Blackbeard was originally a member of the Whitebeard Pirates (and Portgas D. Ace’s subordinate), until he murdered one of his crewmates over a Devil Fruit and defected, heading out to form his own crew. Blackbeard was Crocodile’s replacement among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, having captured the wanted pirate Ace to obtain his position, but resigned after forfeiting the privilege by raiding Impel Down and recruiting several notorious prisoners for his crew from Level 6.

During the timeskip, after clashing with the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates led by Marco the Phoenix and emerging victorious, Blackbeard usurped the status of the deceased Whitebeard as one of the Four Emperors. Following the Rocky Port Incident, the Blackbeard Pirates made Hachinosu their main base.

Due to their actions and role, they are one of the overall antagonist groups in the Final Saga and for the remainder of the series. The Blackbeard Pirates’ quest for the One Piece is fueled by their desire to become the most powerful pirate crew in the world. They have been hunting for powerful Devil Fruit abilities and, with time, they are slowly rising in terms of strength and influence in the world of One Piece. They currently already own 3 Road Poneglyphs and have kidnapped Pudding who has the potential to read them.

It is possible that the Blackbeard Pirates will clash with the Straw Hat Pirates in the near future, as both crews are in the race for the One Piece. The outcome of this clash is uncertain, but it is sure to be an epic battle that will determine the fate of the One Piece.

Here is how Artificial Intelligence imagines Blackbeard Pirates in real life: