Buggy the Clown first appears as a pirate captain terrorizing the East Blue. Originally from the Grand Line, he served as an apprentice on Gol D. Roger's crew alongside Shanks during their childhood. The two frequently argued, and Buggy developed a fixation on treasure. During a raid, he discovered a treasure map but lost both it and the chance to sell a valuable Devil Fruit after Shanks startled him into swallowing the Bara Bara no Mi (Chop-Chop Fruit). This incident rendered him unable to swim and cemented a lasting grudge against Shanks. Despite their rivalry, both participated in major conflicts like the Roger Pirates' battles against the Whitebeard Pirates and Golden Lion Pirates, where Buggy often displayed caution. He missed the crew's journey to Laugh Tale due to illness and later witnessed Roger's execution in Loguetown. After the crew disbanded, Buggy refused Shanks' offer to sail together and formed the Buggy Pirates, concealing his past affiliation to avoid World Government attention. His crew took over Orange Town, where Buggy pursued treasure and vengeance against Monkey D. Luffy after Luffy defeated him, stole his map to the Grand Line, and damaged his pride. Despite multiple attempts to kill Luffy—including a near-successful execution in Loguetown foiled by lightning—Buggy failed. He then entered the Grand Line, where his crew was captured and imprisoned in Impel Down. During the prison breakout, Buggy reluctantly allied with Luffy to escape, bargaining for Captain John's treasure map. His status as a former Roger Pirate was revealed during the escape, earning him unwarranted admiration from powerful Impel Down inmates who misinterpreted his cowardly actions as bravery. This reputation escalated at the Summit War of Marineford, where his inadvertent involvement in key events, such as broadcasting the war, led the World Government to offer him a position among the Seven Warlords of the Sea to mitigate his perceived influence. As a Warlord, Buggy established "Buggy's Delivery," a mercenary organization leveraging his notoriety and his followers' combat strength. After the Warlord system was abolished, Marines targeted him, leading to a confrontation where Crocodile and Dracule Mihawk intervened. They co-founded the Cross Guild, nominating Buggy as its figurehead leader due to his widespread infamy, though they secretly controlled operations. Public perception falsely credited Buggy as the mastermind, resulting in his recognition as one of the Four Emperors following the defeats of Kaido and Big Mom. Despite Crocodile and Mihawk's coercion and physical abuse, Buggy later defied their passive ambitions by declaring the Cross Guild's intent to pursue the One Piece, rallying his supporters while risking his tenuous position. Buggy's personality combines vanity, cowardice, and opportunism. He craves admiration and fears being mocked, particularly about his red nose, reacting violently to such references. Though egotistical—often deluding himself into believing he can rival powerful figures like Whitebeard or become Pirate King—he avoids direct confrontation with overwhelming threats, prioritizing self-preservation. His showmanship manifests in flamboyant speech, frequently using "flashy" to describe actions, and theatrical displays like oversized cloaks created with his Devil Fruit powers. Despite mistreating subordinates early in his career, using them as shields or punishing failures harshly, he later shows greater concern for their well-being after they remain loyal through his imprisonment and rise to Emperor status. His primary motivations revolve around acquiring treasure, maintaining his reputation, and escaping perilous situations, though he occasionally acts rashly when emotionally provoked, such as attacking Mihawk during the Marineford war. The Bara Bara no Mi allows Buggy to split his body into separate, levitating sections controlled telekinetically, making him immune to slashing attacks. He must keep his feet grounded to maintain this ability and can reassemble unless parts are restrained or move beyond his control range. He employs varied weapons, including knives integrated into his boots for projectile attacks and specialized explosives like Buggy Balls (town-destroying cannons) and compact Muggy Balls. Though physically unremarkable compared to top-tier fighters, his Devil Fruit provides unique defensive utility, and his occasional displays of agility (such as dodging high-speed attacks) suggest untapped potential. In non-canon media like *One Piece: Stampede*, Buggy appears in two distinct outfits: one as "Star Clown" featuring an orange and white captain's coat with a pink cravat, and another with yellow hair, vertically striped pants, light blue suspenders, and an orange shoulder cape. He serves as a reluctant ally to Luffy during the film's events.