Usopp hails from Syrup Village in the East Blue, son of pirate Yasopp from Shanks' crew and Banchina, who died during his childhood. Coping with his father's departure and his mother's death, he began daily lies about pirate attacks to villagers and spun adventure tales for his bedridden friend Kaya. He rallied three village children into forming the "Usopp Pirates," acting as their self-proclaimed captain. This habit of lying, born from loneliness and a desire to inspire hope, persisted throughout his life. He joined the Straw Hat Pirates after helping them thwart Captain Kuro's Black Cat Pirates, who plotted to assassinate Kaya. Despite villagers dismissing his warnings due to his reputation, Usopp fought to protect Syrup Village. Following Kuro's defeat, he disbanded his childhood crew and accepted Luffy's invitation to become the Straw Hats' sniper, sailing on the Going Merry gifted by Kaya. His initial dream was to become a "brave warrior of the sea" like his father. Tan-skinned with curly black hair and an exceptionally long nose inherited from his mother, Usopp's pre-timeskip look included an olive green bandana, sniper goggles, brown overalls with a white sash, and a yellow satchel for tools. Post-timeskip, he developed more muscle, grew longer hair, added a goatee, and adopted new attire: a white sun hat, headphones, rolled yellow pants, red suspenders, and a red satchel. His appearance varied per arc, including Viking-style clothing in Elbaph. His personality blends chronic cowardice, compulsive lying, and deep-seated insecurity about his strength compared to crewmates. He frequently fabricates diseases or boasts about imaginary feats to avoid danger, reflecting intense fear of powerful opponents. However, fierce loyalty and courage emerge when protecting friends or innocents, pushing him through terror in critical moments. Sentimental and prone to emotional outbursts, he values life over pride, openly criticizing self-sacrificial ideologies. His lies occasionally inspire others. He harbors a subtle perverse streak. As a fighter, Usopp relies on ingenuity, psychological tactics, and precision sniping. Initially using a slingshot with specialized ammunition like explosives or fire stars, he later incorporated Skypiean Dials for sound amplification or impact absorption. Post-timeskip, he adopted Pop Greens—seeds from the Boin Archipelago that instantly grow into carnivorous plants or defensive vines. He is a skilled inventor and artist, creating Nami's Clima-Tact and designing the Straw Hat Jolly Roger. During Dressrosa, he awakened Kenbunshoku Haki, enabling him to sense auras over vast distances. Key developments include his temporary departure during Water 7 after clashing with Luffy over retiring the damaged Going Merry, fueled by emotional attachment and inadequacy. He returned as "Sogeking," wearing a mask to aid Nico Robin's rescue while masking shame, later using the persona to summon courage. In Thriller Bark, his inherent negativity rendered him immune to Perona's depression-inducing ghosts, allowing him to defeat her. During Dressrosa, he accidentally traumatized Sugar into unconsciousness with a projectile depicting his shocked face, freeing thousands from toy enslavement, earning him the epithet "God" Usopp and a 200,000,000 berry bounty, later rising to 500,000,000 berries. Post-timeskip, he exhibited greater combat confidence but retained core cowardice, opposing direct confrontations with Emperors. He reconciled his rising bounty as recognition of growth while fearing its consequences. In Wano, he prioritized survival over honor during the Onigashima raid, rescuing injured allies while condemning needless sacrifice.