5 Best Pirates In Pirates Of The Caribbean, Ranked By How Good They Actually Are At Piracy

What Makes a Pirate Effective

The franchise’s pirates are not judged only by their ships, fearsome reputations or sword skills. Effective piracy also calls for commanding a crew, navigating perilous waters, outsmarting naval authorities and securing valuable loot.

Survival and authority matter, too. Some characters use strategy and supernatural power, while others depend on reputation or an uncanny ability to escape danger.

Gibbs Brings Practical Skill

Joshamee Gibbs may not be as famous as Captain Jack Sparrow, but he is among the franchise’s most capable sailors. His Royal Navy service gave him maritime experience, and he knows about navigation, pirate folklore and Caribbean dangers.

Gibbs has repeatedly helped Jack survive, and his knowledge is useful when crews face supernatural threats or seek legendary treasure. He also understands the value of a dependable crew and often keeps operations on track.

His main shortcoming is that he seldom makes major strategic decisions. He is a highly capable first mate, though, and the Black Pearl would be less successful without him.

Jack Sparrow’s Uneven Record

Jack Sparrow is an expert improviser, persuasive liar and elusive survivor, but his record as a pirate is less impressive than his fame suggests. He once captained the Black Pearl, then lost it when his first mate, Barbossa, led a mutiny and left him on an island.

Jack also frequently lacks money, a working crew or a ship. His plans, including the pursuit of the Fountain of Youth in On Stranger Tides, often rely on other people’s resources. Still, he can manipulate enemies, escape imprisonment through improvisation and fight skillfully with a sword when needed.