Nico Robin is the archaeologist of the Straw Hats and one of the main characters in One Piece. She had one of the more interesting backstories of the crewmembers that Luffy recruited, with a tragic past and an intriguing ability to read the mysterious Poneglyphs. Additionally, she was directly opposed to the crew during the beginning of their journey into the Grand Line. She only joined the crew after the conclusion of the Alabasta Arc, stating that because Luffy saved her life, he was now responsible for her.

Nico Robin is also one of the few members who actually invited herself into the Straw Hat Pirates. She started as mysterious and secretive, but she’s opened up to her new family and shown different sides of herself over time. Although she’s undergone many changes since she appeared in Alabasta, there are still plenty of things about Nico Robin that have stayed the same, making her the same character fans fell in love with.

Updated on July 07, 2024, by Natasha Elder: Despite being the sixth member to be recruited to the ten-member crew when counting Luffy as the first, Nico Robin has been on the show since episode 67. To put that in perspective, the One Piece anime now has well over one thousand episodes. Given the longevity of Nico’s presence, she has changed over time while still keeping some of her core personality traits. As such, we have expanded on previously mentioned changes and similarities, as well as added a few more.

Robin Has Evolved Throughout Her Journey

Robin is a Valued Member of the Straw Hats Despite Her Introduction as a Villain

 

When Nico Robin was first introduced, she was the right hand of Crocodile and a member of Baroque Works. She and her group were the main antagonists of the Alabasta Arc and actively opposed the Straw Hats. In fact, it was even easy to presume that she had killed Vivi Nefertari’s advisor and friend Igaram as she is shown after the ship he was on blew up.

Robin received her bounty of 79,000,000 Beries when she was eight, along with the epithet “Devil Child.”
After the Wano Arc, Robin’s bounty rose to 930,000,000 Beries.

However, it is eventually revealed that Igaram is alive, proving that she was not as villainous as first assumed. Additionally, she saved Luffy a couple of times throughout the Alabasta arc, further showing that she wasn’t all bad. After Luffy then saved her life in turn, she snuck aboard the Going Merry and joined the crew. She is now a treasured member of the Straw Hats.

Robin’s Physical Appearance Has Changed

 

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Like many of the Straw Hats, Nico Robin’s character design changed significantly after the timeskip. She transitioned from being thin to having more of an hourglass figure, as well as her dark skin becoming much more fair. Her shoulder-length straight hair also changed, growing further down her back and becoming wavy. While not super obvious, her nose has also lost a lot of the definition that it had before the timeskip.

Robin is 6’2,” which makes her the fourth-tallest Straw Hat.
In the manga and several of the movies, Robin’s eyes are brown, but they appear blue in the anime.

Additionally, Robin is wearing clothing that is very different than when she was first introduced. While Robin largely wore darker clothing before the timeskip, she returned with a new wardrobe when the crew reunited. She now wears lighter-colored and shorter clothing more often. This shift reflects her overall changing personality as she became more confident during her time with the Revolutionary Army.

Robin Has Become Much Stronger

Nico Robin was no slouch before the timeskip, but like the other Straw Hats, she grew stronger over the two years when the crew was separated. She specializes in submission moves, and she was excellent at them throughout the entire show. When using her “clutch” move, Robin uses her Hana Hana no Mi’s power to sprout arms and break the back of the target, which is particularly iconic for Robin.

Robin’s Devil Fruit is a Paramecia-type, which is the most common type.
Robin trained with Koala of the Revolutionary Army to better her fighting skills during the timeskip.

However, Robin didn’t have a way to handle stronger or larger enemies until later in the show. She is now able to sprout a million arms or legs at once to create giant limbs that she can use to attack stronger foes. She’s easily one of the stronger Straw Hats, even able to defeat the likes of Black Maria, one of Kaido’s Tobi Roppo.

Robin Trusts That Her Crew Will Fight For Her

Nico Robin has been hunted by the World Government since she was eight, so she knows that she’s in constant danger. Both civilians and pirates have betrayed her in order to obtain her at-the-time bounty of 79,000,000 Beries. She joined the Straw Hats for a while before leaving them at Enies Lobby. She did this to protect them, as the people that captured her threatened to destroy them; however, she assumed that the Straw Hats wouldn’t care about her, anyway.

Robin joined up with various “rogues” (as she put it) before joining the Straw Hats in order to survive as an eight-year-old on the Grand Line.
When Usopp asked what she was good at after first joining the crew, Robin answered “assassination.”

After the Straw Hats grouped together and rescued Robin from the World Government, she became more comfortable and trusting of them. She knows they will protect her, not only because they are strong enough, but also because they are willing to start a war against the World Government to save her if that’s what it takes.

Robin’s Complex Relationship with Aokiji Has Shifted

 

Nico Robin and the at-the-time Admiral Aokiji, now just Kuzan, have had an interesting history together. He was there when her home was completely destroyed by the World Government, but went against orders and ensured that she escaped. Following this event, Robin lived for twenty years in constant fear of him, dreading the day he would come for her. When he did, he decided it would be best to kill her immediately, which put the rest of the crew in danger as they defended her.

Kuzan is now part of Blackbear’s crew, but his overall goal is unknown.
Admiral Aokiji left the marines after losing his duel with Admiral Akainu to decide who would become the next Fleet Admiral of the Marines.

After Enies Lobby, however, Aokiji proves that he wants her to be free and live on, even going so far as to cover up their presence in Water 7. They are now at least amicable towards each other, and Robin is no longer living in constant fear that the Admiral will finish the job that he started twenty years ago.

Robin Shares Information With Increasing Readiness

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Although Robin was a valued crew member, she quietly giggled in the background and smiled mysteriously in most situations when she was first introduced. She often wandered off by herself and didn’t bother updating the rest of the crew about the information that she found. While some of this was due to the fact that Luffy wouldn’t care, it was also due to her lack of trust in the others.

There are four Road Poneglyphs that, when found, indicate where Raftel is.
There are three types of Ponelyphs: Road, Instructional, and Historical.

As the series has progressed, however, Robin has become more upfront about what she has learned. She translated a Poneglyph in front of Trafalgar D. Water Law in One Piece’s Zou Arc, and later told Luffy that she would let him know the world events that are relevant to him after she was done reading the paper following the Wano Arc. Clearly, she is more active in sharing her knowledge.

Robin is Now the Target of Jokes

Due to the originally mysterious aura surrounding Robin, she was not often the target of jokes, unlike characters like Luffy. While she would sometimes tell her own dark jokes, scaring Usopp and Chopper in the process, the show rarely used her for humor. Instead, she would remain collected while the others around her would react in hilarious, over-the-top ways.

Robin’s starting bounty is the highest out of the Straw Hats.
Robin was both the second-to-last member of the crew to be sent away by Kuma on Sabaody Archipelago and to return to Sabaody Archipelago after the timeskip.

Now, however, Robin has even been the one to make exaggerated faces in reaction to something. For example, when she sees that Luffy has a wanted poster in Wano, she reacts with visceral disgust. In the same arc, she makes a similarly over-the-top expression to successfully leave the town where people were looking for her. Thus, Robin has been involved in jokes that would have been given to other characters earlier in the show, rounding out her humorous actions.

Robin is Much More Open With Her Emotions

 

While Nico Robin would smirk and lightly laugh when she was first introduced, she was very reserved in her demeanor. Often sitting or standing a bit away from the rest of the crew, Robin would observe events from a distance without actively engaging. Whether it was sadness, happiness, anger, or some other emotion, Robin would tamp down on her reactions instead of letting them out.

Part of the reason for Robin’s reserved demeanor stemmed from the fact that she felt she wasn’t allowed to want to live.
Robin’s dependence on just herself has forced her to be careful in her interactions with others.

After Enies Lobby, and particularly following the characters’ reunion after One Piece’s timeskip, Robin is much more open with her emotional reactions. She smiles freely and even blushes at Ryunosuke, one of Kanjuro’s creations. When Ryunosuke dies, she has a few tears in her eyes and lays flowers at his grave, which she would not have done when first introduced, proving that she is more emotionally expressive than she used to be.

Robin’s Core Personality Traits Have Remained the Same

Robin Has Always Been Highly Intelligent

 

From her very first scene where she was toying with the Straw Hats, it was clear that Robin was incredibly intelligent. This was further proven as her backstory was revealed, showing that she grew up among scholars and did plenty of learning on her own. As such, she has a strong relationship with the others in Ohara, which was known for its knowledge of history.

Robin’s birthday is February 6th, which is the same as her mother’s birthday, whose name is Nico Olivia.
The body parts that Robin creates through her Devil Fruit feel sensations, such as pain, the same way her attached body parts do.

Even in her current state, Robin is one of the smartest Straw Hats and is the only known person in One Piece who can read the ancient writing of the Poneglyphs. Even in battle, she is shown making smart and tactical decisions rather than just diving in headfirst. Robin also recognizes the names of places and people more frequently than the other Straw Hats due to her studies.

Robin Enjoys Making Jokes on the Darker Side

Even from the beginning, Nico Robin was prone to saying some pretty dark stuff. If they aren’t sure where a few of the other Straw Hats have gone, she’s quick to assume they’ve died in some gruesome way. For example, Robin once mused that the missing Straw Hats had been strangled after being unable to hear their voices for a while. While she doesn’t smile or laugh when she says these things, it’s unlikely that she truly believes that these events have occurred.

Robin enjoys being on spring islands during their autumn season.
Although Robin typically only sprouts arms and legs with her Devil Fruit powers, she has also occasionally been seen sprouting eyes and ears. She is capable of replicating any of her body parts with the Hana Hana no Mi.

Robin also only says the dark jokes near other Straw Hats, who tend to react pretty strongly to the suggestions. She clearly takes joy out of getting a reaction out of her crewmates when she states her assumptions. She has continued making these jokes after the timeskip, as well. For example, she mused whether the sea would turn red due to the Straw Hats and Fish-Man Island citizens’ crushed bodies as a result of the incoming Ship of Promise, demonstrating she still favors dark humor.

Robin is Still Reserved and Calm

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Unlike most of the other Straw Hats, Nico Robin doesn’t openly display what she’s feeling. Whereas the others will have comical or exaggerated reactions to events, Robin will largely take them in stride. This contrast is especially evident when there is a surprising event, as most of the Straw Hats will be gaping at the change while she looks slightly concerned. There have been very few occasions where she displayed her emotions openly, and most of these have been in extreme situations like at Enies Lobby or when confronted by the Marine Admirals.

One of the few times that Robin got visibly angered was when she was fighting Black Maria due to her disparaging remarks about Sanji.
Robin typically does not use weapons, although she had a dagger that she used against Crocodile in the Alabasta Arc and multiple guns that she used simultaneously when she raided Iceburg’s mansion with CP9.

Outside of these situations, Robin will typically just portray her calm and neutral expression, with the occasional smile or giggle. Despite being more open about her emotions following Enies Lobby, she still remains one of the calmest Straw Hats. For example, when the genius Dr. Vegapunk’s Sea Beast Weapons surrounded the Thousand Sunny, she remained calm and ready to fight immediately.

Robin Wants to Know the History of the Void Century

 

While she was studying on Ohara, Nico Robin gained a love and respect for history that has continued throughout the whole series. She takes every chance she can to study ancient ruins and old texts, as shown when the Straw Hats were on Skypiea. In one of the few moments that viewers see her truly angry, she fought against Yama while he was destroying these ruins. She drew him away before viciously defeating him, making sure he knew just how much of a sin he had committed before killing him.

While little is known about the Void Century, it is confirmed that the World Government was formed due to a war that happened during that period of history.
Gol D. Roger’s crew found out the truth of the Void Century, including Dark King Rayleigh, who the crew spoke to in Sabaody Archipelago.

Robin still highly values history, becoming excited when she finds out that Vegapunk saved many of the texts that were in Ohara. Her connection to Ohara also motivates her search to find out what happened during the Void Century, as she wants to continue their legacy as legendary historians and archaeologists. In fact, her overall dream is to discover what the World Government has been hiding during the Void Century.

Robin Is Unexpectedly Mischievous

While Nico Robin tends to be serious and aloof, she does have a mischievous side. It began when she was a child on Ohara, where the other kids bullied her for having Devil Fruit abilities. She would then use these abilities to mess with and tease them, but never cause any harm. While this seemed surprising at first, given her stoicism, it was soon shown that she has maintained this mischievousness throughout adulthood.

The flowers that appear when Robin uses her Devil Fruit abilities are Fuwa fruits.
In order to effectively use her abilities, Robin needs to see, or at least be close to, the area where she is sprouting her body parts.

For example, Robin similarly teased Chopper, using her Hana Hana no Mi power to hold his arms wide before tickling him. She also participated in Luffy and Chopper’s antics by giving Luffy antlers with her Devil Fruit abilities, showing a lighter, unexpected side. This is a more innocent and childish side to Robin that it seems she hasn’t lost throughout her life.

Robin Is Willing to Sacrifice Herself for Others

As mentioned, Robin is willing to sacrifice for others throughout One Piece. The most famous instance is when she goes with CP9 to spare the rest of the Straw Hats. She was also willing to die in Alabasta when it turns out the Poneglyph she was looking for didn’t reveal the information she wanted.

CP9 stands for Cipher Pol 9. CP9 is one in a series of organizations that performs secretive tasks, such as assassinations, for the World Government.
Rebecca is the daughter of Scarlett and Kyros, as well as the granddaughter of King Riku Doldo III of Dressrossa.

Robin has continued to be willing to sacrifice herself as One Piece has gone on. In the Dressrossa Arc, she puts herself on the line in order to protect Rebecca, even hiding her injuries from the others to prevent her from worrying. Although she was appreciative that Sanji called for help, Robin also quickly walked into a fight against Black Maria, one of Kaido of the Beasts’ strongest subordinates, in order to save him in the Wano Arc, proving she is willing to die to protect others.

Robin Anticipates the Needs of Her Crewmates

 

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From the beginning, Nico Robin has been good at anticipating the needs of her fellow Straw Hat pirates in both big and small ways. Whether to enhance a joke, as she did by giving Luffy antlers with her Devil Fruit power, or to recruit a new crewmate, as she coerced Franky into agreeing to join the crew, Robin is quick to assist her crewmembers. She also offers her help before the others even realize they need it.

When Devil Fruit abilities are used on Robin’s manifested limbs, they affect her, too. This is shown when Sugar uses her Devil Fruit power on one of Robin’s manifested arms turning her into a toy.
Robin usually needs to keep her arms crossed in order to successfully use her Devil Fruit abilities, with her limbs de-manifesting if she’s knocked out of her pose.

This trend of Robin anticipating the needs of others has continued post-timeskip. In the Dressrossa Arc, she uses her powers on multiple occasions to help others, such as creating a net for Trafalgar D. Water Law to fall into or creating a series of arms for Usopp, Kin’emon, and Kanjuro to climb. Her superior observational abilities and quick thinking have benefited the crew on multiple occasions.