History Characters / OnePieceRoronoaZoro

* UnderestimatingBadassery: Despite being aware of Mihawk's fame, Zoro challenges him for the title of the world's strongest swordsman. Mihawk accepts, but decides to use only his smallest knife since he doesn't consider Zoro worth using anything bigger on, (heck, he even considers using that one overkill) and completely defeats Zoro with it.

* ButtMonkey: While not the worst amongst the crew, he's definitely the butt of a lot of jokes and gets into a lot of weird situations. He's also the most frequent victim of Luffy's recklessness, including being rammed by a beached sailboat that Luffy is steering or getting knocked off the Merry into the sea during a nap because Luffy swung his arm too hard. Getting stuck in a chimney in Enies Lobby is yet another weird example.

* UnderestimatingBadassery: Despite being aware of Mihawk's fame, Zoro challenges him for the title of the world's strongest swordsman. Mihawk accepts, but decides to use only his smallest knife since he doesn't consider Zoro worth using anything bigger on and completely defeats Zoro with it.

* ButtMonkey: Not as much as Sanji or Usopp, but he can definitely be the butt of a lot of jokes and gets into a lot of weird situations. Being attacked by Luffy in Whiskey Peak and getting stuck in a chimney in Enies Lobby are just a few examples.

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/WataruTakagi [''[[Anime/OnePieceDefeatHimThePirateGanzack Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack]]''], Creator/KazuyaNakai [TV series onwards], Megumi Urawa [young], Creator/KazukiYao [Bon Clay disguise] (Japanese); Brian Zimmerman [Odex dub], Creator/MarcDiraison [4Kids dub], Creator/AndrewRannells [young, 4Kids dub], Creator/ChristopherSabat [Funimation dub], Creator/BrinaPalencia [young, Funimation dub] (English)[[note]]'''Other languages:''' Gabriel Basurto [first season of the 4Kids dub and fifth season of the Creator/{{Netflix}} dub onwards], Creator/DafnisFernandez [second season of the 4Kids dub and 1-4 season of the Creator/{{Netflix}}], Jared Mendoza [young, Netflix dub] (Latin American Spanish); Creator/JorgeSaudinos, Rocío Azofra [young] (European Spanish); Antoine Nouel [first dub], Tony Beck [second dub until the Alabasta arc], Patrick Noérie [second dub until the Silver Mine arc], Alain Eloy [second dub from the Zou arc onwards] (French dub); Philipp Brammer [all appearances until 2014], Uwe Thomsen [all appearances since 2014] (German); Marcelo Campos [first dub], Angélica Santos [young, first dub], Creator/GlaucoMarques [second dub], Marina Santana [young, second dub onwards] (Brazilian Portuguese); Creator/PatrizioPrata (Italian)[[/note]]

!!!'''Voiced by:''' Creator/WataruTakagi [''[[Anime/OnePieceDefeatHimThePirateGanzack Defeat Him! The Pirate Ganzack]]''], Creator/KazuyaNakai [TV series onwards], Megumi Urawa [young], Creator/KazukiYao [Bon Clay disguise] (Japanese); Brian Zimmerman [Odex dub], Creator/MarcDiraison [4Kids dub], Creator/AndrewRannells [young, 4Kids dub], Creator/ChristopherSabat [Funimation dub], Creator/BrinaPalencia [young, Funimation dub] (English)[[note]]'''Other languages:''' Gabriel Basurto [first season of the 4Kids dub and fifth season of the Creator/{{Netflix}} dub onwards], Creator/DafnisFernandez [second season of the 4Kids dub and 1-4 season of the Creator/{{Netflix}}], Jared Mendoza [young, Netflix dub] (Latin American Spanish); Creator/JorgeSaudinos, Rocío Azofra [young] (European Spanish); Philipp Brammer, Uwe Thomsen [episode 401 onwards] (German)[[/note]]

For tropes relating to his [[Series/OnePiece2023 live-action counterpart]], go [[Characters/OnePiece2023 here]].

* DarkAndTroubledPast: While his childhood is mostly unknown, Zoro did lose a good friend and rival, Kuina, before they could both achieve their dreams of becoming great swordsman. [[ParentalAbandonment He also had no parents or extended family to speak of]].

* DualWielding: Zoro often ''triple-wields'' katanas, with one in each hand and one [[CutlassBetweenTheTeeth in his]] ''[[CutlassBetweenTheTeeth mouth]]''. It's always quite effective, as absurd as it would be in real life. It goes even farther, however, with Zoro eventually learning to ''nonuple-wield'' -- that is, use nine swords at once, or at least create the appearance of this. The more swords he uses, the stronger he becomes. This goes so far that he even has a "No Sword Style", showcasing that even when handicapped, his CharlesAtlasSuperpower can still carry him through a fight.

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: His surname is based on that of real-life pirate [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/François_l'Olonnais François l'Olonnais]], notable among other things for ''[[AxCrazy cutting out an enemy's heart]] [[AndShowItToYou and biting into it in front of him]] [[TerrorHero mid-fight]]''.

* SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining: He has no skills beyond fighting (and drinking). While all of the other Straw Hats have responsibilities like medicine, navigation or sharpshooting with the cannons, the only thing he does is guard the ship and try not to get lost.

* {{Troll}}: In the Syrup Village Arc, Zoro claims he, Nami, and Luffy (who were at a restaurant in town) [[IAmAHumanitarian ate Usopp]] as a joke, complete with a scary-looking SlasherSmile, to scare the Usopp Pirates looking for their captain. Unknowingly, he seemingly confirms their suspicions about the pirates, and make them faint, but this misunderstanding ges cleared up right after they regained consciousness.

* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: His surname is based on that of real-life pirate [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_l%27Olonnais François l'Olonnais]], notable among other things for ''[[AxCrazy cutting out an enemy's heart]] [[AndShowItToYou and biting into it in front of him]] [[TerrorHero mid-fight]]''.

** [[spoiler:When the crew learn of the status of Vivi and how Sabo seemingly killed her father, the members who know Vivi personally frantically want to go and save her, Zoro shuts down their pleas immediatelly pointing out even if they go to Alabasta or Mariejois, she isn't there. He goes on further to remind Luffy on how when he learned about Ace's situation, he said that Ace had his own adventures for himself and said it with a smile on his face despite knowing he was in trouble and only did something when he learned Ace was in serious trouble. He goes on further to point out that Vivi is stronger than she looks and for now, they need to have faith in her and Sabo to take care of themselves. Luffy's reaction after he says all this shows that he hates it, but knows Zoro is right.]]

* LightningBruiser: Zoro is one of the crew's strongest combatants and he relies purely on his physical skills and swordsmanship. His physical strength is comparable to Luffy's, and he can react fast enough to dodge ''bullets'' fired at ''point-blank range''. While underwater, Zoro one-shots Hody Jones, a very strong Fish-man, proving to be both faster and stronger.

** [[spoiler:When the crew learn of the status of Vivi and how Sabo seemingly killed her father, the members who know Vivi personally frantically want to go and save her, Zoro shuts down their pleas immediatelly pointing out even if they go to Alabasta or Marijous, she isn't there. He goes on further to remind Luffy on how when he learned about Ace's situation, he said that Ace had his own adventures for himself and said it with a smile on his face despite knowing he was in trouble and only did something when he learned Ace was in serious trouble. He goes on further to point out that Vivi is stronger than she looks and for now, they need to have faith in her and Sabo to take care of themselves. Luffy's reaction after he says all this shows that he hates it, but knows Zoro is right.]]

* TheCynic: Zoro is the most outwardly cynical and suspicious member of the crew, expressing pessimistic and fatalistic views about the intentions of other people, all very reasonable for a veteran bounty hunter turned pirate...but the world of One Piece runs on the PowerOfFriendship, so his suspicions are usually false.

* MadeOfIron: To a mind-blowing extent; while most fights might downplay how badly Luffy and others, it's kinda hard to do with Zoro, as he almost always fights swordsmen. This makes him more and more a terror to fight as the series continues, particularly against rival swordsmen. Zoro's down a sword, you managed to outplay and stab him? ''No, you didn't.'' He ''let'' you stab him because he wants to borrow ''your'' sword, and you just delivered it to him by jabbing it into his body.
** To put it in perspective, when [[FantasticRacism a Fish-man Supremacist]] like Arlong sees the extent of Zoro's wounds prior to the battle, and how well he'd fought, he decides he ''cannot let a human like this live.''

** He absorbs all the pain Luffy acquired in Thriller Bark to prevent Kuma from taking him, which results in Zoro standing in a pool of his own blood once it's all over. In his own words, it was "[[MajorInjuryUnderreaction nothing at all]]".

* MadeOfIron: To a mind-blowing extent. Zoro is the trope image for a reason. He refuses to be incapacitated even after Mr. 1 practically puts him through a meatgrinder. This is most noticeable in the anime, which often downplays how badly Luffy and others are hurt in their fights -- it is kinda hard to do with Zoro, as he almost always fights swordsmen. To put it in perspective, when [[FantasticRacism a Fish-man Supremacist]] like Arlong sees the extent of Zoro's wounds prior to the battle, and how well he'd fought, he decides he ''cannot let a human like this live.'' This gradually makes him a terror to fight particularly against rival swordsmen. Zoro's down a sword, you managed to outplay and stab him? ''No, you didn't.'' He ''let'' you stab him because he wants to borrow ''your'' sword, and you just delivered it to him by means of jabbing it into his body. In Wano, he [[spoiler:tanks a CombinationAttack from '''two Emperors''' and lives, although it basically breaks every bone in his body]].
* MajorInjuryUnderreaction: He absorbed all the pain Luffy acquired in Thriller Bark to prevent Kuma from taking him, which results in him standing in a pool of his own blood. In his own words, it was "nothing at all".

* NumberTwo: In times of emotional crisis for the crew, he's taken responsibility of the crew and reminds Luffy of his duties as a captain, solidifying his position as this. This is most obvious in regards to Luffy's duel with Usopp. Later, he and Nami tend to share this role depending on the situation. By outsiders, he's considered Luffy's number two.

* TheLancer: To Luffy. While his captain has a goofy and happy-go-lucky personality who has a more freestyle form of fighting, primarily using his fists and feet, and has always wanted about being a pirate since youth, Zoro is serious and stern, trained in three-sword-style and ''only'' uses a sword in combat, and was originally a pirate hunter for money.

* NormalFishInATinyPond: At the beginning of the series, Zoro already has a reputation as a top tier swordsman in the East Blue and a dangerous pirate hunter. Most of his battles end in [[SingleStrokeBattle single stroke]] and he's more feared than Luffy, who is initially seen as a nobody. When faced against Mihawk, the greatest swordsman in the world, it turns out to be a complete and utter curb stomp with Mihawk deflecting all of Zoro's strikes with a tiny knife. When he enters the Grand Line, Zoro encounters opponents that give him a run for his money.
-->'''Mihawk''': You may have a reputation, but you're still just a bunny. [...] You're a little frog, croaking in your puddle. Time you learned how big the world is.
* NormallyIWouldBeDeadNow: He visibly suffers what should be fatal injuries repeatedly over the course of the series, the most standout examples being when he is carved up by Mihawk, effectively put through a meat grinder by Mr. 1, or forced to take on all of Luffy's pain by Kuma. But, no matter how grave his injuries, he always lives through them with sheer willpower. This is [[LampshadedTrope Lampshaded]] by [[ArcVillain Arlong]] when Zoro's wounds from Mihawk's aforementioned-carving open up on him, as he looks on in horror and astonishment while questioning how Zoro could still possibly be alive with such injuries.

* NumberTwo: In times of emotional crisis for the crew, he's taken responsibility of the crew and reminds Luffy of his duties as a captain, solidifying his position as this. This is most obvious in regards to Luffy's duel with Usopp. Later, he and Nami tend to share this role depending on the situation.

* ToBeAMaster: His goal is to become [[MasterSwordsman "the greatest swordsman in the world"]].

* WorfHadTheFlu: Zoro says he fights at his best when using three swords, and there are a few fights where he only has two or one at his disposal and only regains the edge when he has three. Even then, a few of the opponents he loses to have a significant advantage over him where not even having three swords can make up the deficit. Buggy can't be cut at all because swords only disconnect his floating body parts, and he stabbed Zoro after his back was turned. In Arlong's case, Zoro is still suffering from the wound he received during his duel against Mihawk, on top of having already fought Hachi; Arlong acknowledges how dangerous Zoro is after seeing the wound and realizing Zoro still defeated his strongest officer in spite of it (the implication being that Zoro could've defeated Arlong himself had he been healthy), so he attempts to kill Zoro right then and there to end whatever threat the swordsman may pose to him in the future.

* YouRemindMeOfX: While fighting the [[spoiler:Seraphims, Zoro immediately feels that S-Hawk reminds him of Mihawk, not knowing that he's the latter younger clone]].

* AffectionateNickName: He's initially her enemy when Vivi is still undercover as Miss Wednesday, but she continues to call him "Mr. Bushido" even after joining the Straw Hats's ship.

* HungryWeapon: [[spoiler:After Zoro leaves Shusui in Ryuma's grave, as a replacement he receives one of Oden's swords, the Grade Sword Enma, a sword that is notorious for draining excessive amounts of Armament Haki, to the point most people who try to use it die. The first time Zoro uses Enma, it drains enough Haki from his arm that it ends up looking shriveled and mummified, and he has to forcefully take the energy back]].

* InstantArmor: Learns to use the Armament Haki during the timeskip, and he imbues the power in his sword like many New World swordsmen. Oda said that Zoro specializes in this type of Haki, and it shows; he can launch a ''black tornado of RazorWind'' that keeps on spinning and cutting up everything in its path with it. Oda's statement holds again during the Wano Arc when Zoro is seen being able to prevent the [[HungryWeapon Grade Sword Enma]] from completely draining his Armament, which itself is impressive considering that according to Tenguyama Hitetsu, its previous owner, Oden, was the '''only known person prior to accomplish this feat'''.

* WouldHitAGirl: At Punk Hazard, Tashigi claims that Zoro is holding back against Monet due to a [[PoliticallyIncorrectHero dismissive attitude towards women]], after proving to Monet that he will cut a girl if necessary. He admits that there are things he doesn't like to cut, but if he has to, he will.

* InstantArmor: Learned to use the Armament Haki during the timeskip, and he imbues the power in his sword like many New World swordsmen. Oda said that Zoro specializes in this type of Haki, and it shows; he can launch a ''black tornado of RazorWind'' that keeps on spinning and cutting up everything in its path with it. Oda's statement holds again during the Wano Arc when Zoro is seen being able to prevent the [[HungryWeapon Grade Sword Enma]] from completely draining his Armament, which itself is impressive considering that according to Tenguyama Hitetsu, its previous owner, Oden, was the '''only known person prior to accomplish this feat'''.

* InstantWakingSkills: As people such as the Franky Family found out, Zoro can go from sleeping to fighting in a second.

* InstantWakingSkills: As people such as the Franky Family found out, Zoro can go from sleeping to figting in a second.

* BattleAura: He weaponizes this with his "Demon Aura - Nine-Sword Style: Asura", in which his aura creates a visible illusion that grants him the appearance of an Asura, a six-armed and three-headed demonic being. Additionally, an image of an actual Asura is standing behind Zoro. This technique effectively triples his power.

* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Zoro is extremely strong, owing to rigorous training and no Devil Fruit power or fantastic race. He's strong enough to lift an entire building or train with weights larger than a person.

* DualWielding: Zoro often ''triple-wields'' katanas, with one in each hand and one [[CutlassBetweenTheTeeth in his]] ''[[CutlassBetweenTheTeeth mouth]]''. It's always quite effective, as absurd as it would be in real life. It goes even farther, however, with Zoro eventually learning to ''nonuple-wield'' -- that is, use nine swords at once, or at least create the appearance of this.
* DubNameChange: In the [=4Kids=] English dubbed version, his name was changed from "Zoro" to ''"Zolo"''. He is consistently called that in the localization of the manga.

* LastNameBasis: More than a handful of characters outside of the crew refer to him as "Roronoa", due to his fame as Pirate Hunter.

* OneManArmy: Already at the beginning of the series, Zoro is a feared bounty hunters and often he single-handedly defeats entire groups of people on his own, like when he beats 100 expert bounty hunters in Whiskey Peak or most of the Neptune Army (and after his capture, he plans to do the same with Hody's men). Usopp flat-out calls him a one man army.