Monkey D. Luffy is the protagonist of the One Piece series. Throughout the long run of the story, Luffy has been able to come out on top in most of his fights. However, sometimes, he was clearly outclassed and came very close to death. While rare, some One Piece characters nearly managed to kill Luffy, but with luck, he was able to avoid the worst-case scenario, either thanks to the plot, or thanks to the intervention of another character.
8 Charlotte Katakuri
- Devil Fruit: Mochi Mochi no Mi
- Affiliation: Big Mom Pirates
Charlotte Katakuri is definitely one of One Piece's most beloved antagonists. Katakuri was a major obstacle for the Straw Hat Pirates during the Whole Island arc as the strongest of the Sweet Commanders of the Big Mom Pirates. To enable his crew to move on and sail off, Luffy entered the Mirror World and took on Katakuri in a battle.
However, immediately after, it was quite obvious that, in comparison to Katakuri, Luffy was outmatched, at least at first. It can definitely be said that Katakuri had quite a few opportunities to kill Luffy. During this confrontation, Luffy had to kidnap Brulee to be able to escape and recover some energy. If Luffy hadn't managed that, Katakuri would have definitely killed him. Not only that, but even at the end of their battle, Katakuri could have fought more but decided to give up and let Luffy go out of his newfound respect for the Straw Hat captain.
7 Sir Crocodile
- Devil Fruit: Suna Suna no Mi
- Affiliation: Baroque Works (Formerly), Cross Guild
Sir Crocodile was one of the first major antagonists of the One Piece series who acted as the main villain of the Arabasta Saga. Luffy and Crocodile fought on multiple occasions during the Arabasta arc, three times to be exact. Until the final fight, Crocodile had the opportunity to kill Luffy.
In fact, Luffy only survived the first time thanks to Nico Robin's intervention. Even at the end of their third fight, Luffy had to use his wits and utilize his blood for combat to defeat Crocodile. In the pre-time skip, fighting a Logia was definitely no easy task, as proven by Crocodile.
6 Rob Lucci
- Devil Fruit: Fruit Neko Neko no Mi, Model: Leopard
- Affiliation: CP9 (Formerly), CP0, World Government
Rob Lucci was a powerful enemy that Luffy faced when the Straw Hat Pirates set out on their quest to rescue Nico Robin during the Enies Lobby Arc. Rob Lucci was one of the CP9, and he also possessed the abilities of the Zoan Neko Neko no Mi, Model: Leopard.
With his Six Powers, Luffy definitely struggled to take down Lucci. In fact, without Usopp's speech, which allowed Luffy to stand back up and continue fighting, Luffy would have lost and died in that moment.
5 Buggy
- Devil Fruit: Bara Bara no Mi
- Affiliation: Buggy Pirates (Formerly), Cross Guild
Buggy is a character that One Piece fans come to meet very early on in the story. Back then, he was quite weak and an underwhelming character. Usually, the likes of Luffy could have easily beaten him, as was shown in the Orange Town arc.
However, when Buggy returned in Logue Town, he was able to capture Luffy. On the same execution stand where Gol D. Roger died, Buggy almost ended Luffy’s pirating career. In fact, Luffy would have definitely died if his father, Monkey D. Dragon, hadn't intervened with a thunderbolt and saved his life. Luffy got extremely lucky, and almost didn't make it out.
4 Big Mom
- Devil Fruit: Soru Soru no Mi
- Affiliation: Big Mom Pirates
Big Mom was one of the Four Emperors in the One Piece series. She was first seen in the Fishman Island arc, but she would go on to become the main threat looming in the Whole Cake Island arc.
Luffy was already quite strong by the time of the WCI arc, having access to abilities such as Gear 4, but even that wouldn't have been enough to defeat Big Mom. In fact, Luffy and Big Mom did clash for a moment, but he was sent back flying very easily. Luffy and the Straw Hats had only one option on Whole Cake Island, and that was to run away from Big Mom to survive.
Even at the end, after Luffy fought Katakuri, they were only able to escape thanks to the sacrifice of the Fishman Pirates and Germa 66.
3 Kaido
- Devil Fruit: Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu
- Affiliation: Beast Pirates
Another Emperor of the Sea, Kaido, was a powerful character who could have ended Luffy's life. In Wano, Kaido stood as the main antagonist, and Luffy had to overcome him. At the beginning of Wano, Luffy was too confident and decided to attack Kaido head-on. In one swoop, Kaido defeated Luffy. At that moment, Kaido could have easily killed Luffy, but instead chose to send him to prison to break his spirit.
Kaido technically killed Luffy in this arc later on as well. During their Onigashima confrontation, Kaido killed Luffy on the rooftop after intervention from CP0. However, Luffy's heart started beating again thanks to his Awakening Gear 5. Under any other circumstance, Luffy would have lost and died here. It is only after undergoing Awakening that Luffy was able to finally defeat him.
2 Blackbeard
- Devil Fruit: Gura Gura no Mi, Yami Yami no Mi
- Affiliation: Blackbeard Pirates
Blackbeard is set up to be Luffy's biggest rival and enemy in One Piece. Blackbeard and Luffy have a deep history as the former is the main reason Ace died.
Even before acquiring the Gura Gura no Mi, Blackbeard was already a major threat and a character capable of killing Luffy. In Impel Down, Blackbeard and Luffy fought, and without Jinbe’s intervention and neutralizing both of them, Blackbeard could have taken Luffy's life right there. Even now, if Luffy and Blackbeard were to face each other again, it's possible that Blackbeard would come out on top and take Luffy's life.
1 Magellan
- Devil Fruit: Doku Doku no Mi
- Affiliation: World Government
Magellan was a major threat in the Impel Down arc as the Warden of the prison. If there was one character that Luffy and the others needed to avoid, it was definitely him. Magellan has the venom Devil Fruit, Doku Doku no Mi, and anyone who comes in contact with his venom is most certainly doomed.
Magellan poisoned Luffy badly, and he was only able to survive thanks to a miracle by Bon Clay and Ivankov's Horu Horu no Mi. Luffy got extremely lucky and had to shave years off his life to be able to survive Magellan's poison.
