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A Sniper is a person adept at using, as well as maintaining, ranged weaponry.

Role and Abilities[]

Much like musicians, snipers in the series are an optional and alternative occupation for any Marine or pirate. They consist of people who favor projectile-based weapons and are skilled at marksmanship. Due to their choice of weaponry, snipers excel best at long-range combat, with many often taking a backup role for stronger fighters and relying on the element of surprise.[2]

Izou Disarms King

Izou disarming King through pinpoint accuracy.

Snipers usually have great eyesight and accuracy, allowing them to hit difficult targets from a considerable distance or through a variety of obstacles. Given the nature of their skills, many snipers can fulfill other jobs that may require similar abilities within a crew. For example, Usopp of the Straw Hat Pirates is also the crew's gunner due to being a generally exceptional sharpshooter regardless of weapon,[3] and Van Augur of the Blackbeard Pirates can act as a competent lookout thanks to an extraordinary range of view that lets him see far away into the ocean.[4]

Curiel's Bazooka

Curiel and others snipers fighting with various guns.

Weapons that most snipers prefer to utilize include rifles and pistols, but can also include artillery such as cannons and mortars and highly customized weapons that best suits the sniper's skill.[5][6] However, just having access to a firearm is not enough for one to be considered a sniper since the occupation, by definition, requires a minimum degree of above-average skill. As an example, Donquixote Doflamingo is known for carrying a pistol with him, but has only used it for executions instead of actual marksmanship, thus making him not a sniper.[7]

Some snipers are also specialized in using bows, just like some of the Kuja, or other weapons like slingshots and blowguns. But even with weapons that do not use gunpowder, they are still capable of making great precision shots.

While the status of certain characters as snipers is debatable, that does not prevent them from having noteworthy feats of accuracy. Individuals with great physical strength can throw seemingly harmless objects without any launchers, turning them into deadly projectiles of tremendous precision.[8][6][9][10] Fish-Men are the most prominent of such feats, turning water droplets into high-velocity bullets,[11][12] especially those who practice Fish-Man Karate.[13][14]

Snipers[]

See also the associated category: Snipers.

Translation and Dub Issues[]

As the term sniper is often associated with firearms (as well as terrorism, especially following the 2002 Beltway snipings) in the United States, the 4Kids-dubbed anime always translates it as marksman or sharpshooter.[citation needed] The Viz manga and the Funimation anime use sniper more freely, but on occasion have been known to use these substitutes as well.[15][16]

Trivia[]

  • While not considered traditional snipers (due to the lack of weaponry), both Trebol and Charlotte Katakuri were shown to precisely hit targets from long distances with ease.
  • Although Trafalgar Law is not a sniper in profession, he was trained in the art by Gladius.[17]

References[]

  1. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 1 Chapter 1 and Episode 4, Yasopp, the sniper of the Red Hair Pirates, is introduced.
  2. One Piece Manga — Vol. 76 Chapter 758 (p. 7), Usopp states what a sniper is about.
  3. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 5 Chapter 42 (p. 5-7) and Episode 19, Usopp demonstrating cannoneer skills.
  4. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 61 Chapter 595 (p. 15) and Episode 513, Van Augur acting as a lookout.
  5. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 3 Chapter 23 and Episode 9, Usopp utilizes a varied amounts of ammunition with his slingshot.
  6. 6.0 6.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 72 Chapter 715 and Episode 645, Jean Ango utilizes bladed-weapons he scavenges to throw.
  7. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 77 Chapter 769 (p. 10) and Episode 708, Doflamingo favors executions through a gun.
  8. One Piece Anime — Episode 139, Rapanui Pasqua using the Finger Bomb against the Straw Hats.
  9. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 74 Chapter 738 (p. 2-3) and Episode 670, Trebol throwing mucus through 3 layers of reinforced concrete to hit a fly between the eyes.
  10. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 86 Chapter 869 (p. 5) and Episode 839, Katakuri fires jelly beans at the retreating Fire Tank Pirates.
  11. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 9 Chapter 75 (p. 13) and Episode 34, Chew spits a water bullet at Pudding Pudding.
  12. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 10 Chapter 88 (p. 8) and Episode 40, Arlong overpowers Zoro and Sanji with water droplets.
  13. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 64 Chapter 635 and Episode 555, Hody and Jinbe's Uchimizu clash.
  14. One Piece Special — 3D2Y: Overcome Ace's Death! Luffy's Vow to his Friends, Sebastian using O Uchimizu and O Yabusame against Luffy and Hancock.
  15. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 5 Chapter 42 (p. 6) and Episode 19, Luffy praises Usopp's skill with the Going Merry's cannons. The Viz manga has him using "marksman" for Usopp's new role, while the Funimation anime uses "sniper".
  16. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 20 Chapter 183 (p. 15) and Episode 113, Sanji demands Usopp's goggles back from Mr. 2. The Viz manga has him refer to Usopp as the crew's "sniper", while the Funimation anime uses "sharpshooter".
  17. One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 76 Chapter 761 (p. 9) and Episode 700, Doflamingo reminds Law who trained him how to fight.

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