The One Piece anime has been running for more than two decades now, but it still has a lot of underlying mysteries left unanswered. We all know that common themes, such as dreams and inherited will, among others have been addressed many times in the anime, but we are yet to receive a concrete explanation for the Will of D. We have several popular characters with the initial “D.” in their name, including Luffy, Ace, and many others. It has been mentioned a few times in the anime series, with hints at the real meaning behind it. So, let’s find out the meaning behind the initial D. in One Piece protagonist Monkey D. Luffy’s name.
Spoiler Warning: This article contains information on the characters and themes of One Piece world. We suggest you watch the anime and read the manga first to avoid ruining your experience.
What is the “Will of D” in One Piece?
The “Will of D” is a recurring theme in the world of One Piece and is considered an enigma around the people who have the initial “D.” in the middle of their names. For example, Monkey D. Luffy, Gol D. Roger, Portgas D. Ace, and others.
Those with the initial D in their name are known to have already caused a massive storm around the One Piece world and will do so again in the future. They are powerful in nature and have a strong will in general. They also have certain distinct personality features that set them apart from the rest.
While the mystery surrounding the initial D hasn’t been completely revealed yet, we hope to see some major revelations soon. The manga has started to shed some light on the mystery and the true nature of devil fruits in One Piece recently. We have summarized all the details we know so far, and you can keep reading to find out more about Will of D.
When Did We First Hear About the “Will of D”?
Dr. Kureha was the first character to mention the “Will of D” in the One Piece Drum Island arc (Episode 91, Chapter 154). She shed light on Roger’s name, and it was an important twist in the series. While most fans believed the pirate king’s name was Gold Roger, she confirmed that it was Gol D. Roger. And then Dr. Kureha went on to mention the Will of D, which she asserted was still alive. She further added that Chopper went out with a Dangerous/ Extraordinary man, referring to Luffy as he has the initial D. in his name.
Meaning of the “D” in Luffy’s Name
The most awaited moment turned into a reality for One Piece fans when Whitebeard asked Roger, “What does D. stand for?” We were on the verge of learning the answer to one of the greatest mysteries, but alas we didn’t get an answer.
Roger said, “It’s a story from way back back” in reply to Whitebeard, and that’s all. He was cut short in the flashback scene in the anime’s Marineford arc (check out a complete One Piece arcs list in order here). Roger Pirates discovered the meaning behind Will of D, One Piece treasure, and the history of the void century when they reached Laugh Tale. And Roger shared the knowledge of D with his rival and friend Whitebeard.
In an SBS (Q&A) with the author Eiichiro Oda, he requested One Piece fans to acknowledge the D as a simple D for the time being. And pledged to keep this a secret until the perfect time arrives. Oda sensei is famous for throwing significant surprises, and as he is saving the Will of D for a special occasion, we will simply have to wait for the entire unveiling.
As a matter of fact, except for Roger, characters who have the D. in their names don’t actually know the meaning. Back in the Arabasta arc, Nico Robin asked Luffy about it, and well, our cheeky protagonist was clueless about it. Similarly, Jaguar D. Saul didn’t know the meaning behind the D. But there were some carriers of D who knew the actual meaning behind it and kept it a secret. For example, Trafalgar Law’s family.
Will of D: The Past and The Present
Roger Pirates are the only discoverers of the meaning of D and several other mysteries. Rayleigh is therefore well-versed with them. When the Straw Hats Pirates questioned mysteries like Will of D, One Piece treasure, Void Century, and so on, Luffy interrupted his crewmates and stated that he desired to discover them on his own.
Furthermore, Luffy has said that he will not become the next pirate king and does not wish to embark on a boring adventure with already-known answers. More importantly, Rayleigh said even if he were to tell the Straw Hats the entire history behind the D. initial in his name, they wouldn’t be able to do anything with the way they are now. He suggested the Straw Hats take their time discovering these answers so that they might reach a different conclusion than the Roger Pirates did.
So, just like Luffy, let’s not be hasty and patient in uncovering the truth behind these nagging mysteries, particularly the significance of D. in his name. Because One Piece creator Oda seems to have a vision and seems to be preserving the details for a special occasion. It’s only a matter of time before we discover everything there is to know about the Will of D.
One Piece Characters: Family of D
The most recent One Piece manga chapters have elucidated the details of a futuristic ancient empire that existed years ago. Many people believe that the carriers of the D are linked to an ancient kingdom and are ancestors of the family of D. According to Donquixote Doflamingo, the carriers of D remain hidden across the world. So far, the following is all we know about the D family:
- Although Jaguar D. Saul didn’t know the meaning of D, he gave us an important clue. He mentioned that everyone in his family had the D. in their names. This can indirectly mean that the D. legacy is passed on from one generation to another. For example, we have seen Monkey D. Garp passing it to Monkey D. Dragon and further down to Monkey D. Luffy.
- For now, it is unknown if all the carriers of D are related to each other by blood or some other way. We will have to wait for an answer to this mystery too.
- Additionally, the only carriers of the D whom we know and who went on to have children together are Gol D. Roger and Portgas D. Rouge. Portgas D. Ace was born to them.
How Are the Carriers of D Perceived in the World?
The World Government has always tried to cover up the details about the initial D. Furthermore, Gol D. Roger was purposely called Gold Roger by the World Government. Trafalgar Law mentioned that the carriers of D will blow up a storm once again in the Dressrosa arc of One Piece.
Donquixote Rosinante aka Corazon told Law that the Family of D is considered to be the “Sworn enemy of the Gods” in some places. We already know that the Celestial Dragons considered themselves the gods in this world and the carriers of D have been seen rebelling against them. Thus making the carriers of D the archenemies of the gods.
Carriers of D in One Piece: Key Traits
The following are the common traits shared between the carriers of D:
- The first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is the carriers of D always cause a global upheaval (for good or bad things). They are considered dangerous by the five elder as one said this very statement after the Marineford war. The best example of this is Luffy. He went on to destroy Ennies Lobby, Impel Down, and Marineford, which caused a greater change.
- They have a huge yearning for complete freedom and have complete trust in their dreams.
- They are utterly oblivious to the actual significance of the D. in their name.
- On the verge of their deaths, they have always been known to have a big smile or even laugh. This is because they have accepted their fate and are no longer afraid of death. For example, Roger, Ace, and Saul all three did this at the time of their deaths.
- They have a charismatic personality that attracts the people around them easily.
- They have an extraordinary ability to make friends in any situation and even can befriend enemies. Luffy is the best example of this, and it was mentioned by Mihawk too.
- They often have a voracious appetite and may consume a great quantity of food.
- Last but not least, they fall asleep at unpredictable times or places. This behavior was seen with Luffy, Ace, and even Garp.
Carriers of the Will of D
There are only 10 known carriers of the Will of D. As the anime series is reaching its final saga, more members are expected to be revealed soon. We will update this table regularly if we learn about new members with the initial D. in their name.
Carriers Status Gol D. Roger Deceased Monkey D. Luffy Alive Marshall D. Teach Alive Rocks D. Xebec Deceased Monkey D. Garp Alive Monkey D. Dragon Alive Trafalgar D. Water Law Alive Portgas D. Ace Deceased Portgas D. Rouge Deceased Jaguar D. Saul Alive
That’s pretty much everything we know about the Will of D in One Piece at the moment. We hope we were able to present all of the facts about the Will of D and the mysterious initial D. in the name of several popular pirates, including Luffy. All the mysteries in One Piece are starting to be answered one by one as the manga is reaching its final stage. It’s only a matter of time before we know all the answers to all the questions we had until now. We hope that day comes soon. But in the meantime, do let us know who is your favorite carrier of D and why you like them in the comments below.
No the whole truth of the Will of D hasn’t been disclosed yet. We only know that the Roger Pirates have discovered the truth behind it.
Only about 10 characters from Gol D. Roger to Portgas D. Rouge have the will of D with them. We hope to see more new D members in the future soon.
It hasn’t been confirmed yet but the carriers of the D are considered highly dangerous by the World Government as the Gorosei (Five Elders) after the Marineford war.
Ajith Kumar
