time together turns mutual concern into an openly romantic attachment 346 347 350.
• Ace later brings Yamato aboard the Moby Dick, where Whitebeard welcomes her despite the crew’s initial alarm at her identity as Kaido’s daughter 390 391.

Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates

• After Ace has spent almost three years aboard, Whitebeard retires and names him captain. Ace initially refuses, then accepts and promises not to disappoint him 392 393.
• His first orders preserve the crew’s name, existing positions, and arrangements. He grants Whitebeard standing equal to the captain’s and calls for a feast 393.
• When Sabo is captured, Ace persuades Luffy not to attack Mary Geoise alone, recognizing the execution as a trap aimed at Peach Spring and the Revolutionary Army 427.
• He leads the Whitebeard Pirates into the rescue battle in Golden Giant form. After Luffy takes responsibility for fighting Dart Frog, Ace moves toward rescuing Sabo but is intercepted by Kalong Bamboo 447 453.

Notable Quotes

“My father is Whitebeard, and Whitebeard alone!” 265

“I want to live!!” 288

“First, the Whitebeard Pirates will remain the Whitebeard Pirates. We’re not changing our name!” 393

Trivia

• Different Devil Fruit: Lott deliberately gives the Flame-Flame Fruit to Ling’er instead of Ace, then gives Ace the Logia Gold-Gold Fruit 12 13.
• Distinct from Tesoro’s fruit: Ace’s Gold-Gold Fruit permits bodily elemental transformation; Lott explicitly distinguishes it from Tesoro’s Paramecia ability 11.
• Falls asleep during meals: Dozes off while questioning Fish-Man Island’s princes about Teach, then resumes the conversation after waking 213.
• Poor alcohol tolerance: Limits his drinking because he knows he tends to reveal the truth when drunk 392.