The art of sniping involves precision and composure, a skill not everyone possesses. On that note, the world ofOne Piecepresents this skill as the art that it is, or at least could be. Many characters in the series rely on theirdevil fruit powers, brute strength, or their refined swordsmanship. However, not everyone can do what snipers can do; the job of providing support from a distance, taking out targets casually, helps exemplify the crucial role they play in supporting their respective crews.
In theOne Pieceseries, this art is particularly seen in characters like Usopp, Izou, Van Augur, and Yassop. The question now is, “What are key factors that make a sniper, and how does that make this art successful?”
The Role And Abilities Of Snipers
Key Traits In Focus
Like a musician in a crew, a sniper has a specific duty besides the obvious general goal of the crew. In this case, because of how skilled they are in the craft, their skills allow them to excel in long-range combat and help them perform supportive roles with the teamwork that may be present in a crew. Hence, they provide one of the most strategic assets that any crew needs.
One of the key skills needed for a sniper in the series is precision and marksmanship. Understanding one’s environment is pivotal in the series, and this goes hand in hand with having an idea of what the opponent may do, so predicting possible movements. A key ability is good eyesight, and in this case, any good sniper has to have the ability to scope the perimeter and take shots clearly irrespective of the distance. In this case, also, observation haki plays an important role in landing attacks that are miles away. This was evident when Usoppdemonstrated such a featfrom a very large distance when attacking Sugar from afar in the Dressrosa arc.
Similarly, stealth and positioning play crucial roles. No sniper in the series can just go about pointing their guns and shouting for the opponent to be aware of their presence. So, surveying the battle and hiding from a safe enough spot helps the practice of this skill. Additionally, haki can play an important role in awareness. If one is versed andcan appropriately use haki, detecting opponents should be an automatic boost for such a sniper.
Next, most snipers have to be adaptable to the different circumstances they face, and they should, in some way or another, possess close-quarters combat abilities. As is pretty obvious, most snipers lack close-combat skills in one way or another, but it is a necessary skill. Izou, a member ofthe former Whitebeard Pirates, demonstrated this skill in the series with his clever disarming and accuracy in battles, showing the versatility needed of a sniper.
Weapons And Techniques
Firearms And Artillery
Weapons commonly used in the series include guns of different kinds, like rifles and pistols. On the other hand, artillery includes equipment like cannons and mortars, the specialty of the Marines. However, as earlier mentioned, the skill of sniping is not for everyone, and possessing the qualities mentioned is the bare requirement. So, more than average marksmanship as seen in individuals like Yassop and Van Augur is a prerequisite. Using these weapons allows these individuals to deal all sorts of damage to their enemies, with more than average marksmanship as seen in individuals like Yassop and Van Augur is a prerequisite as seen at different times in the series.
Slingshots, Bows, And Non-Traditional Weapons
Warriors like those ofthe Kuja tribeuse bows to take out their enemies, while an individual like Usopp prefers his handy slingshot to help in battle. The versatility these weapons provide is evident in different moments in the series, for example, it allows Usopp to use a wide range of random attacks, like his Pop Green, which comes in clutch sometimes for him. Additionally, individuals can use haki to strengthen the attacks of their arrows, maybe using a bow to increase the effectiveness of such attacks. No mention of how this could work in the case of an individual like Usopp has been mentioned so far, though. The best is probably just in the case of using observation haki to watch his opponent and be accurate in a battle.
Notable Snipers In The Series
Defining Moments
One of the first names out of most fans’ mouths is Usopp. This young man has grown in certain respects from being the coward he was at the start of the series. Although he is still scared of most things,the title “God Usopp”is no joke to most individuals who were in Dressrosa and heard of his feat against Sugar. It was at this moment that he unlocked observation haki, which he used to accurately snipe her with his large-size slingshot.
Another name is Yassop, who is noted as the popular sniper of the Red-Haired pirates. Nothing has been exactly revealed as to the depth of his strength; however, one can rightfully speculate that his strength is and must be worthy of being in Shanks’ crew. So, with his trusty musket that he carries around, Yassop is no doubt bound to show fans the proficiency of his sniping as the series progresses.
Finally is Van Augur, who is popular among fans. This marksman represents the somewhat dark side of pirates if anything like that exists. His role in the Blackbeard Pirates is so important, particularly as with the rest of his crew, the philosophy of the Blackbeard Pirates is to battle enemies with numbers rather than a one-on-one fight. So, Van Augur, who already has the looks of a sniper, touches up with hisnewly acquired devil fruitand calm demeanor and fits into the tactics of his crew as he offers support from the side while the heavy lifters in the crew attack.
The Future Of Sniping
Evolving Tactics
As theOne Pieceworld expands and the series continues to go on, new technologies and weapons are bound to be explored. Some could potentially aid devil fruit users and maybe increase their powers, just like how Van Augur makes use of his, but in a more scientific manner. One thing is certain though: with characters like Usopp, the potential for new ways of sniping is bound to arise, be it in the case of weapons, haki, or movements.
One Pieceis available to watch onCrunchyroll.
One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
