Eustass Kid — One Piece

Identity and role among pirates

Eustass "Captain" Kid is a notorious pirate from the South Blue and the captain of the Kid Pirates, a crew feared for its brutality and unusually high casualty count. He is one of the so called Worst Generation, a group of twelve rookie pirates whose bounties already exceeded one hundred million berries when they reached the Sabaody Archipelago. The World Government marks him as a high priority threat partly because of his strength, but also because of his willingness to slaughter civilians who mock his dream of becoming Pirate King.

Kid’s introduction at Sabaody immediately frames him as a dark rival to Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar D. Water Law. While all three share the ambition to reach the top of the pirate world, Kid has the highest bounty when they first appear together, signaling that his actions are more openly violent and indiscriminate. Civilians in the archipelago whisper his name with a mixture of fear and fascination, and even other pirates treat him with wary respect, recognizing him as someone who will attack without hesitation if provoked.

Over time Kid evolves from a background rival into a central player in the New World. He challenges Yonko territories, forms and breaks alliances with other Worst Generation captains, suffers crushing defeats and still manages to rise again. His participation in the downfall of the Emperor Big Mom, alongside Trafalgar Law, proves that he can influence world shaking events, even if his path is harsher and more tragic than that of other major pirates.

Origin and early life

Kid was born in the South Blue on a lawless island not affiliated with the World Government. The island is divided between gangs rather than legitimate authorities, and from an early age he grows up in an environment where power, intimidation and loyalty to one’s own group matter more than laws or justice. Together with his childhood friend Killer, and future crewmates Heat and Wire, he becomes a gang leader controlling one of the local territories.

In his youth Kid and Killer share a first crush on a girl named Victoria. She is strong willed and not afraid to stand up to them. A small anecdote from their past shows the dynamic between them: during a simple meal, Victoria accidentally spills curry udon on herself, and the boys laugh. She retaliates by beating them up and then ignoring them. This humorous scene hints at the more tragic turn their lives will take, and at the fact that Kid already has the rough, teasing personality he will show later as a pirate.

The turning point of Kid’s early life comes when Victoria is killed by the criminal organization that dominates the island from the shadows. Her death crystallizes Kid’s hatred toward the world that allows such violence to happen with impunity. Instead of submitting, he unites his gang with those of Killer, Heat and Wire. Together they wage a campaign against the syndicate responsible for Victoria’s murder, overthrow it and seize control of the island’s underworld. Yet for Kid this victory is not enough. The island feels too small, and he decides to take his fury and ambition out to sea.

In memory of Victoria, Kid names his ship Victoria Punk, combining her name with the aggressive, rebellious image he embraces. Leaving their homeland, he and his companions transform from local gang leaders into pirates, carrying with them both the emotional scars of their loss and a burning desire to create a world less “narrow” than the one that took their friend from them.

Personality and ideals

Kid is infamous for his brutality. Reports of his actions often mention entire towns terrorized and civilians killed simply for insulting or laughing at his dream. He has an explosive temper and a deep sense of pride, reacting with lethal violence when he feels mocked. This tendency is not portrayed as random sadism, but as the expression of someone who has grown up in a cruel environment and refuses to accept ridicule from a world he already despises.

At the same time, Kid does not see himself as purely evil. During the Sabaody auction incident, he openly insults the Celestial Dragons and describes them as the most disgusting part of the world. He is repulsed by the slave trade and the way nobles treat other people as objects, even though he himself has no qualms about killing civilians. In his own twisted moral code, the difference lies in the honesty of his actions. He considers himself a pirate who lives according to his own rules and accepts the consequences, while the rulers of the world hide their cruelty behind status and law.

Kid is sarcastic, foul mouthed and brutally honest. He constantly mocks allies and enemies, yet he shows unwavering loyalty to his own crew, especially to Killer. He respects strength and determination above all, and he is drawn to people who fight stubbornly for their goals, which explains his complicated respect for Luffy and Law. His dream of becoming Pirate King is not associated with lighthearted adventure; instead it carries an almost vengeful tone, as if he wants to seize the world by force and reshape it to avenge the pain and loss he experienced.

Physical appearance

Eustass Kid is tall, heavily muscled and visually imposing. He towers over most people around him, reinforcing his role as a frontline brawler who prefers close combat. His most distinctive feature is his wild crimson hair, which spikes out in chaotic strands and adds to his feral appearance. He usually wears a pair of distinctive goggles on his forehead, with round lenses and heavy frames that contribute to his punk inspired aesthetic.

Before the time skip Kid often wears a long, shaggy coat lined with fur, which he drapes over his shoulders like a cape in classic pirate fashion. His clothes are decorated with belts, studs and patterned fabrics, giving him an image reminiscent of heavy metal musicians or aggressive street punks. His chest is frequently left partially exposed, showing off scars and muscular definition that underline his fighting lifestyle. He often sports a wide, sharp toothed grin when facing battle, conveying both confidence and a certain bloodlust.

After the time skip Kid’s appearance becomes even more intimidating. He loses his left arm, which is replaced with a mechanical prosthetic composed of metal plates and gears. This artificial limb is both a visual reminder of his clash with the Red Hair Pirates and a functional piece of combat equipment that he can integrate with his magnetism based powers. New scars cross his face and body, telling the story of two brutal years in the New World. Overall his design shifts from “promising upstart” to “battle hardened warlord,” matching his narrative progression.

Crew and close relationships

The Kid Pirates

The Kid Pirates originate from the South Blue and grow out of the gangs that once ruled their home island. Under Kid’s leadership they become a fearsome New World crew that specializes in aggressive attacks against both rival pirates and even Yonko fleets. Their jolly roger features a skull with a mechanical jaw and gear like elements, highlighting both their violent image and Kid’s affinity for metal and machinery.

While many members remain in the background, a few stand out. Killer acts as Kid’s right hand and combatant. Heat uses fire based techniques, while Wire fights with a whip like weapon. The crew as a whole embraces an aesthetic inspired by rock bands and punks: wild hairstyles, leather, studs, goggles and unconventional clothing. Their reputation in the New World is one of merciless strength; they crucify defeated enemies, sink powerful ships, and show little mercy to those who cross their path.

Bond with Killer

Killer is Kid’s closest companion and has been with him since childhood. They grew up on the same island, fought as gang leaders and formed the Kid Pirates together after uniting their respective groups. Their relationship goes beyond simple crew hierarchy; they share history, trauma and mutual understanding. Killer’s calm, efficient demeanor complements Kid’s hot headed nature, and he often acts as a voice of reason even while fully supporting Kid’s violent choices.

The depth of Killer’s loyalty becomes especially clear in Wano Country. When the crew is captured and threatened by Kaido, Killer accepts a cruel bargain: he eats a defective SMILE fruit that strips him of his ability to show normal emotions and forces him to laugh uncontrollably, in exchange for Kid’s life being spared. Transformed into the assassin Kamazo, Killer is tortured, humiliated and forced to act as a mindlessly grinning killer. When Kid later learns what happened to his friend, his fury and guilt fuel his determination to destroy Kaido’s regime and reclaim his partner’s dignity.

Rivalries and alliances

Kid’s most prominent rivals are Monkey D. Luffy and Trafalgar D. Water Law. All three captains belong to the Worst Generation, all possess great ambition, and all eventually unlock advanced Haki and Devil Fruit abilities. Yet their personalities and methods differ sharply. Luffy is impulsive and compassionate, Law is calculating and strategic, while Kid is confrontational and ruthless. They respect one another’s strength, but none of them are willing to abandon the race for the Pirate King’s throne.

Kid’s relationship with Law is particularly layered. They mock each other constantly and initially refuse to work together, but their abilities happen to complement each other exceptionally well. During the battle against Big Mom, Law’s precise spatial powers and internal shock attacks combine with Kid’s overwhelming blunt damage and magnetism, creating a synergy powerful enough to topple an Emperor. Despite sharing this monumental achievement, they still part ways as rivals, each determined to be the one who ultimately rises to the top.

Beyond the Worst Generation, Kid has an intense and personal enmity with the Red Hair Pirates led by Shanks. At some point during his early New World exploits, Kid confronts Shanks’s crew and loses his left arm, reportedly to Benn Beckman, Shanks’s formidable first mate. Rather than being intimidated, Kid develops a grudge, vowing revenge and later organizing an alliance to challenge Shanks again. This fixation will eventually lead him to one of the most devastating defeats of his career.

Devil Fruit and combat style

Magnetism based abilities

Kid is the user of the Jiki Jiki no Mi, also known as the Magnet Magnet Fruit, a Paramecia type Devil Fruit that allows him to generate and control magnetic forces. With this power he can attract and repel metallic objects, effectively turning the battlefield into a source of ammunition and armor. Unlike more subtle powers, Kid’s magnetism is loud, destructive and visually spectacular, perfectly matching his personality.

In combat Kid typically pulls in surrounding scrap metal, weapons, ship parts and debris, compressing them into enormous mechanical arms or constructs attached to his body. These giant limbs give him immense reach and striking force, capable of smashing through fortifications and ships. He can also gather metal into spiked balls or discs and hurl them at enemies like high speed projectiles, using magnetic repulsion to increase their velocity. The metallic prosthetic that replaces his left arm serves as a natural core for these constructions, and he often integrates it into his attacks.

The environment heavily influences Kid’s fighting style. In areas rich in metal, such as ship graveyards, industrial sites or heavily armed fleets, his power scales dramatically because there is more material for him to manipulate. Conversely, in environments with little or no metal, he must rely more on his physical strength, Haki and whatever he can salvage from his opponents’ weapons or armor. This conditional nature makes his battles visually varied and tactically interesting while still emphasizing his direct, head on approach.

Awakened techniques

During the Raid on Onigashima Kid reveals that he has awakened his Devil Fruit, unlocking a new level of magnetism. Instead of merely attracting and shaping existing metal, he gains the ability to impose magnetic properties directly onto other objects and even living beings. This allows him to magnetize his opponents or parts of the terrain, drastically increasing his control over the battlefield.

Against Big Mom, Kid uses this awakening to magnetize her body and nearby structures, causing massive iron beams, steel towers and other metal fragments to slam into her. By giving Big Mom a magnetic polarity and then creating an opposite polarity in nearby objects, he turns the environment itself into a weapon. He also forms colossal constructs, such as a bull like machine and a gigantic railgun style cannon, channeling magnetic forces to fire concentrated blasts capable of sending an Emperor crashing through multiple layers of rock and steel.

Kid’s awakened fighting style remains true to his character. It is not delicate or subtle, but overwhelming and explosive. He willingly takes hits in order to land his own, trusting his durability, his Haki and the sheer destructive output of his techniques to eventually overpower even the toughest opponents. This high risk, high reward mindset makes his battles some of the most chaotic and spectacular in the series.

Use of Haki

Armament and Observation

As a top tier New World pirate, Kid can use both Armament Haki and Observation Haki. With Armament Haki he hardens his body and the metal constructs he creates, allowing his attacks to bypass the natural defenses of Devil Fruit users and withstand powerful blows. When his giant mechanical arms are coated with Armament, their crushing force increases dramatically, turning each strike into a devastating impact that can injure even Yonko level opponents.

Observation Haki gives Kid the ability to sense incoming danger, read the presence of others and react faster in combat. The narrative does not focus as heavily on his observational skills as it does for characters like Luffy or Katakuri, but his ability to survive against multiple Emperors implies a solid level of proficiency. Whether he is dodging lethal beams, reacting to high speed charges or simply keeping track of multiple threats, his Observation Haki quietly supports his otherwise straightforward fighting style.

Supreme King Haki

Kid is also one of the rare individuals who possess Conqueror’s Haki, known as Supreme King Haki. This form of Haki manifests as an overpowering will that can intimidate or knock out weaker people in his vicinity. His status as a Conqueror places him in a small group that includes most of the strongest figures in the series, such as Luffy, Shanks, Kaido and others.

Early hints of Kid’s exceptional will appear at Sabaody, where he remains standing after being exposed to the overwhelming Conqueror’s Haki blast released by Silvers Rayleigh in the auction house. Later, his status as a Conqueror is confirmed more explicitly, reinforcing the idea that he has the temperament and ambition of a king. While his advanced applications of Supreme King Haki have not been explored in as much detail as Luffy’s, simply possessing all three types of Haki alongside an awakened Paramecia fruit places Kid near the very top of the series’ power hierarchy.

Bounties and reputation

Bounties in One Piece reflect both strength and the degree of threat a person poses to the established world order. Kid’s bounty progression mirrors his rise from an exceptionally dangerous rookie to a central figure in the New World conflict. When he is first introduced at Sabaody, his bounty stands at three hundred fifteen million berries, already higher than Luffy’s at that time. This number is attributed not only to his combat ability but also to the large number of civilian casualties linked to his name.

After entering the New World and openly attacking Yonko affiliated forces, including ships belonging to Big Mom, Kid’s bounty rises to four hundred seventy million berries. This confirms that the World Government views him as a growing menace, particularly because he chooses to antagonize Emperors instead of avoiding them. His brutal method of crucifying defeated pirates as warnings further cements his reputation as an uncompromising and extremely violent captain.

Following the Raid on Onigashima, Kid’s bounty undergoes its most dramatic jump. For his role in defeating Big Mom alongside Trafalgar Law, his bounty is raised to three billion berries. This places him in the same tier as Luffy and Law and marks him as one of the few pirates who have directly taken down a Yonko in open combat. Even after his later defeat by Shanks, this marked bounty remains a testament to the scale of chaos he has helped unleash in the New World.

Major story arcs and battles

Sabaody Archipelago incident

Kid’s first major appearance occurs in the Sabaody Archipelago, a cluster of mangrove islands where pirates, slavers and nobles intermingle. He arrives with his crew at roughly the same time as the Straw Hat Pirates and Trafalgar Law’s crew. When Luffy punches a Celestial Dragon at the slave auction to save the mermaid Camie, a huge conflict breaks out between pirates and Marines. Kid chooses to fight his way out rather than flee quietly, joining Luffy and Law in a brief collaboration against the Navy forces outside the auction house.

During this incident Kid voices a key part of his worldview. He condemns the Celestial Dragons and the cruelty of the world that worships them, while acknowledging that he is also a pirate who spills blood. His participation in the battle demonstrates his combat capability, his intolerance for hypocrisy and the beginnings of his competitive, mocking dynamic with Luffy and Law. After the trio escapes the island, they go their separate ways, each setting course for the New World.

Observation of the Paramount War

Later, during the Paramount War at Marineford between Whitebeard’s forces and the Marines, Kid does not engage directly. Instead he observes events from afar, along with several other Worst Generation captains. Witnessing the death of Whitebeard and the sheer scale of the battle, he realizes that the age of the old legends is ending and a new era is beginning. For ambitious pirates like Kid, this represents both an opportunity and a warning: the level of power required to challenge the world is immense, and anyone aiming for the top must be ready to face that kind of storm.

Early exploits in the New World

Once in the New World, Kid pursues a strategy of aggressive expansion. He attacks and crucifies a rival pirate crew, leaving their bodies on display as a deterrent to weaker pirates. He also sinks multiple Big Mom ships, deliberately provoking one of the most fearsome Emperors. These actions could easily be seen as reckless, but they are consistent with Kid’s belief that only those who strike boldly can reshape the world. The downside of this approach is that it draws the attention of overwhelmingly powerful enemies sooner rather than later.

Alliance with Hawkins and Apoo and fall to Kaido

Recognizing that even a strong crew cannot topple an Emperor alone, Kid forms an alliance with fellow Worst Generation captains Basil Hawkins and Scratchmen Apoo. Their target is none other than the Red Hair Pirates led by Shanks, against whom Kid already bears a grudge for the loss of his arm. On paper such an alliance combines considerable strength and diverse abilities. However, their plan never reaches fruition in the way they intend.

The Emperor Kaido suddenly appears and disrupts everything. It is revealed that Apoo has secretly been working as an informant for Kaido, and Hawkins chooses to submit rather than resist, aiming to preserve his own life by joining Kaido’s forces. Kid, true to his nature, refuses to bow. He fights and is brutally defeated, then imprisoned in the Udon labor camp in Wano. This event is one of the lowest points of his career, showing that raw courage without proper information or alliances can lead to catastrophic failure.

Imprisonment in Wano

In the Udon mines, Kid is chained, starved and forced to work under harsh conditions. Yet he retains his defiant spirit, repeatedly attempting escape and lashing out at jailers. When he first shares a cell area with Luffy, he insists on acting independently and mocks the idea of teaming up. Both captains compete even in captivity, trying to outdo each other in lifting heavy blocks or enduring punishment, which adds a darkly comedic layer to their rivalry.

The emotional core of this arc for Kid is his relationship with Killer. He learns that Killer was forced to eat a defective SMILE fruit and turned into a laughing assassin under the name Kamazo. This knowledge devastates him but also fuels his resolve. Eventually Kid and Killer manage to escape, and Kid regains his ship. Although he still refuses to formally join Luffy’s alliance, he ends up fighting on the same side during the Raid on Onigashima, driven by his own desire for revenge against Kaido.

Raid on Onigashima and fall of Big Mom

During the Raid on Onigashima, Kid joins the rooftop battle where Luffy, Zoro, Law, Killer and others confront Kaido and Big Mom. Initially the group faces both Emperors at once, trading massive blows in one of the series’ most explosive confrontations. Eventually the battlefield splits, with Kid and Law focusing on Big Mom while Luffy and others concentrate on Kaido.

The fight against Big Mom showcases Kid at his most powerful. Using his awakened magnetism, he forms colossal mechanical arms and weapons, repeatedly smashing the Emperor and sending her crashing through buildings. Law supports him with spatial slashes and internal shockwaves that bypass her external durability. Big Mom responds by using her own Devil Fruit abilities to manipulate souls, heal herself and create monstrous homies. The battle escalates until Kid and Law finally coordinate a finishing combination, with Law pinning Big Mom in place and Kid unleashing an enormous cannon like blast that knocks her into a deep pit, where a massive explosion occurs. This defeat marks the end of Big Mom’s reign and fundamentally changes the balance of power in the New World.

After Wano and defeat near Elbaf

After the victory in Wano, Kid’s bounty is raised to three billion berries. He leaves the country with renewed confidence, guided by his Log Pose toward another important island. The route brings him to the vicinity of Elbaf, the land of giants, where Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates are currently anchored along with the Giant Warrior Pirates. Seeing an opportunity to confront the Yonko who once cost him his arm, Kid decides to challenge Shanks again.

The outcome is devastating. Shanks, using his overwhelming Haki and unmatched battle experience, closes the distance and defeats Kid with a single overwhelming attack before Kid can fully execute his plans. The Red Hair Pirates and their allies then destroy the Kid Pirates’ ship, the Victoria Punk, and sink it, effectively annihilating the crew’s combat capability. The series presents this as a ruthless reminder that, despite his growth, Kid still has a long way to go before he can stand on equal footing with the most seasoned Emperors. The exact fate of Kid and his surviving crewmates is left uncertain, but the defeat is arguably the most crushing blow he has ever suffered.