In the decisive Summit War of Marineford, Whitebeard met his end towards the climax of the war. Compared to antagonistic individuals and groups the Straw Hat Pirates faced earlier in the series, the Emperors serve as a far bigger threat during the second half of the One Piece series (most notably in the Whole Cake Island Saga and Wano Country Saga, where Big Mom and Kaidou serve as the respective main antagonists).

The Emperors have historically individually resided within the second half of the Grand Line (known as the ' New World'), exerting impressive influence and control over dozens of other pirate crews and self-governing islands.

Rather, the four prefer to remain autonomous under most circumstances. The Four Emperors are not typically allies, nor are they strictly enemies of one another. Currently, the Emperors are Red-Haired Shanks, Blackbeard, Straw Hat Luffy, and Buggy the Star Clown Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaidou of the Beasts are the former known members from the previous generation prior to their succession.

The Four Emperors, which constitute one of the Three Great Powers, are a group of four pirates considered to be the most notorious and powerful captains in the world.