HIGHLIGHTS

Sanji’s unique fighting style has enabled him to defeat tough opponents, but characters like Zoro remain unbeatable for him.
Characters like Rob Lucci and King, with advanced powers and defense, would easily overpower Sanji in battles.
Sanji’s chivalry towards women has led to prolonged fights and injuries, a quality Zoro doesn’t possess in similar situations.

The Straw Hat Pirates are one of the few crews in One Piece who have a great balance. The crew has brilliant fighters in their ranks, and this has enabled them to take down tough enemies. Sanji is among the best fighters in the crew. He has a unique fighting style, and he has worked on it for years. Using his special method, he has taken down many strong characters.

However, there are certain characters who are above Sanji’s level, and, as a result, he cannot beat them. His comrade, Roronoa Zoro, is one of them. The swordsman is extremely powerful and capable of taking down dangerous foes that Sanji cannot.

This list includes characters from previous arcs as well.

7Rob Lucci

An Elite Assassin

Rob Lucci was promoted to CP0 and made a masked assassin. The higher-ups within the World Government knew about Lucci’s potential, which is why they didn’t want him to go to waste. Lucci is a Rokushiki master, and he can use all the techniques exceptionally well.

Lucci also has access to the Neko Neko no Mi, Model: Leopard. It is a carnivorous Zoan-type Devil Fruit that allows him to turn into a leopard at will. Since he mastered the Devil Fruit completely, Lucci can tap into the awakening and use it in fights. Zoro managed to beat Lucci on Egghead Island, but the same can’t be said about Sanji, as he lacks the Armament Haki needed to hurt Lucci in a fight.

6Daz Bones

Durable As Steel

Daz Bones was the right-hand man of Crocodile. He was a talented assassin who had the power of the Supa Supa no Mi. With the Devil Fruit at his disposal, Daz Bones could turn any part of his body into a steel blade, making it almost impossible for a regular human to hurt him.

Even a powerful fighter like Roronoa Zoro had a torrid time dealing with Daz Bones. The swordsman had to dig deep and think of a way to cut through steel. If Sanji had fought Daz Bones back in the Alabasta arc, the latter would have shredded him to pieces.

5Any Female Character

Bound By Chivalry

Sanji was raised in a certain way by Zeff, and, as a result, he grew up with a specific moral code. Sanji was taught never to hit a woman, no matter what happened. Sanji’s ardent beliefs have caused many problems. In Albasta, whenever Bon Clay changed his face to Nami’s, Sanji couldn’t kick him. This caused the fight to drag on for a long period of time, and Sanji picked up more injuries in the process.

In Enies Lobby, Sanji’s first opponent was Kalifa. On paper, the fight should have been wrapped up within minutes, but Sanji’s chivalry held him back. If Zoro were put in these situations, he would have beaten all of them without thinking twice.

4King

Impenetrable Defense

King was Kaido’s closest aide and the strongest All-Star. He was trapped in a World Government facility for a long time, where he was subjected to various experiments. King would have remained there if Kaido had not helped him break out. With time, King became Kaido’s right-hand man.

King was a Lunarian, an ancient race whose members had black wings, white hair, and flames on their backs. King’s physical abilities were also on a different level from those of normal humans, making it nearly impossible to hurt him with regular attacks. If Sanji were to fight King, the latter would emerge as the winner. Sanji does not have Conqueror’s Haki, nor does he have the level of Armament Haki needed to bypass King’s defense. Zoro, on the other hand, can beat King easily.

3Pica

Lacked The Firepower

Pica was one of the many secondary antagonists in the Dressrosa arc. He was extremely loyal to Doflamingo, and he was willing to do anything to make sure that his captain would get what he wanted. Pica ate the Ishi Ishi no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to manipulate stone.

Pica used the power to control anything made out of stone. When he was fighting the Straw Hats, he turned into a giant stone statue. The sheer size of the statue made it difficult to beat Pica. However, Zoro used his swords to slice Pica’s massive body in half. If Sanji had been given the same job, he would have failed badly.

2Vergo

Physically Dominant

Vergo was a Vice Admiral who was in cahoots with Doflamingo. He had infiltrated the Marines to provide Doflamingo with top-secret information. Vergo was able to hide his secret identity without too many problems. Vergo did not have a Devil Fruit, but his Haki was immensely powerful. In the Punk Hazard arc, Vergo clashed with Sanji briefly. The Straw Hat was able to stop Vergo’s attack, but he suffered some damage in the process.

At the time, Sanji hadn’t awakened his genetic powers, nor did he have great control over his Armament Haki. If Zoro had fought Vergo, the former would have managed to defeat the Marine without too many problems.

1Marco

Power Of Regeneration

Marco was the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. He joined the crew while he was still very young. Marco stayed with Whitebeard for decades and became his most trustworthy ally. Marco possesses a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit that enables him to transform into a phoenix.

The blue flames that cover Marco help him recover from all kinds of damage. However, he can’t keep regenerating forever. While Sanji’s techniques are less draining, they don’t pack the same level of punch as Zoro.