Pirates usually avoided the largest ships

What was the largest or most powerful pirate ship in history?

There is no simple winner; Chinese pirate fleets fielded large ships, but most pirates preferred smaller, faster, and more manageable vessels.

A largest pirate ship depends on how piracy and relative power are defined. Southern Chinese pirate fleets included very large vessels for their period, especially under the famous pirate queen who rivaled state authority. Most pirates nevertheless avoided oversized ships because they needed mobility, crews they could control, and prizes they could sell. The economics and operating needs of commerce raiding worked against the popular image of a pirate battleship.