Sir Crocodile is the central villain of One Piece 's Arabasta Arc, as well as puppetmaster of all events during the Whiskey Peak and Little Garden story arcs. He is a former member of the Shichibukai, a Devil Fruit user (Sand Sand Fruit), and president incognito of the crime syndicate, Baroque Works. Crocodile is the longest running primary villain of the series, as well as the first opponent to hand the series' hero, Monkey D. Luffy, a total defeat.
Years before the start of One Piece, Crocodile starts off as an optimistic and ambitious pirate who, like many of his contemporaries, seek the revered title of "Pirate King". However, Crocodile grew disillusioned and pessemistic with such lifestyle, and accepted a government commission as a Shichibukai to pursue a more realistic way of cementing his fame into history. With his newfound government ties, Crocodile secretly establishes, funds, and popularizes Baroque Works as a lucrative crime ring. In truth, he founded the company to help him convert the sand kingdom of Arabasta into a fanatical military nation, with himself as de facto ruler. This alterior motive was disguised as Crocodile's desire to build an "ideal nation", and would be codenamed by Baroque Works officers as Project: Utopia.
Arabasta proves to be an ideal target for Crocodile; not only is it one of the richest nations in Grand Line, but it has a plethora of natural resources and an easily manipulable populace. Using scandals to inflame the people's nationalistic pride and revolutionary fervor, Crocodile is not only able to politically divide the country, but managed to diefy himself as a venerated hero. His gifts from the Suna Suna Fruit grant him virtual invulnerbility in Arabasta's desert terrain. Finally, Crocodile learned (most likely from Ms. All-Sunday) that Pluton, one of the Ancient Weapons, was buried somewhere within the confines of the kingdom.
To preserve his personal image and ensure the success of his intrigue, Crocodile adopts the alias Mr. 0 in accordinance with his company's codename policy, and issued all orders through his Vice-President, Miss All-Sunday. Prior to a day before the initiation of Project: Utopia, only Miss All-Sunday, Mr. 8, and Miss Wednesday were aware of Mr. 0's true identity. Impersonality is one of Crocodile's strongest traits; he is best able to preserve himself by not trusting a single soul, even among the members of his own company.
During public appearances, Crocodile poses as an aloof but courageous vigilante, often quickly and efficiently dispatching rogue pirate attacks before the Alabasta guard are able to respond. These acts help better his image among the people, while additionally undermining Nefertari Cobra's ability to protect his subjects. In private, however, Crocodile is brooding and perceptive. While constructing the idea for Project: Utopia, Crocodile projected every possible pitfall and prepared multiple contingencies as corrective measures. After hearing about Mr. 2 Bon Kurei's encounter with the Strawhat Pirates, Crocodile was able to deduce that the white bands tied around each Strawhat arm were a safeguard against Mr. 2 Bon Kurei's infiltration.
Crocodile is most well known for his sadism, impatience, apathy, and opportunism. Although quite reserved, he is quick to painfully punish anyone who fails him, even his own officer agents. After succeeding in driving the Alabasta Rebels from the city of Yuba with a relentless bombardment of sandstorms, Crocodile continued to invoke storms simply to spite the old man Toto who was intent on keeping the city alive.
Unlike previous villans, Crocodile has full mastery over his Devil Fruit powers; he is passively and autonomously able to transform his body into sand, cushioning otherwise fatal blows. Offensively, Crocodile can generate prodigious amounts of sand from his body, or manipulate sand from his surroundings. Using his right hand, Crocodile is able to osmotically absorb liquids from any matter; this ability kills the living through dehydration and turns everything else brittle. He is further able to increase the density of his sand, creating various sharp weapons or claws of various sizes that can even split the earth below him. Like an archetypal pirate, Crocodile's left hand has been replaced by a golden hook, which, when removed, reveals a second hook coated in a potent scorpion venom that induces cardiac arrest. Additionally, if his hook is damaged, Crocodile can jettison the broken tip and trigger a knife from his bell.
Despite his god-like powers, Crocodile has one single weakness; if his clothes or skin are saturated by any liquid, or if he is hit with a wet object, his body loses the ability to become sand, allowing physical blows to harm him. This weakness is not crippling, however, for Crocodile can simply absorb any offending liquid through his right hand.
Following his absolute defeat in Arabasta and the collapse of Baroque Works, Crocodile was arrested by Cheif Petty Officer Tashigi and incarcerated by Captain Smoker. As a disgrace to the World Government, Crocodile was stripped of his Shichibukai status and is scheduled for detainment in Impel Down, the World Government's foremost penitentiary. The Baroque Works officers were briefly stationed on a small prison isle pending transfer to Impel Down; the only free agents, Ms. Goldenweek, Ms. Valentine, and Mr.5, arrived and released and offered a rescue to their former superiors. Crocodile declined the offer, lighting and enjoying a buck cigar as he watched his former subordinates sail off into the distance.