Garp

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Garp belongs to the same generation as Roger and Whitebeard Newgate, though he is a few years older than Roger. He pursued Roger during his Marine career, and decades of conflict created respect between him and his pirate contemporaries 94 103.

Roger entrusted Ace to Garp, who protected the child by taking him as his grandson. Ace later acknowledged that Garp saved him and raised him until he was ten, while Dadan handled most of his day-to-day upbringing 103 224.

Garp's regular crackdowns kept the East Blue's strongest pirates in check. Lin Yuan identifies this as the reason for the sea's reputation for weakness, rather than an absence of dangerous pirates 27.

Appearance

• Build: Tall and burly, with a heavily muscled upper body and large fists 103 122 351.
• Age: Has an aged face and belongs to the older generation of Marine powerhouses 201 410.
• Clothing: Wears a Marine uniform during his service and later uses cloaks and disguises to conceal his survival 210 258 410.
• Haki markings: At high output, intricate Armament Haki patterns cover his chest, back, and face like tattoos 122.

Personality

Garp is boisterous, irreverent, and comfortable insulting both old rivals and government authorities. He trades vulgar accusations with Whitebeard, eats rice crackers taken from Sengoku's drawer during a serious meeting, and threatens CP0 agents who try to board his warship 103 201 202.

Despite his carefree manner, he is shrewd about dangerous situations. He hesitates over Lin Yuan's proposed final-move wager and later recognizes that sacrificing his own freedom is the best way to save the defeated Marine expedition 123 214.

His affection often takes the form of harsh physical discipline. Ace chiefly remembers his “Fist of Love,” while Garp's later training repeatedly pushes the Straw Hats to the brink of death. He considers this brutality necessary to prepare them for stronger enemies 108 274 327.

Garp's loyalty to the Marines conflicts with his responsibilities toward Ace. When asked whether he would rescue Ace from a Marine execution, he cannot answer. He later admits that he let Ace down and feels unable to face him comfortably 224 232.

Abilities & Skills

Physical Strength and Endurance

• His missed punch against Whitebeard blasts a huge crater into the ground 103.
• Lin Yuan admits that his normal-form physique is inferior to Garp's during their first extended duel 122.
• Fights Lin Yuan for seven days and seven nights, continuing despite deep claw wounds and extensive blood loss 123.
• Crosses the sea at extreme speed, covering hundreds of meters with each step as the water explodes beneath him 120.
• Overwhelms Zoro in a later sparring match even after Zoro has attained Admiral-level strength 346 351.

Armament Haki

• Uses black Armament coating on his hands and can extend protection over his entire body 106 121.
• Possesses exceptionally refined Armament Haki, which Lin Yuan identifies as an area in which he still needs to improve 122.
• Can concentrate his power into intricate full-body patterns, dramatically increasing the force of his attacks 122.

Conqueror's Haki

• Releases a black, domain-like aura during his decisive confrontation with Lin Yuan 123.
• Coats his fist in Conqueror's Haki together with top-tier Armament Haki for Iron Fist: Falling Bone 123.

Observation Haki

• Can locate an opponent with his eyes closed and extend his awareness across dozens of miles 123 124.
• Closing his eyes and relying on Observation Haki does not prevent Lin Yuan's ocular technique from trapping and defeating him 123 124.
• Cannot reliably sense Lin Yuan's attacks when Lin Yuan uses Observation Haki Killer 210.

Named Techniques

Instruction

• Offers to teach the Six Powers and Life Return alongside Zephyr 258.
• Agrees to teach the chamber's members his punching methods and experience with Haki 258.
• Trains the Straw Hats in Haki and advanced combat, including Ryuo; Luffy and Zoro receive particular attention in Conqueror's Haki 274 327.
• His training produces rapid growth, but Lin Yuan later judges Zoro's Haki technique insufficiently refined for the strength Garp has forced him to develop 352.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Devil Fruit gauntlets — Supplied by Lin Yuan and durable enough to withstand Garp's attacks. They contain the Shock Fruit and Giant Shield Fruit abilities and activate through Haki. Lin Yuan specifically notes that they let Garp exchange shock waves with Sengoku 326 327.
• Dog-Head Warship — His Marine vessel. He pushes its engine nearly to destruction while rushing to Borsalino's aid and later refuses to let CP0 commandeer it 120 202.
• High-purity Seastone handcuffs — Uses several pairs to restrain Sakazuki during the operation to take control of Marine Headquarters 413.

Relationships

• Monkey D. Luffy — Biological grandson. Garp secretly trains him for a year, worries that his revenge against Lin Yuan will get him killed, and asks Lin Yuan to show restraint if they clash 258 327.
• Ace — Adopted grandson, entrusted to him by Roger. Ace remains grateful for being saved, but Garp's inability to promise protection against a Marine execution exposes the limits of their relationship 103 224 259.
• Monkey D. Dragon — Son and leader of the Revolutionary Army. Dragon previously tried to recruit him, but their paths differed. Despite opposing the Marines, Dragon remains concerned for his father's safety 99 204 206.
• Lin Yuan — Enemy, captor, and eventually leader. Garp joins his chamber in exchange for permission to guide Luffy, later supporting the campaign against the World Government 214 258 411.
• Roger — Former pursuit target who trusted Garp with Ace's protection 103.
• Whitebeard Newgate — Longtime rival with whom he shares mutual respect. Their dispute over Ace becomes a furious argument about Garp adopting Roger's son as his grandson 103.
• Sengoku and Tsuru — Lifelong Marine friends who grieve his apparent death. After revealing his survival, Garp invites them to attack the World Government with him 215 410 411.
• Kuzan — Former adjutant and trainee. Garp considers him worth recruiting for the anti-government campaign, only to learn that Lin Yuan has already secured his cooperation 99 327.
• Zephyr — Former Marine colleague and fellow instructor in the chamber 258.
• Roronoa Zoro — One of his secret trainees. Awakens Conqueror's Haki under Garp's pressure and later discovers his instructor's true identity at Lin Yuan's base 274 350.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Whitebeard Takes Ace

Garp interrupts Whitebeard's attempt to take Ace, attacking before recovering Luffy. The two veterans argue instead of fighting seriously: both recognize the danger a full battle would pose to the children and nearby islands 102 103.

Lin Yuan's return with Naguri leaves Garp facing three formidable opponents while protecting Luffy. Lin Yuan argues against killing him because of their cooperation with Dragon. Garp lets the group depart with Ace but vows to bring him back 106.

First Defeat by Lin Yuan

Garp rushes to reinforce Borsalino and joins him against Lin Yuan. The battle develops into a prolonged duel in which Garp's physical strength and Haki force Lin Yuan to use his human-beast form 120 121 122.

After seven days and nights, the opponents attempt to settle the fight in one move. Lin Yuan's ocular ability stops Garp's attack and subjects him to a golden world and a descending fireball. Garp counterattacks with Space Splitter, but is thrown backward, coughing blood, and loses consciousness 123 124.

Second Expedition and Apparent Death

Garp later accompanies Sakazuki and Kuzan in another operation against the Abyss Chamber of Commerce. By then, he bears Lin Yuan little personal resentment, having seen the chamber's work and learned that Ace is doing well 201 202.

The expedition discovers that Lin Yuan commands far more powerful fighters than expected. Lin Yuan keeps Garp occupied and prevents him from protecting the other Marines 210 211.

Facing defeat, Garp threatens an unrestricted counterattack that could kill Lin Yuan's companions. After Lin Yuan severs Sakazuki's arm, Garp accepts the demand that he stay behind so the surviving Marines can escape 213 214.

Their final clash destroys the island. Sakazuki and Kuzan return to find no trace of Garp, and reports of his fall spread across the world. He has actually survived and been secretly taken prisoner 214 215 411.

Captivity and Ace's Rescue

Although not confined to a cell, Garp remains Lin Yuan's prisoner. His survival is concealed, and Luffy believes Lin Yuan killed him. Ace also keeps the truth from Luffy under orders 224 258.

Before Ace's execution, Garp agrees to watch the coming Marineford battle without intervening. He declines Lin Yuan's invitation to visit Ace in Impel Down, acknowledging his shame over their earlier conversation about a possible execution 232.

Joining the Chamber and Training the Straw Hats

Garp offers to join the chamber and teach alongside Zephyr in return for a year to visit and guide Luffy. Lin Yuan agrees on two conditions: Garp must teach for a month first and conceal his identity throughout the trip 258.

His brutal instruction greatly strengthens the Straw Hats and triggers Zoro's Conqueror's Haki awakening. On returning, he reports that Luffy and Zoro can fight an Admiral, but also warns that Luffy still intends to avenge his supposedly dead grandfather 274 327.

Zoro later recognizes the mysterious instructor at Lin Yuan's base. Garp reveals his identity and promptly tests him again, winning their exchange decisively 350 351.

Open Opposition to the World Government

Garp becomes alarmed when Kaido explains that Luffy's awakened Nika power makes him a priority target for Imu. He then fights beside Luffy against Saint Saturn on Egghead, contributing to the assault that kills the Elder. Afterward, he tells Luffy that he has joined Lin Yuan 386 399 400.

He reunites with Sengoku and Tsuru, explains his captivity, and invites them into the campaign against the World Government. During the subsequent Marine Headquarters operation, he surprises Sakazuki with Seastone handcuffs. His surviving reputation as the Marines' hero helps rally the assembled troops 411 413 416.

During the final war, Garp accompanies Sengoku and Luffy to assist Zephyr and Naguri against the World Government's remaining powerful combatants 438.

Notable Quotes

“So what? At my age, was I supposed to take him as my son?”
— Defending his decision to adopt Roger's son as his grandson 103

“When I was a Marine, I didn't teach him well, but now I want to do it.”
— Explaining why he wants to train Luffy 258

“I'm alive and well. I've just been missing some of your rice crackers, hahaha!”
— Reuniting with Sengoku 411