[Theory] Usopp is the first-mate of the SHs.

[WhistleBlower]

[not mine]​

We know that Oda originally planned for Usopp to be the first-mate and for Zoro to be part of Buggy's crew. Zoro isn't a part of Buggy's crew in the final product, but did Usopp's role change? I don't think so.

What does the first-mate do? Fill in for the captain when he's not around, right? Luffy made Usopp the substitute captain of the crew.

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This isn't the only time the idea of Usopp being the substitute captain came up. We see it again in Alabasta when Luffy leaves to fight Crocodile.

Bottom middle panel:

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What else does the first-mate do? Take ownership of the crew and it's property. Who was the only person who went against Luffy when he decided to dismantle the Going Merry? Usopp. That's because the ship was both equally their's and that's why Luffy agreed to duel him. Usopp is the only one with the authority to challenge Luffy. Everyone else has to go along with what he says no matter how they feel.

That was the ownership of property aspect. What about ownership of the crew? Who did Luffy send to retrieve Nami back at the Baratie? Usopp. Who was the first person to go and save Robin back on Water 7? Usopp. Who was put in charge of carrying Zoro on Sabondy? Usopp.

Going back to the first scan I posted, you can see that Usopp says he will become captain if Luffy ever chickens out from his duties. Luffy's duty is to protect the crew and that involves fighting the opponents. Who was the first one to fight Kuro?

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. Who was the first one to fight Arlong?

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Who fought Enel before Luffy showed up? Well, Robin, Zoro, Sanji, Wiper, and Usopp. Who was going to fight Lucci when Luffy almost gave up?

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Who fought Perona when no one else could? Usopp.

The first-mate is also there to provide moral support. Who was Luffy's trainer before he fought Foxy? Usopp. Who told Robin to believe in Luffy? Usopp. Who gave Luffy the encouragement to beat Lucci? Usopp.

Recently, even Zoro acknowledged Usopp as being above him:

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​

I know people will bring up Urogue calling Zoro the first-mate back on Sabaondy, but that was from the perspective of someone on the outside looking in and probably only based his judgement on Zoro's bounty and perceived strength.


REGARDLESS THIS IS MERELY A THEORY , NOT MINE BUT IT SHOULD START GOOD DISCUSSION U_U​

 

[ultraChalk]

I really dislike that Luffy was so easy to make a decision like that.

But in any case if Luffy were to ever go missing and Usopp tried to lead as Captain, Zoro would not allow him to. He doesn't have the same loyalty and power to lead that Zoro has.

OT: Just because you have the title of first mate or sub captain, doesn't mean you're suit for it. Actions speak louder than words, as well as titles. I'll still always acknowledge Zoro as first mate anyway.

And when he said Usopp was above him in the recent chapter, I believe he only meant in terms of his... reputation (can't think of the right word. Popularity maybe?). He sure didn't mean it in terms of leadership or ability.

 

[kmrasengan]

This is old news, but still Bartolomeo called Zoro the first mate aswell, and the reason Zoro mentioned Usopp in the last panel is becasue of the hype going around form when Usopp defeat Sugar. Still I don't care who's the first mate, they're all equal in my eyes, at this moment Sanji is more of a first mate then Usopp.

 

[Tomato God]

Usopp is and will always be the first mate due to how different he and luffy's leading style. Zoro is completely identical to luffy in terms of leadership
Rush in and have faith their own strength
meanwhile usopp tactic is stay in the back and protect and use strategy.

Luffy made a great accidental decision to make usopp his first mate. it was a great choice.

And OT: We know that.

 

[kmrasengan]

Usopp is and will always be the first mate due to how different he and luffy's leading style. Zoro is completely identical to luffy in terms of leadership
Rush in and have faith their own strength
meanwhile usopp tactic is stay in the back and protect and use strategy.

Luffy made a great accidental decision to make usopp his first mate. it was a great choice.



And OT: We know that.

What does this have to do with being first-mate? Hell if Zoro's leadrship is so identical's to Luffy then more reason to him to be first-mate.

 

[ultraChalk]

Usopp is and will always be the first mate due to how different he and luffy's leading style. Zoro is completely identical to luffy in terms of leadership
Rush in and have faith their own strength
meanwhile usopp tactic is stay in the back and protect and use strategy.

Luffy made a great accidental decision to make usopp his first mate. it was a great choice.

And OT: We know that.

Zoro being completely identical to Luffy is what makes him so suitable. :|

Also, Usopps strategies are usually to run away until he feels brave enough to stop and fight, not use strategy.

 

[U mAd]

zoro's the first mate.he was the first to join.that's a fact u can't change.u can say that usoop's the vice captian but not first mate

 

[Cunning Linguist]

It's not that good of a theory. Leadership takes more than just coming up with strategies. In OP the captains are the strongest fighters. If something were to happen to Luffy, Usopp could never fight the opponents that Luffy would. Zoro would be able to fight almost at Luffy's level. Beyond that, Usopp is a coward at heart and he lacks charisma. Zoro is a warrior with plenty of charisma- people listen to him and respect him. Zoro is the 1st mate

 

[puni]

Their are no firstmate in SH. But if i have to pick, it will be Nami she is prefect for it.

 

[xanonymosx]

firrst panal luffy didnt say that he agreed he agrees every thing
ussop said if luffy chiken out he will take the captin spot not the vice captin imo

second panel ussop imagend him self as captin cause he said he will replace luffy , did he do any thing after that nope not a single

third panal zoro said that cause evry body was after luffy and ussop because luffy is well known and ussop got the lightspot because of what he have done if ussop didnt free the dolls no body whould know him and zoro`s line would be "i forgot to tell you but the straw hat pirates are not only straw hat luffy " ussop became famous cause he freed the dolls not because he is the vice captin

i am not saying zoro is the VC i couldnt carless about that , but ussop being the VC is a not resonable at all

 

[Forbidden Tale]

Bartolomeo biggest fan of SH, said that Zoro is first mate.

They don't have First Mate officially, but de facto FM is Zoro.

 

[Tomato God]

Zoro being completely identical to Luffy is what makes him so suitable. :|

Also, Usopps strategies are usually to run away until he feels brave enough to stop and fight, not use strategy.

Current chapter he just got caught because he didnt run. And Luffy doesnt need another luffy. Thats what makes zoro the worst option.
It would be the same as if luffy was just alone in his thoughts

Usopp being the first mate is like luffy having a chief advisor that represents all the other aspects and possibilities that luffy never thought about.
And frankly hes smarter than zoro or luffy in anyway.

 

[Olorin]

The SHs don't have a first mate

 

[chopstickchakra]

zoro's the first mate.he was the first to join.that's a fact u can't change.u can say that usoop's the vice captian but not first mate

First mate does not mean the first crew member.

OT: Preach brother, people always wanna hate on Usopp because they can't see his personality for the obvious comedic effect it's meant to be, when push comes to shove Usopp always steps up because he's a character who deserves to be a strawhat.

 

[Zorø]

Arghh this argument again :|.....Ussop is unfit to be first mate because he is a coward.......Zoro is the firstmate just look how he stood up for the crew on thriller bark and Sanji aswell both risking their lifes for the crew Ussop wouldnt do that.

 

[ultraChalk]

First mate does not mean the first crew member.

But how is that possible when it means exactly that?

 

[Love Cook]

But how is that possible when it means exactly that?

Use a dictionary, just because it has the words 'first' and 'mate' in it doesn't mean it is the first mate to join.

A quarter master is also not a master of 25 cents.

 

[~Naruto&Itachi~]

Not according to the manga and the biggest strawhat fanboy:

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[Fireplay]

I think Usopp could possibly be the first mate...we need Oda to enlighten this whole 1st mate/Vice-captain deal.

I mean sometimes it seems like its Zoro, sometimes Sanji and sometimes Usopp. If you compare the SH's to other crews though. The first mate is always portrayed as the final barrier between the captain and the enemy.

I feel like the first mate is more like a partner in crime rather then just a crew member.

Shanks:Beckman
Roger:Rayleigh

Think about it like this...Similar to how Roger said his final goodbye to Rayleigh before being executed. If Luffy was to be executed who do you guys think he would say his final goodbye to? That person is most likely his partner and his first mate.

 

[Bogard]

He is the gag first mate. In reality however, Zoro is the one.
Whenever Luffy isn't there, the strawhat crew becomes Zoro's group:

- Zoro's group:

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- Zoro's side:

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- Zoro's gang:

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- Zoro and the others:

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- Zoro illustrated for the strawhats group in the box:

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- Zoro's group:

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Usopp himself recognise

Recognised by fellow supernovas captains as the first mate:

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And even a fanboy of the crew(so know them better than anyone):

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He is also the one in charge to responsibilize his captain and Usopp himself ask questions to Zoro about that

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Also, Zoro never acknowledged Usopp against Pica. It's Doflamingo who acknowledged Usopp more than Zoro by giving him(and Luffy as well) more stars than him either because Usopp was the origin of the rebellion or because Luffy is the leader of the group. Zoro was simply saying to Pica they made a mistake in giving him only 2 stars because his level of threat is comparable to them